Technology is all around is and is a ubiquitous part of our students’ lives. Why then should it not be in the classroom? When educational technology advocate Jan Hawkins wrote an article for Edutoria entitled “The World at Your Fingertips: Education Technology Opens Doors” way back in 1997, she could not have foreseen that her words would have been so powerful in today’s society.
Once properly integrated into the curriculum, technology revolutionizes the learning experience of students. Countless studies have shown that this integration improves students’ learning processes and outcomes. Teachers also benefit from this as once the embrace computers as problem-solving tools, the way they teach changes. They no longer take a behavioural approach but move to a more constructivist one. Students are more engaged in their learning while using these technological tools and are more likely to become creators and critics instead of merely accepting what they see.
Tools such as blogs, wikis and podcasts are powerful tools that can be used to transform the traditional classroom scene. Today’s students are more technologically inclined than those of the past and as such can no longer be taught using the same methods. Teachers have to learn to take proper advantage of technology and use them to “do things differently” in the classroom as opposed to “doing different things”.
I think it will be interesting for me to find different ways to integrate technology in my classroom. I will definitely be taking my love for it into the classroom and hopefully be able to share this love with my students.
What do you think about technology integration? Have you tried it? How did it go?
Methods and Technology Integration 
While I agree that technology must be integrated into today’s classrooms, I am worried that our students will lose their ability to demonstrate interpersonal skills as has happened in the on-line gaming community. Students playing these games do interact with each other but only in the electronic worlds they play in. Perhaps it is the lack of face-to-face interaction and the anonymity game play provides. I see technology integration as a must have for our students but in doing so, we must watch their blog postings closely to insure our students do not abuse the freedom they have been given.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree with your comment. The integration of technology can be a very wonderful thing but with it comes the responsibility of ensuring it isn’t abused.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Technology Integration .
LikeLike