Top 5 Ways to Successfully Integrate Technology in the Classroom. powered by

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Top 5 Ways to Successfully

Integrate Technology in the Classroom

powered by

(2)

Top 5 Ways to Successfully

Integrate Technology in the Classroom

Technology is revolutionizing how the world works and how students across the globe are learning. However, infusing

technology into the classroom is not as seamless of a process, as once believed.

In fact, recent teacher surveys reveal that less than 10% of teachers are fully integrating technology in the classroom. Even more surprising is that 43% of students feel that they lack the technology skills and knowledge to excel in higher education and later in the workplace.

¹

Despite these benefits, teachers continue to struggle to leverage technology. According to a recent National Center for Education Statistics study, less than 25% of teachers polled feel prepared to integrate technology into classroom instruction.

³

Innovative schools have found a way to bridge this gap and empower teachers to successfully integrate technology into the classroom.

A survey of schools that have successfully integrated technology in the classroom has revealed five key strategies that should be utilized.

The use of technology in the classroom has a host of benefits including:

²

Equipping students to independently organize and explore their own learning processes

Increasing information retention rates and boosting overall student performance

Encouraging students to become active learners instead of passive recipients of information

Giving students access to up-to-date information Enabling students to collaborate and problem-solve in

new ways

Empowering students to share information and

experiment with multimedia as a form of self-expression of teachers are fully integrating

technology in the classroom

10%

of students feel that they lack the technology skills and knowledge to excel in higher education and later in the workplace

43%

of teachers polled feel prepared to integrate technology into classroom instruction

25%

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Choosing the type of integration will shape how technology will be used by teachers during the learning process and the expectations of how students should interact with technology. Schools must be realistic about the implementation budget and the amount of training/support that may be needed. Many schools begin infusing technology in the classroom on a basic level and gradually

increase to the seamless integration level. A slow, but steady progression based on available resources is the best approach to ensure that technology is used consistently, with the most productive results.

01 Determine the type of technology integration ⁴

Integrating technology can take on various forms, which is why, defining the role of technology in the classroom plays an integral part in successfully implementing new technology initiatives.

There are four approaches to technology integration, which include:

Sparse integration

Technology is infrequently used and when used is only for specialized projects or assignments.

Basic integration

Technology is used regularly, but only in a separate computer lab, outside of the classroom. Students use technology occasionally to complete projects and assignments.

Comfortable integration

Technology is used within the classroom several times a week.

Students are familiar with and encouraged to use technology to create projects and complete weekly assignments.

Seamless integration

Technology is a permanent fixture in the classroom and used

on a daily basis. Students are encouraged and required to use

technology to create projects and complete daily assignments.

(4)

School districts and schools that have been able to successfully integrate technology have a created robust and comprehensive integration plans. These plans are best made as through a collaborative process that includes parents, teachers, and administrative staff as well as county and state educational officials. The larger the scope of

involvement in the planning phase, the higher the success and the rate of technology integration in the individual classroom.

02 Create an

implementation plan ⁵

The level of technology integration should drive the implementation plan.

This plan should include:

Technology goals

How technology will be used Which lesson(s) technology will be

enhanced

A schedule of technology integration Technology integration milestones Technology success/implementation

benchmarks

How the technology integration will be

evaluated for success

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03 Make educating all users a priority

This is a must needed step that, interestingly, many schools overlook.

To empower and motivate key staff to implement new technology, education and training is a critical component.

This includes training teachers, assistant teachers, and resource staff members. However, educator

beware! Too much information, in a short period of time can be as detrimental as not enough training at all. It is important to note that teachers do not need to know everything about a new piece of software before using it. Instead, focus on the features that are most relevant for the implementation and scale up from there.

Starting with a small set of skills and tasks and then building on the teacher’s’ knowledge will allow for more organic growth and understanding of how to use technology in classroom lessons.

Focusing on the “just enough” approach ensures that valuable time and resources are not spent teaching facets of technology that will not be used in the classroom. Users, including teachers will naturally learn more about the technology as time goes on and

as they experiment, in a trial and error fashion. Allowing time for

teachers to immerse themselves and practice with the technology

is the most preferred allocation of time. Teachers who have been

able to test out technology on each other or in small groups report

higher levels of comfort with technology later when used within

the classroom with students.

⁶

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Starting school wiki pages or blogs enabling teachers to post their experiences and share concerns or ask questions can be an additional internal form of support during technology integration.

Innovative schools like Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) use planning teams of teachers to brainstorm technology integration strategies and develop new ways to engage students through technology.

04 Provide consistent and accessible support early and often ⁷

This key step does not require expensive IT experts or hours of professional development. Instead, the most high tech schools seek to gather online (and often free) resources that teachers can tap use when questions arise. Websites like lynda.com or udemy.

com can be great online resources to provide quick video tutorials

to teachers on various technology tools. Connecting with other

schools who have implemented similar technology can also be

a valuable source for information sharing and troubleshooting.

(7)

Brainpop

For online animated movies, quizzes, games, and activities for any subject, teachers are turning to this online site as a convenient way to integrate technology into classroom lessons. Updated regularly, this site is a go-to for technology-infused supplemental lessons.

^**

Animoto

This is a great online tool for students to make visually appealing presentations that incorporate images, video, music, and text.

Educators can apply for a free classroom account.

^**

Kidblog

To encourage writing and information sharing, teachers are using this kid-friendly publishing tool. This provides a safe space for students to create personal blogs, post blogs, and collaborate with classmates.

^**

MAD-learn

This interactive program brings Mobile Application Development into the classroom for students to learn programming, starting in the third grade. The program is designed to be implemented for students with no coding knowledge and provides students a glimpse into the full lifecycle of how an app is designed, developed, marketed, and sold.

05 Encourage teachers to be creative

with how technology is used

Encourage teachers to be creative with how technology is used Integrating technology can be a gateway into revolutionizing how teachers teach and how students learn in the classroom.

Technologically advanced schools allow teachers the freedom to use various types of technology in innovative ways throughout the school’s curriculum. Giving teachers the autonomy to choose which tools and how technology is incorporated in lessons and assignments has been found to increase teacher engagement.

Here are several technology tools and programs that teachers are

implementing in the classroom around the country.

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Conclusion

In today’s fast-moving, high-tech landscape, schools are trying to keep pace by integrating technology in the classroom. More than ever, students will need to be proficient with technology to fulfill future workplace roles. With limited technology budgets and resources, schools must adopt proven technology integration strategies to ensure that technology in the classroom is used appropriately and effectively for the best results. As schools continue to explore the role of technology in the classroom, programs like MAD-learn will continue to create interactive, technology-based curricula for students, of all ages. Coding, as taught in the MAD-learn program, is just one of several STEM initiatives schools are pursuing to provide students exposure to the latest technology and to drive scientific creativity. MAD-learn also focuses on Entrepreneurship and Design, in addition to Programming for mobile apps.

1 http://www.nmefoundation.org/getmedia/befa9751-d8ad-47e9-949d-bd649f7c0044/

integrating

2 http://www.teachhub.com/benefits-technology-classroom

3 https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/frss/publications/1999080/index.asp?sectionid=6

4 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/meaning-tech-integration-elementary-mary-beth-hertz

5 http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2012/01/25/3-tips-on- integrating-technology-in-the-classroom

Top 5 Ways to Successfully Integrate Technology in the Classroom. powered by

Top 5 Ways to Successfully

Integrate Technology in the Classroom

powered by

Top 5 Ways to Successfully

Integrate Technology in the Classroom

Technology is revolutionizing how the world works and how students across the globe are learning. However, infusing

technology into the classroom is not as seamless of a process, as once believed.

In fact, recent teacher surveys reveal that less than 10% of teachers are fully integrating technology in the classroom. Even more surprising is that 43% of students feel that they lack the technology skills and knowledge to excel in higher education and later in the workplace.

Despite these benefits, teachers continue to struggle to leverage technology. According to a recent National Center for Education Statistics study, less than 25% of teachers polled feel prepared to integrate technology into classroom instruction.

Innovative schools have found a way to bridge this gap and empower teachers to successfully integrate technology into the classroom.

A survey of schools that have successfully integrated technology in the classroom has revealed five key strategies that should be utilized.

The use of technology in the classroom has a host of benefits including:

Equipping students to independently organize and explore their own learning processes

Increasing information retention rates and boosting overall student performance

Encouraging students to become active learners instead of passive recipients of information

Giving students access to up-to-date information Enabling students to collaborate and problem-solve in

new ways

Empowering students to share information and

experiment with multimedia as a form of self-expression of teachers are fully integrating

technology in the classroom

10%

of students feel that they lack the technology skills and knowledge to excel in higher education and later in the workplace

43%

of teachers polled feel prepared to integrate technology into classroom instruction

25%

increase to the seamless integration level. A slow, but steady progression based on available resources is the best approach to ensure that technology is used consistently, with the most productive results.

01 Determine the type of technology integration 4

Integrating technology can take on various forms, which is why, defining the role of technology in the classroom plays an integral part in successfully implementing new technology initiatives.

There are four approaches to technology integration, which include:

Sparse integration

Technology is infrequently used and when used is only for specialized projects or assignments.

Basic integration

Technology is used regularly, but only in a separate computer lab, outside of the classroom. Students use technology occasionally to complete projects and assignments.

Comfortable integration

Technology is used within the classroom several times a week.

Students are familiar with and encouraged to use technology to create projects and complete weekly assignments.

Seamless integration

Technology is a permanent fixture in the classroom and used

on a daily basis. Students are encouraged and required to use

technology to create projects and complete daily assignments.

involvement in the planning phase, the higher the success and the rate of technology integration in the individual classroom.

02 Create an

implementation plan 5

The level of technology integration should drive the implementation plan.

This plan should include:

Technology goals

How technology will be used Which lesson(s) technology will be

enhanced

A schedule of technology integration Technology integration milestones Technology success/implementation

benchmarks

How the technology integration will be

evaluated for success

03 Make educating all users a priority

This is a must needed step that, interestingly, many schools overlook.

To empower and motivate key staff to implement new technology, education and training is a critical component.

This includes training teachers, assistant teachers, and resource staff members. However, educator

Starting with a small set of skills and tasks and then building on the teacher’s’ knowledge will allow for more organic growth and understanding of how to use technology in classroom lessons.

Focusing on the “just enough” approach ensures that valuable time and resources are not spent teaching facets of technology that will not be used in the classroom. Users, including teachers will naturally learn more about the technology as time goes on and

as they experiment, in a trial and error fashion. Allowing time for

teachers to immerse themselves and practice with the technology

is the most preferred allocation of time. Teachers who have been

able to test out technology on each other or in small groups report

higher levels of comfort with technology later when used within

the classroom with students.

Starting school wiki pages or blogs enabling teachers to post their experiences and share concerns or ask questions can be an additional internal form of support during technology integration.

Innovative schools like Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) use planning teams of teachers to brainstorm technology integration strategies and develop new ways to engage students through technology.

04 Provide consistent and accessible support early and often 7

This key step does not require expensive IT experts or hours of professional development. Instead, the most high tech schools seek to gather online (and often free) resources that teachers can tap use when questions arise. Websites like lynda.com or udemy.

com can be great online resources to provide quick video tutorials

to teachers on various technology tools. Connecting with other

schools who have implemented similar technology can also be

a valuable source for information sharing and troubleshooting.

Brainpop

For online animated movies, quizzes, games, and activities for any subject, teachers are turning to this online site as a convenient way to integrate technology into classroom lessons. Updated regularly, this site is a go-to for technology-infused supplemental lessons.

Animoto

This is a great online tool for students to make visually appealing presentations that incorporate images, video, music, and text.

Educators can apply for a free classroom account.

Kidblog

To encourage writing and information sharing, teachers are using this kid-friendly publishing tool. This provides a safe space for students to create personal blogs, post blogs, and collaborate with classmates.

01 Determine the type of technology integration ⁴

implementation plan ⁵

04 Provide consistent and accessible support early and often ⁷