6Technology, Digital Media, and Curriculum Integration

By: Ashley Terrell, Brittany Wood, Hayley Hampton

What is Curriculum?

Curriculum is defined as the knowledge, skills, and performance standards students are expected to acquire in particular grade levels, or subject matter units of instruction.

The Curriculum can be designed at the state or district level by a team of specialists, instructional leaders, and other experts.

The state departments provide their school districts with:

• Policies• Directives• Updates to the states public education issues• Access to up – to –date statistics• Standards and accountability issues• Teacher certification• Scholarships• Grants• Funding sources• Resources• Curriculum standards• Benchmarks

Documents that describe curriculum and benchmarks are called curriculum framework or curriculum guides.

1. Curriculum Standards

2. Goal/benchmark3. Grade level4. expectation

1.2.

3.

4.

Technology integration also called curriculum integration

Is the combination of all technology parts, such as hardware and software, together with each subject related area of the curriculum to enhance learning

A critical issueTechnology should drive the curriculum. The curriculum, rather, should drive the technology.

MeaningTeachers should use the appropriate technologies to enhance learning at the appropriate times and to teach the standards. Classroom Integration: More effective, Readily availableMedia Centers Computer labs: Schedule time Cost effectiveEasier to maintain

Classroom Integration verses Media Centers and Computer labs

Classroom Integration: Is more effective, computers are readily available allowing for the teachable moment.

Media Centers and Computer labs: Are easier to maintain and more cost effective but you have to schedule a time.

• T E C H N O L O G Y H A S T H E P O T E N T I A L T O I N C R E A S E ST U D E N T M O T I VAT I O N A N D C L A SS ATT E N D A N C E .

• T H I N G S T O C O N S I D E R W H EN I N T E G R AT I N G T E C H N O L O G Y• Standards and related learning objectives• Accomplishing instructional goals• Administering to different learning styles

By engaging students in different ways, technology encourages them to take a more active role in the learning process.

Integrating Technology into the Curriculum

Changing Instructional Strategies

FACILITATOR OF LEARNING Motivate students to want to learn Promote a learning atmosphere Students are able to assimilate information and become problem solvers

Welliver’s Instructional Transformation Model:

The five stages of technology integration.

Barriers to Technology Integration

LACK OF TEACHER TRAINING

SECURITY CONSTRAINTS THAT IMPEDE INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

LACK OF ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT

LIMITED TIME FOR TEACHER PLANNING

COMPUTER PLACEMENT IN REMOTE LOCATIONS

BUDGET CONSTRAINTS

LACK OF NETWORK SUPPORT

The Learning Process

AUTHENTIC LEARNING. Instructional activities that

demonstrate real-life connections by associating the concept being taught with a real life experience or event.

PARTICIPATORY LEARNING (SECONDARY LEARNING) A type of learning that occurs when

students become engaged in inquiring, investigating, reflecting, solving problems, and formulating and answering questions. Discussing, brainstorming,

explaining and debating issues.

ANCHORED INSTRUCTION Providing a knowledge base on which

students can build

TECHNOLOGY IN THE LEARNING PROCESS

Research shows that using technology in the classroom motivates students,

encourages them to become problem solvers, and creates new avenues to

demonstrate creative thinking.

Academic levels

Learning abilities

Cultural backgrounds

Learning styles

Geographic locations

Socioeconomic levels

Planning Lessons with Technology

Utilizing technology in lesson plans is important.

Skill Assessment Survey distinguish each students’ academic and technological skill level and then create a starting point to build on.

KWL charts are instructional planning charts that have the students state what they Know, Want to know, and Learned.

KWHL charts are similar to the KWL chart except that it adds How the student will learn.

Instructional Models

A instructional model is a systematic guide for planning instruction or a lesson.

The ASSURE model – a procedural guide for planning and delivering instruction that integrates technologies and media into the teaching process, and includes these steps: Analyze the Learner to determine the learner’s skill level. State Objectives to inform your students what skills and knowledge you

expect them to demonstrate. Select Methods, Media, and Materials based on method of

instruction, appropriate media format for method, and select, modify, update, or design materials for instruction.

Utilize Methods, Media, and Materials – preview the materials to ensure it is correct and appropriate.

Require Learner Participation Evaluate and Revise – determine the significance or worth, then

change so that the lesson will be more effective the next time.

Getting Started at a New School

There are many websites and sources to assist you in integrating technology into your new classroom.

Technology committees make recommendations to the principal and technology coordinator about technology-related issues.

A teacher’s manual contains information, rules and regulations, rights and responsibilities, and policies and procedures, including those related to all aspects of technology in the district.

Technology training can take place during in-service, which is training for teachers after they have entered the profession.

Hardware – You will want to look into upgrading or retrieving additional hardware. Educational grants may be some additional funds you can use to achieve this.

Software – You will need to look into what software is available to you and your school’s procedure for purchasing and obtaining more.

Other Technologies – A VCR, DVD player, digital camera/video camera, scanner, projector, or electronic whiteboard may also be available to you. Many of these are in a schools media center and can be scheduled for use.

Putting it all Together

Creating an Integrated Learning Environment Centers, or learning centers allow you to break your classroom into

different learning environments without ever leaving the room. Essential questioning technique is looking for the most important

part of a topic.The Classroom Centers

Some examples of centers you could create are: a discovery computer center, Web search center, modeling center, great explorers’ library center, scanning and photo center, science center, and a digital media center.

Results of Technology Integration Using technology appropriately can yield higher results from students. Technology also increases self-esteem, self-confidence, and improves

writing skills.