Image by Suphakit73/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I have to admit it. Sometimes technology integration makes me uncomfortable. It isn’t just because the devices don’t always work. It is because I feel less confident and have to work harder to use them, and more importantly find ways to get my students to use them. However, I do feel it is highly important that technology integration is happening in my classroom.
I like the following snippets from definitions of technology integration: “Integrating technology with standard curriculum gives students a sense of power, but also allows for more advanced learning among broad topics.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_integration)
“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.”
“When technology is effectively integrated into subject areas, teachers grow into roles of adviser, content expert, and coach. Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun.” (http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction)
“Integration is when classroom teachers use technology to introduce, reinforce, extend, enrich, assess, and remediate student mastery of curricular targets.” (http://stratfordk12.org/Content/Technology_Integration_Defined.asp)
I think integrating technology enables students to construct meaning for themselves and at their own pace. I have enjoyed using technology to make my teaching more student-friendly and engaging because it does allow me to be more creative. However, I have come to realize that it has really been my personal trek into technology, which is not technology integration!
In Jeff Utecht’s blog post “I Don’t Want to Integrate It, I Want to Embed It” he describes how different it would be if we “allowed the curriculum to grow around technology.” I think we are now at the place in education where technology should be at the heart of every unit plan. Technology tools will give students greater interaction with each other and information, as well as develop critical thinking skills with real world applications and grow students independence for learning and perseverance for problem solving.
