According to Whitehead, Jensen, & Boschee (2013), successful integration of technology happens whens all educators and learners are skilled in the use of technology. Research on raising student achievement revealed that an effective teacher played a vital role in student's success. Many people understand the importance of a good a teacher, but do they also understand that in order for a teacher to become effective with what they do, they but be skilled.
As we continue to advance into the 21st century with technology, we must ensure that we have teachers that are trained in technology areas that are second nature to our students. With the rapid advancements in new technology, it has changed the ways that teachers are expected to teach. "As educators give further thought to the impact of technology in our present world, it becomes readily apparent that we must carefully merge new technology advances and applications into our educational institutions (Whitehead et al., 2013)." Whether we realize it or not, these new trends are shaping our future as teachers. Gone are the days when students only rely on textbooks to reference for information. Now students have the added option of conducting research at the tip of their fingers.
Now that we know why it is important, let's think about what successful implementation should look like. Please watch this brief video that discusses ways to successfully integrate technology in the classroom.
Allowing time for teachers to visit other teacher's that have fluent technology skills, is always a great first step. According to (Lankau, 2015), showing rather than talking about how to integrate technology is a great way to get started. I believe that when teachers have a visual to go by, they are more willing to try new things.
Providing ongoing professional development is key to success. We must never assume that just because it is in the classroom, that they know how to use it. Professional development can take on many forms. It can come as an after school training, or paired time with the school's technology facilitator (Lankau, 2015).
Last, but certainly not least is the support from leadership. A successful technology program is only going to succeed if all stakeholders are committed and the environment is ripe. Just because we plant a garden, doesn't mean that it will grow. The same is true with technology integration. We can supply the need, but we also must be committed to nurturing it so that it will grow.
References
Lankau, L. (2015). Connection+collaboration=successful integration of technology in a large
high school. Knowledge Quest, 44(2), Retrieved from http://ezproxy.montevallo.edu:2061/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=ece68fb3-04d5-4945-ac03-8de8f00ae5c4%40sessionmgr4007&vid=7&hid=4207
Whitehead, B.M., Jensen, D., Boschee, F. (2013). Planning for technology: a guide for school
administrators, technology coordinators, and curriculum leaders. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin
You bring up some great points! We definitely need to have teachers that are prepared to teach 21st century skills to students. Research has shown that jobs related to STEM are continuously increasing in number. These 21st century skills, mostly integrated through STEM, are essential for our students' success. (I recommend reading this STEM report written by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is very interesting! It made me want to promote STEM even more! https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/pdf/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future.pdf)
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point that it is important for teachers to have other teachers to visit. As I mentioned in my post, our colleagues are often our most valuable resources. Whitehead, Jensen and Boschee (2013) corroborate your point that teachers need the opportunity to learn from one another when they wrote, "encourage interschool visits for teachers to see what classroom technology use looks like and how it is integrated into the curriculum and regular classroom work" (p. 40). Hopefully, this type of sharing will encourage deliberate technology integration-- the kind that supports technology skill development and not just the use of a device, app or program.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up some great glances into what a successful technology integration should look like. Another key for a successful technology implementation is community support. Whitehead, Jensen, and Boshee (2013) add that, "As community support increases, school leaders are better able to provide the administrative support necessary to accommodate the needs of teachers and students" (p. 17). Community support along with the key items you addressed are essential for technology implementation so parents can support and reinforce the skills that are being infused into the classroom.
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