Technology Integration As A Part Of The Problem Essay

Technology of the past 20 years has become a focal point of teaching and learning. As a teacher, it is my job to facilitate the learning for an individual by creating an environment that not only conducive for learning, but also places the child in a position to discover and learn them for themselves. Technology has given teachers to opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom, and has begun to reshape their role in the learning process.

The use of technology in today’s time continues to develop inside and beyond the classroom. Promoting technology in classrooms gives teachers the tools they need to connect with this digital media world; however, the challenge is how and when integration is useful. Many teachers currently do not have the technological fluency to accomplish the goals of the new national standards. The Common Core standards expect teachers to include technology in their learning to increase student achievement. It is important for all educational stakeholders to work together on the common goal of preparing our youth for the future. To acquire a better understanding of teachers and administrators’ attitudes toward technology integration, the following research question is developed: How does integrating technology in the classroom increase student achievement? The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of integrating technology in middle school classroom and the benefits of integrating technology in the classroom. This research investigated the effectiveness of the usage of technology in the classroom, student achievement of the use of technology, and teacher and principals’ perspectives of technology.

Surely children today need a relationship with technology in order to thrive. The way that we can foster these bonds is by introducing technology to students in a classroom at a young age. If students are taught to respect technology and use it properly from the beginning of their relationship with it, these habits will continue into their teenage years and beyond into their adult lives. One-to-one computing from kindergarten on will allow students access to technology on demand, in the classroom and at home. By doing this, we allow students access to their learner profiles 24/7, giving them the option to learn anytime they please. Teachers can also tailor

Incorporating technology in the classroom is a leading trend among educators in the 21st century. Teacher use classroom websites, technology tools, and online web assessments to keep parents and students informed, improve instruction, and individualize learning. Using technology to support communication helps keep both students and parents informed on what is happening in the classroom and the students’ academic progress. Integrating technology in the classroom helps increase student engagement and participation. Students use technology tools to help reinforce instruction and teachers may use it as a form of remediation. Technology can also help with differentiating instruction with the use of online assessments. Incorporating technology in the classroom can increase students’ success in the classroom and beyond.

The research topic of this study is how integrating technology into a middle school classroom effects student engagement and performance on assessments. Students that are currently in middle school have grown up with technology surrounding them their entire lives. When these students see technology as a part of their everyday life, it seems natural to include technology in their school work whenever possible. It is true that some schools lack the resources to allow classes to integrate technology as frequently as they would like, however, this study will look at the effect that technology has on engaging students in their lessons. This study will also explore if an increase in student engagement leads to improved achievement

The tools used for mainstream education in America are, at an ever increasing rate, shifting from physical to digital. Schools across the nation have spent the last decade integrating technology into education in an attempt to make learning more engaging for students. As schools join the charge for digital instruction they must heavily evaluate their motives, the realistic applications of new technology, and the consequences it may have on their students.

In “Technology in Today’s Classroom: Are You a Tech-Savvy Teacher?”, Stephanie Hicks successfully argues, using primarily logical evidence, that teachers should integrate technology into education. Hicks begins by stating, “In today’s classroom technology abounds and students are extremely tech savvy,” using this claim to justify the need for teachers to implement the use of technology (188). Her statement regarding students and their technological knowledge logically introduces the argument because of its easily observable nature. In addition, because students have a sense of familiarity and experience with computers, it follows that the use of such technology would suit their educational needs. Hicks begins her argument by countering the

In the twenty first century, technology is advancing every day, there is always something new that is being made or an old device is modified. One can find technology everywhere, his house, a grocery store, at work, and even in schools. Technology is beginning to play a major role in student engagement because students are being exposed to all sorts of new technology. For example, when one walks into a classroom he will not longer see a chalk board, he will find that educators now teach from a Smartboard, which is a board that is connected to the computer and it reflects whatever it is the teacher has on the computer. The Smartboard is just one of many examples of innovation in the classroom setting. Educators are continuing to look for new ways of teaching that involve technology and will help improve students’ engagement.

In general, most K–12 academic settings today utilizes technology for educational and non-academic use (Helms, 2014). Researchers agree that budgeting can share a significant impact on classroom technology integration because many schools do not have the funds to pay for teacher training and all of the cost associated with maintaining technology resources (Blackwell, 2014; Chou et al., 2012; Helms, 2014). The lack of adequate technology training, support and funding can also influence teachers’ attitudes (Kirkwood et al, 2014). A gap appears to exit in empowering teachers with technology skills to implement an interactive learning experience for all learning styles (Helms, 2014).

In this article, the author discusses the benefits of using technology in the classroom and how the use of technology can increase student tests scores. The objective of the study was to answer the following two questions: How much of a difference would a classroom with technology accessibility affect state-mandated test scores and would student motivation and behavior change if they were able to readily use technology? As the author mentioned in the article, many studies have shown that schools that have created a technology rich atmosphere for their students have been shown positive results. The use of technology has helped teachers as well by making classroom instruction a more individualized experience for the pupils. Legislation in 2001, No Child Left Behind(NCLB 2001) introduced the “Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2001” (US Department of Education, 2001) emphasized the implementation of technology in schools with children that came from lower socio-economic households and targeted “at risk” students. Many teachers were interviewed and observed working with their students using technology and it was concluded that the use of computers and other technology was necessary, because not only did it assist teachers by helping them develop better content knowledge, create more interesting lessons, and support them with problem solving, it helped motivate the students to learn, alleviated behavioral issues, and students score higher in state-mandated test.

I think that the use of technology in schools is one of the best decisions the school system could have made. Living in a time period of accelerating change, I think that it is important to lean away from the more traditional educational tactics of teaching and learning that may have worked in the past. And start to transition into the more modern-day style of teaching and learning, which involves technology. Students are always using technology. Whether it is them on their laptops, tablets, or using their phones to surf the internet or an app, it is a vital part of their daily lives. I think that because technology plays such a primary role in students' lives, the best way to connect with students in the classroom, is to incorporate technology into some part of the lesson. I believe that

This activity would be for a first grade. A student would learn the alphabet by playing games and

As we navigate through the 21st century, technology in the classroom is becoming further predominant. iPads are replacing our textbooks, and we can research any desired topic on our smartphones. The impact that technology has had on today’s schools has been utterly momentous. Educators have now seen firsthand the numerous benefits of technology in the classroom. According to a study by IT Trade Association CompTIA, around 75 percent of educators have come to the conclusion that technology has a positive impact on the education process. Educators have also recognized the significance of developing these technological skills in students so they will be prepared to enter the workforce after they graduate (Cox). By incorporating technology in the classroom, teachers are setting our students up for a successful life outside of school. The increase of technology has even changed how teachers teach along with how

It has been over a decade now since we’ve been hearing from federal agencies, professional organizations and teaching accreditation agencies about the need to integrate technology into school curriculum. Culp, Honey and Mandinach (2005) reported despite several educational reports and other governmental reports of the large investments in instructional technology resources, computers, high speed internet access and other forms of technology within the country’s schools are yet to be effectively integrated into instruction in most our nation’s K-12 classrooms.

The coursework I have completed through the Distance Educational Technology Masters Program at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), has immersed me in educational technology research supported by collegial discussions. Through the supervised field-based activities from the UAS program and my ongoing professional activities, I have developed a shared vision for the comprehensive integration of technology. Technology integration has been my priority focus academically and professionally. As I have developed a classroom environment conducive to the realization of my technology integration vision, I have shared my vision with families and educators in my school, district, and state.