Educational Technology Philosophy

            In my life’s three decades, I have witnessed a massive shift in educational technology. My elementary days were dominated by chalkboard and overhead projector lessons. Educational videos were only shown when the television cart was available and was rolled into the classroom. Computers occupied desk tops and generally lived in designated “labs.” Many educational tools were concrete, not virtual. As I got older, chalkboards and overhead projectors were replaced with Smart Boards and projectors. Laptop computers and the internet allowed each classroom to have a vast array of educational sources at their disposal.

            Technology is rapidly advancing and changing our personal lives. Applications on smart phones help us read the news, follow the weather, manage our bank accounts, and track our exercise. As educators, we would be remiss to not harness the technology at our disposal. Creating interactive experiences where students can apply knowledge learned and gain pertinent experience should be an aim for instructional designers and educators. Students already have many pieces of technology at their disposal, so we can leverage that to design learning opportunities for them.

            Personally, I am interested in learning about and working with all types of technology that will help broaden the horizons for my learners. My background is in health care, specifically pharmacy, and I know an invaluable learning experience for me involved living my life like a diabetic patient, using blood glucose testing supplies and tracking my carbohydrate intake. This made it so I could better counsel my diabetic patients. Whether it is using the technology available in an actual practice setting, such as blood glucose monitors and blood pressure cuffs, or creating an adaptive virtual experience with 2-D and 3-D technologies, such as interactive case studies or mapping of drug-receptor interactions, providing immersive experiences is my greatest interest when it comes to educational technology.