KSP619 - Personal Technology Philosophy

Jennifer Carlson

KSP-619

Professor Indi Williams

February 13, 2016

My Personal Technology Philosophy

I have an obligation to my students to prepare them for the future.  Since their future will likely be filled with more technology than I can imagine I must do my best to prepare them.  This requires me to approach technology in my classroom through two different lenses.  The first is that of an employer who required my employees to have strong technology skills and a fearless disposition when it came to problem-solving.  The second lens is that of a teacher who wants her students to leave her classroom with a thirst for knowledge and the understanding that technology is a great tool but it comes with great responsibility.

In my classroom technology is used in three different ways. The first is for basic computer skills lessons, the second is for product creation, and the third is learning and expansion of knowledge. My students are given explicit instruction in how to use their technology.  This instruction includes keyboarding shortcuts, hardware information, software installation, document creation and formatting, and a plethora of other skills that will make using a computer more natural and comfortable for them.  

The second way technology is used in my classroom is for the art of creation.  My students are given many opportunities to create.  They can choose the format for the projects - presentations, video, audio, in typed report format, or through programming and coding. Through projects, my students are learning the ins and outs of being solid digital citizens. They learn about copyright laws, safety, and what it means to contribute to the World Wide Web.  My students often contribute to collaborative projects with their classmates; technology makes this process easier. 

The third use of technology is to expand my student’s knowledge. They are able to do research and find resources at the touch of their fingers. In this day and age, it is no longer necessary for students to “know” as long as they are able to “find” what they need. Students use their computers to research and investigate new ideas and concepts they do not understand.

I believe that in an ever changing world my students need to be well-versed in using technology for a variety of purposes. In order to help my students, get where they need to be I too need to be well versed in technology.