Integrating Technology Into The ClassroomWhy you should incorporate technology into your everyday classroom experience

Why teachers do not use technology

• Fear• Time• “Hard to Use”

These are not good reasons to integrate technology into your classroom!

Why we should

Pros > Cons

You must understand one fact:

Here are a few good reasons why we should integrate

Good Reason #1: It’s Cool• Students are on their own technology for a reason: It is cool• Integrate that “cool-ness” into your classroom• It will put content into the format they are used to• It will get them excited about learning, just as they are excited

about their phones/laptops/tablet (Edutopia, 2008)0• “Technology helps make teaching and learning more

meaningful and fun.” – Edutopia

Good Reason #2: You can reach more students• Reach students with unconventional ways that could not be

reached conventionally• Examples:• Create “Photo Flashcards” for ELL or SPED students to help with

lack of vocabulary, low reading level (Branch, 2010)• Audio Books for students with vision issues, low reading levels

(Oakes, 2009)

Good Reason #3: Streamlining • Grading• Online Gradebooks• Smart quizzes taken

with “clickers”

• Props and presentations• Google Earth in

Geography (Branch, 2008)• Using Smartboard as a

whiteboard

Good Reason #4: Create a more accessible classroom• Students have the

Internet in the palm of their hands• Integration of technology

makes the content more accessible

• Students can search images and supplementary articles in order to gain a better understanding of the content being learned

Good Reason #5: It is becoming easier and easier to use

• Through websites like Edmodo and Big Campus make it easier and easier to create educational social networking sites.• Can perform a number of

different functions like discussion boards, grades, and connecting students who normally would not connect with one another.

So…• You will see nothing but benefits from incorporating

technology into your classroom• May take practice• Most tools now very easy to use• Some no harder to make than a Facebook account

• Teaching will, generally, become easier• Easier to reach students• Easier to relay content• Easier to easier to stay organized

• “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.” Bill Gates

References• Branch, J. (2010). 50 Ways to Integrate Technology. 50 Ways to

Integrate Technology in your Classroom Tomorrow. Retrieved from

https://sites.google.com/site/anchortechnologytomorrow/home/50-ways-to-anchor-technology

• Edutopia Staff. (2008). Why Integrate Technology into the Cirriculum?: The Reasons Are Many. Edutopia.

Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration- introduction

• Oakes, Mara. (2009). 5 Unconventional Ways to Study: Technology Introduces New and Exciting Study Methods.

Yahoo. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/5-unconventional-ways-study-technology-introduces-4048779.html?cat=4