Amber Lattimore
July 2020
Technology integration can be defined as “the incorporation of technology resources and technology-based practices into the daily routines, work, and management of schools. Technology resources are computers and specialized software, network-based communication systems, and other equipment and infrastructure. Practices include collaborative work and communication, Internet-based research, remote access to instrumentation, network-based transmission and retrieval of data, and other methods(NCES.ed.gov)”.
“Technology helps change the student/teacher roles and relationships: students take responsibility for their learning outcomes, while teachers become guides and facilitators. Technology lends itself as the multidimensional tool that assists that process. For economically disadvantaged students, the school may be the only place where they will have the opportunity to use a computer and integrate Technology into their learning(Edutopia.com)”. Integration of Technology in the classroom allows teachers who, on a typical day, have to juggle classroom management, curriculum, and keeping students entertained. Allowing students to be self-directed and work independently on a device allows for students to build self-dependent skills as well as critical thinking and creativity skills.
When Technology is integrated into the classroom correctly, it helps to advance learning. Technology in the school is not just having access to computers or tablets. How are these devices being used to make a lesson a critical thinking lesson and allow students to use higher-level thinking? There are many ways Technology can be used from the necessary computer skills to help design a presentation, to learning to use databases to do research or using chemistry apps to help with an equation. A major pro of using Technology is the creativity aspect students are allowed to express themselves how they want and learn at their own pace. This brings up another point teachers also like the use of Technology because applications can be used to track student progress and update parents in real-time.
Another important aspect of technology integration is that I believe it provides parents with more data on how their student is doing. They are now able to log on to see student progress than having to wait until a teacher conference. Also, when it comes to homework support, textbooks, and resource applications come with solutions or additional support to provide students if a teacher is not there. Also, the more students are exposed to Technology they are ahead for future advancements, Technology is not only changing in education but everyday life as well. We can go to the grocery store or check in a doctor’s appointment by only using a kiosk now, applications are becoming paper-less, and phones and computers we use every day even upgrade overnight. “Students are coming into a world kept on servers. They will fill jobs that need new skills that have not even been created or learned yet. “Future” content is to a large extent, not surprisingly, digital and technological. But while it includes software, hardware, robotics, nanotechnology, genomics, etc. it also includes the ethics, politics, sociology, languages and other things that go with them. This “Future” content is extremely interesting to today’s students.” (Prensky, 2001) This “future” content has to be taught to make students marketable for new jobs being created now and in the future, but they should also be learning traditional content.(University of Michigan)”.
Proper training for the use of Technology in the classroom is necessary for teachers and students. Teachers need professional development on how to properly use resources and how Technology can be used as an extension of regular learning. Also proper class time to teach students how to use computers and programs can be used to properly gauge learning gains.
Overall research shows that technology integration in the classroom is linked to learning gains. Collective planning from districts, school and teachers all aid in improving learning methods by properly matching Technology to curriculum. With access to more Technology not only will students continue to expand their knowledge and use higher order thinking skills but these skills will eventually help later on in the workforce and personal life as well.
References
https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2003/tech_schools/chapter7.asp
https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-importance