Infusing Technology in Teaching (by Marcia Brooks)

Introduction

 

‘If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow’. (John Dewey, as cited in West, 2011). 

Dewey’s quote has reminded us that our job as teachers is to provide students with the necessary skills and information to prepare them for the future.  Being competent and capable in the use of technology will be the required skills ‘to survive in a complex, highly technological knowledge-based economy’ Edutopia (2008) 

Effective technology integration can be achieved by using technology consistently in the classroom to support the goals of the curriculums. Infusing technology in the classroom helps to make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun for both students and teachers.  

  

Task

The future as we know will be a technologically infused world.   Therefore, teachers will be exposed to different websites providing them with the knowledge as to why technology should be consistently used in the classroom.   

 

In this WebQuest, you will work in groups of (four) 4 and set the task of navigating the provided websites and then completing an assignment.  The paper will consist of both open and closed-ended questions. All questions must be answered. Finally, you will also be required to create a Prezi or PowerPoint presentation.   

 

The rubric can be found on the Evaluation page.   

 

Complete the following survey by clicking on the link below.  Please answer all questions.  This survey is not graded.  It will be used to get a clearer understanding of the use of ICT in the classroom.   

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MJTQF65

Process

Colleagues, 

This is a group assignment.  The instructions are as follows: 

  1. You will work in groups of four (4) to answer the questions provided.   

  1. You will answer all questions using the links provided.  Each link will open a new window or tab so that you will always have access to this page.   

Question 1 

We would agree with Hooper (1995) when he cited that ‘classroom teaching is a demanding job’.  However, if we teach the way that we were taught the students will not perform to the best of their ability.  The use of technology has improved the way in which learning takes place. 

The following link shows this progression.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwWWsz_X9s       

After watching the short video, answer the following questions. 

  1. How did technology in education advance throughout the years? 

  1. Do you believe that teaching and learning was done effectively throughout each age? Discuss 

  1. New technologies can add efficiencies, but they cannot replace old methods of teaching.  Discuss 

Question 2   (Click on the link provided. Watch the video before answering question 2)   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGTTThlKYQ8  

 

  1. Should technology be used with kindergarten children?      

                                                     Yes            No 

 

  1. Give a reason for your answer 

 

'The less technology that I use in the classroom, the more students are learning and retaining information’. 

 

  1. Using the link above, oppose or propose this statement (Answer should not exceed the maximum limit of 500 words).  

 

 

Question 3 (Use the video provided via this link to assist in answering question 3) 

 Why is it important to use technology in the classroom? (300 – 500 words) 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzi2RIt8_nk  

 

Question 4 

Using the link in brackets (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiN9c17aRlg) explain why it is important that teachers become familiar with the technology that they use in the classroom. (300 - 500 words maximum)  

 

  

Question 5 

Using what you have learnt about infusing technology in teaching, create a Prezi or PowerPoint to present to education officials about the importance of promoting and integrating the use of technology in the classroom.  

Evaluation

 

Rubric – Web Quest – Infusing Technology in Teaching (40 %)

Criteria
  4 3 2 1 Total Points
Overall Presentation Items are clearly organised with introduction, content and conclusion.  Items are organised with introduction, content and conclusion.  Items are introduced and somewhat organised. Items are not introduced and lack organisation. 
Displays critical assessment of links  Critical assessment is evident through each assignment. Demonstrates full knowledge by answering all questions with explanations and elaboration. Critical assessment is somewhat evident through each assessment.  Answered all questions without elaboration Critical assessment of links provided is minimum. Is uncomfortable with information and is able to answer only rudimentary questions. No critical assessment of links provided. Does not have the grasp of information and cannot answer questions.
Grammar and Spelling The writing is free from grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors. The writing is mostly free from grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors. The writing includes some grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors. The writing includes many grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors.
Group work Always works collaboratively with the rest of the team.  Always had a positive, willing, attitude. Performed all duties assigned.   Usually works collaboratively with the rest of the team.  Usually had a positive, willing, attitude. Performed most duties assigned. Occasionally works collaboratively with the rest of the team.  Sometimes makes fun of the work and ideas of team members. Performed some duties assigned Does not work collaboratively with the rest of the team.  Showed no interests in completing goals. Did not perform duties assigned.

Note:  The Survey will not be graded. 

Conclusion

Technology is one of the dominant features of this century and infusing technology in the classroom requires teachers to be comfortable using digital tools and resources for successful integration.   Sheninger 2014, (as cited in Roberts 2016) is of the opinion that schools still teach children for a world that no longer exists, a world where technology is not a leading factor.  It is important that schools consciously move away from this belief.   

To achieve the integration and infusion mentioned require training for the teachers to ensure that the integration roles created by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) are upheld.  The ultimate goal of technology integration is that teachers would use technology in the classroom while engaging students in critical thinking and problem solving skills.    

Credits

References

  1. Hooper, S. (1995). Teaching with technology. Retrieved from http://www.nowhereroad.com/twt/ 
  2. West, D. M. (2011). Using technology to personalize learning and assess students in real time. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/research/using-technology-to-personalize-learning-and-assess-students-in-real-time/ 
  3. Why integrate technology into the curriculum?:The reasons are many. (2008). Retrieved from Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction 

Teacher Page

Teacher’s Page

This web quest was designed by:

 

Marcia B. Brooks

University of the West Indies

marcia.gumbs@my.open.uwi.edu

 

There are many ways that technology can be integrated in the classrooms, such as web quest.  WebQuests were designed to help learners use their time well by focusing on using information rather than looking for it themselves.  Additionally, the aim of WebQuest is to create critical thinkers, while preparing them for the future.

Teachers are encouraged to use the standards provided by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) which provides guidelines for the skills, knowledge, and approaches needed to succeed in this digital age.  The standards for students state that ‘as educators, our foremost goal is to prepare them for the future’ (ISTE, 2016). 

 

  

[img_assist|nid=45534|title=Teach Page|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=413|height=370]

Teachers are expected to utilise strategies that will encourage the students to use critical thinking skills and apply what was learnt to complete tasks using 21st Century knowledge and skills.