Vision+for+Educational+Technology

__**Vision for Educational Technology**__ While my current vision for the future of educational technology is in it’s infancy, it is one that will never be constant due to the rapidly changing pace of technology. My personal vision is to be a motivating leader who leads by example and works with all staff toward the goals of continuous improvement and the success for ALL students. My vision of educational technology is based on up to date resources such as the Horizon Report that is published annually. According to Kathy Sargent, TCEA Communications Director, “The Horizon Report is food for thought for all levels of education and outlines challenges for educators everywhere” (Sargent, 2008). In the Horizon Report, Johnson et al (2010) outline emerging technologies based on three different timelines (near, middle, and far) depending on years away from becoming common place. These are important factors to consider annually when looking at the future of educational technology. All that being said, my vision is of more and more technology use, not only by students, but by administrators and teachers as well. It is not our students that need to learn the technology, it is our teachers that need up to date methodology for everyday class use. I see widespread use of collaborative tools such as wikis by staff in order to gain a better understanding of educational uses. I also envision our district teacher’s annual portfolios becoming more technology rich by growing in the use of the technologies mentioned in the 2010 Horizon Report in the near future, one or less years away, especially collaborative environments. Finally, as Sargent mentions, it is increasingly challenging for educators to keep up with emerging technologies. This is where I see the importance of seamlessly integrated technology in all staff development for educators so that no one is left behind. As we move toward the future using game-based learning and mobiles and further away augmented reality and flexible displays I will have to adjust my vision for educational technology. Johnson, L., Smith, R., Levine, A., and Haywood, K., (2010). //2010 Horizon Report: K-12 Edition.// Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium. Sargent, K. (2008). The Threshold of a New Learning Style? //TechEdge//, 36-38.
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