Tech+Integration

The internet is an outstanding source of information. It is important as teachers that we give our students a top notch education. Through the use of technology in the classroom lessons come alive for the students. I was asked to watch a video on the integration of technology in a class and reflect upon the impact it had on leraning.

The video I chose to reflect upon is “Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum? The Reasons Are Many” which was published on March 17th, 2008. This video provided an in depth look at how to integrate technology into the classroom and have everyday applications. The high school from the video is located in Harrison County, Mississippi. The school has successfully integrated technology into every area of the curriculum. I chose this video because not only did the school integrate technology, the school also incorporated connections with the students between the curriculum and technology. When students become engaged learners the amount of information they retain climbs to new heights. I am taking away numerous strategies from this video. In particular, the students in math class were not merely using graphing calculators to learn about liner regressions but rather the data they were supplied was the heart rates and oxygen levels of the cheer team. The students were using data that was relevant to their personal live and created a lasting impact for the lesson. By watching this video I gained a greater understanding of technology integration. The need to incorporate technology into the classroom is apparent to most educators in the field. The impact that technology has in the classroom is astonishing. We currently live in a technology driven society and thus as teachers we need to incorporate technology to enhance learning and to prepare students to use technology in their adult lives. A child must now know and understand how to use technology in real life situations and even to further their academic learning. I plan on incorporating technology into my lesson plans where it is appropriate. I believe that by creating a balance of technology and “pencil based” learning opportunities I will provide a complete education for my students. As a teacher, I will plan internet scavenger hunts centered on a certain area of curriculum, having students create multimedia presentations, and publishing their writing. There are so many different opportunities to integrate technology into the classroom that the possibilities are endless. Ultimately, students will benefit from a successful integration of technology into the classroom.