My Educational Technology Philosophy

       Nine years after graduating with my bachelors in business I am going back to school to complete a dream I had as a young child.  I have worked in the corporate world now for 12 years  and have come to realize I simply must have a job that is rewarding.  I remember the teachers in my life that made a considerable impact.  Ms. Allen who helped a terribly shy young teenager find her voice.  Ms. Jones, who though was an extremely tough teacher, taught me more about English in one 7^th grade year than I probably learned the rest of my middle and high school years.  My educational technology philosophy is as follows.

The purpose of education is to further the human experience and to help future generations have an easier more intelligent life.   The role of the learner in education is to experience growth and to expand their knowledge in many areas.  The role of the teacher is to lead, guide and shape minds – to encourage and to motivate.  My objective as a teacher will be to stretch the student and to help students identify with real world uses of the information they are taught. 

My approach to education is based on two theories: pragmatism and realism.  I believe that if a student can understand the real world use of what they are being taught and the practical uses of the information they will be more likely to be interested in learning the material.  I also feel that teaching with more general education as opposed to narrow specialization allows a student to experience a wider spectrum and thus allows them to have varied experiences.  These varied experiences will help them grow as an individual and see what they enjoy learning about the most which will help them better choose an occupation.

            An expectation I have of myself as a future teacher is not to become jaded with the thrill of teaching young minds.  I know that is easy to say as a first year alternative teaching student.  However, I am only interested in doing work that is rewarding.  To me there is nothing more rewarding than knowing I have helped a young person learn a principal that will help them live a more successful life.  In turn, I will expect respect from my students and a willingness to learn. 

   In conclusion, the role of a teacher is an incredible one that can open or close the minds of his/her student’s.  By the use of two theories – pragmatism and realism, I plan to guide my future students and teach them real world applications of the lessons taught.  By doing this, the students will have a chance at a more successful future and an understanding of the way the world and careers work.