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Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

Heba Said
Purdue University
EDCI-513

Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

Abstract:
Reiser (1987) reported that Due to its interactive capabilities, the computer can be
programmed to adapt instruction to the needs of the individual learners. Now in the 21 century
technology span is increasing. Technology is used every day in our live. Many people can afford
to have laptop, tablet, and smart phone. Students have access to technology at home and public
library. Teacher should be aware of new technology development and improvement. In this
paper, I will examine what is technology integration and how to integrate technology in the P-12
classrooms? How teacher design an effective curriculum for students using technology. What are
the teacher choices of technology tools or system to integrate Technology? What challenges face
teachers when integrate technology? What are the side effects of changing the old fashioned
classroom to new one that using technology?
Technology integration:
Technology integration is the use of technology to deliver lessons and educate students. This is a
new way that many teachers started to use to improve the quality of teaching. Technology
integration is not limited to using computer in the classroom but it is beyond teaching,
communication, and practice. Today many schools districts started 1:1 teaching method using I
pad or laptops.
Here are many definitions for technology integration from different perspective:

Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

Most practitioners and researchers would agree that ID uses a strategic, research-based
process that includes components found in the five-phase ADDIE model (analysis, design,
development, implementation, and evaluation) to achieve learning and performance outcomes
(Reiser, p 209). From this definition, teachers analysis and know students needs. Then they
design curriculum based on students needs. Teachers do assessment to find out what they need
to improve. Next steps are developing and implement the curriculum. Teachers should set a
period such as each quarter to evaluate their curriculum. Are their goal met? Did students
learning improve or curriculum needs to be revised? Then teachers work on the curriculum based
on the evaluation to meet students need.
Teachers are playing main role in technology integration. Teacher uses technology to
provide productive. After assessment and evaluation, teacher uses technology to revise the same
activities. Technology integration comes when teacher combines hardware and software to
improve learning. Technology integration is using technology to help meet the curriculum
standards and learner outcomes for each lesson, unit, or activity. (Shelly, Cashman, & Gunters,
2008).
Hamilton believed that Integration is when classroom teachers use technology to
introduce, reinforce, extend, enrich, assess, and remediate student mastery of curricular targets.
(p. 20).
Design an effective curriculum using technology:

Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

Reiser stated that Classroom development focuses on teacher-led instruction using
modifications of existing materials or development of new materials, which are often at the
lesson or unit level and involve informal formative evaluation strategies (Gustafson & Branch,
2002) (p, 209)
Reiser provided the three types of ID development which are:
System: is used to create computer-assisted instruction (CAI) embedded within an integrating
learning system (ILS) which is defined as, a complete software, hardware, and network system
used for instruction. ILS includes numbers of tools to help identify learning needs, monitor
progress, and maintains students records (Reiser, p 209).
Product: Computer-Based instructional, CBI, has been pervasive in P-12 settings for the past
thirty years. The most common products include tutorial, drill and practice, and educational
gaming software. (Reiser, p 209)
Classroom: it involves designing integrating lessons for classroom implementation in which
technology is used for a variety of roles. (Reiser, p 210)
Reiser stated that the two ID models that have a strong ISD/ID foundation are ASSURE and
NTeQ (Reiser, p 210).
Murphy, DePasquale, and McNamara argued that Technology must be used to deepen
childrens engagement in meaningful and intellectually authentic curriculum. Technology is a
tool and as such it should be selected because it is the best tool for the job (p.2). Teacher should

Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

use technology to meet students needs as Murphy, DePasquale, and McNamara stated in the
article Technology can be a particularly effective tool for English language learners and can
enhance the participation of children with disabilities. (p.2).
Challenges to technology integration:
Linda Starr stated in her article For many teachers, a lack of personal experience with
technology presents an additional challenge. In order to incorporate technology-based activities
and project into their curriculum, those teachers first must find the time to learn to use the tools
and understand the terminology necessary for participation in those projects or activities (p.1).
Many old teachers have experiences in teaching but they face the lack of technology education
skills. Teachers have problems to take the steps to get the training as they afraid to try new
teaching method. Those teachers had their education in old fashion teaching so continue
education and training is very important for them every year such as teacher development
training and must focus on technology integration. Teachers beliefs about technology have big
impact on technology integration. Well teachers education and preparation will improve the
integrating of technology in many schools. Some teachers believe that using computer or I pad in
classroom will waste teaching time because of technology issue but they dont look at the
positive outcome of using those tools. So they focus in using more easy ways of teaching such as
markers and board. Some teacher thinking that the use of overhead projector is the technology
integration and they afraid of the use of smart board. Technology integration is not easy and cant

Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

be in one day or two. Teachers should change their beliefs and attitude in applying everything in
the same time. Technology integrations need to be in steps and enough time.
Resources challenges are not limited to information on technology use but it go beyond technical
support and enough time available. Many schools share one Instructional Design person which
makes it hard to provide services and help all the time. That builds worries inside teacher that
they dont get help in the time they need and prevent them in using technology. Well design
curriculum that integrating technology and easy to follow help teachers to improve students
learning skills.
Institution challenges are very hard to solve and they are out of teachers hands. Some of young
teachers who just graduated and ready to integrate technology in their classroom face leadership
lack of technology knowledge. Some principal focus more in teacher center education and they
want teacher to spend more time in instructions than students needs. Also, they want teacher to
spend more time in teaching to cover more topics in subjects rather than spend time in training.
Most of the time teachers do not get enough training because of the school year timing. Some
schools get technology tools for free and they kept them because they are free and they dont use
them to integrate technology.
Teachers spend time in testing and meeting State learning Standards which decrease the teacher
ability of integrating technology. Individualizing testing take more time and effort from teacher
to plan and integrate technology in everyday activities.

Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

Culture has main impact on technology integration. The culture of the teacher makes it different
in integrating technology in the classroom. As example, some math teachers come from old
culture that supports mental math by using hands and fingers to count and multiply. Some other
cultures believe in using calculator to save time. Those cultures will integrate technology faster
than those old cultures.
Teacher choices of technology tools or system:
NAEYC standards on supporting learning through technology:
Appropriate technology, including computer software, digital or Web content, cameras, and
other peripherals, can support and expand young childrens learning, including (through assistive
technology) the learning of many children with disabilities. Candidates display awareness of the
benefits and potential risks of technology, as well as issues of economic and gender equity in
distribution of technology resources. Candidates demonstrate knowledge about how to combine
appropriate software with other teaching tools to integrate and reinforce learning. (Murphy,
DePasquale, & McNamara, p.3)
There are many tools teacher can use to integrate technology in the classroom. Starting with
communication teacher can use email and text messages to communicate with parents. Parents
teacher communication has main impact on students success. School power is a great example
of teachers parent communication. Parent can access their children grade and teacher comment.
Old fashion of newsletter still works and can be delivered via email. Smart boards are

Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

widespread today in many schools. Some schools are doing fundraising and other activities to
collect money to have Smart board in each classroom. Smart boards help teacher to use
multimedia in every day teaching. With Smart Board teacher can access lessons from the
computer and share with students. Students can interact using the smart pen during the lesson.
This will increase students interaction and engagement in learning. Also teacher can print out
what in the board to hand out to students. Other tools of technology integration are software.
Software that includes lesson and game helps increase students learning. For example special
needs students can have software to meet their need to learn. Technology can be included in
students with special needs IEPs and teacher can vary the software in each IEP depend on each
students need. Other new tools that many school districts start to use are I pad and Laptops.
Teacher use 1:1 teaching method with these tools which help in increasing students
performance. Each child is unique and with this method and tool teacher can create lessons to
meet each child needs. Internet is a great tool for research and communicating. The way that
Google drive works to save document is very helpful for teachers and students. They can access
to document everywhere. Ten years ago, teacher had problem in saving document in flash drive
and either it got lost or broken. But with Google drive all documents are save.
One of the more helpful tools is the class web page. Teacher creates web page for her classroom
to create assignments that students can access from home to work on them. Students can submit

Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

the work online on the same web page. Then students can get feedback from the teacher to
improve their performance.
Dais argued that Technology cannot be integrated overnight. It can take years to complete the
process. For that teachers should take steps in integrate technology. After they have their
training, they should choose the tools that fit in their students needs. Then little by little they
should start incorporates the tool in their daily lesson.
Side effects:
In the Archived information, the author stated that Technology integration helps in changing in
students and teacher roles. It also motivates students learning. It provides technical skills and
complex tasks. It has big impact in peers collaboration. E-learning is an off campus learning that
make education more convinces for students especially in high Institute. Now most home
schooling are online and parent can get help to teach their children. Today with technology
integration many student can access tutoring online to get help in math and other homework
assignments.
Classroom behavior:
Reiser stated that students in Ed-Tech classrooms were significantly more engaged in best
practices activities than were students in comparison groups. Included were student-centered
activities such as experiential, hands-on learning, independent inquiry/research, and cooperative
learning requiring use of computers as a tool and the application of critical thinking skills

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Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

(p.212). Technology integration creates an active environment for students. Technology helps
students involve in learning and child center learning which change their behavior to the best.
Students with special needs can sit still when using I pads in learning. Also using technology can
help in classroom management.

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Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

References:
Dempsey, J.V. & Reiser R. A. (2012). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology
(3rd ed). Boston, MA : Pearson Education, Inc.
Dias, L.B. (1999). Integrating Technology: Learning & Leading with Technology. International
Society for Technology in Education. 27(3), 10-21.
http://www.tangischools.net/TangiTech1/documents/integrating%20technoogy.pdf
Hamilton, B. (2007). Its Elementary! Integrating Technology in the Primary Grades.
International Society for Technology in Education. ISTE chapter1 www.iste.org
Hew, K. & Brush, T. (2007). Integration Technology into K-12 teaching and learning: current
knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research. Educational Technology Research &
Development, 55(3), 223-252.
Murphy, K.L., DePasquale, R. &McNamara, E. (Nov, 2003). Meaningful connections: using
technology in primary classroom. Beyond the Journal, Young Children on the Web, 1-8.
Starr, L. (2011).Integrating technology in the classroom: It takes more than just having
computers. Educational World, 06/12/2011.
http://educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech146.shtml
Shelly, G.B, Cashman, T.J, Gunter, R.E, &Gunter, G.A(2008). Teacher discovering computer:
Integrating technology and digital media in the classroom. (5th ed). Boston, MA: Course
Technology.

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Integrating Technology in P-12 Education

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