TE 886 Technology Teaching Philosophy

In todays society, students have the world at their fingertips at any given
moment. They get immediate gratification with the touch of an iPhone, iPad,
Chromebook, or other technology tool. Students become active learners, strong
decision-makers, motivated leaders, and collaborative knowledge seekers via the
use of technology. Living in an ever-growing, multicultural world, the role of
technology in education should be to provide students with a more individualized
learning experience that teaches them how to communicate effectively, problemsolve, analyze information, and become lifelong learners outside of the school
setting. According to Apple (2002), Technology encourages students to take
charge of their education (p. 3).
Though most statistics support the use of technology in education, some
educators still frown upon its use, and desire a more traditional way of teaching.
Some reasons for this mentality include: cost, fear of technology use, distraction
to students, and a limited knowledge of how to use technology effectively;
however, according to Valdez (n.d.), Technology's impact on teachers and their
practice should be considered as important as student effects because students
move on but teachers remain to influence many generations of students (p. 4).
Thus, teachers must be: in-serviced about the effective use of technology; willing
to seek out and learn about trending technology software and applications; openminded, flexible, and creative; and collaborative with colleagues and peers.
As a language teacher in a 1:1 Chromebook high school, the expectation
is that I will use the technology provided to me and use it in an effective,

innovative manner. My fellow language teachers, colleagues, and I share ideas

and collaborate about best practices with technology; however, I am always
looking for new ideas and want to continue learning about how to best integrate
technology into my curriculum.
Currently, some of the technology tools I implement into my curriculum
include: Socrative, Kahoot, iMovie, Twitter, Padlet, Vine, Lingt.language,
Recording Lite, Quizlet, Quia, Google Voice, and Skype just to name a few.
The favorite of the majority of my students at the moment would have to
be Kahoot. They enjoy the competition among classmates, and truly get an
immediate idea as to what they understand versus what they thought they
understood. I enjoy utilizing Kahoot as a quick assessment of what students
understood from a flipped lesson. It is also a constant student request as a
review game prior to a quiz.
As a teacher, my favorite project students complete in the second
semester of my course, is the creation of a music video using iMovie. Students
collaborate in small groups to create a music video that explains difficult, irregular
conjugations of at least two verbs in the preterite tense in Spanish. Students
choose at least 2 verbs they want to explain, the music they want to use in the
background, write their own lyrics, and incorporate subtitles at the bottom of their
iMovies should clarification be needed. It is a project that students take pride in,
walk away from feeling accomplished, and talk about not only until graduation but
after graduation as well. This project creates fun learning for everyone.

Although technology continuously proves itself to be effective in enhancing

a students learning experience, not all students learn the same way, nor are they
able to demonstrate their knowledge and learning by the same means as their
classmates, or perhaps by the means the teacher is wanting. I am an avid
believer of differentiated, or individualized, instruction. According to SaraviaShore (2008), Students tend to want to participate and do their best when a
teacher is nurturing and caring (p. 8). Differentiated, or individualized, instruction
helps provide a nurturing, caring environment for students because teachers
genuinely have to know their students as individuals; individuals with different
strengths and weaknesses. It is the responsibility of the teacher to direct his
curriculum to meet the needs of each individual students strengths.
In my classroom, I post assignments digitally on Blackboard, but will
provide paper copies to those students who prefer to complete assignments via
paper and pencil. Yes, some students still prefer to write. Though I give
instruction over new topics, I also post my presentations on Blackboard so that
students can refer back to the instruction for clarification. When reading text in
Spanish, I will create Wikis and/or presentations that incorporate images into the
text in the hopes of enhancing a students reading comprehension. Within the
text, difficult words will be highlighted and linked to their definitions should a
student not understand the word in context. I incorporate Youtube videos or
podcasts when applicable to further explain tough concepts. Students are able to
use online flash cards with images to practice new vocabulary, or students are
asked to search for images to place next to the new words on their vocabulary

lists. Many students remember definitions through these images. When

completing projects, students are provided different means by which to complete
them. For example, should a student be fearful of making the music iMovie, they
can create a slideshow, poem, rhyme, acronym, or voice recording to ease the
learning of difficult, irregular preterite conjugations.
Its all about flexibility. Teachers must move beyond the idea that there is
only one way to come up with an answer or to prove ones learning. Being
flexible encourages participation from students and can actually provide truly
creative results. Students remember when a teacher allows them to be
themselves, to feel comfortable in the learning atmosphere, and shows a genuine
interest in how they learn best. This flexibility also helps create positive
relationships between students and teachers. I would argue with anyone who
might say that positive relationships do not enhance a students learning and
willingness to learn.
All in all, technology aids in providing the utmost beneficial education for
students. Schools need to embrace technology as a creative, meaningful tool
that can help students be successful beyond the classroom. As future leaders,
business men and women, politicians, doctors, lawyers, communication
specialists, counselors, teachers, whatever the profession, students simply
cannot excel without technology fluency. Its up to educators to learn effective
ways of incorporating technology into their curriculum so as to command that
technology fluency in their students. Knowing that its up to us as teachers, what
will you do?

Resources
Apple. (2002). The impact of technology on student learning. A summary of
research findings on technologys impact in the classroom. Retrieved from
http://www.gayleberthiaume.com/FGO/AppleEduResearch.pdf
Saravia-Shore, M. (2008). Educating everybodys children: Diverse teaching
strategies for diverse learners. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development.
Valdez, G. (n.d.). Technology: A catalyst for teaching and learning in the
classroom. Retrieved from http://document-journald.rhcloud.com/info/technologya-catalyst-for-teaching-and-learning-in-the-/