My personal philosophy on educational technology is grounded in the belief that all students can be Critical Thinkers, Creators, Collaborators, and Communicators. I believe that these skills better prepare students for success in the 21st century. Also, engagement is a key predictor of knowledge attainment. Technology can be used in fun and novel ways to promote engagement. When used with this in mind technology can be the vehicle that leads students to innovation.
To develop critical thinking, the most important resource that you have in your toolbelt are thinking problems. These problems need to be real world in nature and should have multiple avenues to enter into the problem in order to enrich their thinking. This problem based learning allows students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems, fostering critical thinking and creativity.
One benefit to creativity in the classroom is that creative work helps students connect new information to their prior knowledge. Technology should not be used as just a means of assessment or some other similar singular purpose, but rather should be used as a mode of creativity in multiple uses. Students should be given the opportunity to show their learning in creative ways by creating masterpieces that represent them such as slide shows, infographics, and videos just to name a few.
In a classroom that fosters Collaboration and Communication, students are able to not only recognize their own personal skills but also the skills of others. Through effective communicating and listening skills every group member is respected for their thinking as well as held accountable for their participation. They are able to work through peer conflict through communication. Technology can be used as a platform to collaborate through digital whiteboards, shared documents, and social bookmarking.
As a teacher, I view myself as a facilitator of learning, modeling lifelong learning for my students and fostering a love of learning that will extend beyond the classroom. By modeling digital citizenship and the 4Cs myself, I can produce 21st century students ready to engage with whatever new experience comes next in their life.
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