How to Stay Current in Using Technology in the Classroom

Professional Development Plan for Technology Integration

In any field in order to stay current and to keep up with the trends, one must stay connected to what is happening in that field. It is important to read professional articles, to attend seminars, and to learn how to use the tools of the trade.  As an educator, it is important to me to keep up with the current trends in education.  One trend that seems to be here to stay is that of integrating technology into everyday lessons in the classrooms.  It is no longer a question of whether to use technology in our classrooms, but how we are to do so.  Technology is changing every day and there are many ways to implement the use of technology into actual lessons.   It is my intention to do the following in order to remain current and to be effective as a classroom teacher.

1.     I will join several professional development blogs and follow the current trends.

2.    I will read professional articles addressing technology integration

3.     I will attend technology professional development classes available in my district.

4.    I will implement and use new and relevant technology into my lesson plans. 

The following websites will be very helpful in learning about how to stay current in using technology to make learning more effective:

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te1000.htma

This site provides information on how to create a well-planned, ongoing professional development program that is tied to the school's curriculum goals, and helps teachers to understand how to use technology appropriately to promote learning for all students in the classroom.

http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/catalog/courses/SCIE504/

This site makes available professional development classes for teachers on how to integrate technology into their lessons. 

http://www.4teachers.org/

4Teachers.org works to help you integrate technology into your classroom by offering online tools and resources. This site helps teachers locate and create ready-to-use Web lessons, quizzes, rubrics and classroom calendars

http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/month.htm

This site has a newsletter, website information, online literacy webquests, research articles, and much more. 

If we are to compete in the global world and produce students that will be able to stand up next to those from other countries, it is our job as teachers to provide our students with the most up to date education and to prepare them to operate and function in the very competitive economic market.  We need to be able to teach our students how to use the most current technology and how to use it well enough to create gain the edge against the competition.

Technology and Project-Based Learning

Project based learning addresses the age-old question, “How am I going to use this in the real world”?  Project based learning is born out the inquisitiveness of the students participating. 

Project based learning shifts from teacher directed learning to student centered learning.  It is especially effective when working with students of varied levels (even within the grade level you teach) and can meet the differentiated needs of those students.  It is especially effective in reaching the gifted students who most generally already know the basics of the curriculum and need to be further challenged and engaged. 

In the video the students were “traveling” by cruise ship to Africa or an airplane to Brazil.  The rest was born out of the information necessary to actually get there to explore each of the countries.    

The students are energized because they are actually learning by doing and exploring websites and interacting with the problem and solution.  They are not just reading out of a book and writing down answers on worksheets.  They are continually learning new content and problem-solving skills as they progress through the project.  It is an awesome way to integrate all subjects into one and to give purpose to each activity.  Kids love role-playing and dressing up and a learning environment like this, gives them continuous opportunities to do so.  I love the passports, and the computers made from boxes, and the airplane control panel; all made by the students.  They also had to learn about airports, and travel, and customs and how to interact with people of other countries and cultures.  Not only did they have to use math to figure things out, they also had to actually construct the props that went with the simulation. 

Technology can take them on a virtual field trip and the ability to “travel” to an endless number of places that they would not be able to go to otherwise.  The internet also gives them the opportunity to gather relevant and current information, unlike that of an encyclopedia.  The SMARTboard is an excellent tool not only to project information, but to interact with the lessons and the internet as part of the lesson.  When children are introduced to the endless possibilities that technology can provide them, I think that they come to expect to be continuously connected.  A lifelong learner is someone who constantly is intrigued and interesting in finding out new things.  Today, it is much easier to pursue one’s interests, having access to the internet and the myriad of technological advances.  They can produce video, written, and blog/glog projects and share their learning with the world.  I wish that we could create these kinds of environments in all of our schools and give our students real purpose in learning especially in this technological rich world in which we live.  Education should provide students with the current resources available so as to produce “world changers.”  We cannot keep up with the rest of the world, if our students have to wait to graduate and get a job to participate in the real world. 

Chapter 5 and 6 Review Software, Software, Software!

Software Tools

Chapter 5 introduces several types of software tools available to make teaching more effective, from material generators to content area tools.  All are designed to make things easier for teachers and to provide access to additional materials and experiences for students.   One of the most popular software tool suites is desktop publishing.  Desktop publishing provides a wide array of possibilities from brochures and newsletters for the teacher to allowing students to produce projects.  Other software that has enhanced teaching is test generators, rubric generators, worksheet and puzzle generators, graphic document makers, and PDF and form makers.  Another type of software that is very useful to the teacher is data collection and analysis software.  These allow teachers to organize information from student progress to actual gradebooks.   Graphic tools allow the manipulation and creation of images to illustrate documents and create web pages.  These include draw/paint programs, image editing tools, charting/graphing tools, clip art, photo, sound, animation, and font collections.  Research and reference tools provide students and teachers easy access to volumes of encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauruses.  In addition to all of these packages, content area software is also available.  They include CAD, music tools such as editors, reading tools, graphing calculators and calculator based labs, Geographic Information Systems, and Global Positioning Systems.  These are all designed to enhance the teaching and learning experience.

Chapter 6 introduces hypermedia and multimedia products.  Hypermedia refers to linked media or interactive media.  Multimedia means multiple media or a combination of media.  Both these systems have revolutionized the world of teaching.  Hypermedia systems offer powerful capabilities to enhance classroom learning.  They increase student motivation, provide flexible learning modes, develop creative and critical thinking skills, and improve writing and process skills.  Hypermedia also provides for sophisticated evaluations of learning through databases to monitor and archive student use and progress.  Powerpoint is a very popular package available in many school districts both for teachers and students use.  Additionally, there are tutorial packages, instructional software, interactive books, e-books, reference materials and collections of development materials.  In order to accomplish the production of these multimedia productions, students and teachers need a variety of digital resources including, computers, scanners, digital cameras, camcorders, microphones, audio speakers and more.  Students and teachers can develop a wide variety of products with time and effort.  There are endless possibilities: presentation software, video production and editing systems, hypermedia development software, virtual reality and other immersion resources, and Web 2.0 design tools.  The latest creations include blogs, glogs, and interactive learning presentations using an electronic interactive white board.  The possibilities are becoming endless as more and more technology is being discovered and made available to the education world. 

Using Instructional Software in the Classroom!

I think teachers can use contemporary instructional software to engage "Digital Natives" in the classroom by using it as a companion to their teaching.  I think that teachers should use a combination of drill and practice, tutorial, simulation, instructional games, and problem solving software as part of their every day practice in the classroom.  The ability to individualize instruction using a program that each child can progress through is an important feature.  It can be an extremely helpful tool when seeking to differentiate instruction and meet individual student needs.  I like the idea of the branching form of instructional software that allows the student to progress as they answer questions correctly or incorrectly.  “It is a good way for kids to start as novices and become experts.” (Squire)  It is also a great way for those who have already mastered the basic levels of skills to go beyond and apply what they have learned by solving real world problems and higher order thinking questions.  We need to prepare our students for this ever changing information age and we cannot do that unless we incorporate computers and technology into our classrooms on a regular basis.

While I do not think that computers can or should replace teachers, I am intrigued at how much additional information and skill students can acquire, using instructional software.  Both movies were very informative and enlightening.  Sam (Digital Youth Portrait: Sam) is a typical child in our world today, but unlike most students, she has been given the opportunity to take it to another level.  She was able to pursue her passion and even incorporate it into her school projects.  I am reminded of the video that some gifted high school students produced showing how far we are behind the real world in the world of education with technology and information we are teaching in our schools.  The comment made in “Schools Use of Games for Learning and Assessment,” that these days engaging simulations and games can be found just about anywhere that critical thinking happens, except in our classrooms.” How are we going to be competitive in the real world if we do not allow our students to keep up and move from an industrialized education to one of an information one? 

Chapter 2 Review

The two learning theories addressed in this chapter are the directed model and the constructivist model.  The directed or objectivism model is based in behaviorist learning theory and information processing branch of cognitive learning.  The constructivist or inquiry-based learning model evolved from social activism, scaffolding, child development, and multiple intelligence theories.  The text believes that there is merit in both theories when applied to technology integration and application.

Technical Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) refers to intricate combination of knowledge that teachers have in their content area, pedagogy (how to teach and how students learn) and technology.  This method helps teachers to understand their technological knowledge, skills work, and other knowledge about teaching and learning.  Integrating technology into the classroom requires a complex balance and TPACK is a way for teachers to assess themselves and work on improving themselves to becoming more effective teachers.  It involves understanding the balance between the knowledge of technology, pedagogy and content knowledge. 

The TIP has 6 phases and is designed to help teachers plan for effective classroom use of technology.  Phase 1 – understanding their technological knowledge.  Phase 2 – Deciding on whether or not technology is appropriate for teaching what they are trying to teach.  Phase 3- stating desired outcomes and designing appropriate assessments for achievement, attitudes, and performance.  Phase  4- Integrating strategies and including activities that include technology. Phase 5 – setting up the instructional environment with proper resources and conditions to support the activities.  Phase 6 – Evaluating and revising achievement data and using it evaluate current successes and to improve future projects.

It is also important to know the conditions necessary to integrate technology – shared vision for technology, empowered leaders, standards and curriculum support, required policies, access to hardware and software, skilled personnel and opportunities for professional development, technical assistance, and appropriate teaching and assessment approaches.   

Another key factor is collaborating between schools, businesses, corporations, and individuals who can help to make the program a success.  This is something that I want to consider as I move forward in trying to implement more technology in my classroom.

I think it is essential to implement technology into everyday classroom learning.  It is important to have all of the factors addressed in this chapter in place.  It is essential to have the right hardware and software, but also to have the right support.  It is important to have an ongoing community that will maintain and improve the use of technology.  I believe that the TPACK and TIP will be helpful to me as I strive to increase the use of technology in my classroom.  As a first grade teacher, I find myself not giving my students as much opportunity to do their learning online, but now see how this can be carried out with careful planning and implementation.  I think the use of guided practice and learning through learning software games is something I could do more and without much difficulty.

Interested in adding Technology to my Classroom!

I am an elementary school teacher and I am constantly trying to improve my technological ability and the equipment I have in my classroom.  As much as I am learning, I still feel there is so much more to learn. I want to become more efficient in the use of video and Smartboard presentations.  I also have recently acquired a FlipCamera and see the potential I can have by using it in my classroom. I would also like to have a classroom webpage and have interactive lessons for my students to do at home.