Technology Integration Statement: A Reflection

I feel that my own educational philosophy coincides nicely with the elements of technology integration in the classroom. I view technology as the ultimate equalizer in schools; it provides students with access to information and artifacts that would have otherwise been inaccessible in previous years. Students are able to expand their knowledge by exploring the world, and develop a more refined understanding of themselves through a more global context. Technology also enables students to tap into and develop their own creativity through many innovative and interactive learning applications.
It would be futile to try and explain all the ways in which technology could be employed in a classroom without first expressing my main concern about technology availability. Unfortunately, due to the nature of American society, not all students are granted the same opportunity to develop their own technological fluency. Much like funding for books and extracurricular activities, the availability of computers and technological applications is very much dependent on the allocation of funding by the school district and the community. So despite the usefulness of technology, it’s function is oftentimes deemed void in areas that do not have the money to provide computers for each of its students. This is where the diligence, creativity and resourcefulness of the teacher must come into play.
There are several cases in which a teacher, though bereft of technological tools for each student, can still allow students to improve their technological fluency in one way or another. This can oftentimes be accomplished through a simple demonstration or exploration of an application or website. A field trip to a library or public computer lab may also be available for teachers with the available resources to do so. At the very least, a teacher can demonstrate the usefulness and universality of technology, and then urge students to take it upon themselves to go out and seek public domains in which they can improve their understanding of technology and the internet.
I like to think, though, that educational leaders today are aware of the increasing importance of providing substantial outlets for students to engage with the rest of the world through technology. I like to think that in the not-too-distant future, every school will have at least one well-functioning computer lab in which students have easy access to the internet and computerized learning applications. I feel that it is through technology that low-income schools will be able to give their students the greatest opportunity to upward economic mobility. I believe that technology is our greatest asset, and the ultimate means to help bridge the gap between economic plateaus.