Top 5 Ways to Successfully Integrate Technology in the Classroom
Top 5 Ways to Successfully Integrate Technology in the Classroom Technology is revolutionizing how the world works and how students across the globe are learning. However, infusing technology into the classroom is not as seamless of a process, as once believed. In fact, recent teacher surveys reveal that less than 10% of teachers are fully integrating technology in the classroom. Even more surprising is that 43% of students feel that they lack the technology skills and knowledge to excel in higher education and later in the workplace. 1 10% of teachers are fully integrating technology in the classroom The use of technology in the classroom has a host of benefits including: 2 Equipping students to independently organize and explore their own learning processes Increasing information retention rates and boosting overall student performance Encouraging students to become active learners instead of passive recipients of information Giving students access to up-to-date information Enabling students to collaborate and problem-solve in new ways Empowering students to share information and experiment with multimedia as a form of self-expression 43% 25% of students feel that they lack the technology skills and knowledge to excel in higher education and later in the workplace of teachers polled feel prepared to integrate technology into classroom instruction Despite these benefits, teachers continue to struggle to leverage technology. According to a recent National Center for Education Statistics study, less than 25% of teachers polled feel prepared to integrate technology into classroom instruction. 3 Innovative schools have found a way to bridge this gap and empower teachers to successfully integrate technology into the classroom. A survey of schools that have successfully integrated technology in the classroom has revealed five key strategies that should be utilized.
01 Determine the type of technology integration 4 Integrating technology can take on various forms, which is why, defining the role of technology in the classroom plays an integral part in successfully implementing new technology initiatives. There are four approaches to technology integration, which include: Sparse integration Technology is infrequently used and when used is only for specialized projects or assignments. Basic integration Technology is used regularly, but only in a separate computer lab, outside of the classroom. Students use technology occasionally to complete projects and assignments. Comfortable integration Technology is used within the classroom several times a week. Students are familiar with and encouraged to use technology to create projects and complete weekly assignments. Seamless integration Technology is a permanent fixture in the classroom and used on a daily basis. Students are encouraged and required to use technology to create projects and complete daily assignments. Choosing the type of integration will shape how technology will be used by teachers during the learning process and the expectations of how students should interact with technology. Schools must be realistic about the implementation budget and the amount of training/support that may be needed. Many schools begin infusing technology in the classroom on a basic level and gradually increase to the seamless integration level. A slow, but steady progression based on available resources is the best approach to ensure that technology is used consistently, with the most productive results.
02 Create an implementation plan 5 The level of technology integration should drive the implementation plan. This plan should include: Technology goals How technology will be used Which lesson(s) technology will be enhanced A schedule of technology integration Technology integration milestones Technology success/implementation benchmarks How the technology integration will be evaluated for success School districts and schools that have been able to successfully integrate technology have a created robust and comprehensive integration plans. These plans are best made as through a collaborative process that includes parents, teachers, and administrative staff as well as county and state educational officials. The larger the scope of involvement in the planning phase, the higher the success and the rate of technology integration in the individual classroom.
03 Make educating all users a priority This is a must needed step that, interestingly, many schools overlook. To empower and motivate key staff to implement new technology, education and training is a critical component. This includes training teachers, assistant teachers, and resource staff members. However, educator beware! Too much information, in a short period of time can be as detrimental as not enough training at all. It is important to note that teachers do not need to know everything about a new piece of software before using it. Instead, focus on the features that are most relevant for the implementation and scale up from there. Starting with a small set of skills and tasks and then building on the teacher s knowledge will allow for more organic growth and understanding of how to use technology in classroom lessons. Focusing on the just enough approach ensures that valuable time and resources are not spent teaching facets of technology that will not be used in the classroom. Users, including teachers will naturally learn more about the technology as time goes on and as they experiment, in a trial and error fashion. Allowing time for teachers to immerse themselves and practice with the technology is the most preferred allocation of time. Teachers who have been able to test out technology on each other or in small groups report higher levels of comfort with technology later when used within the classroom with students. 6
04 Provide consistent and accessible support early and often 7 This key step does not require expensive IT experts or hours of professional development. Instead, the most high tech schools seek to gather online (and often free) resources that teachers can tap use when questions arise. Websites like lynda.com or udemy. com can be great online resources to provide quick video tutorials to teachers on various technology tools. Connecting with other schools who have implemented similar technology can also be a valuable source for information sharing and troubleshooting. Starting school wiki pages or blogs enabling teachers to post their experiences and share concerns or ask questions can be an additional internal form of support during technology integration. Innovative schools like Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) use planning teams of teachers to brainstorm technology integration strategies and develop new ways to engage students through technology.
05 Encourage teachers to be creative with how technology is used Encourage teachers to be creative with how technology is used Integrating technology can be a gateway into revolutionizing how teachers teach and how students learn in the classroom. Technologically advanced schools allow teachers the freedom to use various types of technology in innovative ways throughout the school s curriculum. Giving teachers the autonomy to choose which tools and how technology is incorporated in lessons and assignments has been found to increase teacher engagement. Here are several technology tools and programs that teachers are implementing in the classroom around the country. Brainpop For online animated movies, quizzes, games, and activities for any subject, teachers are turning to this online site as a convenient way to integrate technology into classroom lessons. Updated regularly, this site is a go-to for technology-infused supplemental lessons. ** Animoto This is a great online tool for students to make visually appealing presentations that incorporate images, video, music, and text. Educators can apply for a free classroom account. ** Kidblog To encourage writing and information sharing, teachers are using this kid-friendly publishing tool. This provides a safe space for students to create personal blogs, post blogs, and collaborate with classmates. ** MAD-learn This interactive program brings Mobile Application Development into the classroom for students to learn programming, starting in the third grade. The program is designed to be implemented for students with no coding knowledge and provides students a glimpse into the full lifecycle of how an app is designed, developed, marketed, and sold.
Conclusion In today s fast-moving, high-tech landscape, schools are trying to keep pace by integrating technology in the classroom. More than ever, students will need to be proficient with technology to fulfill future workplace roles. With limited technology budgets and resources, schools must adopt proven technology integration strategies to ensure that technology in the classroom is used appropriately and effectively for the best results. As schools continue to explore the role of technology in the classroom, programs like MAD-learn will continue to create interactive, technology-based curricula for students, of all ages. Coding, as taught in the MAD-learn program, is just one of several STEM initiatives schools are pursuing to provide students exposure to the latest technology and to drive scientific creativity. MAD-learn also focuses on Entrepreneurship and Design, in addition to Programming for mobile apps. To learn more about MADlearn s full programming curriculum, designed to blend mobile development technology with classroom learning, visit www.mad-learn.com 1 http://www.nmefoundation.org /getmedia/befa9751-d8ad-47e9-949d-bd649f7c0044/ integrating 2 http://www.teachhub.com/benefits-technology-classroom 3 https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/frss/publications/1999080/index.asp?sectionid=6 4 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/meaning-tech-integration-elementary-mary-beth-hertz 5 http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2012/01/25/3-tips-onintegrating-technology-in-the-classroom 6 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/integrate-tech-keeps-changing-todd-finley 7 http://elearnmag.acm.org/featured.cfm?aid=1865476 ** These are not brands of MAD-learn or Crescerence and are entirely separate companies.