The Purpose of Technology in Education: A personal philosophy

 

The Purpose of Technology in Education

     Successful undertakings begin with a vision of the desired end-state. What is the goal of a modern, public education? Once defined, then resources, including educational technology, can be applied to achieve the goal. According to the United States Department of Education, the purpose of public education is to, “promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.” (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.). Further elaboration is added by Virginia Beach City Public Schools which “in partnership with the entire community, will empower every student to become a life-long learner who is a responsible, productive and engaged citizen within the global community.” (Virginia Beach City Public Schools, n.d.).   Now knowing the end-state desired, how does educational technology support the outcome? Again, a definition is in order. Hughes & Roblyer, 2023, define educational technology as, “Technology resources leveraged to support educational processes involved in addressing teaching and learning.” Combining the mission statements of the U.S. Department of Education and the local school district, it is easy for a teacher to identify the purpose of educational technology within their work environment. It is the purpose of educational technology to better enable greater student achievement, educational excellence, global competitiveness, productive citizenship, and life-long learning. As professional educators, teachers are obligated to use the latest technology provided within our classroom if it supports the purpose of educational technology as stated above. If implemented correctly and aligned with its stated purpose, educational technology will have a positive, measurable impact on student outcomes (Schwartz, 2014) (Sung & Hwang, 2013).

     Is the use of educational technology conducive to teaching from a biblical perspective. As educational professionals and Christians, it is important to remember that the children within our classrooms are not merely the offspring of families within our community, they are ultimately a gift from and the property of God, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” (Psalm 127:3, English Standard Version). Christian educators must ensure that pupils are armed with the knowledge to read the Word and discerning enough to apply its wisdom in their life journeys. “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.” (Proverbs 3:13-14, ESV). Ultimately, educational technology is a tool which must be used to further Christ’s kingdom on earth. Although public schools do not allow for direct evangelism, the desired product, a literate, wise and discerning child working to their maximum potential, best prepares an individual for acceptance of Christ’s saving grace when, in God’s wisdom and time, it is put to them. Properly conceived and implemented integration of educational technology has proven fruitful in improving students’ educational outcomes and is therefore completely compatible with a biblical worldview. This is reassuring for educators working hard to bring technology into their classroom, knowing “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” (Psalm 123:1, ESV).

     Technology is not new. It has always been a part of education. I always enjoy a thought experiment I do with my students at the beginning of every school year. I ask the children to define “technology”. Consistently, they answer with descriptions of electronics, computers, gaming platforms, etc. In their minds, technology did not exist before computers. When I hold up a pencil and paper and ask if this is technology, only a few immediately agree, having previously understood that technology is really only knowledge being applied to our human environment. For others, it is a moment of learning when the connection is made and they realize they are surrounded by technology, old and new, and that technology does not need to plug in or charge up necessarily. I like to relay this story because it helps to summarize my position on the integration of technology into my classroom.  I want to ensure that proven technology is not pushed aside to simply make room for what is new.  For examples, eBooks to the exclusion of traditional books, word processors to the exclusion of paper and pen, digital notebooks to the exclusion of the physical products such as dioramas and relief maps, computer games to the exclusion of educational board or floor games. I desire to create a seamless integration of old and new technologies to maximize student achievement. Will this new technology improve student outcomes? Will it improve student choice? Will it enhance access, equality, and equity? If the answers are predominately “Yes”, then it is a worthwhile investment of time and resources. Ultimately, educational technology must enable greater student achievement, educational excellence, global competitiveness, productive citizenship, and life-long learning.