Digital Blog Post #L

Chapter 12: Integrating Technology and Creating Change as Teacher Leaders

There were many points of interest in this chapter, but only a few I am able to discuss. The first point was very basic, I just wanted to know the difference between these two things. The section is called Inclusion and Infusion of Technology. Both sounded very similar to me. In the text, it was stated that inclusion means that computers and other information technologies are used primarily for the transfer of information and the practicing of different skills. This is the information that is included in the lessons for students but they are not used daily. Infusion means that computers and other information technologies are connected in the daily lives of the students. The use of these features are used every day in all of the subjects at each grade level. Whether or not to include or infuse the computers and information technologies into a students lesson plan is based on whether the students will get motivated to learn and how it will help them in the long run.

The next section of interest I would like to discuss is Technology Integration Issues. I wouldn't think there would be many issues if teachers would decide to include technology in the teaching of their curriculum, besides the fact that not all students may have access to technology outside of school to do their assignments, but I was wrong. There are six main issues with the integration of technology. 

1. Administrative support and teaching style:
1. The help and support from the administration is very useful when it comes to the integration of technology, but one thing that can be lost in all the mess with this is the teachers approach to teacher. An example would be teachers losing their teacher-centered approach to lesson plans because the students have become more involved and the focus is not mainly on the teacher. 
2. Unwillingness to change favorite lesson plans:
1. Favorite lesson plans that do not include the integration of technology will want to be repeated from years to come. As technology keeps expanding, some teachers are reluctant to add technology pieces into these lessons for the students because they have worked so well in the past. 
3. Reluctance to use technology in new lesson plans:
1. Teachers may not be comfortable with teaching things they have never taught before. If he or she has not been able to master the material, they feel better to leave out things such as technology until they have the ability to master a lesson plan without it. 
4. Use of technology as a reward or punishment:
1. Teachers often use technology as a reward or punishment because they can see that students often like using electronic devices such as computers. The use of technology in these purposes are for competition, not to improve their academics. 
5. Use of technology as an add-on to other activities:
1. Technology used as an add-on to other activities may enhance or even detract from the student learning. Just because technology is added on does not always mean it is the best instructional tool for a particular lesson. 
6. Use of technology to separate students by ability or groups:
1. The division of students by ability or groups with lesson plans including technology make it so that not everyone will receive the same lesson or attention for a particular assignment. 

The last section of the book I would like to discuss is Involving Students in Technology and Change. Involving students in the improvement of school has good outcomes. Students will be able to be given a voice towards the change, meaning they will most likely support it in the end. Teachers are also able to gain more views about students such as their motivation and behavior to different things. Teachers are often unlikely to succeed if they become the dictator of the classroom, so having the students voices heard will leave a positive impact on their confidence levels. In addition to that, often times students know more able the technology than the teachers and administrators. It would be smart to get their perspectives on things.


APA Citations

MACON GROUP 1 TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION AND RELATIVE ISSUES. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV4NdW8cX4Q

 Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.