Visualizing Technology Integration: A Model for Meeting ISTE Educational-Technology Standards

Throughout this article I came across that The National Technology Standars for Students are the ones who started talking about integrting technology into the classrooms. They were saying that the most efficient ways to help their students learn that they use in the classroom is a concept map. It helps then be able to open PDF files, and from there they are just a click away and free to browse the web and do other things on the computer, not just on the internet. They discovered that there students were not doing very well on standardized tests because they were not understanding the subjects as well as they were supposed to. They found this awesome website that connected back to colonial history and science and since it was computerized this gave the childeren more excitement in learning. I think this would be a great idea just because some kids are so unmotivated to go out and learn. What we need is for kids to be excited and engaged in what they are learning, and I think the more things we can do on the computer will be all the better for them. I don't mean every single thing has to be done on the computer, but a good portion of their learning should be because I think that is the answer to make them more interested.

Collaborative Online Continuing Education: Professional Development Through Learning Communities

By us having such awesome tools as being able to do school work online is something we need to be so grateful for. It offers new opportunities for models of the professional growth of teachers. Many communities share a way of knowing, a set of practices and shared values that comes from these very procedures. In these communities it brings together students, teachers and community members in directing the same courses and education in new ways. By having community technologies is provides opportunities for teachers where they can reflect and talk with their colleagues and build more of an understanding for different approaches, standards and curriculum. A great example of a learning community is The Maryland Electronic Learning Community which shows the development of a teacher and all the support groups that built up the formal training which is linked with continuing collaboration and support. Overall, these communties offer many strategies for reform that include everyone: parents, learners, teachers, community members, and political leaders. This helps encourage everyone that is learning to take a lead role in the learning process and the construction of knowledge.

Technology integration Professional Development Guide

This is a great class/session for everyone I think! It teaches us all the ways how to integrate technology into the classrooms, and trust me from what I have learned so far there are a ton! In just a few short classes you will be more than ready to help yourself and teach others all the ways that we are learning to bring technology into our classrooms. I never thought of this as such a helpful technique but it really is. My aunt is a teacher for assistive technology and for the longest time she would always try and persuade me to look into this, and I was never to fond of it becasuse I didn't know much. Now that I have learned so much I think it would be such an awesome job as well as a great experience. All it takes is a few short classes and before you know it you are ready to go out and teach everyone everything that you know about assistive technology and integrating technology into classrooms. If it is not already mandatory, I personally feel that all teachers should now how to use all of these because you never know when it will come in handy, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Technology workshops for teachers make computer connections

At New Orleans's Martin Behrman Charter Academy of Creative Arts & Sciences, everything is computerized.  Everything from lesson plans to grade keeping is done electronically on the computer.  Even teacher networking is done electronically. This idea is very effective, not only is it effective, but doing things like this on the computer are often mistake- proof.  It’s a good way to keep track of all that needs to be done and it is also easier and more enjoyable for both teachers and students. All schools should take advantage of the electronic tools offered to them, because it helps teachers and students in the long run.  We are moving forward and live in a digital world, and schools should start doing the same.

Preparing to teach with technology: Helping students reach their full potential.

Not only does technology help students to reach their full potential, but it also helps teachers as well.  Technology helps teachers to be their best and teach the best way possible.  Technology helps teachers in their learning process as well.  Technology helps teachers to prepare for their own learning.  Many teachers prepare an electronic portfolio to show their own learning process which also trains teachers in using technology.  Technology not only helps students but it helps teachers as well.  Teachers need technology to succeed and learn just as much as students do.

Technology integration for elementary schools

Kids are now starting to learn about technology at a younger age, so it only makes sense to start technology integration at a younger age.  By doing this, elementary school children will have a better grasp of technology which will help them in years to come when technology becomes more advanced.  For now, they are starting out small for example, using flip cameras to videotape each other doing skits and projects to help give them a more creative edge.  Exploring this idea of integrating at a younger age will give younger children a sense of independence and help them so they can succeed not only now but later on in life.

Students as change agents: Kids help integrate technology into the classroom

Since there is more technology now offered in the classroom, teachers need more training on the matter.  For example, the Washington School District has offered a new program in which they do everything virtually.  In order for the school district to accomplish this idea, teachers and students had to work together to learn how to master the skills used in the virtual program.  Students would help teachers instead of the district offering outside help.  Students would even help other students to help master the program.  With schools, the budget is always an issue, but by using already available resources such as the actual students, every school should be able to incorporate virtual learning into their curriculum.

The World at Your Fingertips: Education Technology Opens Doors

Students that start to use technology in the classroom have a greater advantage.  There is even some technology available in classrooms that professionals use such as tools to check the weather, or collect data.  Technology in classrooms has also benefitted students with disabilities.  For example, if a student can’t talk, that student can type everything through a computer without having to speak.  There is even simulation technology offered in classrooms that will help students with their professional careers.  Education technology most definitely will open doors for the students with the technological access.

What Is Technology Integration?

The idea of technology integration has made the modern learning process successful.  We have come a long way from the overhead projector and typewriter and technological advancements in classrooms have helped students to achieve greater success.   Not only are these tools more helpful learning wise, but they also make learning more interesting.  Change is inevitable and it is only a matter of time before everything becomes computerized.  Books, even pens and pencils are becoming irrelevant seeing as though we can read and write everything digitally.  Technological integration is a step in the right direction for current and future educators.

Connecting to the 21st-Century Student

In this day in age, it is hard to get students interested in learning using old techniques.  It has even gotten to the point where books are irrelevant seeing as though we have new technology to read on such as the Kindle.  It would be hard to take old literature such as Romeo and Juliet and expect students to be engaged in the reading.  If we introduced new technology into the classroom such as even a Kindle or a Nook book, I think that it would better capture the attention of students and encourage them to stay interested in the learning.  Since everything today is computerized and electronic, teachers should incorporate that into their learning style, and throw out the old and replace it with the new.

Assistive technology: enhanced learning for all

As I was reading," Assistive technology:enhanced for all", it honestly made me so happy. Especiaally since I am a special education major and all I want is for people with disabilites to have the same opportunities as everyone else, and by us now incorporating games and other activites online or on other items, for the kindle for example. These are just so many ways to help them, and I know how happy and thankful they are that we have all these new tecnhiques for them because that makes them feel not apart or segregated from everyone else especially when they are in school. I personally feel that assistive technology is one of the greatest inventions they have brought to the classrooms now a days because many years ago when all we had was desks and paper, how are kids with disabilites supposed to understand and engage in school like everyone else. Granted, it depends a lot of the severity of the childs disability. Say for example, a child only has a slight learning disability I think they would be fine being with the rest of their classmates and doing the work like the rest of them. Sure they might need some one on one attention but compared to kids with very severe physical or mental disablities who cannot speak or write assistive technology is what works perfect for them. I am so glad that this is finally opening up to many schools throughout the world, because this is what we need.

Digital Discussion: Take your class to the internet.

One thing that many teachers are starting to do now are use blogs. A blog is basically an electronic notebook, one that students do not use but are allowed to look and read and post their thoughts and feelings onto their own. Here are some great reasons to start using blogs that I found as I was reading this article. For example: better classroom managent, learning journal, online notebook, class discussions as well as personal expression. All five of these aspects helps in different ways for teachers and even students. Blogs can even be used to have kids complete their homework assignments which would be awesome! For example, they can have a reading assignment and then they can write their answers on the blog, and the best part is that then all of their other classmates can comment and say how they feel and give all their input. Another plus to starting blogs is you can sign up using this website, blogger, and it only takes a couple seconds and you are ready to go! But there are always going to be safety precautions when it comes to anything online, so if you are going to blog be sure to use first names only and do not put any personal information. Overall, I feel that blogging is an awesome way to interact with your teachers and classmates.

If technology motivates students, lets use it!

As I was reading this article and one of the first few sentences was talking very negative about intergrating technology into classrooms. They were saying that it will make the childeren have a shorter attention span, give then more of a reason not to stay fit and active, because all of their assignments can be done online. Then they brought up a great fact, that I am sure many people do not think of. I can bet that there are so many kids who are unmotivated and not excited to go to school and have their teachers just read to them out of big, boring hard-cover texts book. The key to this would be to have more digital items that they can play and learn at the same time. I know for when I observed back at home in a FIRST grade classroom the kids were playing with iPads, and as soon as the teacher brought them out they were so excited. Not only to sit and play games on them but because they know that this is a more fun and interesting way to learn. I even got to use one for a bit and just seeing all the awesome games to help kids learn was unreal. I never thought that I would be this young and see first graders already using Ipads. It really is what is popular in this time period and I can't wait for this to become a world wide thing.

How to integrate technology.

After reading this article, "How to integrate technology", I learned that integrating not only helps certain levels of students, but literally all of them! There is always at least one thing that each grade can start usign to help bring about more technology in classrooms. Even starting as young as kindgertan, they can use technology by having the kindergartners write an alphabet book, combine it with all their classmates and then they can print pages and create a class book and send it home to the students parents. It is unbelievable how many different ways there are to bring technology into classrooms and I think it will be one of the best changes to be brought into this world. According to the International Society for Technology in Education they have established national technology standards for teachers. These two standards have two competency skill areas: operational and integration. These standards help and encourage teachers to use technology for their professional as well as their personal uses.

Why integrate technology into curriculum?

Throughout this blog I came across so many great reasons as to why technology would be such a great aspect to be added to the classroom. It would be so much more than just teaching regular computer skills and how to use certain software programs. There are four key components that this would touch on:active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts. It is said to be true that people believer that technology enabled projects learning is the ultra of classroom instruction. When kids do projects it helps them with many different technology skills to be intellectually challenged with giving them a synopsis of what real technology looks like. The online world also gives each classroom more diverse, interesting and newer learning materials. The internet connects kids to multiple opportunites to understand things through pictures and sounds. I for one think that bringing more technology into classrooms will be very different and huge change for some people because it will be nothing like how school used to be. But being in the twenty first century we have gone through such drastic changes, that now a days this will be completly normal to even be using iPads in elementary schools.