Personal Reflection on Educational Technology Course

I’m taking this course for my application for Chinese teacher certification through the State Department of Education. They required that I have eleven credits in professional education course work and specified that I must take educational psychology and the special education. Educational technology is the course I selected by myself.

Although “educational technology does not possess inherent instructional value”, with the support of technology, we can maximize the successful chance of Chinese learning for American students.

Technology is an unfamiliar territory for me. So far, I ‘m driven to complete the course requirement and I often feel a bit overwhelmed. But it’s an important continued learning for me. I would like to meet the challenge and will thank for the further significance the course bring to me.

“Added value” and UDL

Sara Dexter states that “Technology use provides added value to teaching and leaning.” The “added value” in classroom is mainly manifested in accessing data, processing information, communicating knowledge.

The purpose of “added value” for the uses of technology is same as UDL (Universal Design Leaning) that maximizes learning opportunities for every type of individuals by using technology in digital age.

Just like advancement of technology benefits the development of human being, it is a fact that advancement of educational technology benefits teaching and learning. I believe that it is a requirement for an educator in digital age to understand the importance of technology usage and master the necessary skill and method. eTIPs and UDL figure out some practical principles that educators can rely on to design or build more effective curriculum.