Reading+One+-+G

Teacher pedagogical beliefs: The final frontier in our quest for technology integration? By Peggy Ertmer. By Amanda Bonnici, Amanda Malouf, Amy Elysee, Nicole Farrugia, Adriennne Farlow and Joel Brown

Questions:

Technology integration means that more technology is integrated into classroom instruction. This means technology should be evident in all KLA’s with students having access to technology as well as opportunity to evaluate and increase their technological skill. It is recognized that teachers need to be better trained in using technology so that they can pass on the knowledge and skills to their students. This could be achieved through regular professional development courses for ICT. This proffessional development must, however, be coupled with appropriate ways of implementing the technology. Profficiancy in technology does not mean it will be used appropriately or effectively, this must be the focus.
 * What is technology integration?**

Ertmer states that it takes five to six years for teachers to develop and build their skills to feel like comfortable users of computers. Teachers are moving towards a constructivist approach when it comes to technology, gradually building their skills over the years. Ertmer conveys that a long term goal is to see a classroom with full integration of computers. For this to happen Ertmer says there needs to be a study on teachers and wheat makes them use computers. Various changes that could occur include:
 * Discuss how technology integration can be improved in the classroom?**
 * Ongoing public conversations
 * Small communities of practise
 * Teachers being introduced to technology uses
 * Ongoing technical and pedagogical support


 * The biggest improvment for technology integration, is for teachers to use technology with purpose and specific intent, as apposed 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! Students should be taught how best to structure a presentation and how to display that using a the PowerPoint software.**


 * My Thoughts.... By Erin Britt**

“Low-level technology uses tend to be associated with teacher-centred practices while high-level uses tend to be associated with student-centred, or constructivist, practices” (p26) I like this quote from the article, it states the basic level which we work at and also the goal we need to strive for, student-centred constuctivist practices with the use of technology for authentic, meaningful learning. I think I have a Type B belief in technology use in the classroom, I have had direct experiences with technology and I firmly believe that technology has a vital place in the classroom. However, I think I keep this belief to myself as I am willing to try using technology yet Im not overly confident enough to say it is my Type A educational belief.

And now for something cute....

Abby Fredericks thoughts......

Intergration of ICT is vital into classrooms as it provides another means for students to learn and consolidate new information. Yet teachers today need to learn how to use ICT with problem solving and higher order thinking so students gain the most from the ICT tools. I am supposed to be a digital native and I believe to a degree that I am good at using and working computers but as Erin has said I am not confident to use it in new and innovative ways in the classroom. I wish I was as it will probably teach me something and the students would gain alot from the lesson as well. Intergration of ICT in the classroom could be improved by providing in-services for teachers or professional days. Also it could be improved by teachers in the school gathering together and trying new ways on how to use ICT tool. Practise makes perfect. (Sorry Erin i do not know why your cute tinkabell is under my message now) Miriam Cross and her thoughts

Integration of ICT within the classroom is vital for teachers so that students are contiuously becoming engaged with new technology relevant to their lives. Like Abby and Erin said, I do have skills with ICT but am unsure how I can make this knowledge effective for the classroom. Teacher do need extra support and guidence through this avenue. I agree with abby and feel that teachers do need to be provided with in service days which reguarly update teachers understanding and provide new ways of integrating ICT into learning engagements

My Thoughts By Steve Pryde

The Integration of ICT is not only inevitable but paramount to student learning. We as teachers have to accept that students will be as good if not better at using technology than us!! (better tahn me anyway). As teacher we need to be forever learning especially when it comes to ICT. I'm in the same boat as the girls above (Abbey, Miz and Erin) when it comes to my ability and beliefs with ICT. I'd class myself as a Type B as well. I've used and experinced different types of technology in the classroom and do strongly beleive it is here to stay and it is a life skill all students need to develop. I'm a long way off being confident enough to show others and I don't possess the skills or knowledge to make it effective in the classroom. Abbey is on the money when she spoke about inservices in schools to update our ICT skills as we need to keep up with the kids! They are only going top get better!

 **My thoughts on ICT integration in Australian Education**
 * Ghulam Mustafa **

ICT means Information and Communication Technology. To gain more and diverse knowledge we have to communicate with others all over the world using this tool. When we will communicate with a vast number of skilled people, we will generate more ideas and creativity. More thinking, more approaches mean more creativity. For example For example, Edublogs are used to share educational ideas with other students and teachers. Their thoughts and positive suggestions are incorporated for further teaching and learning. As a student teacher I want to use Edublogs to facilitate students’ learning. It is a quick way of communication, feedback and creative learning. Another aspect of ICT use in education is WebQuest. WebQuest plays an important and pivitol role in today's education. It creates critical thinking among the students and motivates them to explore knowledge using teacher centred approaches. This type of learning and teaching is helpful to organise ideas in the field of ICT and education. Tools such as Thinkquest, Learning quest or WebQuest can be used to enhance teaching skills to facilitate students' learning through motivation. WebQuests can also be used to engage students in enquiry oriented models and to constructivly align their ICT skills. ThinkQuest is a constructive approach of learning which enhances cooperative learning and self evaluation. Students learn creative and generative activities which ultimately help them to polish their further skills in the field of ICT, as a cognitive tool. WebQuest was first designed by Dr. Bernies in 1995 to gather web based information to support student learning. Our education system has shifted from surface to deep learning (constructive learning). Teaching approaches has been shifted from teacher centred to student centred. Deep learning also develops through motivation to learn new concepts as a result of ICT induction in the educational system. In addition to motivation, constructive teaching and learning is mainly based on inquiry based learning (IBL) (Gibson & Van Start, 2001). Constructive learners (deep learners) develop his/her own constructive meanings on the basis of inquiry and experience. Salvin (2004) reported that teacher's direct instructional method (text books, lectures and work sheets) is a teacher centred method in which teacher transmit instructions to students. To me constructive learning is also based on research led teaching and learning in which students develop their interactions with environment and people (Grant, 1998). Another important aspect that we are not getting required outcomes from constructive teaching and learning is due to teacher's old styled teaching behaviour. Hence if we want quality education we must follow constructivist-centred approach. This may be achieved by cooperative learning, hands on activities, critical thinking and induction of technology. In my opinion constructive learning is based on student centred approaches, deep learning, innovation, motivation and integration of research and experience. Brauner introduced Constructivist theory to help student to develop deep, innovative, creative learning style with the help of other ICT tools such as edublogs, mind maps etc. These ICT tools facilitate student learning as a cognitive tool. ICT could be used as a cognitive tool when students put their ideas on WebCT for an open discussion. On the basis of those discussions from peers, teachers, students, improvements are implemented to enhance student learning. Edublogs create creative and motivated learning environment. With the help of ICT quick multimedia and hyperlink etc entries are possible to facilitate students’ learning. To me constructive learning is also based on research led teaching and learning in which students develop their interactions with environment and people (Grant, 1998). Another important aspect that we are not getting, is required outcomes from constructive teaching and learning, which is due to teacher's old styled teaching behaviour. Therefore, motivated and deep learning is only possible by the use of ICT as a cognitive tool. This is a much relaxed way of learning in our learning environment and effective too.



= Teacher Pedagogical Belief's: The Final Frontier in Our Quest for Technology Intergration? What are my thoughts about this reading? By Rebecca Casey =

To me technology intergration is a slow process of teachers learning how to use different types of technology. This can icluded new and older forms depending on how much experience they have had using it. Technology intergration in the class room is simply adding more technology based acttivities and lessons into students learning. From the article the main point about technology intergration that I took was that it needs to start slowly and the teacher needs to know how to use the type of technology before intergrating it into the classroom. Another major point I took was that current teachers need to change their view about technology intergration before it can work. I agree with the points the article and what the first group said about how to improve technology intergration. But I think that there is only going to be an improvment in technology intergration if teachers are given training days with different types of technologies and that the teachers are give time to use and play around with them. Just like we give students in the classroom time to learn about new things and play with different materials. Another important point I took from the article about intergration improvement is that we need to break down the '//additional barriers, specifically related to teachers' pedagogical belieds' (p.25).// I think that this is a main cause behind the reason why teachers are not giving their students the chance to use technology to enhance their learning. Once teachers have a wider view of teaching practices then intergration can happen.
 * __ What is technology intergration? __**
 * __ How can technology intergration be improved? __**

I thought I would add an image to. Enjoy guys Bec

**__Sabrina Crouche's thoughts...__**
 = = What is Technology integration? I believe that technology integration involves the following: · Incorporating technology based activities in lessons · It needs to be done slowly · It shouldn’t be incorporated in all lessons **//How can technology integration be improved //** Ertmer looks at how schools or the education system can help change teachers belief about the use of technology in the classroom. She suggests that a professional development program should be constructed with the inclusion of these components: 
 * <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Discussions on how technology can support pedagogical beliefs
 * <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Teachers jointly exploring new teaching methods incorporating technology
 * <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Opportunities to observe classroom practices of other teachers
 * Ongoing technological support and training
 * Ongoing technological support and training

=The Quest for Technology Integration...My Though t = //What is Technology Intergration??// Technology Intergration is the incorporation of ICT into the classroom to facilitate the curriculum and learning. Intergration holds the view that ICT should permeate teaching and learning and it should be a vital tool in education. This is founded in our society's increasing dependence on technology in all aspects of our life especially within the workforce.

//How can technology integration be imporved??// Technology Integration can be improved by first understanding the beliefs that teachers hold about technology. By understanding the beliefs of teacher you will be able to strategies about what is necessary to support teachers in implementing the intergration of technology. It is teachers who will be the primary user of technologies within the classroom and if it is to be used effectively, intergration starts there.

Katarina :)