Nicole Bish

http://mrsbishelementary.weebly.com/
EDU-225
10/19/2014










Entry 2: Technology to Enhance Instruction
Integrating Instructional Technology
Integrating instructional technology into the classroom is an important step in advancing
education. As time progresses, so does the technology available. The best way teachers can
prepare students for their futures, aside from traditional education, is to expose students to
technology. The way for teachers to do this is to use technology every day in class and the U.S.
government is assisting by attempting to reform curriculum so it will include technology in the
classroom (Shelly, Gunter, and Gunter, 2012). If teachers are able to integrate instructional
technology through Web sites, interactive white boards (IWB), and computers, then students can
be better prepared for their future.
Web Sites
There are thousands of Web sites available on the Internet to encourage learning in the
classroom. When selecting which sites to use, there are a few things to consider, such as content,
audience, currency, and design (Shelly, Gunter, and Gunter, 2012). Using Web sites such as
PBSlearningmedia.org, a teacher can Browse by Options and select the grade level and subject
matter needed. A search for Grade 4 and English Language Arts and Literacy will give 447
results! If there is a lesson plan for a horse essay in English, a video called, City Horse Part 1
could be a great tool. Students who view the video can use the knowledge for their essay.
Interactive White Boards (IWB)
A second tool teachers can use is an interactive white board (IWB). An IWB is either a
hard or soft white board that is connected to a computer and the images from the screen are
projected onto this board. By using a specialized pen or even the touch of a finger, students and
teachers can navigate through the materials projected onto the screen, either from software or the
Internet (Learning with interactive white boards, 2009). The IWB is a visual, audio, and tactile
tool used to teach students in a variety of subjects. Dr. Mary Ann Bell gives a bakers dozen
reasons why IWBs are such amazing tools: they are great for presentations, aesthetically
pleasing, accommodate different learning styles, students of all-ages can use them, aid with
distance learning (learning along with another classroom simultaneously), one-computer
classrooms can include everyone, good for the constructivist educator, are clean and attractive,
can be used by students with limited motor skills, are interactive, have great connectivity with
other devices, are kid magnets, and they are great for meetings (2002).
Computers
Computers are the basic technological tool for integrating instructional technology within
the classroom. Whether the class uses MAC, PC, laptops, or desktops, students cannot access
the Internet or use an IWB without one. Today, there are other technologies that have Internet
access such as smartphones, IPods, and Tablets. Most schools, however, only provide computers
for their students. Computers allow not only Internet access and IWB use, but they are useful for
creating documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and so forth. Use of these skills will be
required throughout schooling and, possibly, during careers in the students futures.
Pros and Cons of using Technology to Facilitate Learning (200-300 words)
An article by Timothy Huneycutt lists many of the benefits from using technology in the
classroom. He believes that it helps students remain focused for longer periods of time, raises
students excitement about learning, can enable students to learn at their own pace, and it helps
prepare students for the future (2013). It has been observed that students jump at the chance to
use technology and want to use it more than just a simple text book. When students are, for
example, learning how to type, they can learn at their own pace on a computer. Since technology
will only continue to advance, it is logical to conclude that the more exposure to todays
technology will benefit students in the future.
Possible draw backs could include too much dependency upon technology and the lack of
face-to-face social interactions. If students only use the Internet to research words, they will not
know how to use an actual dictionary. If students are forced to use calculators during math class,
they will lack the skills for doing math in their minds. When students interact via social media,
they can lose the skills required for actual social interactions. Anything can by typed into a Web
post, but would they actually say it to someones face? Relying on social media for
communication can cause a loss of understanding consequences to ones actions.
Wired and Wireless Classrooms (100-200 words)
There are two ways to connect with technology, by wires or wirelessly. Computers,
keyboards, printers, mice, smartphones, laptops, and other technologies can all communicate
with each other either way (Shelly, Gunter, and Gunter, 2012). In the past, everything had to be
connected with wires; a computer had to be directly connected to a keyboard, mouse and printer.
Now, classrooms can use local area networks (LAN) to connect everything wirelessly, including
multiple computers to one printer. (Shelly et. al., 2012). Wide area networks (WAN) can even
connect an entire school district wirelessly (Shelly et. al., 2012). There are many benefits to a
wireless classroom. Without wires, there is an expanded work environment. Students are not
limited to sitting next to an outlet, printer, and modem when using their computer nor will they
need to take turns waiting to connect to the network, it happens automatically. If they have
laptops, they can take it with them all over the classroom when using it. This also prevents
children from tripping over wires and from cords becoming tangled.
Possible cons could be security and privacy issues. It could be possible for
students to access the network through their own personal devices, not just the schools devices.
Though access to an unlimited amount of information on the Internet can be a good thing, it can
also be a negative thing if networks are not protected properly. If students can by-pass the
network securities on their own electronic devices, then they can hack into the system or view
inappropriate materials. Another con would be if students were using their devices instead of
paying attention to the teacher and the lesson. If networks have the proper security measures
taken (passwords or parental blocks) and if students are educated on the ethics of computer use,
then these issue could be non-existent.
Conclusion
When integrating instructional technologies in the classroom, there are three that stand
out: Web sites, IWB, and computers. Without computers, the instructional technologies
available would decrease significantly. The invention of the PC, and the like, has been the key to
putting technologies into the classroom. It has enabled teachers to use tools such as the IWB and
Internet sites to enhance, reinforce, and expose students to new ways of learning. Students in
classrooms during this digital age are benefiting from technologies presently and will be ready
for what the technology can offer in the future.









References:
Bell, M. (2002). Why use an interactive white board? A bakers dozen reasons! Teachers.net
Gazette, 3.1. Retrieved from http://www.teachers.net/gazette/JAN02/mabell.html
Huneycutt, T. (2013). Technology in the classroom: the benefits of blended learning. Retrieved
from http://www.nms.org/Blog/TabId/58/PostId/188/technology-in-the-classroom-the-
benefits-of-blended-learning.aspx
Shelly, G., Gunter, G., & Gunter, R. (2012). Teachers discovering computers: integrating
technology in a connected world. Retrieved from http://gcumedia.com/digital-
resources/cengage/2010/teachers-discovering-computers-integrating-technology-and-
digital-media-in-the-classroom_ebook_7e.php
Learning with interactive whiteboards. (2009). Retrieved from
http://digital.films.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=41131#
PBS Learning Media. (2014). Retrieved from
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/search/?q=&selected_facets=grades_exact%3A4&sele
cted_facets=supplemental_curriculum_hierarchy_nodes%3A1880&selected_facets=