Vision Statement for Technology in Education
My vision statement for using technology in education is to strive to use technology to create positive change in the learning experiences of my students, based on best practice teaching strategies and careful alignment with curriculum standards. I have followed this vision throughout my short career, which has only been strengthened through my experiences in this program. One of my major purposes in pursuing the Master’s Educational Technology program at MSU is to develop a better understanding of how to implement technology using proven teaching strategies in order to improve student achievement. Along with this goal is the intent to continue to improve my own ability to assess student learning as a result of integrating technology into the classroom. It is essential that the learning experience be assessed for authentic and meaningful change, not just the novelty of using a new form of technology in the classroom.
The greatest promise in my vision is the idea of “re-creation.” I hope to recreate the learning experience and improve upon its current restraints. For example, one of my major goals is to encourage authentic engagement and relevancy in class work, which would hopefully result in greater participation and in-depth discussion. The advantage of many types of technology is the ability to think creatively about your individual application of the tool. I could use a variety of tools, from blogs to wikis to Google Documents to help me achieve this aim. The possibilities are endless. The focus, however, needs to remain on improving the teaching of content material while also developing 21st century literacy skills for my students. As long as I continue to target specific areas for improvement, I know that I will be able to seek out research, tools, ideas, and support for how these skills can be improved by implementing technology.
One of the potential hardships that even the most enthusiastic educators face is the limitation of district control. To even begin implementation of these “recreated” ideas, there must be a strong degree of communication and support between the teacher and the administration. I firmly believe that the more transparent the plans and connections to curriculum standards, the more likely the implementation process will be successful. This also includes improving parental involvement and community interaction both in dialogue and in accessing and sharing student products.
Many administrators are most concerned about the element of safety in technology usage. So again, careful planning and preparation that includes safety training for students and parental involvement will help to garner administrative support. However, sometimes even the most well prepared plans will still end up blocked by school filters and fears. As an educator of the 21st century, my goal is to maintain a positive attitude despite discouragement and continue to educate and share what I have learned about educational technology with my local faculty and profession at large. The more we each contribute to the spread of accurate knowledge and training, the more likely we will be to collectively overcome the censorship and concerns of the past.
The greatest promise in my vision is the idea of “re-creation.” I hope to recreate the learning experience and improve upon its current restraints. For example, one of my major goals is to encourage authentic engagement and relevancy in class work, which would hopefully result in greater participation and in-depth discussion. The advantage of many types of technology is the ability to think creatively about your individual application of the tool. I could use a variety of tools, from blogs to wikis to Google Documents to help me achieve this aim. The possibilities are endless. The focus, however, needs to remain on improving the teaching of content material while also developing 21st century literacy skills for my students. As long as I continue to target specific areas for improvement, I know that I will be able to seek out research, tools, ideas, and support for how these skills can be improved by implementing technology.
One of the potential hardships that even the most enthusiastic educators face is the limitation of district control. To even begin implementation of these “recreated” ideas, there must be a strong degree of communication and support between the teacher and the administration. I firmly believe that the more transparent the plans and connections to curriculum standards, the more likely the implementation process will be successful. This also includes improving parental involvement and community interaction both in dialogue and in accessing and sharing student products.
Many administrators are most concerned about the element of safety in technology usage. So again, careful planning and preparation that includes safety training for students and parental involvement will help to garner administrative support. However, sometimes even the most well prepared plans will still end up blocked by school filters and fears. As an educator of the 21st century, my goal is to maintain a positive attitude despite discouragement and continue to educate and share what I have learned about educational technology with my local faculty and profession at large. The more we each contribute to the spread of accurate knowledge and training, the more likely we will be to collectively overcome the censorship and concerns of the past.
