Integrating Technology Into The Classroom Why you should incorporate technology into your everyday classroom experience

Why teachers do not use technology Fear Time “Hard to Use” These are not good reasons to integrate technology into your classroom!

Why we should Pros > Cons You must understand one fact: Here are a few good reasons why we should integrate

Good Reason #1: It’s Cool Students are on their own technology for a reason: It is cool Integrate that “cool-ness” into your classroom It will put content into the format they are used to It will get them excited about learning, just as they are excited about their phones/laptops/tablet (Edutopia, 2008)0 “Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun.” – Edutopia

Good Reason #2: You can reach more students Reach students with unconventional ways that could not be reached conventionally Examples: Create “Photo Flashcards” for ELL or SPED students to help with lack of vocabulary, low reading level (Branch, 2010) Audio Books for students with vision issues, low reading levels (Oakes, 2009)

Good Reason #3: Streamlining Grading Online Gradebooks Smart quizzes taken with “clickers” Props and presentations Google Earth in Geography (Branch, 2008) Using Smartboard as a whiteboard

Good Reason #4: Create a more accessible classroom Students have the Internet in the palm of their hands Integration of technology makes the content more accessible Students can search images and supplementary articles in order to gain a better understanding of the content being learned

Good Reason #5: It is becoming easier and easier to use Through websites like Edmodo and Big Campus make it easier and easier to create educational social networking sites. EdmodoBig Campus Can perform a number of different functions like discussion boards, grades, and connecting students who normally would not connect with one another.

So… You will see nothing but benefits from incorporating technology into your classroom May take practice Most tools now very easy to use Some no harder to make than a Facebook account Teaching will, generally, become easier Easier to reach students Easier to relay content Easier to easier to stay organized “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.” Bill Gates

References Branch, J. (2010). 50 Ways to Integrate Technology. 50 Ways to Integrate Technology in your Classroom Tomorrow. Retrieved from w/home/50-ways-to-anchor-technology Edutopia Staff. (2008). Why Integrate Technology into the Cirriculum?: The Reasons Are Many. Edutopia. Retrieved from introduction Oakes, Mara. (2009). 5 Unconventional Ways to Study: Technology Introduces New and Exciting Study Methods. Yahoo. Retrieved from unconventional-ways-study-technology-introduces html?cat=4