Chapter 4 Integrating Technology and Creating Change

*All links are highlighted in yellow*

Focus Question: How can teachers integrate technology into their work as educators?

• Teachers can incorporate computers and other information technologies into three major parts of their professional work: 
• 1. Classroom instruction,
• 2. Outside-the-classroom activities, and 
• 3. Inside-and-outside-the-classroom learning activities for students.
• Computers and other new technologies can function in one of five possible formats for teachers:
• 1. Technology-based library,
• 2. Technology-based textbook,
• 3. Technology-based learning environments,
• 4. Technology-based teaching tool, and 
• 5. Technology-based office.

Photo Credit to ConnerJG at Flickr

 I learned in last chapter how important lesson plans are in order to teach the class correctly. Now that I have an idea of how to create a lesson plan, I have to learn how to integrate technology into my work. As I read the first focus question it made me think of classroom jeopardy. Classroom jeopardy is a great example of how a teacher can integrate technology in the classroom. Classroom jeopardy is just like real jeopardy, but the information behind the blocks has to do with the subject and section that is being taught. A teacher can set up a power point or active board to play jeopardy. This would be a good example of how to incorporate an active board into the classroom.  Jeopardy is a great way to have student’s play a game, but learn at the same time. It keeps them intrigued and they actually want to participate. I remember when my teacher had us play this game after each chapter, but before a test. She would tell us the day before we played how she was going to split up the class, and to make sure we studied. There would be a bonus of three extra credit points for the team who scored the most points. Everyone made sure that they studied because we all wanted to get the three extra credit points. Little did we know how much playing the game would prepare us for a test. It helped me remember more than I thought I could. The teacher really did a good job of integrating the technology of the active board to help us study.

Tech Tools Link: National Educational Technology Standards

This chapter was not very long, and there were not that many links to choose from. I explored the three links in Teach Tool 4.1. They were all a little tricky to navigate. It is always helpful when a website is easy to navigate because then it could be useful to a wide variety of people. The website that I felt had the most valuable information is the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T). A teacher would have to make an account on this website to get full access to all the information. I did not make an account, I simply explored the website. I clicked on the tab that says NETS, then the drop down box came down and I chose nets for teachers. This page is meant to give resources on how teachers can integrate technology in a classroom. A teacher can also purchase books, webinar, and online courses. I also explored typing in different things, such as, lesson plans and rubric in the search bar. It gives a forum where other teachers have posted blogs that were pertaining to what was typed in. I would recommend this website because it gives many different resources on how to integrate technology into the classroom. I would first sign up with an account on the website. 

Summary & Connection: 

It would have been nice if the chapter was a little bit longer because it did have useful information. I believe it went along perfectly with chapter 3 where I learned about making lesson plans. Integrating technology into the classroom means that a teacher will have to learn how to create an interactive learning experience for the students. Teachers have to think about what technology they will use, and how they will integrate it into their lesson.  Technology integration is not limited to the classroom but encouraged within the library, textbooks, and office. It can be integrated within all parts of the school. Learning how to integrate technology into the classroom has a process, and does not happen overnight. I learned that there is five stages of integration; entry, adoption, adaptation, appropriation, and invention. Teachers should look at technology as a positive reinforcement for what they are teaching. Some minority and low income students do not get the luxury of owning a computer at home this is called participation gap. This is another reason teachers should integrate technology into the classroom as much as possible so that all students may get the same experience, and carry it with them. Even if the teacher has to use the technology that is out of date or up to date, it will equally benefit any student. We have to infuse technology into the classroom because the students will have a better learning experience. 

The videos that I am posting this week deal with classroom jeopardy!

This video is a news broadcast of classroom jeopardy. 

These video are an example of a class using jeopardy to learn.

(They are a little distracting, but there the best video I could find)

References:

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010).Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.