Integrating Technology into the Classroom: EdTech 541
Vision Statement
It is a teacher's duty to incorporate technology into the classroom, regardless of content area, grade level, or student ability. Failure to do so risks putting students at a disadvantage. The opportunities to use technology must be varied, frequent and relevant. Technology has invaded many facets of today’s student’s lives, and when the current kindergartners matriculate to college, it is perceivable that technology will be fully intertwined into their every activity, hobby, and undertaking. Every job they accept will most likely necessitate the use of some form of technology.
According to the National Educational Technology Plan 2010 “... technology is at the core of virtually every aspect of our daily lives and work, and we must leverage it to provide engaging and powerful learning experiences...” (Duncan) Failure to repeatedly expose students to a diverse offering of technology will be detrimental to their success.
The iPad was introduced by Apple Corporation in April 2010, and since then, it has seen five iterations and sold well over 100 million units. (Associated Press) In the time it takes a student to graduate from high school, this device will have gone from inception to a creating a paradigm shift in how people interact with technology worldwide. Driven by the rate of change in the technology sector, our educational systems must begin including technology into our student’s activities immediately. Students need to develop fluency with multiple types of technology. Bringing students into a computer lab to type research papers is no longer adequate. The students of this generation need to be exposed to multiple computer platforms, device form factors, and input options.
Students need engaging activities that use technology, but don’t sacrifice the essential learning objective. Using technology should not be considered a task or activity, but rather it needs to be a ubiquitous tool in student’s arsenal, much like they equate pencils and paper.
Robyler and Doering identify four core principles for integrating technology into teaching.
These guiding principles can help all teachers effectively incorporate technology into their classroom activities. Integrating technology requires planning, experimentation, and knowledge in the content area and with the technology itself. ”Just as different learning needs call for different teaching methods, effective technology integration depends on a well-planned match of needs with tools and strategies, as well as classroom conditions that support them.” (Hirsch).
Cloud computing, faster Internet speeds, and mobile computing are reshaping a student’s expectations about school. When an iPhone allows students full access to all their academic content any time of day and anywhere they travel, teachers need to recognize that the time to change was yesterday. Technology must be integrated into teaching to properly prepare students for success in life and career.
Resources:
Associated Press. Number of iPads sold by Apple by quarter (n.d.). Retrieved from http://finance.yahoo.com/news/number-ipads-sold-apple-quarter-201153619.html
Duncan, A., U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology. (2010). National education technology plan. Washington D.C: Author. Retrieved from: http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/netp2010.pdf
Hirsch, E.D. (2002) Classroom research abd cargo cults. Policy Review No. 115, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2013).Integrating educational technology into teaching (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon Publishers.
According to the National Educational Technology Plan 2010 “... technology is at the core of virtually every aspect of our daily lives and work, and we must leverage it to provide engaging and powerful learning experiences...” (Duncan) Failure to repeatedly expose students to a diverse offering of technology will be detrimental to their success.
The iPad was introduced by Apple Corporation in April 2010, and since then, it has seen five iterations and sold well over 100 million units. (Associated Press) In the time it takes a student to graduate from high school, this device will have gone from inception to a creating a paradigm shift in how people interact with technology worldwide. Driven by the rate of change in the technology sector, our educational systems must begin including technology into our student’s activities immediately. Students need to develop fluency with multiple types of technology. Bringing students into a computer lab to type research papers is no longer adequate. The students of this generation need to be exposed to multiple computer platforms, device form factors, and input options.
Students need engaging activities that use technology, but don’t sacrifice the essential learning objective. Using technology should not be considered a task or activity, but rather it needs to be a ubiquitous tool in student’s arsenal, much like they equate pencils and paper.
Robyler and Doering identify four core principles for integrating technology into teaching.
- Instructional technology methods should be based in both learning and teaching practice.
- Uses of technology should match specific teaching and learning methods.
- Old integration strategies are not necessarily bad, new strategies are not necessarily good.
- A combination of technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge is necessary.
These guiding principles can help all teachers effectively incorporate technology into their classroom activities. Integrating technology requires planning, experimentation, and knowledge in the content area and with the technology itself. ”Just as different learning needs call for different teaching methods, effective technology integration depends on a well-planned match of needs with tools and strategies, as well as classroom conditions that support them.” (Hirsch).
Cloud computing, faster Internet speeds, and mobile computing are reshaping a student’s expectations about school. When an iPhone allows students full access to all their academic content any time of day and anywhere they travel, teachers need to recognize that the time to change was yesterday. Technology must be integrated into teaching to properly prepare students for success in life and career.
Resources:
Associated Press. Number of iPads sold by Apple by quarter (n.d.). Retrieved from http://finance.yahoo.com/news/number-ipads-sold-apple-quarter-201153619.html
Duncan, A., U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology. (2010). National education technology plan. Washington D.C: Author. Retrieved from: http://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/netp2010.pdf
Hirsch, E.D. (2002) Classroom research abd cargo cults. Policy Review No. 115, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2013).Integrating educational technology into teaching (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon Publishers.