I chose the organizations Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and EDUCAUSE simply because they both promote technology as an advanced way to engage students. The importance of educational technology was expressed greatly in my philosophy. EDUCAUSE promotes the use of educational technology and CoSN supports that educational technology facilitates engaging learning environments.
CoSN’s mission is to “empower educational leaders to leverage technology to realize engaging learning environments.” They address the issues of educational technology as well as advocate its benefits. The membership of CoSN is composed of people from an array of backgrounds instead of just educators.
http://www.cosn.org/Home/tabid/2516/Default.aspx
EDUCAUSE “is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. EDUCAUSE helps those who lead, manage, and use information resources to shape strategic decisions at every level.”
EDUCAUSE has several programs and services that support the use of technology in an educational setting. They also have a cohort that does research addressing problems, issues and benefits associated with the utilization of technology.
http://www.educause.edu/
Briefly stated my definition of educational technology is a collaboration of different ways to utilize technology to bring about the maximum performance of teachers and students in an educational setting. The aim behind my philosophy is essentially to equip students with the tools to be able to use deductive reasoning and critical thinking. Acquiring deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills result in maximum performance in a course. In the article I read for the presentation this week, Engaging students in blended courses through increased technology, one of the implications of the impact of using educational technology is the resulting critical thinking. This finding directly relates my philosophy to my definition of educational technology.

Kaamil,
ReplyDeleteExcellent definition and it's tied to your philosophy!