Philosophy (ETEC 511)
My Philosophy of Technology
Based upon Kaplan (2004), I believe that the philosophy of technology pertains to how human knowledge, activities, societies, and environments are impacted by technology. Through a philosophy we try to understand, evaluate, and criticize the ways in which technologies reflect and change human life individually, socially, and politically. The philosophy of technology also examines the transformations initiated by technology on humans and the world. Transformations that enlarge and extend our capacities while also effecting changes in our natural and social worlds.
Philosophically, technology poses practical and conceptual problems of epistemology, metaphysics, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. Therefore, through the philosophy of technology, we as humans aim to analyze the phenomenon called technology, its significance, and the ways that it mediates and transforms our experience.
My philosophy of educational technology is based in constructivist theory and incorporates personalized learning, celebrating diversity, and stimulating learning through problem-based-learning. Educational technologies afford the opportunity for the educator to develop instructional processes fostering learner-centered environments.
My philosophy of educational technology regards the interactions between the student, educator, the assignment and the medium as paramount and the technological learning environment can be synchronous and/or asynchronous resulting in the construction of knowledge. I believe learning is an active process which incorporates student’s background knowledge and builds connections with new information (Vosniadou, 2001).
I value human‐technology interaction and believe that this begets a social process between humans and technology which leads to the construction of knowledge and the shaping of future technologies.
I believe students should be encouraged to explore and evaluate their technological environment while challenging their assumptions of technology. There is a major paradigm shift underfoot changing technology from an activity to a tool. It has become a tool to individualize instruction; a tool to discover; to create; to publish; to inspire and to reveal (Heidegger, 1953/1977).
At the core of my philosophy is the student, and I believe in a student centered approach. With the right tools, every student can learn and be successful.
I believe that everyone learns at different rates and in different ways. I believe in the value of providing timely feedback and regular communication in order for students to know that they are part of a learning community (Palloff & Pratt, 2003). Students should be able to access materials that appeal to them, these materials should be developed with the understanding that students have differing learning styles and that although students should be able to adapt, we should also provide them information that can be readily utilized by them.
I believe that learning is both an individual and group process. Students should have access to the services that they need to succeed. This includes tutoring, advising, counselling, disability services, library, etc. An online student should surely have the ability to access and utilize this services as much as a face-to-face student. I believe in providing timely, useful, constructive feedback that helps my students learn (Palloff & Pratt, 2003). Students should have an opportunity to share their ideas with each other, collaborating and working together.
Here are a few supporting documents:
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