Technology Changed Our Educational Philosophy

1047 Words3 Pages

Without a doubt technology has changed the look and feel of education today. With technology changing so fast in so many areas of our lives, it can be difficult to know what to purchase, invest your time and effort towards, as well as know what will yield the highest benefit to students. While technology can hinder the achievement of students it can also provide some of the most dynamic and interesting education environments that fosters a high rate of success in a school building. The administrator that is able to harness the effective use of technology for not only herself but for her teachers and students will foster the kind of environment that will keep students engaged and teach them the necessary skills they will need for their future.
Educational technology is never meant to supplant good teaching. Technology will always engage our students, but it is what they are engaged in that is more important. Good teaching has always looked the same: make content relevant, engage all students, provide modeling and practice, offer guidance and support yet encourage independence. Technology can never replace this. Yet it can enhance it to such a high degree that it would be detrimental to students not to integrate it. Students no longer need the “sage on the stage.” Information is everywhere all the time. Learning can happen anywhere, anytime. Administrators and teachers need to adopt technology that supports and encourages this.
The effective integration of technology does not mean finding a tool that replaces what we already do as educators. Schools need to embrace the fact that education needs to look different if we are to keep our students engaged and prepared for their next step. Our philosophies and pedagogies also need to ch...

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.... There are third party companies that will help a district do this, especially a large one, such as Bright Bytes. If the district is small enough, a survey can be created and given out fairly easily that can be used a few times a year. Running this needs-assessment will allow district administrators to know where to budget time and allocate resources more effectively to support the integration efforts of their teachers.
At the end of the day, sifting through and evaluating technologies can be a daunting task. Though it does not replace good teaching and never will, it is a disservice to the students not to enhance their educational experience with it. The effective building leader will always, beyond a shadow of doubt, keep what is best for students in mind, and that will be what guides her to effectively support and integrate the use of technology in the building.

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