Segragate or Integrate?

Technology

Technology helps to meet the curriculum standards and learner outcomes of each lesson, unit, or activity.
Technology requires extensive formal training and practical experiences which are imperative for successful interaction of technology at all levels of K-12 education.
Technology is a tool to enhance or support instructional strategies.

Teachers need to avoid depending on the traditional lecture presentation.

Lecture presentations are truly ineffective and unfortunately very disengaging, especially for our digital generation.

The role of the educator:
1. Integrate technology throughout classroom experiences, activities, and projects.
2. Find ways to use technology to teach curriculum-specific content while establishing connections between those subjects and the real world.

Curriculum should be the driver of technology.

The role of the teachers:
1. Use the appropriate technologies to enhance learning at the appropriate time.
2. Teach to the standards.

Initially, my concerns regarding lab centers and /or classroom integration, included:

• Space availability
• Keeping technology as a part of instruction verses a separate entity of curriculum instruction.
• Convenience-being able to use the lab anytime
• Convenience- classroom availability without competing for time

Brief pros and cons-

Pro- great hands-on active engagement for student and teacher.

Con- unreliable, therefore teachers must be ready to present the back up plan.

After reading the text I conclude that, although very popular, cost efficient, and provide convenient maintenance and local connection network capabilities, technology labs hinder the " at your fingertips" concept.

Technology within the classroom provides:

• convenience
• availability at the time of instruction
• open window of opportunity
• detailed comprehension
• multiple types of teaching opportunities
• knowledge is retained with immediate active digital involvement

Currently I have an Elmo. This teacher's tool is a visual presenter that provides a "high resolution document camera" allowing the user to display small visual aids, text and 3D objects on the monitor, or a projection screen. This visual presenter can be hooked up to the computer to save images and even record video for future presentations. It is lightweight and portable. The removable stage tablet allows you to write comfortably. This Elmo has an auto brightness control and includes an easy-to-use remote control allowing teachers mobility.

Students are able to clearly see objects placed on the tablet and also write on it as well. This visual presenter has helped me and others cut down on paper copies. I use this device to display videos and music games like Music Ace.

The set-up that the school provides for classroom teachers are mini laptops, which are stored in a cabinet on wheels. The mini laptops are charged and kept in the hall way. I have noticed 2 to 3 students pushing the cabinet on wheels to the classrooms to be used for designated time periods. I currently do not have access to the mini laptop computers as they are mainly available to the classroom teachers. Despite the lack of technology, I still find avenues that work for my class to engage in technology. I'm a neophyte to technology and all it has to offer but I'm open to exploring it, and I look forward to better access and availability for me and my students.

Reference-
Integration Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly Cashman
https://www.schooloutfitters.com/catalog/product_info/pfam_id/PFAM10752/products_id/PRO26557