More Research Continued...

The more research I do, the more ideas I find that I add to the top of my list!  I began this research by looking for ways to get every student involved with the technology that was integrated into the classroom; however, during all of that particular research I found so many reasons/benefits of allowing children to use technology in the classroom. These are just a few of my favorites…they are taken from the Stillwater Area Public Schools website http://www.stillwaterlevy.org/sites/61bc784c-09b2-4002-acad- dddbca223574/uploads/Technology.pdf

·         Students in classes that use computer-aided instruction outperformed their peers on

standardized tests of basic skills achievement by 30 percent on average.

·         Students with extensive access to technology learn how to organize complex information,

recognize patterns, draw inferences, and communicate findings.

·         Studies of students with disabilities show that technology can expand access to educational resources and enhance students’ ability to process and remember information.

·         The use of technology in the classroom improves students’ motivation and attitudes about

themselves and about learning. Technology-rich schools report higher attendance and lower dropout rates than in the past.

·         Students who regularly use technology also take more pride in their work, have greater

confidence in their abilities, and develop higher levels of self-esteem.

I have learned that there are tons and tons of ways to endure that each student is utilizing the technology in the classroom. Not mention all of the wonderful benefits that it brings for both student and teacher. The teacher must be creative and innovative when it comes to preparing lessons, activities, and projects. The way we learn is changing, and our education and teaching strategies need to constantly change and update to meet the different needs of our students. By using multiple forms of technology, we give every student the greatest chance to learn at the highest level!

Research Continued...

So as I have done some additional research, I’ve found a good website that discusses integrating technology into the classroom. Article Alley states that “Given research dictates that pupils will retain more knowledge when some form of computer based instruction is added to the learning process. They are able to progress through lessons quicker and have a higher rate of retention.” After reading this statement, it gives me all the more reason to want to learn new and effective ways of bringing technology into my future classroom. The website also goes onto talk about the benefits of incorporating Power Points into lessons, eBooks, etc. I hadn’t given Power Point much thought, because until now, my only use for them has been for presentations in college level classes. However, they could be made for elementary level students and be made fun and entertaining as well! I also found some articles that talk about how a teacher can do differentiated instruction using the computers or other technology. There are numerous ways to incorporate technology, I guess I have just never taken the time to sit down and research all the possibilities….I’m liking what I am finding though J

Research on Teaching with Technology

I chose to do my research over incorporating technology in the classroom for EVERY student. I love the idea of integrating technology into the everyday curriculum, and I guess this is what I want to really focus on during this research. In this Instructional Design course, I have learned to create and use many tools, such as; a blog, classroom website, digital story, portaportal, an so on. But now I would like to know more ways in which I can bring technology into the classroom, (whether it be during the actual lesson, center time, etc.) so that each individual student has the opportunity to utilize it while they are in the school setting, given the fact that a portion of them will not have accessibility once they are at home. I also want to ensure that by including the use of technology, I am reaching every learning style that the students may have.

Digital Storytelling

I think my favorite assignment has been the digital storytelling! I have never used Picasa before, and it did take some time to familiarize myself with the program, but it was so worth it! I love the digital story idea. There are so many ways that teachers can incorporate this into their classroom. I saw an example where students wrote and illustrated their own narrative and then turned it into a digital story so that they could easily share it with others. I also think that this is a great tool to use with family members to capture special memories. Overall, I  give digital storytelling an A+, and I will be using it in the future....both in and out of my classroom!