Infusion of Technology in the Classroom

           Infusing technology effectively in the classroom enhances the learning process. The question is, what does it look like? A technology-infused classroom is a space where digital software is utilized on Internet/WIFI connected hardware for at least fifty percent of the observed instruction. The technology use is blended into the instruction so efficiently that the learning flows smoothly through the class period. Observes would see the technology in the hands of the students being utilized not to replace direct instructional activities but to enhance the content the students need to acquire.

            As seen in the above illustration, the technology-infused classroom does not look like the traditional classroom. Students are arranged in groups or stations where they move around the classroom at set intervals throughout the period. And, there is a constant buzz of conversation heard when one walks into the room, with the students totally engaged with the work at hand while the teacher facilitates the learning process. Now, one could say that the infusion of technology in the classroom would mean that students are always using technology in all aspects of instruction, but this is not the case, students need human interaction. This may change soon with the advent of newer technologies as witnessed in the video link below:

 https://youtu.be/UIpF1QcPJaE

            So, how does one plan on infusing technology in the classroom? The first step is to assess the current technologies that are available for the classroom; including devices and software. It would not be feasible to plan the infusion of technology if it is not readily available. Next, the teacher needs to see where the technology can be used for enhancement of instruction. Teachers need to make sure that the technology does not distract from the flow of learning that is expected. In fact, teachers need to plan for the time it takes for students to transition to the use of technology, like getting and putting away the devices. And most of all, the teacher needs to have mastered the use of the technology before the students get their hands on or access it. One can create a great plan for integrating technology into the lesson but if they do not have the mastery of its use, the who process can fail when students have questions or concerns about its usage.

Visual Literacy and the Internet: Necessaties in the Classroom

          The number one complaint that I hear from the teachers that attend my professional development sessions on Blended Learning is how do they find the time to integrate technology into their lessons when they have so much content that they have to give their students for them to learn. There is an abundance of digital tools available to make the lives of these teachers better if they would only give up the time they think they need in front of the classroom. Teachers need to consider their visual learners when planning a lesson. Using visual literacy is a way to meet those students’ needs by associating visual images with the content the students need to know.   

       Teachers should refrain from using heavily worded presentation when they speak to their students and give them images they can focus on that they can relate to the knowledge that they need to acquire. The following link is to a visual presentation that was created to give a lesson on diabetes 2:  https://sway.com/561fX0MgANEZuwC4?ref=Link

            The use of digital tools and the Internet have become the focus of my professional development sessions. Using these tools frees up time that the teacher uses to teach directly to the students and allows more time for them to do other tasks in the classroom that they always complain they do not have time to do. See the graphic below:

       

          Using tools available on the Internet that allow students to communicate and collaborate with classmates and others is necessary for student success. Those students who are not able to participate with others in the classroom may flourish because they can express themselves better digitally than face – to – face.  The Internet is a powerful tool for the classroom; both for the teacher and the students.

Students of the 21st Century Need Variety in Learning

  

          Our digital-natives that sit in our classrooms each day cannot perform like students of the past sat in a standardized and strict setting while a teacher was the only source of content they had to learn from. Now, most students have all the information they really need at their finger-tips; literally. For teachers to keep the students of the 21^st century engaged, they need to use specific instructional strategies to meet their needs, strategies that allow them to develop in a way that learning just becomes natural to them. When teachers apply these strategies, they need to utilize the tools that student use every day to communicate, collaborate, create, and critically think with; their technology. Being strict and standardized in the classroom used to work in the days when students could not easily access information like they can do now with the Internet. Students need strategies and technology that allows them to stay focused on content within less time, but multiple time within a lesson. Today’s students need variety in the ways they learn to be successful in the 21^st century.

            The purpose of teaching must change to meet the learning needs of today’s students. Instead of being the major focal point in the classroom for gaining knowledge, the teacher needs to become a facilitator who utilizes teaching strategies with technology, organizing and setting the parameters of a lesson so students can take charge of what they are learning and their performance levels. Teachers need to be more observant, noticing when students need further help and provide differentiated instruction to personalize the learning effort for them in a way that meets their individual needs. In other words, the teacher needs to be the one to adapt to the students’ way of learning and not the students adapting to the way the teacher teaches.

Initial Post

Hello and welcome to my Instructional Technology Integration Specialist Reflective blog. 

This blog has been created for the purpose of giving insights on the various topics, readings, assignments, and class discussions that will be obtained by participating in the Learning in the Digital Age online course at Grand Canyon University. There will be four major blog posts submitted to the blog based on prompts given within the course.

My goal is to extend the use of this blog beyond the scope and time period of the course, to continue posting my thoughts and insights of working within the educational technology integration arena.

Sitting in my cubicle within the Tolleson Union High School district office.