Successful technology integration is the use of technology in schools to help students gain a better understanding of the content being taught to them. There are several catalogues of technology use in schools, these include: blended learning, virtual learning, flipped learning, and bring your own device. Successfully technology integration is defined as the use of technological resources (computers, mobile devices etc) in daily classroom practices and in the management of a school. Technology works best in the classroom when its use is second nature to both the student and teacher. Successful technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is routine and transparent, accessible and readily available for the task at hand and lastly, supporting the curricular goals, and helping the students to effectively reach their goal. Framework for technology integration include two common known models. The first model known as SAMR, stands for Substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition. The goal of this model is to completely redefine how we teach and learn, and do things we could not without technology. The second model is known as TPACK, stands for technological pedagogical content knowledge. This model provides educators with the knowledge they need to successfully integrate technology in the classroom. SAMR is the most popular model for helping educators reflect on their technology use in the classroom.
There are several frameworks created to help out schools with technology integration. One big reason for this push of technology integration is to prepare students for their futures. Technology is always evolving and students need to be well acquainted with it. The Partnership for 21st Century Learning is a collaboration between educators, policy makers, and business leaders to guide students to be prepared for their futures. Skills focused on in this include: content knowledge such as math, science, world languages, economics, history, government, global awareness, civic health and environmental literacy. In addition, learning and innovation skills, information, media and technology skills. Lastly, life and career skills such as flexibility, self direction, social and cross cultural skills, productivity and leadership. Another set of standards created to prepare students for a technology driven future is called ISTE Student Standards. ISTE student standards call for students to be empowered learners, computational thinkers, digital citizens, creative communicators, knowledge constructors, innovative designers, and global collaborators. ISTE also sets standards for how educators should be: learners, leaders, citizens, designers, analysts, collaborators, and facilitators. All of these standards fit together because they foster the idea of keeping education up to date with the world around it. Our world is constantly evolving and therefore schools and education need to change with it. As for teacher’s skills, successful technological integration needs 3 types of knowledge. The first being knowledge about tools available, appropriate use of these tools and how to use them known as technological knowledge. The second type of knowledge is known as pedagogical knowledge which is the knowledge about how to teach. Lastly, content knowledge is knowledge about the subject you’re teaching. These three are known as the model TPACK. Although I already wrote about these earlier, these are very important in technological integration.
Julia’s journal 