Bi-weekly Post - Oblinger Article - The Myth about No Significant Difference
The article states, "Learning occurs as a result of motivation, opportunities, an active process, interaction with others, and the ability to transfer learning to a real-world situation". Technology can make a difference on all the above points if structured with student learning as the focus. A number of years ago, I recall someone telling me that our new computers will revolutionize how students learn. That person was correct, however technology requires the skills of a creative teacher for guidance and direction. Without that integral element, the technology piece renders itself useless.
Technology integration or blending requires careful and mindful thought. Technology usage must be tied directly to student learning and achievement.
Technology integration is embedded into everything we do in and out of the classroom. Students become much more engaged with technology as part of the learning process, whether it be a tool or a product unto itself. The video below entertains these questions in a logical fashion. All caring parents wish their children to be ready for the world beyond the community they live in. Is technology integration an integral part of this process. I think so......
https://youtu.be/aXyCECMxhOs
Technology integration or blending requires careful and mindful thought. Technology usage must be tied directly to student learning and achievement.
Technology integration is embedded into everything we do in and out of the classroom. Students become much more engaged with technology as part of the learning process, whether it be a tool or a product unto itself. The video below entertains these questions in a logical fashion. All caring parents wish their children to be ready for the world beyond the community they live in. Is technology integration an integral part of this process. I think so......
https://youtu.be/aXyCECMxhOs
I liked that quote out of the reading too, Kirk. And I think that technology can be used to motivate students, provide them with new opportunities and experiences, a chance to interact with people they otherwise wouldn't be able to, and create new learning experiences that will transfer into the real world around them. However, what I see as being the largest hurdle is the experience and level of comfort our teachers have with technology. We all have staff members that want to do more with technology in their classroom and with their students, but it is a large learning curve for them to become comfortable enough with it to make it happen. Everyone needs time to play and familiarize themselves with something new, but our time is already stretched thin as it is. We should be able to model the use with technology if we want our students to use it. So where does this time come from?
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the point in the video that speaks to technology being purchased and then not utilized properly. Spending money on the newest gadget isn't going to impact our student's learning if we don't know how to properly implement it into our classrooms, which kind of leads me back to my first point.
I did enjoy the video and using scissors to explain tech tools was a good way for me to see how ineffectively some technology is used. In the end, it does come down to an effective teacher who has a solid understanding of curriculum, technology, and his/her students. If the teacher is to utilize tech effectively, then we would see increased engagement and student achievement.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Renee's point about teachers wanting to integrate tech more into their classrooms but the time isn't there. Unfortunately the choice is to not integrate new tech at all or to integrate it is an less than satisfactory way. As the tools of tech constantly change, teachers will have to pick what to spend their time on.