What Should Teachers Know About Technology

and Its Impact on Schools?

Chapter Seven

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Three Stages of Technology Application

Technology is:• Applied to things we already do• Used to improve on tasks we already do• Used to do things that were not possible before

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Sources of Pressure to Integrate Technology

• Parents • Students • Teachers • Businesses • Global competition • Governmental agencies• Digital Divide

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VIDEO CASE: An Expanded Definition of Literacy: Meaningful Ways to Integrate

Technology

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Productivity v. Cognitive Tools

Productivity Tools• Computer applications

used to accomplish tasks more efficiently than if you had to use a typewriter, a calculator, or postal mail

• Examples: word processor, spreadsheet, email programs

Cognitive Tools• Computer applications

used to engage and enhance thinking

• Allow users to organize information in new ways, to evaluate it, and to construct new, personally meaningful representations of the information

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Tasks and Technology Tools for Teachers and Students

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How Technologies Affect Student Learning

English/Language Arts • Word processors• Communicating in multimedia - digital storytelling - blogs• Drill-and-practice • Mind maps/webs

Social Studies • Accessing information• Simulations• Virtual fieldtrips• Webquests

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VIDEO CASE: Multimedia Literacy: Integrating Technology into the Middle School Curriculum

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How Technologies Affect Student Learning (continued)

Science • Hardware• Digital imagery• Tools for analysis• Communication with other scientists• Enhancing problem solving

Mathematics • Tutorial and other math software• Graphing calculators

Foreign Language/ESL • Accessing international media• Connecting with people - newsgroups

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VIDEO CASE: Integrating Technology to Improve Student Learning: A High School

Science Simulation

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How Technologies Affect Student Learning (continued)

Distance education • Uses technology to link students and instructors in separate locations• Allows the rapid exchange of data over distances• Increase schools’ educational opportunities by offering courses otherwise prohibited by cost or other constraints• Ever-increasing role in the education of rural students

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How Technologies Affect Student Learning (continued)

Students with special needs • Help level the playing field by presenting information in a manner best suited to the student’s preferred learning style and unique needs• An alternative, individualized curriculum that parallels the standard school curriculum can be created • Assistive technology - devices and services that help people with disabilities perform better in their daily lives (e.g. voice recognition software)

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Teaching Changes Related to Integrating Technology

• Teacher becomes more of a facilitator or coach.• Technology teaching is embedded into the rest

of the curriculum.• Teachers emphasize small-group instruction

over whole-class learning.• Teachers use formative assessment to confirm

students’ understanding of the concept and also their understanding of the technology tools they are using.

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Teacher Uses of Technology

• Communication, collaboration, research– e-mail, web

• Classroom management– Software gradebook– Test generators and question bank software– IEP software– Time management tools

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Arrangements for Computer Technologies

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Key Issues in Educational Technology

Infrastructure and Budgeting

• Electrical problems• Network wiring• Access• Bandwidth• Technology Budgets• Professional development and support

Education of Teachers • Teacher preparation• Staff development

Parents

Equity

Integration Into the Curriculum