Vision and Mission Statement

The educational discipline is constantly adopting new approaches to learning. The field has recently changed from instructor based approaches to concentrating on the learning needs of students. This can also be referred to as 21st Century teaching. This adaptation is needed to keep up with the demands of learning platforms that integrate technology.
Students should be able to adapt to work environments that require critical thinking skills. I like to design and implement my lessons around the idea that students should learn in a way that makes sense to them. This is also referred to as Constitutionalism.
I also think that student learning styles and personalities should be taken into account. As both a student and an educator, I have learned that one size does not fit all. While some students learn better by interacting in groups while discussing and collaborating, others are introverted and enjoy constructing individual projects and research.
I agree with an argument in the article, "Placing theory in the scholarship of teaching and learning" by Hutchens and Huber. This article contends that learning theories need to be focused on student learning rather than knowledge building. I think that it relates to my philosophy because I try to be purposeful and focus on teaching in a way that is transformative rather than encouraging regurgitation.
Technology will be integrated into my teaching and instructional design because students use technology already outside of the classroom. Therefore, it makes sense to them to use it inside the classroom as well.
Chapter one of they text book Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching also lists six important reasons why technology should be used in the classroom. The first reason is for gaining student attention. Using tech tools such as Padlet (https://padlet.com/) are extremely useful for gaining students attention because everyone can contribute to what is projected to the classroom immediately.
Another significant reason that the text book gives for using technology for learning is to use tools to help students see how learning is applied to real life. In the International Politics Field, political computer generated games and scenarios are a very useful way of helping students connect coursework to application. The computer simulated game Endgame Syria (http://www.gamesforchange.org/play/endgame-syria/) is a good example.
Finally, the strongest reason that is in the text book for using technology is because it facilitates student engagement by producing something using tech tools. As a student, I used Screen-Cast-O-Matic (http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c26tqzeXa8) to produce a screen cast that was displayed on the EdTech website.

Hutchings, P., & Huber, M. T. (2008). Placing theory in the scholarship of teaching and learning. Arts and Humanities in Higher education, 7(3), 229-244.

Roblyer, M. D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into teaching Seventh Edition, 1, 22-23.