"Integrating Technology into the Classroom" by Jong H. Chung
Historical Background
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Shows all the various forms of technology
that can impact the mind of a student. |
Technological innovation in education has occured since the early 20th century. Public schools were utilizing technology in the form of films, pictures, lantern slides, VCR's, radio, TV, computers and the internet. "As a new medium enters the educational scene there is a great deal of initial interest and much enthusiasm about the effects it is likely to have on instructional practices. However, enthusiasm and interest eventually fade and an examination reveals that the medium has had a minimal impact on such practices"
(Chung, 2007). Technology is constantly evolving and therefore the classroom is evolving as well. The interest and enthusiasm that this technology has brought to the classroom has positively effected the instruction in the classroom, but that excitement will soon fade as well. Thinking about this constant exchange of new technology being introduced, new enthusiasm, and then a fade, are the children being positively impacted by these new forms of technology in instruction, or are they just learning that technology is what keeps them engaged in the classroom?
Motivation
The motivation to adopt technology in the classroom comes from nonprofit organizations, commerce, and education. Most educators agree that technology needs to be implemented within the classroom, but they disagree on how technology should be used in the classroom. There are two main ideas of how technology should be integrated within the classroom. The first is that it should be used to improve the traditional lecture based teaching and learning style. The second is that it should be used to reform the traditional lecture approach into the constructivist approach in order to best support the student. By choosing the second approach for how to implement technology in the classroom the student will be an active, autonomous learner, the classroom will be child centered, and their will be a focus on communication as well as collaboration with students.
Classroom Technology Examples
Interactive Whiteboard- allows for the teacher to project the computer screen onto a large interactive whiteboard. This screen is touch sensitive and allows for the teacher to interact with the material directly on the screen.
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Example of a student
response system |
Classroom Management Software- allows for the teacher to project a student's computer screen in the classroom in order for the student to share what is on their computer. This form of technology can be used to show undesirable work done by student as well as desirable work done by a student. Th teacher is able to fully control the internet and computer use of each of the students
Student Response System- a remote controller that allows for the teacher to create questions for the
students to click in the answer on their remote controller. Once their answers are clicked in their responses go to the teachers computer and the teacher is able to see if the students are understanding the material presented to them.
Weblog (Blog)- a easily updated and accessible website that a teacher can use to communicate information with students as well as parents.
Wiki- a webpage where students and teachers can anonymously post and edit content collaboratively.
RSS (Really Simple Syndication)- allows for users to subscribe to feeds on interest that present headline pages of news media, blogs, or podcasts.
Multimedia Publishing- consists of podcasts which is a digital audio recording that is published for sharing. They can be used during presentations, during instruction, or through distant learning.
Concerns about Integrating Technology in Classroom
With the use of integrating technology in the classroom many have various concerns of this transition. Some teachers have concerns that students will have a dependency on technology and lack fundamental skills. Other have copyright violations, security, privacy, and plagiarism concerns for their students as well as for themselves. Some have concerns about the digital divide, which is the gap between the socio-economic status of school districts and how they can equally support all of the schools. Finally, there are concerns of how they would training and hiring teachers to incorporate technology within the classroom.
Recommendations
Some recommendations for implementing technology in the classroom is to make it a gradual change, have patience, educate yourself on the changes of technology, and create policies for technology within the classroom.
Chung, J.H. (2007). Integrating technology into the classroom. 1-10. Retrieved
from: http://www.usma.edu/cfe/Literature/Chung_07.pdf
