My Educational Technology Philosophy

The world of education is alive with excitement, and it is the new-technological trends in education creating all the frenzy. Educators across the globe are finding new and improved ways to educate and connect with their students. This is the time of the 21st century-learner. This is a time of great change for those in the world of education!

Although the world of education is changing, the purpose of education has not changed. Educators are still responsible for providing their students with the skills they need to be able to think for themselves and to seek out answers to questions to which they might have. Educators are also still responsible for providing students with the knowledge they need to be productive members of society. So, what is it that is so different in the world of education today?

With the new available technologies, the role of the learner and the role of the educator are changing. Gone are the days of the teacher being the “leader” in the classroom and the student being the “follower.” In today’s world of education, the teacher is more like a “facilitator” and the student more like a “partner” in education. Classroom boundaries are also being broken. Students are able to connect with other students in different classes, different schools, and in different countries. The means by which students are learning are also changing. Today’s students have access to more technology than any other generation before them, and educators must learn how to educate and communicate with students using the same available technology. Today’s students also want to be engaged and challenged. It is up to today’s educators to provide them with challenging and engaging lessons while at the same time incorporating the technology they have become accustomed to using.

As an educator of 21st century students, it is my responsibility to continue to learn and seek out new ways to get my students to think critically. I want to be a “facilitator” of hands-on learning, a classroom “guide” of engaging lessons, a mentor who will help them make real-life connections. Although I am largely an idealist when it comes to education, I realize the importance of staying current with new trends and technologies. I believe I can still teach the classics, but the methods I use to teach the classics will be anything but classic. I can be an informator by providing my students with new ways of making discoveries and by providing them with new methods to show what they have learned. It is my responsibility as an educator to allow my students to explore the world in which they live with the technological skills which they have developed. I will be a 21st century-educator.