Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?
Technology is ubiquitous, touching almost every part of our lives, our
communities, our homes. Yet most schools lag far behind when it comes to
integrating technology into classroom learning. Many are just beginning
to explore the true potential technology offers for teaching and learning.
Properly used, technology will help students acquire the skills they
need to survive in a complex, highly technological knowledge-based
economy.
Integrating technology into classroom instruction means more than
teaching basic computer skills and software programs in a separate
computer class. Effective tech integration must happen across the
curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the learning
process. In particular, it must support four key components of learning:
active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and
feedback, and connection to real-world experts. Effective technology
integration is achieved when the use of technology is routine and
transparent and when technology supports curricular goals.
Many people believe that technology-enabled project learning is the
ne plus ultra of classroom instruction. Learning through projects while
equipped with technology tools allows students to be intellectually
challenged while providing them with a realistic snapshot of what the
modern office looks like. Through projects, students acquire and refine
their analysis and problem-solving skills as they work individually and
in teams to find, process, and synthesize information they've found
online.
The myriad resources of the online world also provide each classroom
with more interesting, diverse, and current learning materials. The Web
connects students to experts in the real world and provides numerous
opportunities for expressing understanding through images, sound, and
text.
New technology tools for visualizing and modeling, especially in the
sciences, offer students ways to experiment and observe phenomenon and
to view results in graphic ways that aid in understanding. And, as an
added benefit, with technology tools and a project-learning approach,
students are more likely to stay engaged and on task, reducing
behavioral problems in the classroom.
Technology also changes the way teachers teach, offering educators
effective ways to reach different types of learners and assess student
understanding through multiple means. It also enhances the relationship
between teacher and student. When technology is effectively integrated
into subject areas, teachers grow into roles of adviser, content expert,
and coach. Last but not least, technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful
and fun.
