It is evident that technology has several positive implications in and out of the classroom. There is a wealth of research that shows the increase in student achievement and engagement with the integration of technology in the classroom. According to Edutopia.com technology has revolutionized the way we think, work, and play. Technology, when integrated into the curriculum, revolutionizes the learning process. More and more studies show that technology integration in the curriculum improves students’ learning processes and outcomes. Teachers who recognize computers as problem-solving tools change the way they teach. They move from a behavioral approach to a more constructivist approach. Technology and interactive multimedia are more conducive to project-based learning. Students are engaged in their learning using these powerful tools and can become creators and critics instead of just consumers. Indeed, the benefits of using technology in classrooms are many ranging from engaging students in the learning process, engaging students in authentic interesting lessons, allowing students to take responsibility for their learning, allowing teachers to become facilitators, increasing student achievement and much more.
Using Technology Versus Technology Integration
Have you ever sat through a boring presentation where the information might be relevant and certainly crucial to your understanding of a concept/topic, but the environment is dull and the speaker is presenting the information in such a mundane manner that you zone out five minutes into the presentation? Have you also ever sat down and secretly scrolled through your phone because a presenter was reading verbatim from a slide and not engaging you in the learning process? I’m sure we all have been a victim of such conditions before! Similarly, there are classrooms where teachers are “using technology” but students are not being authentically engaged in the lesson. There are classrooms where teachers read verbatim from a projector or slide and only pause so students can record the information on sheets of paper or their notebooks and nothing else. The issue is that educators need to find effective and efficient ways to “integrate” technology in classrooms to pique students’ interest, build background knowledge, identify critical information, promote collaboration and provide effective and timely feedback among other things!
Curriculum and Technology Integration
Schools must not only give teachers the technology they need to create and plan innovative lessons, but equip them with the knowledge through professional development, on how to effectively “integrate” technology to promote student success. Schools, administrators, teachers, and staff should ensure that technology is not used to replace the textbook, for example, using an overhead projector or interactive whiteboard to display notes for students to copy. Technology should be used in ways to ensure that every learner style is met, activities are planned with the appropriate technology to enhance and stimulate learning and technology is being used for teachers to provide feedback to students and students to provide feedback to teachers as well! Schools must review their curriculum to see how best to use technology to increase student achievement. There is a wealth of resources available for both teachers and students to use, and schools must find effective ways of ensuring that educators receive professional development that shows them how to effectively integrate and not just remotely use technology in classrooms to the point where students are uninterested in learning.
In Summary
According to an article on Edutopia.com, “Integrating technology into classroom instruction means more than teaching basic computer skills and software programs in a separate computer class. Effective tech integration must happen across the curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the learning process. In particular, it must support four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts.” Students cannot just use the internet for massive amounts of information to copy and paste for class notes or projects, they should not be subjected to listening to a teacher read massive amount of information from a power-point slide, they should not just use a laptop to take a test. They should be using different forms of technology to inform their learning, find solutions to problems, collaborate on projects and class activities, build background knowledge, encourage critical thinking, and a myriad of other things that are necessary for them to grow and develop into competitive and successful 21st century individuals. In closing, schools must implement technology that support a high quality and safe learning environment and allow all students to achieve at their highest level (Glatthorn, Boshee, Whitehead & Boschee, 2019).
.
References:
Edutopia. (2007) Why Do We Need Technology Integration? Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-importance
Glatthorn, A., Boschee, B., Whitehead, B., Boschee, B., (2019). Curriculum Leadership: Strategies for Development and Implementation. SAGE Publications. Kindle Edition.