EDTECH 541: Vision Statement

Vision Statement

Comparing technology’s role in educational settings from the past to the present, you can begin to envision the ever important role it will have on the future of learning. “As we look today at what is happening with technology - and what the future promises…, we see that some of the most innovative and promising practices in education involve technology…” (Roblyer & Doering, 2012, p.1). These innovative and promising educational practices are being shaped by the demand for digital literacy and 21st century skills in students for their successful post-secondary readiness in a technologically based society. As an educator, educational technology will play a vital role in preparing students for the future.

Information, media, and technology skills has been identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills as one of the main student outcomes for 21st century learners.

People in the 21st century live in a technology and media-suffused environment marked by various characteristics, including: 1) access to an abundance of information, 2) rapid changes in technology tools, and 3) the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale. To be effective in the 21st century, citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills related to information, media and technology. (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2009)

Our role as educators is to blend these information, media, and technology skills with the other identified 21st century skills of learning, innovation, life, and career to prepare students to “succeed as effective citizens, workers and leaders.” (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2009). Beyond the global view of the importance of technology for 21st century skills are the benefits that educational technology can have directly on the learning that takes place within the classrooms.

Educational technology and technology integration in the classroom learning environment can promote and enhance students learning. In an  online article by Edutopia entitled “Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?: The Reasons Are Many” the staff identified four key components that can enhance learning through technology integration. They are: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts. For example, “technology tools allow students to be intellectually challenged...students acquire and refine their analysis and problem solving skills as they work individually and in teams to process, and synthesize online information.” (Edutopia, 2007). Technology in the classroom can also allow for differentiation through self paced instruction that meets the needs of individual learners. It can also provide “New tech tools for visualizing and modeling, especially in the sciences, offer students ways to experiment and observe phenomena and view results in graphic ways that aid in understanding. “ (Edutopia, 2007).

The examples stated above, along with some others listed below, show the importance of educational technology in preparing students for the future as well as enhancing their learning environments. “Effective technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is routine and transparent and when technology supports curricular goals (Edutopia, 2007).”

Additional Resources:

National Education Technology Plan 2010

Framework for 21century Learning

Technology Integration Professional Development Guide

Top 10 Reasons Technology is Important for Education

References:

Edutopia. (2007). Technology Integration Professional Development Guide. Retrieved on Feburary 1, 2014 from http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-description

Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2009). Framework for 21st Century Learning. Retrieved on Feburary 1, 2014 from http://www.p21.org/about-us/p21-framework

Roblyer, M. D.,Doering A.H. (2012). Integrating educational technology into teaching (6th Edition).Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall.