As a teacher of Technology and Computer Science I am dedicated to the core values that make a successful classroom teacher, as well as to the added responsibilities, learning strategies, and ethics required of a technology teacher. I believe that in addition to being a good classroom teacher who engages in sound instructional strategies, is tuned to her students’ needs, differentiates the instruction, practices good classroom management, and is a facilitator of learning, a good teacher is also a contributing member of the staff, a communicator with parents and community, and a constant learner, responsible for her own professional growth.
I believe that my added role as the Technology Coordinator in school is to create an educational setting where teachers encourage and facilitate technology use to enhance the acquisition of knowledge, improve academic and critical thinking skills and attitudes by enriching and extending the curriculum using technology, and to differentiate learning for students of different abilities. I want to help teachers increase their capacity to affect student learning. I believe that technology cannot be taught in a vacuum, and must be integrated into the curriculum, which provides a context for a meaningful learning experience.
I believe that students learn effectively if their educational experiences are integrated with real world experiences- physical, conceptual, emotional, and social. This understanding was elaborated on by John Dewey in his classic book, Experience and Education [1938], Dewey argued that teachers need to recognize and build on the relationship between real world experiences and the educational setting. I believe that technology can make those connections more viable by providing real life information and facilitating authentic communication.
I believe in and respect the individuality and uniqueness of each student. I consider different learning needs and styles, as well as diverse attitudes when planning my teaching. I believe that technology and can provide an excellent tool for differentiating the instruction of learners with different needs and learning styles.
I believe in a constructivist approach to teaching and learning which proposes that “learning environments should support multiple perspectives or interpretations of reality, knowledge construction, context-rich, experience-based activities" (Jonassen, 1991). A teacher’s role is to facilitate learning and help student become independent inquirers. Therefore I favor and plan activities that involve the student engaged and at the center of the learning experience. I support the student in real-world situations, solving problems, or engaged in relevant issues that are likely to be applied to future situations. I believe that in my role as a technology leader I can help my students become life long learners and effective users of technology.