Overview
“Effective integration of technology is achieved when students are able to select technology tools to help them obtain information in a timely manner, analyze and synthesize the information and present it professionally. The technology should become an integral part of how the classroom functions – as accessible as all other classroom tools.”(National Educational Technology Standards for Students, International Society for Technology in Education, p. 75)
As has been indicated, technology needs to merge into the curriculum, allowing it to enhance what is happening in the classroom. Therefore, as technology changes and there is greater technology integration into the curriculum, the way a classroom will be designed and furnished also will change. The key element that will help drive what happens in the classroom is the curriculum itself. As the District gains a better perspective as to the skills needed, both by students and teachers, the hardware and software will be impacted. With any infusion of technology there are two critical elements that need to be addressed for successful implementation: support and training. Support that the technology will work the way it needs to when teachers and students are using it and training to prepare teachers to make the best use of the tools being provided.
The following are proposals for what the current models of educational technology may look like.
Goals
-
All students and instructional staff will have access to technology in their schools and classrooms
-
All instructional staff will integrate technology effectively to help students achieve high academic standards
-
All students will have technology and information literacy skills
Objectives
-
All instructional staff and students will identify, locate, evaluate, and use appropriate instructional hardware and software to support instructional objectives.
- All instructional staff and students will use educational technologies for data collection, information management, problem solving, decision making, communication, and presentation within the curriculum.
- All instructional staff will plan and implement lessons and strategies that integrate technology to meet the diverse needs of learners in a variety of educational settings.
- All instructional staff and students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal issues relating to the use of technology.
Curriculum Integration Suggestions
The goal of placing technology in the classroom is to provide new ways for students to learn. Technology integration has taken place when students are able to choose and use technology tools to help themselves obtain information, analyze, synthesize, and assimilate learning and to present ideas in an acceptable manner. Technology opens up many doors at all academic levels to do meaningful work as students study a particular subject. Integrating a curriculum with technology involves using technology as a tool to enhance learning and creativity in a content area or multidisciplinary setting. The technology should become an integral part of how the classroom functions, as accessible as all other classroom tools.Configuration Options
Each elementary school is unique. The size, space, number of students, and staff can impact decisions as to how and what technology will be provided. It is imperative that each building has flexibility in deciding how best to use technology. Two areas to be considered are the computer labs and the classrooms.In order to provide the tools for equitable technology integration, a basic building model will include at least:
- 1 technology support specialist
- 1-2 computer labs with a projection system (desktop or wireless)
- 1 computer per teacher (not to be included in student/computer ratios)
- 1 interactive projection system per classroom
- Grades K-6 – Student to Computer ratio of 3:1