Course Work Portfolio

On
Educational Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom

By
Thelma Buddington
(ID #SS20156915)
Philosophy Statement on Educational Technology submitted to the
Department of Education in Requirement for the Bachelor of Education
Degree in Early Childhood Education

Sam Sharpe Teachers College

Lecturer: Mrs. Colyard
April 27, 2017.
 Introduction

"The principle goal of education is to create men and women who are capable of

doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done."- Jean

Piaget

I believe it is important as an educator to keep learning and continue to modify my

approach to find the best ways to relate material to my students. Our world is

constantly being influenced by technology and I believe it is crucial to use that

technology to improve educational strategies. As an educator, I plan to not only

learn from the experience of current professionals, but also to keep up on new

innovations and incorporate them in my classroom. Todays generation is

immersed in the rapidly changing world of technology. It is something they are

constantly using at every moment, whether it be texting, instant messaging, e-

mailing, facebooking, or listening to their iPods, it is a significant part of their

lives. It has become their mode of communication and it is engraved in almost

everything they do. What better way to teach someone than to speak in their

language. I think it is atrocious that with all the technology we have today, most of

our classrooms are generally the same as one hundred( 100) years ago. I believe

that students should be taught using webquests, emails, creative computer

programs, PowerPoint, movies, discussion boards, social networking sites,

podcasts etc. There are so many opportunities available at our fingertips if we

would just put them to use.

 You can find almost anything on YouTube today to help make your

lesson realistic. For example, if you're teaching a theme About Animals, show

your student variety of animals that can allow them to create a podcast with

animals sound. There are so many exciting ways to use technology in the

classroom to engage students and to authenticate learning and I plan to utilize

them in every way possible. Furthermore, technology in the classroom is not only

necessary to engage students, but it is an essential tool for the future. Every day

our lives become more deeply engrained in technology. Hardly anything is done

on paper anymore. Papers, resumes, job applications, letters, even to-do lists are

now created on computers, PDAs or other electronic devices. Technology has

changed or modes of communication, transportation, production, If one does not

keep current with technology, he or she will be lost in the future. We need to teach

our children in respect to todays world, not only so they can survive and maintain

but so that they may flourish. Amazing inventions have been created using

technology, inventions that increase production, communication, make the

impossible possible and even save lives. Given a complete, well-rounded 21st

century education, who knows what this generation may invent, solve, provide or

cure. As an educator in training, I will continue to increase my knowledge about

technology and keep current with new innovations in order to provide the most

successful learning environment for my students. No matter what my content area

is, I will integrate technology in my classroom in order to provide my students with

a 21st century education.

My Personal Philosophy Statement on Education

I touch the future. I teach.

I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and

stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually,

physically, and socially. It is my desire as an educator to help students meet their

fullest potential in these areas by providing an environment that is safe and invites

sharing of ideas. There are three elements that I believe are conducive to

establishing such an environment, (1) the teacher acting as a guide, (2) allowing

the child's natural curiosity to direct his or her learning, and (3) promoting respect

for all things and all people.

When the teacher's role is to guide, providing access to information rather than

acting as the primary source of information, the students' search for knowledge is

met as they learn to find answers to their questions. For students to construct

knowledge, they need the opportunity to discover for themselves and practice skills

in authentic situations. Providing students access to hands-on activities and

allowing adequate time and space to use materials that reinforce the lesson being

studied creates an opportunity for individual discovery and construction of

knowledge to occur.
 I believe the children are our future .

Equally important to self-discovery is having the opportunity to study things that

are meaningful and relevant to one's life and interests. Developing a curriculum

around student interests fosters intrinsic motivation and stimulates the passion to

learn. One way to take learning in a direction relevant to student interest is to invite

student dialogue about the lessons and units of study. Given the opportunity for

input, students generate ideas and set goals that make for much richer activities

than I could have created or imagined myself. When students have ownership in

the curriculum, they are motivated to work hard and master the skills necessary to

reach their goals.

Teach them well and let them lead the way.

Helping students to develop a deep love and respect for themselves, others, and

their environment occurs through an open sharing of ideas and a judicious

approach to discipline. When the voice of each student is heard, and environment

evolves where students feel free to express themselves. Class meetings are one way

to encourage such dialogue. I believe children have greater respect for their

teachers, their peers, and the lessons presented when they feel safe and sure of

what is expected of them. In setting fair and consistent rules initially and stating

the importance of every activity, students are shown respect for their presence and

time. In turn they learn to respect themselves, others, and their environment.
Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of
pride

For myself, teaching provides an opportunity for continual learning and growth.

One of my hopes as an educator is to instill a love of learning in my students, as I

share my own passion for learning with them. I feel there is a need for

compassionate, strong, and dedicated individuals who are excited about working

with children. In our competitive society it is important for students to not only

receive a solid education, but to work with someone who is aware of and sensitive

to their individual needs. I am such a person and will always strive to be the best

educator that I can be.

Let the childrens laughter remind us how we use to be.

Teaching is a lifelong process about new philosophies, technologies and new

strategies, learning from the parents and community, learning from colleagues and

especially learning from the children. Children taught me to open my mind and

heart to the joys, the innocence, and the diversity of ideas in the world. Because of

this, I will never forget how to smile with the new, cherish the old and laugh with

the students.

Belief of Integrating Technology into the Overall Curriculum

Using technology in the early childhood program must not be a goal unto itself: the

purpose is not to teach children how to use computers; they can do this as they get

older, just as they can learn to drive a car later in their lives (Wardle, 1999).

Appropriate use of technology in the classroom is to expand, enrich, implement,

individualize, differentiate, and extend the overall curriculum. And, obviously,

curricula goals change with age, and differ from program to program. If a goal of

the literacy curricula for a certain age child is to learn to write personal journals,

then the computer can naturally support that through writing software, digital

cameras, and other methods. A science goal that requires learning the habitat of

different zoo animals can be augmented by using specific CD ROMS and

accessing zoo web sites. Similarly, studying extinct and endangered animals

becomes more real and educational through the use of specific software and

websites .If computers are not fully integrated into the overall curriculum, they can

actually negatively impact childrens creativity (Haugland, 1982). To integrate

computers effectively,:

These steps must occur:

 1. Create a support team that includes people knowledgeable of technology,
and people who understand developmentally appropriate practice;

2. Select developmentally appropriate software;

3. Select developmentally appropriate web sites;

4. Select computers that can run the software selected, and that can be easily
upgraded

5. Provide adequate and periodic staff training, both on the use of computers,
and on ways of integrating the computers into the curriculum:

6. Integrate computer resources in the classroom.

Computers in the Classroom

In developmentally appropriate settings children make many choices regarding

when and how long they use learning resources. Computers should be no different

(Haugland, 2000, p. 17). Preschool and kindergarten children should first be

introduced to computers one at a time, or in small groups. Every child should have

an opportunity to experience ample hands-on opportunity to explore 4-5 different

software programs. Once each child has had this hands-on experience, the

computer center becomes one of many equally important learning centers. It

should have several chairs close by, to encourage children to work together, and to

encourage the more advanced students to act as peer tutors. This also develops

cooperative learning activities .The use of computers in a fully integrated

classroom is endless. Software can be used to create books, with dictated tests and
illustrations; photos of children and the community can be taken with digital

cameras and then combined with text and pictures to create journals, biographies,

wall newspapers, school/home communications, and neighborhood documents.

Older children can use scanners, font selection, and various graphics application, to

develop power-point accessed to do research on almost all topics. There are also

wonderful opportunities for correspondence activities with children throughout the

world.

Conclusion

In most early childhood programs and schools, technology must be part of the

learning landscape for the future. To make sure this new technology is used

effectively, we must assure that teachers are fully trained and supported, and that

the programs and Internet sites used are developmentally appropriate and respect

religious differences. Further, the technology must be fully integrated with the

programs educational goals and objectives. Finally, we must continually strive to

use technology in ways where it is particularly powerful by using different learning

styles and bringing the world into the classroom.

References
 2009 by Jenna Wittwer
http://www.ohio.edu/people/jw343905/PersonalWebpage/page04.html Retrieved
on Monday February27, 2017.

Haugland, S. W. (1992). Effects of computer software on preschool childrens

developmental gains. Journal of Computing in Early Childhood, 3 (1) 15-30.

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?
ArticleID=302

Retrieved on Saturday February 25,2017

Haugland, S. W. (2000). Early childhood classrooms in the 21st century: Using

computers to maximize learning. Young Children, 55 (1), 12-18.

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?
ArticleID=302

Retrieved on Friday February 24,2017

1999 LeoNora M. Cohen & Judy Gelbrich, OSU School Education

http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ed416/sample.html Retrieved on Monday F ebruary

27, 2017.

Wardle, F. (1999). How children learn: Foundations for learning. Children and
Families, 13 (3), 66

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?
ArticleID=302

Retrieved on Monday February 28, 2017.