Ok, friends, it’s time for me to post my first entry in regard to ETEC 524, the course that prompted me to create this blog. I will start with my…
Introduction
My name is Cinda Boshart. I am the librarian at the Greenville Sixth Grade Center and an LIS student at TAMU-Commerce. I am in my next-to-last semester after taking courses for two years. I am so excited to be in this introductory course and really wish it had fit into my schedule earlier. I certainly have needed and benefitted from the technology courses I’ve had as I had little background knowledge before beginning this degree. I am hoping this course will pull together much of the information and skills I’ve been exposed to thus far and help me refine basic skills I can use both professionally and personally.
I am seeking this degree in order to keep my job as I am presently working under an emergency certification. I love my job and feel qualified for it in many ways. Finishing my degree will give me the knowledge and skills I need to continue learning and growing in the field of library information science. My present goal is to obtain my Master’s degree this summer. In the future, I want to continue learning through experience and other continuing education opportunities. I want to be a qualified and competent library media specialist who successful grows students into effective seekers of knowledge.
My Educational Technology Philosophy
· My philosophy of educational technology focuses on using technology so that all those in my sphere of influence, including myself, are empowered by its ability to provide access to information, technologies, and communication to foster relationships.
· Educational technology should not focus on the acquisition of new technology for the sake of having more tools, but should focus on the knowledge and skills desired in order to reach certain goals for our students and ourselves.
· Technology serves to motivate students, enrich instruction, and increase productivity in a professional setting.
· Technology can add value to a balanced educational program.
· Educators should introduce students to the ability of technology to change lives through information acquisition, sharing, and communication.
Definition of Educational/Instructional Technology
Educational/instructional technology involves theories, processes and tools used in addressing educational needs and problems. It involves designing, developing, utilizing, managing, and evaluating processes and resources for teaching and learning. Simply put, it is any technology used by educators to aid the teaching and learning process.
Roblyer, M. D. Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson, 2006.
Newby, Timothy J., et al. Educational Technology for Teaching and Learning. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson, 2006.
Lever-Duffy, Judy, et al. Teaching and Learning with Technology. Boston: Pearson, 2008.
Technology Skills I Would Like to Develop
I would like to learn more about Web 2.0 applications (blogs, wikis, flickr, delicious, voicethread). I also want to get more comfortable using desktop publishing and PowerPoint. I will use these to help students integrate knowledge into real-world projects and to help them build relationships with others with whom they can learn and collaborate to solve problems.
I don’t really feel proficient enough with any technological skills to the extent that I could share with others.
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Hello! :)
ReplyDeleteLoved reading your post. Especially..."Educators need to move beyond the basic uses of technology as instruments of speed and comfort. They need to introduce to students the ability of technology to change lives through information acquisition, sharing, and communication. They need to set the standard by engaging in collaboration and organization with other educators beyond what they have ever done. They also need to strive to bring families and communities together in learning."
ReplyDeleteEducational technology can help in so many ways. My vision of anyone can learn regardless of age can coincide with this beautifully. Helping communities stay in touch is important to me. I have lived in countries where neighbors and families are the same thing :) If we can utilize technology to help each other it can be a little less nerve-racking for everyone.
Great post!!
Thanks, William. I do think people were made for community. I guess I still prefer "F2F" but technology is a great substitute when that's not possible (and I do have fun communicating this way.) I am definitely an example of older people being able to learn. I'm also an example of someone learning who does not have a natural bent toward ANY kind of technology. It's been slow, but it's coming! Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteCinda,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your philosophy in so many ways. Just because we have the technology does not mean that we have to use it in every assignment. We as educators need to look for the tools to enhance certain lessons. Not look for the lessons to enhance the technology.
Older people are trying to run away from technology and some are educators, but technology is all around us and they can run but they can not hide from it. They have to learn that the kids of today live with it on a day to day bases and that is what makes their world go around and for the most part theirs as well. I do think that there are things that we still need to be teaching that is not technology related. But technology is here and it is only going to get bigger in our world.
Pam