Vision
As society is progressing further into the digital age, educators face the challenge of engaging students in relevant learning opportunities. Technology allows educators to channel student energy in a meaningful and productive manner. In order to facilitate higher-order thinking and learning, teachers must find a way to be informed leaders that are prepared to provide twenty-first century learners with what they need to be successful members of society. Technology is a vital component in educating students of today to be leaders of tomorrow. This belief leads to my vision for technology-enhanced education. I envision confident educators who structure technology embedded curriculum to help students facilitate and drive their learning. I foresee students using multiple sources of technology to increase their depth of content knowledge and employ higher order thinking skills.
Technology embedded curriculum infuses students with quality education that prepares them for twenty-first century learning. It allows students to take responsibility and ownership for their learning and behavior. The article “Technology in Schools: What the Research Says”, stresses the importance of integrating technology into curriculum, explaining that as technology is “accelerating globalization, it will advance changes in education” (Cisco Systems & Metiri Group, 2006, p. 2). Technology is evolving content of what students are learning as well as the process of how they learn. From the studies that various researchers performed, Cisco Systems & Metiri Group (2006) concluded that students perform equally or better academically in online learning environments as students being instructed in traditional environments (p.2). The article concludes, “research clearly indicates that the effective use of technology can result in higher levels of learning” (Cisco Systems & Metiri Group, 2006, p. 2). In order to facilitate higher level learning, educators need to make sure that their 21st Century students have access to the technology they are familiar with and accustomed to within the classroom setting.
According to Creighton (2003), the purpose of effective technology integration is how the teacher uses technology to support clear learning objectives (p. 68). While the integration of technology in schools involves the actual use of technology tools like interactive whiteboards, tablet devices and computers, teachers must use best practices on a daily basis to challenge, invigorate, and motivate learners. Oftentimes, when technology is effectively integrated into a classroom, it is within a setting where these routine practices are in place. Combined with clear learning objectives and outcomes, the foundation of effective education requires the same principles as effective technology integration (Creighton, 2003). As technology becomes more prevalent and plentiful in classrooms throughout, teachers should evaluate how they use the tools to facilitate student driven learning and begin creating twenty-first century classrooms. My vision includes a shift to move towards fostering instructional environments where students are able to critically think, explore, and guide their own learning in a collaborative process, which technology promotes.
As educators, we must help our students achieve their highest potential by guiding them to success based off of their aptitude and gifts. We must use best practices to engage and challenge learners. We must commit to increase student achievement and encourage them to exceed their personal goals. In order to do this, we need to keep our vision in mind and center our actions on student needs in this digitally driven world. Providing them with the necessary tools to succeed, and teaching them how to use those tools to independently evaluate and assess educational progress and shortcomings, is what will create well rounded, career and college ready individuals.
References
Cisco Systems & Metiri Group. (2006). Technology in schools: What does the research say? Findings from Research. San Francisco: West Ed. Retrieved June 20, 2010 from http://www.metiri.com/
Creighton, T. (2003). The principal as a technology leader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, Chapters 1-4, pp. 1-41.
Technology embedded curriculum infuses students with quality education that prepares them for twenty-first century learning. It allows students to take responsibility and ownership for their learning and behavior. The article “Technology in Schools: What the Research Says”, stresses the importance of integrating technology into curriculum, explaining that as technology is “accelerating globalization, it will advance changes in education” (Cisco Systems & Metiri Group, 2006, p. 2). Technology is evolving content of what students are learning as well as the process of how they learn. From the studies that various researchers performed, Cisco Systems & Metiri Group (2006) concluded that students perform equally or better academically in online learning environments as students being instructed in traditional environments (p.2). The article concludes, “research clearly indicates that the effective use of technology can result in higher levels of learning” (Cisco Systems & Metiri Group, 2006, p. 2). In order to facilitate higher level learning, educators need to make sure that their 21st Century students have access to the technology they are familiar with and accustomed to within the classroom setting.
According to Creighton (2003), the purpose of effective technology integration is how the teacher uses technology to support clear learning objectives (p. 68). While the integration of technology in schools involves the actual use of technology tools like interactive whiteboards, tablet devices and computers, teachers must use best practices on a daily basis to challenge, invigorate, and motivate learners. Oftentimes, when technology is effectively integrated into a classroom, it is within a setting where these routine practices are in place. Combined with clear learning objectives and outcomes, the foundation of effective education requires the same principles as effective technology integration (Creighton, 2003). As technology becomes more prevalent and plentiful in classrooms throughout, teachers should evaluate how they use the tools to facilitate student driven learning and begin creating twenty-first century classrooms. My vision includes a shift to move towards fostering instructional environments where students are able to critically think, explore, and guide their own learning in a collaborative process, which technology promotes.
As educators, we must help our students achieve their highest potential by guiding them to success based off of their aptitude and gifts. We must use best practices to engage and challenge learners. We must commit to increase student achievement and encourage them to exceed their personal goals. In order to do this, we need to keep our vision in mind and center our actions on student needs in this digitally driven world. Providing them with the necessary tools to succeed, and teaching them how to use those tools to independently evaluate and assess educational progress and shortcomings, is what will create well rounded, career and college ready individuals.
References
Cisco Systems & Metiri Group. (2006). Technology in schools: What does the research say? Findings from Research. San Francisco: West Ed. Retrieved June 20, 2010 from http://www.metiri.com/
Creighton, T. (2003). The principal as a technology leader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, Chapters 1-4, pp. 1-41.