Thinking about Thinking about TechnologyTechnology

Rachel TaulbeeUniversity of West

GeorgiaDiffusion of Innovations

Background InformationBackground Information

TECHNOLOGY USE:

Cell phoneiPod/MP3TV Computer

AGE:14 years old

LOCATION:Monroe High School, Ohio

HOBBIES: baseballsoccervideo gamesfriends

Technology’s affect on Technology’s affect on the learning processthe learning process

Students can look up information they need for projects or school work

Keeps learning more up-to-date“I’d say

it’s a positive effect

overall.”

Meaning ofMeaning of “Technology Integration” “Technology Integration”

It means how we are starting to incorporate technology into our daily lives. “It’s

basically what we

choose to do with

technology.”

How SHOULD it be used in How SHOULD it be used in school?school?It needs to be available to any

student who needs it for anything school related…but sometimes it isn’t.

We should be able to play games if we get finished with work early…even if they are educational ones.

Constructing the Modern Constructing the Modern Classroom Classroom

I’d have a white board in the front of the room, the desks in rows, a bookcase near the back of the room with two computers on either side.

“In fact, I’d add a lot more

computers if I had endless

money for this

classroom!”

Technology at your school…Technology at your school…does it measure up?does it measure up?

I’m happy because there are rooms in our school made specifically for using computers.

From what I can tell, our school is like the other ones nearby.

Technology funding…is it Technology funding…is it enough?enough?

Yes, we can afford the multiple computer labs throughout the school.

We don’t have anything fancy, but I don’t think many schools do.

How does it change the way How does it change the way you work in your classroom?you work in your classroom?

“It hasn’t changed the way I work, but it has improved my assignments by making them more accurate”

Rating teacher’s use of Rating teacher’s use of technology:technology:Some teachers have all

assignments due on the computers

Some don’t allow the use of computers most of the time in the classroom

What would you What would you recommend?recommend?A good lesson could be one on

future careers. Students could use the computer to look up jobs, salaries, and costs of cars and houses.

I’d let students use the computers more often during class too.

What technology is missing What technology is missing from your school?from your school?

I don’t think it’s missing anything that would make a big difference in the way I would learn.

The characters remind me of Brice’s The characters remind me of Brice’s teachers… teachers…

almost as if they are resisting change. almost as if they are resisting change.

Reflection of InterviewReflection of InterviewSeems like Brice’s school is lacking in

the technology field

He isn’t aware of the available resources that could really enhance learning such as student response systems, probes, wikis, podcasts, blogs, etc.

Teachers’ “technology integration” appears to be periodical use of computers