Personal+Philosophy

= **Gracejoy Hauser's Personal Technology Philosophy in Education** =

//"To instruct someone... is not a matter of getting him to commit results to mind. Rather, it is to teach him to participate in the process that makes possible the establishment of knowledge. We teach a subject not to produce little living libraries on that subject, but rather to get a student to think mathematically for himself, to consider matters as an historian does, to take part in the process of knowledge-getting. Knowing is a process not a product." (Bruner 72)//

In this class with Dr. Hines, EEX 4763 Technology for Classroom Teachers of Students with Special Needs, I have learned the real value of technology in implementing exceptional students' educational success. I have learned that technology doesn't necessarily mean high tech, expensive, and sophisticated. I have learned various low and mid tech tools that are just as helpful to students. The real pleasure was being able to use these varying levels of technology in our Tech Club (with Marty Rohleder) at two 5th grade classes at Cypress Spring Elementary School in Orlando. We were able to maximize the school's equipment that the teachers were not regularly using and showed them how easy it can be to manipulate the projector, doc cam and hook up their laptops and project the screen.

In technology education, my philosophy will have a focus on the learning process, development of thinking skills, better interpersonal relationships, and meeting student interests. The students would be encouraged to be creative, express their own ideas, try new things, and appreciate the differences between themselves and others. My responsibility would be to guide them and stimulate their curiosity and interest and push them towards problem solving. A teacher must also have positive expectations. This means believing in each student and believing that the student can learn and be successful. Students only learn as much as the teacher expects; teachers who set high expectations for their students will receive higher achievement from their students. It is amazing to see what students can accomplish when they know and sense that someone believes in them and truly cares about their success. It is my aspiration as an educator to help students meet their fullest potential by establishing an environment where my students feel safe, are comfortable taking risks with new learning, and presents them with opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas such as using student-friendly website like Wikispace.  When it comes to using technology, teachers must always make efforts to bring new ideas into the classroom, try them, and learn from them. Learning to become a teacher should not stop after graduation; it is a long-term journey and commitment to your students, your colleagues, and yourself. A quest for life-long learning. In the elementary level of exceptional education, technology is best implemented within the outcomes and activities of other content areas (i.e., Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, and Physical Education content areas). It should be considered as a tool that facilitates and enhances instruction of the other content areas while also exposing students to real-world skills that will be used in higher education and the work place. Technology should not be taught as a separate subject; as such, it would have minimal educational value.

The role of family in assistive technology is crucial. It is one thing for educators to implement and teach how technology can help students aid in their daily lives, but it is another when students go home and they are to function around their family and friends. Families need to be taught how to advocate for their child with disabilities. Teachers should give them the resources to find funding for their child's AT needs as well as choosing the best equipment. Families should be proactive in their child's education and should be at the forefront in fighting for their child's educational needs. Teachers can maximize the use of technology by enhancing communication with families such as making a class website that houses photos of student's work, their homework, activities, school events and important contact information.

In closing, technology is definitely the way in which education is steering itself. Some believe that technology can lead the way and eventually produce better schools, while others believe that there may be long-term consequences that are not being considered in the rush to use technology The educational system sees technology as a means to achieve learning and interaction in students. As educator's, one of our important roles is the use of proper implementation of technology that will go beyond the purpose of skill and drill; we must develop it into a tool that fosters real and meaningful experiences.