Technology Teaching Philosophy

Technology Teaching Philosophy by Tim Brown

I know that every child, like every adult, learns differently.  We respond to various stimuli in various ways.  We are attracted to different things and repulsed by different things.  I would like to be able to teach to all of the varied learning students.  In teaching, my overarching goal is to develop a student-centered environment. I want students to actively participate, rather than passively learn.

Technology is all around us.  It is in a large and varied parts of our lives.  We can use technology to shop for groceries, to conduct banking transactions, to become and stay informed with world news and trending events, and the list goes on and on.  Though it may seem that we already have the maximum amount of technology around us, it is likely to increase and change with time.  Because technology is something we cannot ignore, it is important that our children know how to use technology and use it in a creative and responsible way.  Some of these students will not only be responsible for using this technology today, but will be responsible for creating new technology in the future.  So, they will need to, through my lessons, be able to identify trends and forecast technological possibilities.

When teaching technology or subjects with the use of technology, it is important to first establish guideline that secure a safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology.  This includes respecting copyright laws, the proper citing of resources, and general respect for the writing and creation of others. 

After the groundwork of responsible usage of technology is employed, I would build on the existing technological knowledge of the students.  While this knowledge may vary from student to student, I will introduce group lessons where we can share and exchange our knowledge of technology.  This ranges from cell phone, smart phone usage to tricks and shortcuts used on the computer and internet.  These exercises bring some students up to date with technology and enhances and broadens other students. 

It is important for me to introduce lessons that promote student learning and creativity by allowing students to create original works and interact and collaborate with other students.  This collaboration and interaction would start with their peers from their immediately class.  It would in time, however, increase to their global peers, parents, and others from different cultures.  Collaborative efforts would exchange ideas as well as collectively solve problems and produce original works. 

Students would use critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making steps to plan and manage activities, collect and analyze data, identify and define problems and significant questions for investigation.

Through my lessons students would be able to establish and exhibit a sound understanding of technology concepts and operations.  This sound understanding of technology allows students to now be more free to choose technological avenues that fit their intended purposes and goals. 

These lessons enable students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress. 

Technology is always evolving and it is my goal to prepare students, not to just keep up with technology, but to be the possible creators of the technology of the future.