PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING WITH TECHNOLOGY

Philosophy of Teaching with Technology

We live in a world filled with technology. Boser (2013) stated whether its a
mom-and-pop coffee shop, a Fortune 500 firm, or a healthcare nonprofit, well-run
organizations employ technology as a way to improve their performance (pg. 1). As
technology increases in the world, educators also need to increase the use of technology
in the classroom. According to Valdez (2005) educators must prepare for a technologyrich future and keep up with change by adopting effective strategies that infuse lessons
with appropriate technologies (pg. 3). As an educator, it is important to prepare students
for their future. School should not be separate from the world of technology, but should
support education.
When I began teaching, I only used my school-issued computer for creating
lesson plans and documents that could be printed and handed out to the students. I
occasionally planned times of computer use that included students playing educational
games. With the support of my district, I have been able to increase my technology use
each year. A few years ago, they issued each teacher an iPad to become familiar with and
use in the classroom. My school district provides technology professional development
training days to encourage technology use in the classroom. This year they increased the
number of mobile computer and IPad labs in my building.
The reading and math curriculum purchased by the district has many online
components. There are online videos and activities that I project daily and use with my
students. I am also able to create student accounts where the students and their parents
can log in online to review and practice the things we are learning in class. I have used
the Sock Puppets App to have students review story elements and collaborate with peers

PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING WITH TECHNOLOGY

to create a story. I have used the free version of Spelling City

(https://www.spellingcity.com) to have students practice and review spelling words. I
love using the Kidspiration app to brainstorm writing ideas and make word webs about
the topics we are studying.
Additionally, my school district has purchased an IXL math account for each
student (http://www.ixl.com). This website (or app) has practice questions for each
common core math standard at each grade level. As the teacher, I can log in and see each
students progress and look at reports that show which skills they need more work on and
which they have mastered. I can also have students go back and work on Kindergarten
skills that they are missing or move ahead to second grade level questions if they have
mastered the first grade skills. The students enjoy earning medals and prizes as they
work through the problems.
Each fall and spring, my students take the MAP (Measurement of Academic
Progress) Test for Reading and Math. This test is taken on the computer and adjusts
according to the students answers in order to best score their abilities. One of the
problems with this test is as first graders, sometimes manipulating the computer is a
challenge. I think that it is amazing that the test on the computer can adapt to the
students abilities. Wahl and Duffield (2005) state that technology should be a stronger
partner in helping to collect and analyze data about what her students know and what
they are learning, helping her to meet students changing needs (pg. 8).
In the online resources for the reading curriculum that we are using, we have the
capability of creating assessments online. This year, I would like to learn how to create
these assessment and have the students log in and take the assessment online. I would

PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING WITH TECHNOLOGY

also like to utilize the student accounts to have the students personally interacting with
the curriculum that is at their level.
I love to see the students get excited about using technology. I hope to continue
to foster this excitement for technology use and in turn foster a love for learning. My
goal is to effectively integrate more technology into my classroom. I do not want to use
technology just for the sake of using technology but to make my teaching more efficient,
to enhance the learning environment, and to more effectively differentiate instruction.

PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING WITH TECHNOLOGY

References
Boser, U. (2013, June 14). Are schools getting a big enough bang for their education
technology buck? Retrieved from
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education/report/2013/06/14/66485/areschools-getting-a-big-enough-bang-for-their-education-technology-buck/
Valdez, G. (2005). Technology: A catalyst for teaching and learning in the classroom.
North Central Regional Educational Laboratory: The Critical Issue. Retrieved
from https://drive.google.com/folderview?
id=0B0furo7_ulDCbm5vWnY4TjZqVzA&usp=sharing
Wahl, L. & Duffield, J. (2005). Using flexible technology to meet the needs of diverse
learners: What teachers can do. San Francisco, CA: WestEd. Retrieved from
https://drive.google.com/folderview?
id=0B0furo7_ulDCMGFZZ2hPblBvUXc&usp=sharing