Educational Technology Philosophy Statement

There are many philosophies that claim to be the most effective for student learning.  After learning about many of them I have decided that they are all valid for various reasons, but I think that the theory that I will subscribe to in my teaching career will be E.D. Hirsch, Jr.’s theory on core curriculum.  I believe that it is important to have a very clearly outlined curriculum in order to insure that students are learning everything that is necessary for a thorough and balanced education.  It is also essential for curricula to be regulated in order to prevent gaps and repetition in what is being taught.  That said, I think that the ways in which students should be taught this information should be widely varied in order to accommodate all learning styles.
I definitely believe in the theory of multiple intelligences developed by Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University.  I believe that the ways in which students learn vary greatly and that teachers should do their best to accommodate these various learning styles.  One way to effectively do this is by integrating technology into the curriculum.  Technology is undeniably important in today’s classrooms and I feel that it should definitely be used in any way that it can to enhance an already sound curriculum.  I do not think that technology should be used simply because it exists.  Teachers should evaluate lesson plans and decide whether or not the technology they are using is truly embellishing the lesson and if so they should, by all means, use it.
I plan on using a variety of technology in my classroom in whatever ways I can in order to improve the learning environment of my students.  I think it is really important for students to be familiar with the internet and how to do research for themselves.  This is a skill they will undoubtedly need, not only in their academic lives, but in their personal lives as well.  I also believe that it is important to remain abreast of new developments in technology in order to provide students with the training they will need to succeed in their academic lives as well as in their future careers.  I also believe that it is important to provide students with audio, visual, and kinesthetic opportunities for learning by utilizing various types of available technology in the classroom.
Ultimately, the most important part of a curriculum is the information that is being taught.  This information should be presented as creatively and engagingly as possible and whenever technology can help to enhance a lesson or assist a struggling student, it should be utilized in order to maximize the learning environment of a classroom.