Reading+One+-+F

The final frontier in our quest for technology integration? **
 * Teacher pedagogical beliefs:
 * By Peggy Ertmer. ** 

OUR GROUP: Danielle Gomez Chantelle McGurgan Lucy Gentle Ines Soares Lina Gonzalez Karina Baldacchino Alyce Portlock  Jenna Palmieri Lauren Milan Melissa Martin Krystle Edwards Alana Berry
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Beliefs vary in strength and kind. Stronger beliefs are harder to change and based on the individuals personal identity and past experiences. Core beliefs, particularly about teaching, affect how new information is learnt and processed. “Although beliefs are not readily changed, this does not mean that they //never// change”. In regards to technology integration, it can be harder for teachers who hold existing teaching beliefs to modify these. Core teaching strategies and beliefs must be adapted in order to cater for changing technologies, so they can eventually be integrated into the classroom.* 

//Questions:// · Peggy Ertmer’s article has as its purpose to examine the relationship between teachers’ pedagogical beliefs and their technology practices, that is how they can integrate technology in the classroom.  <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msobidifontsize: 11.0pt; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In his review, he extends the work of other scholars whom have examined teacher’s beliefs in subject-related contexts, as to extend the relationship between pedagogical beliefs and technology integration. <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It seems that what the author is hoping for, is that by gaining a better understanding of what he calls a ‘complex relationship’, educators might gain a greater appreciation for why more teachers are not using technology in ways advocated in literature. This will enable us to facilitate and provide more effective ways of supporting and documenting teacher change. <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Previous researchers have noted the influence on teacher’s beliefs on classroom instruction specifically in mathematics, reading and science, and even then not much research has been done to establish a link to teachers’ use of technology. <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the reading, Ertmer argues for the importance of such a research and presents a conceptual overview of teacher pedagogical beliefs and how they could 'affect the technology integration in the classroom environment. <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Incorporating the use of technology within the classroom. <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">__What is technology integration?__ **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">


 * According to Becker (as cited in Ertmer 2000) computers are a vital tool in the classroom. However, he argues that teachers need to ensure that they are implementing them effectively. By:
 * 1) Having access to the technology.
 * 2) Being prepared
 * 3) Having a curriculum that supports technology.
 * 4) Implementing personal beliefs that support a constructivist approach to teaching.
 * Ertmer believes that the first three are being met in classrooms however, she states that many teachers do not understand the forth one and are thus not implementing it effectively. Ashley online

Over time successful technology has been integrated into the classroom however such high level technology is still quite low, this being due to the result of pedagogical beliefs which some educators have. However, although ICT integration in classroom is very important as such technology has a huge impact on the lives of today student's. I believe that integrating technology in to the programs which are developed, however only to a degree, the over use of technology can take away from other learning styles which need to be catered for. Krystle online.

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//So why should we integrate ICT in the classroom? watch the short video below for why students believe its so benifical.// Technology use in schools is still low despite the ideal conditions for its integration. Teachers have ready access to technology, increased training for teachers and favorable policy environment. A reason for teacher’s reluctance to integrate technology into the classroom could steam from pedagogical beliefs. · According to Becker (2000), computers serve as a “valuable and well functioning, instructional tool” (p29) in schools and classrooms in which teachers: (a) have convenient access, (b) are adequately prepared, (c) have some freedom in the curriculum and (d) hold personal beliefs aligned with a constructivist pedagogy. · Teachers have had an increasing chance to gain technology skills as the access to technology has continued to grow more popular. · Majority of teachers feel that they are confident in their own computing skills and would like support to help them integrate technology skills into their classrooms and programs. · Studies have shown that teachers are increasing the use of technology in classroom across Australia. Some reasons for his are the increased level of access and skill and the favorable policy environment. · It has been shown in surveys that many teachers feel comfortable in accessing information from the internet and sending emails however they do not feel comfortable using high-tech tools such as spreadsheets, presentation software or digital imaging to enhance their lessons. · Students are often exposed to computer skills whilst they are expressing themselves in writing, improving their computer skills, doing research on the internet, using computers as a free-time or reward activities and doing practice drills. Alana online

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Georgia; text-decoration: none; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; textunderline: none; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-US; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msobidilanguage: AR-SA;">

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">*Goal: <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msobidifontsize: 11.0pt; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">It is our goal as educators to facilitate uses of technology that lead to increased student learning. “Little will have been accomplished if research into educational beliefs fails to provide insights into the relationship between beliefs … and teacher practices, teacher knowledge, and student outcomes” (Pajares, 1992, pg. 327). <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msobidifontsize: 11.0pt; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">... On the 'Definition of Teacher Beliefs': teacher beliefs, teacher knowledge and teacher thinking, comprise the concept of teacher cognition. Yet Kagan, (1990) in the concept of "teacher cognition", notes: “is somewhat ambiguous because, because researchers invoke the term to refer to different products, including teacher’s interactive thoughts during instruction; thoughts during lesson planning; implicit beliefs about students, classrooms, and learning; and reflections about their own teaching performance (pg. 420). <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> The difficulty in learning teacher’s beliefs is in determining how they differ from knowledge. It is correct to say that humans have beliefs about everything, particularly teachers holding beliefs, whether defined and labelled - about their work, students, subject matter and particularly their roles and responsibilities. <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">__Discuss how technology integration can be improved in the classroom?__ **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU; msobidifontstyle: italic;"> **

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Technology Integration can be improved in the classroom environment in the following ways: -Allowing teachers to use the technology in ways that are consistent with their own personal beliefs and pedagogy. -Introducing technology as a tool which will enhance that which is already valued within the school for example, communication between teachers and parents, locating relevant resources etc. -Allowing teachers to have access to the relevant technology in order to play around with it and develop a feel for it, in turn boosting their confidence through positive experiences with the technology. -Through encouraging instructional change, that is not completely eradicating teachers’ prior beliefs however simply enhancing them and replacing them with more relevant and up to date beliefs. -Social Networking <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">-Through initiating technological support and pedagogical support whilst the teachers are familiarising themselves with technology. <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> The nature of beliefs of teachers in the classroom can greatly affect the technology used in the classroom. A teachers’ belief about technology can either hinder learning or can improve learning. If a teacher has a bad attitude towards technology they may not use a great range of technology in the classroom, which will affect the learning experiences of the children. A teacher needs to have an open minded approach to using technology and they must have a positive attitude and belief system, in order to effectively incorporate technology in the classroom.

In addition, teachers need to be explicity taught how to implement a variety of technology. This will allow them to gain confidence in teaching students with technology. Workshops during staff meetings, staff development days or even after and before school are good opportunities for teachers to learn how to use them. Teachers also need to work together to teach each other what they know and what they have been using in their classroom that has been successful. Ashley online

As time passes schools are increasing the level an use of technology in the classroom however it is important that such technology is used correctly, therefore teachers need to improve upon and take part in professional development programs relating to ICT skills (examples are provided above, staff development etc) as this will support the proper use of technology in schools. In saying this, the educator after developing such ICT skills should then base their pedagogical beliefs in a way to suite the use of technology in the classroom environment. Krystle online.



<span style="display: block; font-size: 169%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">I believe that in order for a teacher to integrate technology in the classroom, they need to know what is available to them. I came across this easy to understand video [] which showcases 10 different ICT programs and resources to use in the classroom. <span style="display: block; font-size: 130%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> It might also be wise to visit the creator's website at [|www.boxoftricks.net] which also provides a page of A-Z technology and software programs to download and use in the classroom. ENJOY! - Lauren