Running Head: Personal Technology Statement Beashua Spearman

Beashua Spearman Technology Vision Statement ETEC 5303 Computers in K-12 Classrooms Beashua Spearman University of Arkansas

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Technology use will not decrease, in fact, within the recent ten years technology use has increased drastically throughout the world. Within the increase of globalization includes a global economy and the introduction of low and high-tech jobs, which are replacing the manufacturing jobs of the past. It is imperative that we as educators integrate technology into the schools and its curriculum to ensure students are equipped to excel in the digital age. In my honest opinion, technology will instruct students in learning how to communicate, use collaboration and teambuilding skills, create new technologies because of learning how to use existing technologies, increase social communication through social networking skills, increased problem solving skills, and the ability to creative new avenues within existing software. The internet is similar to a blanket weaved into different networks throughout the globe and our students need to be prepared to face the challenges of a globally diverse job market, economy, people, and technologies. Projects, assignments, and assessments must continue to focus upon educating students with real-world application skills. Students need assignments, assessments, and projects that meet or pertain to their interests and their career goals. We are educating and training the future now and we must equip our students with the best knowledge within technology education. According to Mashable Tech, technology is improving education through the instruction of foreign language, for example, students may experience Spanish from a native speaker in Guatemala. According to the Ed.gov technology plan, it states that schools must become an incubator of exploration and invention. We as educators must create new sources of exploration and invention routes for our students. We can inspire and influence the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg and we must continue to inspire and influence our students if we want them to succeed within the digital age (Ed.gov, Enhancing Education through Technology). In the current state of our global diverse economy, students need to learn new technologies, they need to learn how to use these new technologies, and likewise, educators must become competent in teaching new technologies. As educators, we must continue to integrate additional instructional technologies. As educators integrate additional instructional technology methods, students begin to incorporate these technologies into their learning methods (Kent and McNergney, 13). For example, I have learned that as I increase my knowledge of technology, I become comfortable using technology in the classroom. This semester, I learned how to use Windows 7 in addition to the Microsoft Office Suite 2010 to co-teach five vocational technology education courses. If I did not learn these technologies, my students would not benefit from my instruction and in my honest opinion, it is a disservice to my students and me.

We as educators do fear the unknown and there are times we may dismiss technological advancements but we must consider the true nature of teaching. Teaching is not something we do to allow the time to pass, it is something we love to do, it is a passion to learn, to create connections, to communicate, to stimulate learning, to grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally,

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and academically ( Brady and Lampert, 1-4) . Moreover, educators teach to enrich relationships among their students and peers, they educate to transform the lives of their students. It is imperative for educators to research technological advances rather than to scoff and dismiss them. For example, while attending a professional development session, the presenter introduced us to Khan Academy. I overheard the scoffs of the educators who were dismissing this wonderful technology tool. They did not understand the full potential of this instructional technology tool; instead, they complained about it, they began to assume it would replace their jobs in the future. According to Steve Jobs, technology is not an exclusive solution to repair the problems in our present educational system (Rotherham, 2012). Educators must learn that technology will not replace the human interaction or communication between a teacher and his or her student. The purpose of technology in education was not designed to replace educators; conversely, it was designed to supplement classroom instruction (Rotherham, 2012). Educators can design an opulent learning experience incorporating technological content and applying it in their classrooms. I concur with Steve Jobs statement; technology is not the solution to solve our countrys problems in education. Technology is an enhancement rather than a requirement within our classrooms. References: Brady, M., & Lampert, A. (2007). Chapter 1: Why Teach?. In The New Teacher of Adults. (2nd ed.). (pp. 1-4). J. Weston Walch Publisher.

Ed. Gov. Enhancing Education through Technology. Retrieved February 1, 2012, from http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg34.html#sec2401

Kent, T. W., & McNergney, R. F. (1999). Will Technology Really Change Education?. ERIC. Retrieved March 23, 2012, from http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED426051.pdf

Kessler, S. (2010, November 22). http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/technology-ineducation/. 8 Ways Technology Is Improving Education. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/technology-in-education/

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Rotherham, A. J. (2012, January 26). Can Computers Replace Teachers?. Time Ideas. Retrieved March 23, 2012, from ideas.time.com/2012/01/26/can-computers-replace-teachers/