The How and Why of Teaching... Revised

 As we further our teaching careers and gain more experience, our teaching philosophies evolve to incorporate the best practices of teaching and the current educational climate.

WHY do we need education?

The varying purposes of education do not have to be mutually exclusive, nor does there need to be a single definition of the purpose of education. Many people consider academic achievement to be the purpose of education, while others place an emphasis on career aptitude or guiding students toward being productive members of society. I believe the purpose of education is determined by a combination of these goals. We are teaching students to solve problems, have the ability to thrive in any career of their choice, and be good people. While there must be a correlation between curriculum and career preparation, having that be the single goal to education closes a door on other aspects of learning. When students are able to think creatively, demonstrate an ability for innovation, and demonstrate skills that allow them to work cooperatively with others, I believe their educational experience has been successful. While test scores help us track students and identify areas for intervention, they should not be the sole determination of a student’s success. We want our students to be able to thrive, in any area or situation of their choosing.

HOW are these purposes incorporated in my classroom?

I believe in setting up a classroom community that prepares students to thrive, both through their independent and collaborative work. While I want students to have high academic achievement and provide them with opportunities to extend and enhance their learning, I also want my students to feel valued and cared for. That includes promoting them to engage in those same practices with each other, through modeling and guided practice. Children must feel respected and supported in order to thrive both academically and socially, which is why I integrate social-emotional teaching into my classroom alongside academic work. Students who do not feel safe or valued as both learners and people often struggle to push the boundaries of their learning abilities, even if they are achieving at a high academic level. By getting to know my students both as individuals and as learners, I can ensure that I am providing them with the tools to succeed. These are practices that I am still learning to integrate alongside academic expectations, and I believe that with more experience and confidence with my pedagogical purpose, I will be able to create a safe and productive learning environment for my students.

WHY do we need technology in the classroom?

The purpose of technology in the classroom is to enhance students' learning experiences and provide them with the ability to expand their knowledge and learning experiences beyond the confines of the classroom. Technology can also be a tool to modify learning opportunities for students, making sure that they have means to thrive in their academic experiences. While technology is not a “one size fits all” approach to promoting academic success, and can actually be detrimental if one holds that philosophy, it does provide the ability to personalize learning to individual students’ needs. Technology integration is empowering, and has provided revolutionary ways for people to engage with the learning around them. 21st century skills are an unavoidable aspect of the future of education, making it increasingly important that educators find meaningful and productive ways to include digital integration in the classroom. Technology cannot replace all traditional approaches to learning, but it can enhance the student learning process.

HOW is technology incorporated into my classroom?

I, to the best of my ability, integrate technology in a meaningful and intentional way. Particularly over the past few months, with both experiences in remote and hybrid teaching and learning, I have had to frequently think about the purpose of technology in my current classroom. I think that current circumstances may influence my decisions more than in typical years, as I am frequently considering that we may transition back to a remote learning environment at some point over the next few months. While I am trying to provide my students with the technology skills to thrive if we do return to remote learning, I am also trying to prioritize their face-to-face interactions and social development while we are in person. For the most part this school year, I have tried to incorporate technology into my classrooms as a way to enhance students’ learning, as well as prepare them to be more academically successful in a remote setting than they were last spring. I am still working toward making all aspects of technology integration more purposeful, but I believe technology integration as a means to prepare students for potential distance learning is the most productive intentionality in our current educational environment.

HOW have my visions changed?

Looking back on my visions for my classroom, both in regards to pedagogy and technology integration, I notice many consistencies. I am still viewing the purpose of education as multi-faceted, without a sole purpose, in addition to prioritizing the social-emotional needs of my students. I did notice, however, that my philosophies on technology have morphed. I believe that my first posting in regards to technology integration was both optimistic and idealistic. I believe that my current vision is realistic. While I still agree with my first observations, and will strive toward them in the future, I believe that my current vision is more applicable to my current situation. As I am navigating trying to teach during a pandemic, I sometimes have to “let go” of some of the high expectations I have for myself as a teacher, because some are difficult, or even potentially impossible, due to current restrictions. I believe that what is best for my students right now is including pedagogical strategies that are relevant to the current educational climate. While some of these aspects might not be able, such as assessing students virtually rather than face-to-face, it is the best situation for students right now and is only temporary.