Week 3 - Topic 2: Technology Integration

Technology integration is the incorporation of technology resources and technology-based practices into the daily routines of schools. Technology resources can be anything from computers to network-based communication. Practices include collaborative work and communication, Internet-based research, remote access to instrumentation, network-based transmission and retrieval of data, and other methods. Its impossible to be completely on the ball when it comes to technology integration because of Moore's law. Soon as you get some neat new equipment its out of date. In a school setting its best to achieve the highest level of integration and allow for students to adjust before moving on. Its a continuous process of changing, learning, and improvement.


Successful technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is:

• Routine and transparent
• Accessible and readily available for the task at hand
• Supporting the curricular goals, and helping the students to effectively reach their goals

When students are not only using technology daily, but have access to a variety of tools that match the task at hand and provide them the opportunity to build a deeper understanding of content. it come s in many shapes and sizes. You got the online and blended courses, project based activities incorporating technology, game-based learning and assessment, learning with mobile or handheld devices, instructional tools like smart-boards, web-based projects, exploration and research, student-created media like podcast, videos or slideshows, collaborative online tools like wiki-pages or Google Docs, and using social media to engage students.

I think the important thing to remember when integrating technology is Moore's law. You don't want to reach out to far and bring in such a new technology that students can completely bring it into there daily routine. Then there is a reverse you don't want to bring in old technology they either don't care about or have no clue how to use because it is so out of date. Adults love email, teenager don't. One thing I noticed when in college is that most freshmen in college would rather things be sent to them via text rather then deal with email. they are accustomed to text being the normal means of communication, where older students and adults  are use to the idea of email being the appropriated way to send information. Thus freshmen college students don't check their email everyday. That is just a personal observation but it serves as an example of why old technology can be over powered by a newer one.

I ultimately think that its a matter of what subject you are teaching. Its harder to incorporate technology depending with some subjects then others, but there is always a way it can be done. History class are great for project based activities, exploration and research. Math is good for smart-boards and games. English is good with videos, Google Docs and even social media. I've had the wonderful pleasure of using tons of PowerPoint's, videos, research, games and collaborative tools, and some social media. Most of them worked OK, most felt forced into place just for the sake of using which is wrong. I never want to see another PowerPoint again because it is over used. Luckily in computer science classes we always have the pleasure of incorporating technology into our everyday routine.