Philosophy of Technology Statement

Lillie Michael
ED199
11/14/2020

Technology: when I hear this phrase the first word that comes to mind is supportive. I

have grown up in a generation where we have relied heavily on technology as a resource to

help us succeed, learn, grow, be efficient, stay up to date, and much more. With that being said,

I believe technology is one of the most important tools when it comes to education. Technology

helps both students and educators significantly. It’s an asset that allows students to show what

they know, is a communicative platform for both students and educators, it is a way for teachers

to teach students efficiently, and it helps educators create an interactive, fun, and creative

learning environment that fits the learning needs of all students--this asset is what I find to be

most crucial. Having a platform that can fit the needs of all students is one of the most important

aspects of teaching, the fact that technology can be this resource is incredible.

Throughout the course of the semester, in ED199, we have spent a tremendous amount

of time learning about how technology can benefit the world of education. We have done a

variety of different activities in order to broaden our knowledge on technology such as projects,

interviews, in-class group activities, discussions, videos, articles, the 7 ISTE (International

Society for Technology in Education) standards, and so much more. We have even had to use

technology as a source to learn about technology due to Covid-19. For example, we had to use

the technological resource, Zoom, in order to speak with our interviewees to learn about

technology...see how useful technology was for our class?! From ED199 I have undoubtedly

learned the reasons why technology is so crucial for educators and students. From all I have

learned, I will never forget the technological benefits and tools as I progress and grow as an

educator.
 ISTE standard 1-- “Learner” was very apparent when listening to Marrisa Flannyer, Mia

Butler, and Shannon Lewand’s Digital Tool Inquiry Project. Their project was about the online

platform, “Nearpod”, which was an online resource I had never heard of before. In their

presentation they defined what “Nearpod” does: “Nearpod is a student engagement platform

that incorporates learning, games, lessons, collaboration and assessment that works in the

classroom and virtually.” After learning about “Nearpod” our class got to try out the online tool

ourselves. We all participated in a “back to school icebreaker” game using “Nearpod.” Our job

was to answer questions about ourselves which would then appear with all of my other peers

responses on the screen. They explained that this is a great tool for teaching, assessing, and

allowing students to connect. Our interactive activity was showing us how students could

connect using “Nearpod.” Within the ISTE standard 1 it states, “​Educators continually improve

their practice by learning from and with others and exploring proven and promising practices

that leverage technology to improve student learning.” I was the “learner” when listening to their

presentation. “Nearpod” was a completely new resource for me and due to my attentiveness

and eagerness to learn from my peers (Marrissa, Mia, and Shannon), I was able to learn about

a new technological platform that I could potentially use when I become an educator.

To start off the semester, Dr. Maurer, Ashley Churchill, and I presented the first Digital

Tool Inquiry Project: “Recording a Phone Call on an iPhone.” Our presentation taught the class

the easiest ways to record a phone call for our Oral History Project. Our project relates to the

ISTE standard 2--”Leader.” This standard states, “​Educators seek out opportunities for

leadership to support student empowerment and success and to improve teaching and

learning.” Dr. Maurer, Ashley, and I were the “leaders” in this situation. In order for our peers to

successfully ​interview their teachers for the Oral History Project we needed to take on the

leadership role and educate them on how to accomplish this. As leaders we were helping our

class learn the best ways to record a phone class so that they would succeed on the

assignment. We were supporting not only our peers' success but we were giving them the
empowerment and knowledge they needed to accurately interview their teachers using

technological resources such as “voice memos.” Great work Dr. Mauer and Ashley!

ISTE standard 3--”Citizen” is a standard I never had much knowledge on, but through an

ED199 class lesson on “digital citizenship” I now finally understand what it means to be a good

digital citizen. This standard states, “​Educators inspire students to positively contribute to and

responsibly participate in the digital world.” In my opinion, we learned best about this idea

through a Ted Talk by Richard Culatta called “Rethinking Digital Citizenship.” Richard’s

discussion was all about, “​the new lens on digital citizenship that focuses on the do's of digital 

citizenship: improving your community, respectful debate, shaping public policy and recognizing 

the validity of online sources.” This Ted Talk broadened my knowledge of not only what digital 

citizenship means but also what it means to be a good digital citizen. I learned this from the last 

story he shared during his talk. He talked about a girl named Kristen Lane who posted a picture 

of herself wearing her junior year prom dress on social media to try and sell it so that she could 

buy a prom dress for her senior year. Unfortunately, she received a tremendous amount of 

hateful comments about her physical appearance. She was body-shamed, made fun of, and 

treated horribly--this would be a clear representation of being a “bad” digital citizen. But, one 

student commented on her post and said, “I think you look beautiful.” This comment made 

others do the same. As Richard said, “people started flooding her with comments about how 

wonderful and beautiful she was.” In the end, Kristen ended up making $5,000 and used the 

money to help buy dresses for other people in her school who could not afford them. Richard 

explained that this happy ending was “all because one person was a good digital citizen.” This 

story made it crystal clear to me what it means to be a good online citizen. From this day 

forward, I promise to always be aware of who I am as a digital citizen. I promise to never treat 

anyone online with disrespect or harm. From this ED199 lesson I have learned that I value being 

a good digital citizen. I am a citizen who promises to always treat everyone online equally and 
with utter respect and kindness. When I become an educator, I assure you that I will inspire and 

educate my own students on what it means to be a good digital citizen. I will even show my 

students this inspirational Ted Talk as a way to educate them on the right ways to treat others 

online. 

ISTE standard 4--”Collaborator” was most clearly exemplified in the Digital Tool Inquiry

Project on the technological resource, “Slack” by Hanna Dervin, Kate Uterseher, and Teresa

Dold. “Slack” is a platform that allows students and teachers to communicate and collaborate

online. During their presentation our class got to use “Slack” and see how it works for ourselves.

I found it to be a very easy and appropriate way for educators to communicate with students

online. With “Slack” you can send messages, photos, videos, etc and it will all appear in your

group “channel.” ISTE standard 4 states, “Educators dedicate time to collaborate with both

colleagues and students to improve practice, discover and share resources and ideas, and

solve problems.” This is exactly what “Slack” does. It is a resource that allows teachers to

collaborate with colleagues and students in order to teach, share important information, ideas,

and resources, as well as just check-in. Teachers could even use this platform to communicate

with other colleagues to discuss: curriculum, activities, teaching strategies, and more! The best

part of all is that teachers and students are using this form of technology to their advantage in

order to effectively communicate! “Slack” is a great communicative online resource that I will

undoubtedly utilize when I become an educator.

My favorite Digital Tool Inquiry project was on “Bitmoji Classroom” by Delaney Rimer,

Grace Emmerick, and Keenan Taylor. “Bitmoji Classroom” is a creative online resource that

allows students and teachers to interact using their own bitmojis. Teachers could use “Bitmoji

Classroom” to make teaching lessons more engaging and motivational. They explained during

their presentation that if an educator were to use a slide show to teach a lesson, “Bitmoji

Classroom” would be a great way to “turn boring slides into interesting and engaging slides!”
ISTE standard 5--”Designer” states, “Educators design authentic, learner-driven activities and

environments that recognize and accommodate learner variability.” This is exactly what a

technological tool like, “Bitmoji Classroom” would do. It makes learning authentic, creative, and

fun for learners. When I become an educator I want to be creative in the way I design online

material that I need to teach. I never want to have “boring slides.” I want to design my content to

be creative so that my students are engaged and want to learn more, and ”Bitmoji Classroom” is

definitely a great online resource in order for me to accomplish this goal.

For my Oral History Project I interviewed my high school Geometry teacher, Jennifer

Snell. During my interview I was inspired by what Jennifer had to say about technology and the

ways in which she best utilizes technology. From her interview I clearly saw the ISTE standard

6--”Facilitator.” This standard is all about the ways in which educators utilize technology to help

students strengthen their culture (in terms of education). When interviewing Jennifer I could

clearly see that she uses technology in order to help her students stay efficient and grow in their

areas of learning. During her interview I asked the question, “Do you think technology aids or

hinders learners?” She answered saying, “​It depends on how it is used. I use technology purely

as a tool if it is useful for that skill.” She explained this idea by giving me an example of a

technological tool her students use on a daily basis--a graphing calculator. She explained that

she uses the graphing calculator as “a discovery tool.” She used the example of mathematical

graphs. She explained that students can use the graphing calculator to generate graphs “faster

than they could ever do by hand.” She was getting the point across to me that she could never

do a graphical unit as quickly as she has been without the technology she uses for this unit such

as the graphing calculator. What I learned is that Jennifer is facilitating a technological tool that

will help her students be efficient when it comes to learning math--hence strengthening their

educational culture in terms of mathematics. I really appreciated Jennifer taking the time to

discuss her viewpoints on technology, she will forever hold a very special place in my heart and

I am thankful for everything she has given me.

 Another favorite Digital Tool Inquiry Project of mine was about the online platform,

“Quizizz” by Claudia Chavarin, Molly Quick, and Ellie Hanlon. “Quizizz” is a resource that

educators can use to create, “gamified quizzes and interactive lessons to engage any learner.”

This technological tool relates to the ISTE standard 7--”Analyst.” This standard states how being

an “analyst” is a way for educators to, “provide alternative ways for students to demonstrate

competency and reflect on their learning using technology.” “Quizizz” is a resource that

educators can use to do exactly this! It is a great alternative resource for students to

demonstrate what they know through technology as well as a way for educators to see what

students need improvement on in terms of content. “Quizizz” allows educators to test students

for competency but in a fun, creative, interactive, and engaging way. I used this technological

resource while in high school and I found it to be a very fun way to learn the material as well as

be able to show my competency for what I was learning. My familiarity with “Quizizz” will serve

me well when I become an educator and want to get a grasp of my students competency in

specific areas of content…the best part of all is that I will be able to do this through using a

technological tool!

As an educator I want to use technology to my advantage in order to enhance my

students' and my own knowledge. Technology is efficient, useful, and is a very crucial tool that

we use in our everyday lives. There are so many technological resources that fit the educational

needs of all students and I can not let that slip through my fingers. As an educator I promise that

I will use the 7 ISTE standards to my advantage in order to teach successfully through utilizing

technology. I want to use technology to help my students grow as well as help myself grow as

an educator. I will never forget the crucial knowledge I learned about technology through

ED199. Technology is essential for teachers and students, and I promise to not forget this

philosophy!