Reading+One+-+H


 * Teacher pedagogical beliefs: The final frontier in our quest for technology integration? By Peggy Ertmer.**
 * __Kristy-lee, Veronica__**

Questions: Technology integration is where you incorporate technology within lessons and units for example using an interactive white board to teach English or using co mputers to assist in teaching mathematics. It is used as a teaching tool in lessons accross all KLA's. With a purposeful integration, lessons have the capacity to be more interactive, effective and productive.
 * What is technology integration? **


 * Discuss how technology integration can be improved in the classroom? **

The biggest improvment for technology integration, is for teachers to use technology with purpose and specific intent, as opposed to using it because it is available. An example would include the use of 'PowerPoint' presentations. This program is a powerful presentation medium when used correctly! Correctly is not placing all the content on each slide, as is often seen in classrooms, an indeed some universities. Students should be taught how best to structure a presentation and how to display that using a the PowerPoint software.

Kristy-lee, I think that is totally relevant... Integration should be purposeful and corresponding specifically to the lesson. This will make it more meaningful and will help link new and old knowledge of the student.

The technology itself should not be the focus of lessons, rather it should compliment the content and other learning engagements. Example of this is the use of Webquests. I would use them as the motivation for a lesson/leson sequence or the start, core or as a summary/assessment tool of the unit. From here, you are able to monitor progress and create/facilitate for core, modified and extension workers.

Integration of technology also enables you to cater for all learning syles. Improving integration in another way is to simply use technology as a visual tool, or as interaction in the classroom (IWB/ Smartboard). Veronica 4/6/09

Amy Reynolds 5/6/09: There is a definate need to include more technology in current learning environments, power points CAN be effective but are more often not. From teaching and observational expereice children are simple presented with information adn are provided minimal chance to self direct learning needs or construct their own knowledge. Children also appear to become restless when engaged in a power point presentation, wiggling arpund on th ecarpet instead of making any meaningful learning connections with the task at hand. I believe other techonological resources such as Smart board Notebook software (if available) should be utilised or even replace power point, as the program provides opportunity for children to interact with the material beeing presented, assuming the lesson has been designed to cater to children's needs. How ever, power point can be integrated successfuly, I believe this responsibility lays at the hands of the creator.

__Matt Chamberlain__ 5/6/09: It is important that technology is integrated correctly to ensure that good teaching practices are not ignored just because they don't include ICT. I have seen classrooms where the introduction of a smart board has resulted in students having less hands-on learning experiences because they did not involve the smart board. The classroom reflected that of the early 20th century, with students copying information of the board into their books and only interacting with the smart board.

**What is technology integration?** Technology integration in the clasroom involves the incorporation of technology, in various forms, across the curriculum in your program. Discuss how technology integration can be improved in the classroom? Using it in a variety of ways...
 * Make learning with technology interactice
 * Allow students to direct their own learning with technology to cater for their different learning styles.
 * Increase in professional development in ICT to develop confidence in integration.
 * Peer support for teachers in implementing technology use in the clasrrom.
 * Enabling time for students that are at a lower level of skill.
 * Ensuring that students are taught the skills to operate the ICT equipment or resources, before they are required to use it for learning.
 * Better funding
 * Aids students with learning difficulties
 * Aids students with permanent/semi-permanent injuries (for example type instead of writing)

__**Diagrams explaining Technology Integration:**__

The following pictures demonstrate components that are linked together when technology is used effectivley in lessons. If teachers attempt to incorporate technology into their units of work they need to remember to not solely focus on the use of technology. If the tasks that involve technology are to be effective teachers need to remember it involves Technology skills as well as pedagogical and content knowledge skills all linked together. Kristy-lee