Instructional Integration of Technology in the Classroom

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Instructional Integration of Technology in the Classroom Jacob Conteh M.Ed. Program American Public University Spring, 2012 Instructional Integration of Technology in the Classroom The term “instructional integration of technology” has been defined in many different ways. According to Seels and Richey (1994), “Instructional Technology is the theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning,” (p.94). Other definitions go further. For instance, according to the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (1994), technology that is effectively and fully integrated into teaching and learning has to have an environment in which student use digital resources and tools to answer teacher’s questions, and use the same tools to answer other questions that they generate themselves. Classroom management and climate should have full scale integration with few or no implementation issues. Both definitions emphasize the fact that technology should not only be provided in schools, but be fully integrated into both teaching and learning. This is a vital point to consider as we discuss technology lesson plans that are effective, and those that are not effective. Another point to ponder when debating effective and ineffective technology integration in schools is the fact that “Classrooms in the 21st century need to be collaborative spaces where student-centered knowledge development and risk taking are accepted as the norm and where ecology of learning develops and thrives” (Nussbaum-Beach, 2008, p. 3). This point is especially relevant in technology where teachers may sometimes have to take the backseat and allow students to be innovative to solve problems. Example of Powerful and Vibrant Integration of Technology For schools that still struggle with the relevance

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