Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Technology Integration for Elementary Schools

I found a website that talks about how technology should be used in the elementary classrooms. The journal was written with tips from Paulette Williams, a technology-integration specialist and veteran teacher, who talks about how to make the most out of digital tools in our classrooms. 

Start with the standards. Use technology only when it enhances your content -- not the other way around. It's less effective if you use technology for technology's sake.

This is good because we really shouldn't use technology just for the sake of using it.  Everything before was done without technology and we can use it only when it truly helps the learning. 

Put the tools in kids' hands.
Interactive whiteboards: They don't call 'em interactive for nothing. When these large-display screens that connect to a computer and a projector arrived at Forest Lake, Williams gave teachers six months to wean themselves from their interaction-less overhead projectors. Students can touch the interactive boards to solve math problems, play games, or write and edit text. When one student is running the board, Williams suggests keeping others engaged using remote clickers, personal dry-erase slates, or manipulatives. 

This idea sounds like it could really add to the learning in the classroom.  I may be mistaken, but it seems like these screens are like smartboards, making the tools less messy than markers or chalk would be.  That is also an added bonus!

Maintain the same rigor as in pen-and-paper projects. Students still have to do the same level of planning and research, whether they're producing an old-fashioned poster or a podcast. Give them your rubric up front, so they know what's expected of them. If possible, show examples of model work. 

With elementary students, large projects like this may be more rare.  However, we can still take the advice and try to be as clear as possible so our students will learn to the best of their abilities.

Overall, technology can be a very helpful thing, or a very disastrous, distractive thing.  We as educators need to educate ourselves to learn just how technology can add to our students' learning instead of hindering it.

In my future classroom, I can see myself using a little bit of technology, but I'd like to try and teach without needing it for absolutely everything.  I am certainly not against the technological world, (hence this blog) but I do think that technology truly has its place, and does not need to be used for everything.  

Here is the link to the original journal website: 
http://www.edutopia.org/stw-differentiated-instruction-technology-integration

Megan Daugherty (Post Author)
Sarah DeMar
Grace DeWalt
Alyssa Baldwin 
Group 10

5 comments:

  1. Who suggests that technology is needed for everything? Where do you get that idea? Your article does not suggest so. "Use technology only when it enhances your content." Good advice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was not referring to the article when I said that but instead I was agreeing with it. At least from my experience in school, the teachers always tried to use technology for everything and sometimes the learning would be far easier and much more beneficial without it.

      Delete
  2. Thanks for the clarification. The context of your comment helps me understand better.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree with what you have written here Megan. Technology should only be used when it is necessary in the classroom. But the ideas that Paullette gave for assisting the students a really useful! The best one in my opinion would be the white board usage. I like how it engages the students and encourages them to be proactive in the classroom. Like you were saying, some of this maybe difficult at an elementary age but the older they get the better use this would be in the classroom because it allows the students to have a hands on experience throughout the lesson! Great article! I would definitely use this in my future as a teacher.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your appreciation and for sharing what you think!

      Delete