With the integration of technology into a
classroom, meets more than one criteria in the Charlotte
Danielson model for teacher evaluation. In Danielson's modal, Domain 3
is centered around instruction. In order to meet the "Distinguished"
category, "Students are high intellectually engaged throughout the
lesson in significant learning and make relevant and substantive
contributions to the activities, student groupings, and materials." (Danielson Group, 2013) This relates itself to the fact that teacher instruction should be student-led and the students should have control over the different parts of a lesson. With the use of technology, a teacher can help to ensure that this happens.
Another part of Danielson's model that can directly relate itself to the use of technology would be "Assessement is used in a sophisticated manner in instruction through student involvement in establishing the assessment criteria, self-assessment by students and monitoring of progress by both students and teachers..." (Danielson Group, 2013) If students were to use technology in order to keep track of their assessment scores along with researching various topics along with materials that reflect what is being learned in class. In order to keep students updated with everything that is going on around them, technology has to be used to make sure that they are fully aware of their surroundings and the history that is being made.
Just like stated in the ISTE article, student achievement is nearly doubled with the correct implementation of technology into the school curriculum. (Knezek, 2008, p. 5) If we want to set our students up to be the next President of the United States, now is the time that we have to set them up for that success. Through the use of various kinds of technology, this allows for students to be more competitive in the future job market. As time passes, it is becoming more and more difficult to land the position that you want without having an impressive resume to back up your knowledge. When balancing instruction with technology integration, we enable our students to only enhance their knowledge. According to ISTE, reports show that skills mastery in science, technology, and innovation are the keys to stronger economic growth. (Knezek, 2008, p. 9)
As technology continues to become second-nature and fully incorporated into lessons, we are able to eliminate the barriers discussed in the Computer's & Education journal. As teachers, we do not have to worry about improper training, inability to access different software programs, etc. (Ertmer, Ottenbreit-Leftwich, Sadik, Sendurur, & Sendurur, 2012, p. 1) There may be times when we are unfamiliar with a software during the beginning stages, but as we continue to explorer the various kinds of technology we will become more used to what they have to offer. I grew up during the era that technology was becoming more and more popular, so I feel very comfortable with trying out new things and establishing my own opinion about them. Our students have to take the time to become familiar with new things being offered. Just like some students show resistance to new topics, they may show resistance to new kinds of technology. If we take the time to show our level of comfort with the piece of technology, this will then influence our students into becoming more comfortable as well. Like I previously stated, we have to assist our students to keep up with the ever-changing technology field so they become well-rounded individuals and are more appealing to their future employers.
Another part of Danielson's model that can directly relate itself to the use of technology would be "Assessement is used in a sophisticated manner in instruction through student involvement in establishing the assessment criteria, self-assessment by students and monitoring of progress by both students and teachers..." (Danielson Group, 2013) If students were to use technology in order to keep track of their assessment scores along with researching various topics along with materials that reflect what is being learned in class. In order to keep students updated with everything that is going on around them, technology has to be used to make sure that they are fully aware of their surroundings and the history that is being made.
Just like stated in the ISTE article, student achievement is nearly doubled with the correct implementation of technology into the school curriculum. (Knezek, 2008, p. 5) If we want to set our students up to be the next President of the United States, now is the time that we have to set them up for that success. Through the use of various kinds of technology, this allows for students to be more competitive in the future job market. As time passes, it is becoming more and more difficult to land the position that you want without having an impressive resume to back up your knowledge. When balancing instruction with technology integration, we enable our students to only enhance their knowledge. According to ISTE, reports show that skills mastery in science, technology, and innovation are the keys to stronger economic growth. (Knezek, 2008, p. 9)
As technology continues to become second-nature and fully incorporated into lessons, we are able to eliminate the barriers discussed in the Computer's & Education journal. As teachers, we do not have to worry about improper training, inability to access different software programs, etc. (Ertmer, Ottenbreit-Leftwich, Sadik, Sendurur, & Sendurur, 2012, p. 1) There may be times when we are unfamiliar with a software during the beginning stages, but as we continue to explorer the various kinds of technology we will become more used to what they have to offer. I grew up during the era that technology was becoming more and more popular, so I feel very comfortable with trying out new things and establishing my own opinion about them. Our students have to take the time to become familiar with new things being offered. Just like some students show resistance to new topics, they may show resistance to new kinds of technology. If we take the time to show our level of comfort with the piece of technology, this will then influence our students into becoming more comfortable as well. Like I previously stated, we have to assist our students to keep up with the ever-changing technology field so they become well-rounded individuals and are more appealing to their future employers.
In order to stay updated on the different kinds of technology, teachers have to be willing to be life-long learners. Just because we are the educator's, does not mean that we cannot become the educated. Just like Bransford and Company state, in order to be truly classified as an expert in our area, we have to forever be a learner. (Bransford, Lin, & Schwartz, 2000, p. 149-150) We are able to keep up with the newest software, again allowing us to fully educate our students on everything that is available to them. As teachers, we could easily incorporate a variety of different projects that would give the students the time to try out the new software and then take their turn in being the educator in the classroom. The students could become experts on their piece of software/technology and then they could educate their peers and even their teacher on how to better use that specific piece of technology.
Technology integration boils down to the fact that we have to take the time to educate ourselves so that we are able to provide our students with the best possible education. If we want to create the next President of the United States, then we need to take the time to fully incorporate the cutting-edge technology that will one day be common knowledge. Being resistance to change is the first sign of failure. Educator's need to become the educated not only with their own subject matter, but also with other subjects such as technology.
References
Bransford, J., Lin, X., & Schwartz, D. (2000). Technology, Learning, and Schools: Comments on Articles by Tom Carroll & Gerald Bracey. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 1(1), 145-182. Retrieved from http://www.citejournal.org/vol1/iss1/currentissues/general/article3.htm
Danielson Group. (2013). Danielson Group » The Framework. Retrieved February 3, 2015, from http://danielsongroup.org/framework/
Ertmer, P., Ottenbreit-Leftwich, A., Sadik, O., Sendurur, E., & Sendurur, P. (2012). Teacher beliefs and technology integration practices: A critical relationship. Computers & Education, 1-13. Retrieved from http://www.journals.elsevier.com/computers-and-education
Herrington, J., & Parker, J. (2013). Emerging technologies as cognitive tools for authentic learning. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44(4), 607-616. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjet.12048/abstract
Knezek, D. (2008). Technology and Student Achievement (June). Retrieved from International Society for Technology in Education website: http://www.k12hsn.org/files/research/Technology/ISTE_policy_brief_student_achievement.pdf
When reading your blog I came across your thought of teachers as needing to be open to learning new things and continue to be life-long learners. I could not agree more with you. This is important for both us as educators and our students that we teach. Showing them that we want to learn new things and keep up with the latest trends in technology within the classroom helps them to identify that we are all working to become better at what we do. Great blog! *Kara
ReplyDeleteExcellent point about how technology can become "second-nature." It is true, but there will be always new technologies to learn. Then again, as you said, the educators need to continue to educate themselves on the changes of content and ways to deliver that content. Excellent, valid and though-provoking points.
ReplyDeleteAs someone not in the field of education, but rather IT I found your article interesting. I think that your points about student resistance and lifelong teach education regarding new technologies are important things to be considered before, during and after implementation of a new technology or device.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that to achieve student’s full abilities, technology has to integrated into the classroom. I liked your point about exposing them to different types of technology to set them up for success in the future. I feel as though graduating high school in the late 2000’s, I didn’t get exposed to as much but can easily see how the students will benefit from the exposure.
ReplyDeleteLifelong learning is KEY! As educators we need to constantly focus on the ever changing technology around us. Trying to keep pace with our students is a trying task. Creating an environment where technology is 2nd nature is going to be easily done by our students. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever be in a world that paper, pencils and deep thought will NEVER be 2nd nature?
ReplyDeleteI work with technology everyday as an online math teacher for a math enrichment program that works with kids from all over the country. Since starting with this company 2 years ago I have seen our company grow to over 2 million students on our program from just over 1 million when I first started. Which shows technology is increasing in schools at a fast rate. The ratio of students to computers / tablets are becoming closer to a 1:1 ratio. I have to agree with your comment as teachers we need to be lifelong learners. I know we would have so many more students on our program but we have teachers who have access to our program that choice not to use it because they are used to the " old school" style of teaching and aren't adapting to the changing technology.
ReplyDeleteOn the flip side and being a parent to a very young child I feel that using to much technogy is hurting our kids as well. They are becoming more lazy, lacking in everyday social skills and are losing their imagination. I know of to many parents who are using technogy as a babysitter and the kids are losing that social interaction that they need to service in today's society as well.
I feel there has to be a happy medium on using technology in a classroom because students are becoming to dependent on technology and losing that social interaction