Philosophy of Educational Technology

Technology, like language, is capable of many great and terrible things. The internet,

which is increasingly becoming more important to the daily lives and function of our

community, is filled with misinformation, echo chambers, and scam artists. Yet, it is also filled

with knowledge, resources, and community. As an educator, I believe it is my duty to teach

students how to navigate, communicate, and utilize technology in productive and knowledgeable

ways.

As an English teacher I believe it is my duty to make sure students have the skills to

productively communicate with one another. I think this extends beyond the essay and written

page and onto their online platforms. This most recent election has shown us the role politics and

public discourse has in our ever-changing world. There is great polarization, cruelty, and

misinformation out there and it is crucial that I teach my students how to exhibit empathy and

credibility when navigating the online landscape. This involves instilling in them knowledge of

reliable sources, fact checking, and being able to have discourse in a polite and productive way.

I believe that my students will be growing up in a world unlike mine, a world in which art

is transforming itself. As a Language Arts educator I believe that it’s imperative that I teach

students how to express themselves online not just through words, but through other forms of art

such as visual and auditory art forms. To achieve this, my classroom will incorporate analyses of

stories and poetry that utilize technologies like Movie Maker, YouTube, and Tik Tok. This not

only gets them familiar with these online platforms, but also teaches them to contribute to

communities in an expressive and creative way.

 Technology is capable of being a great equalizer as well as a great divider. If properly

utilized, it can build bridges, cultivate knowledge, and make an otherwise silenced voice be

heard. It can be the tool of the artist or the tool of the tyrant and I think it’s crucial that my

students understand where their information is coming from, the importance of being empathetic

and respectful even when they are behind a screen, and how to express themselves in a way that

will contribute to online and offline communities in productive and knowledgeable ways.