WK3 Reading

Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?: The Reasons Are Many

As the article asks, why integrate technology into the curriculum? Well as we are into the 21st century, I think growing up we all expected to be flying around in flying cars by now. Why did we dream so big for our transportation, but not our education?

Technology is almost ever reaching in all areas of our lives, in our homes, cars, businesses and our schools. Integrating this ever-changing technology into the classroom will only help our students not only survive in this complex world, but hopefully lead the way.       

But, I think integrating the technology means more than just teaching your basic computer skills or how to make a Powerpoint presentation, Excel spreadsheet or format a Word document.

I would have to agree with the author in this article in saying that integrating technology has to happen across the board in all areas of education and not just the computer or tech classes. We need to support the areas to include active engagement, group participation, feedback and interaction and connection with one another.

Technology also changes the way we teach. It can offer us different ways to reach different types of learners and assess student understanding through multiple means. It can enhance the relationships between teacher and students, allow teachers to become advisers and content expert. Technology can make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun.

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A Web 2.0 Class: Students Learn 21st Century Skills, Collaboration, and Digital Citizenship

I thought this article was interesting in the fact that it compared our old views of thinking the world was flat way before Columbus sailed around the world, to us knowing the world is round and now saying when it comes to learning and collaboration, the world is now again, flat. 

When we use technology in our classrooms, we can now say that the world is flat, or should we say, flat as our monitors or the wall the images is projected upon.

Students have been separated from the world by the four walls of their classrooms. However, with the new technology available, cameras, microphones, websites and the internet, those walls don't have to confine our learning. 

There are now classes designed to teach Web 2.0 technology, digital citizenship, networking and social media responsibility. Students across the country, and even the world, have never met in person, but have connected and met electronically via programs such as Skype and class blogs. This type of learning is only limited to availability of a camera and connectivity.

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Connecting to the 21st-Century Student

As educators, we must work to understand, motivate and keep engaged a new kind of student, a digital learner.

Teachers are dealing with a students that are more wired than they are (teachers) but who also grew up in an atmosphere that has trained them to learn and process information in fundamentally different ways. This generation of students is almost always has a cell phone, laptop, or iPods before they have a spiral notebook or No. 2 pencil.

Teachers once competed for students' attention, against daydreamers, passing notes, and class clowns, but now face a new distraction in the form of gadgets and digitized content. Educators are now scrambling to figure out how to use this technology to reach and excite these young minds. 

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