ECOMP 5106 Exploring Technology Integration

1. What evidence do you see and read that technology tools are being used effectively?
Effective use of technology is present in an elementary school in South Gate, California. A federal grant rewarded to the school enabled teachers to get the most current technology tools available. Using computers, laptops, LCD projectors, and digital cameras, one teacher recounted how he witnessed first hand his mostly Latino classroom students’ interest rise and their level of comprehension increase simply by using the Internet to find visual images of what they were reading in their classroom textbooks. He modeled how to use the Internet as an effective tool for information searches. In addition, he used the projector as a hands-on tool to play games that increased vocabulary. Union City, New Jersey implemented the Project Explore program that raised their writing and math test scores. What I found most exciting about this program was that it sited teacher training for ways to implement technology into classroom lessons as one of the three main components of the success of the program. I am a huge proponent of allowing time for teachers to be trained on ways to implement technology in their classroom before asking them to use it.
Another example of how technology is being used effectively can be seen at Madison Junior High School in Illinois. There the physical education department resembles a health club with the latest technology to maintain health. The school has a computer-based fitness facility that monitors student fitness. Rather than focus on physical skills necessary for competing athletically like most PE departments do, Madison Junior High is concentrating on the physical well-being of the students.
2. What evidence do you see and read that curriculum standards are being addressed?
In both of the above mentioned examples where technology is being used, the activities were designed to meet the curriculum standards. Students in both schools were able to use technology to master the state standards. Math and science scores are improving with the use of technology and teachers are covering the required standards through technology. The scores improved for both at risk and advanced students. Project-based learning uses a hands-on approach to push students beyond what they and do in the classroom. Math, writing, reading, and other disciplines which use technology prove that students’ state test scores rise when they use technology to solve problems that are real world. In one case where state test scores rose and curriculum standards were met was at the Mott Hall School in New York. They adopted a standards-based projects approach with a one-laptop-per-student model which addressed state standards. Now, other schools in the area are adopting the same model.
Several articles site gains in test scores since technology has been implemented. In one such article about an elementary school in Virginia, which has used technology and project-based learning for three years in a row, there has been a rise in test scores in math, science and English. They noted as well that attendance is up and students are engaged in learning. Another school in West Virginia moved computers into the classroom and they have used technology through computer-based learning for the past eight years. They began the project in kindergarten and each year they have added more computers and introduced new technology programs. They also saw a rise in state test scores. One article pointed out that United streaming and educational videos from The Smithsonian, The Library of Congress, and images from the Hubble Space Telescope have all enhanced learning in the classroom. The article pointed out that using these types of technology tools, no matter how qualified the teacher is in the subject, students benefit from the diverse, up to date multimedia outside sources. Research from these articles also showed that multimedia use offers long-term effects on understanding and that students are able to retain information, apply problem-solving skills and extend ideas in other subject areas. Other research proved that math and writing skills improved with the use of computers at school and at home.
3. How would you adapt what you see and read to your own classroom and school?
In my classroom when the students are working on technology assignments and need to save their work, I am going to ask students to bring a flash drive so they can back up their saved work. After reading several accounts where teachers asked their students to become more responsible for their written work and learn to edit their work until it is polished, I feel one way to accomplish this goal with my students is to ask them to take work home on a flash drive and edit it. In addition, I will ask the students to email assignments if they want me to edit their work or if their printers are not working. When I read some examples of using the video camera in class, I was amazed to see its effectiveness. I am planning on using the video camera this year so I can attach some of what the students are doing in my classroom to my blog for parents to stay up to date on what is happening in my classroom. What intrigued me the most was when I read in one of the articles which stated that parents no longer have to ask their children what they did in school; instead, they will be able to ask questions based on what they know happened in class that day because they played the video of the class activity. I am also going to use my blog more to send handouts home for the students in case they misplace one. One thing that touched my heart was an article that sited a student from Virginia making a comment about a project-based activity. The student commented that she could find more information on a topic with the Internet than by reading about it in a book.
In my school we have one laptop cart per team to share. Perhaps one day my county will reconsider laptops for each student. There are several examples of how effective laptops can be in the classroom. As I mentioned earlier, The Mott Hall School is one example where technology use improved student learning and test scores. The proof that they are using technology effectively is in the fact that other schools are adopting their model.
4. What other topics that enhance integration with technology came up as you were reading (for example, project-based learning, school-to-career programs, emotional intelligence)?
What intrigued me most about research on using technology tools in the classroom was when I read how using technology helps students prepare for the outside world. Currently, I teach a sixth grade seminar class and one of our objectives is to teach the students various skills they that will make them successful in middle school and beyond. We are incorporating more technology into our lessons with this goal in mind. Technological advancements are evident everywhere in our daily lives and in the future they will be even more prevalent. One of the articles I read stated another benefit of using technology in the classroom: Technology allows teachers and students to use time differently. With project-based learning, students work independently and teachers facilitate which allows them time to work more with individuals and with groups. Another advantage is that students can find information quickly and they are able to take work home and edit it. Most importantly, they learn problem solving through exploration and interpretation, and they can practice the application of information. Also, I read that students are able to make connections between subjects or ideas when using project-based learning.
Another piece of interesting news I found in one article stated that students who were exposed to project-based learning may not have shown more improvement on test scores when compared to students who did not use project-based learning; yet, when asked about a topic a year later, the students who engaged in project-based learning activities were able to explain the topics more thoroughly and could relate them to what they were currently studying. Additionally, I found that project-based learning is also called experimental learning or problem-based learning. Since I have had some training in Understanding by Design, when I plan a lesson or redesign a lesson, I incorporate problem-based learning and the students must research and then propose a solution. These types of lessons are very conducive to incorporating technology either in the process of solving the problem or when presenting the proposal to the problem.