Technology Integration Podcast

Interview about technology integration in the elementary classroom.
http://miriampenarodriguez.podbean.com/2010/10/19/technology-integration-in-the-elementary-classroom/


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The ever increasing use of technology in society has made it increasingly difficult to ignore its use in the classroom. Today’s youths are exposed to technology long before they arrive in the classroom. From the televisions they watch to the game systems they play technology has steadily crept into the forefront of many American households. As an educator it becomes increasingly difficult to stimulate students with traditional lessons. Therefore, educators today must adapt and learn to incorporate technology into their classroom to reach all of their learners.

Many times it is extremely difficult to excite students about learning. Children are constantly bombarded with colorful graphics and have become use to having information readily available at the touch of a button. Consequently, school is perceived as boring and tedious for some learners. According to Mr. Needleman, “students who use technology in the classroom are often more engaged in their learning, see a concrete link between reading, writing, and technology use, and develop job skills they will need in the future” (Needleman, 2010). Technology integration is a must to reach our technically inclined youth. However, many teachers are at a loss at how to get started. Often what looks great on paper turns out to be a real nightmare when used in the classroom. The key to successful integration is practice. If an educator does not know the software she is presenting she is ineffective. Before presenting a lesson, an educator should learn the program being used, its applications, and how to connect them to the learner.

Lessons today can be colorful and dynamic. All learners can benefit from instructional technology. With the use of SMARTboards teachers are able to make their lessons interactive. An excellent resource is Marilyn Western's web page http://www.edzone.net/~mwestern/elemath.html which contains numerous links to various resources to create interactive math lessons. After all, when an educator gives the students responsibility for their learning it makes the student accountable for the material.
In addition, many schools have the use of a computer lab and even a few student computers in the teacher’s classroom. It is disheartening to think that if a teacher has access to these resources she would not use them to further her students learning. Perhaps one of the greatest obstacles to integrating technology is lack of training. Often misinformation, computer malfunction, and general disinterest can put a stop to successful technology integration into the classroom. It is important for teachers to have support and a willing IT department to ensure that any technology questions are answered and any problems solved.

Technology integration is not the solution to every learner’s problem. However, when properly integrated into the classroom it can definitely help stimulate learners to go beyond the stated and challenge them to higher thinking. As a fourth grade elementary teacher, I have seen the difference it makes when I use technology in my lessons. My students are more involved and are excited about coming up to the Promethean Board to interact with the lesson. The lessons are colorful and have images, sounds, and graphics that catch and hold the learners attention.

Technology in the Elementary Classroom

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Like Ming Liu “I believe that Successful E-Learning takes place within a complex system involving the student experience of learning, teachers' strategies, teachers' planning and thinking, and the teaching/learning context” (Liu, 2004). It is imperative to properly train teachers to use the available resources to help further their students learning.