Technology in Schools

 

Title by Meredith Barker 

Technology In Education

Technology is an incredible resource that can transform the classroom. Technology like virtual and augmented reality can 'transport' students to Europe, into a volcano, or outer space. Technology can be used to engage students in learning through interactive games, videos, and online presentations. Technology allows teachers to receive instant, detailed data from students to propel their teaching when using platforms like Google Forms. The possibilities with technology use in education are endless, ever-changing, and impactful. 

New Technologies

With new technology being released constantly, it is a challenge for schools to be current on the latest and newest technologies. Schools are often trying to equip their teachers and students with the best and latest technologies, which is understandably so when the impacts of technology in schools are incredibly beneficial for both the students and teachers. Although the latest technologies are fun to have and do have their benefits, Frazier and Hearrington, expert educators, suggest that not only are the technology devices important, but the professional development on how to use the technologies are just as important. Frazier and Hearrington (2024) state, "teacher professional development plays a critical role in effective change management initiatives" (p. 76). They go on to say, "professional development can help teachers understand the rationale behind this change, learn new teaching strategies that align with the new curriculum, and develop the skills necessary to assess students' progress effectively" (Frazier & Hearrington, 2024, p.76). 

The importance of professional development is not an idea exclusive to Frazier and Hearrington. Researchers Timotheou et al. (2022) conclude through their research that "professional development affects the impact of digital technologies on education" (p. 16). They continue to reinforce this idea when stating, "training on how technologies can benefit teaching and learning can eliminate barriers [when integrating technologies]" (Timotheou et al., 2022, p. 16). 

Professional Development 

It is clear professional development for technology use and integration is vital to the success and benefit of technologies in education. Too often, educators only have professional development opportunities for reading and math content. With schools spending thousands of dollars on technology, professional development for educators on the technology purchased is essential. 

Teachers' time is valuable, and it often seems like they never have enough of it. Because of that, attending professional development outside of their working hours can often be frustrating, but it is tough to incorporate professional development opportunities within the work day. So, if technology professional development is essential, how do we ensure teachers can attend? One way is through online professional development. 

Online Professional Development 

Online professional development opportunities are flexible for teachers' schedules. Educators can view professional development at a time that is convenient for them, making them more likely to be attuned to the training. It is also an excellent resource for teachers to refer back to when they need to review parts of the training. Having professional development on technology opportunities at educators' fingertips can revolutionize how technologies are used, significantly impacting student learning. 

A former teacher, administrator, and professional development leader details the benefits of online professional development. Watch below!

  

References 

Frazier, M., & Hearrington, D. (2024a). Technology Coordinator's Handbook, Fourth Edition: A Guide for Edtech Facilitators and Leaders. 

Timotheou, S., Miliou, O., Dimitriadis, Y., Sobrino, S. V., Giannoutsou, N., Cachia, R., Monés, A. M., & Ioannou, A. (2022). Impacts of digital technologies on education and factors influencing schools' digital capacity and transformation: A literature review. Education and Information Technologies, 28(6), 6695–6726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11431-8

Technology Integration

Title by Meredith Barker 

    Schools across the United States are incorporating technology in innovative ways. From using technology to deepen student understanding of academic content to using technology to 'travel' around the world while inside the classroom to allowing students to present their learnings using technology, the implementation of technology within the classroom has endless opportunities and a significant impact on student engagement.

    Researcher Bhat (2023) determined through his research on technology integration in the classroom, "it becomes evident that technology has the capacity to revolutionize the way students learn, engage, and excel in their educational journeys" (para. Conclusion 1). So, what are ways educators can incorporate technology in ways that are beneficial to all students? Let's talk about a few!

Technology Integration

    

    Bhat (2023) states, "while technology integration presents boundless opportunities, it is our approach to its integration that will ultimately define its success" (para. Conclustion 5). Integrating technology into the classroom can feel overwhelming at times because of the numerous ways you can do it. Go Guardian, an educational website, created a list of ways to successfully integrate technology to engage your students. 

Here are a few:

1. Gamified Learning:

Digital games are an amazing way to engage students when it comes to test reviews or practicing learned material! Blooket, Kahoot!, and Quizizz are great resources for gamifying learning. On all of these sites, you can explore a library of created games or make your own! When I taught 4th grade, we used these sites to practice multiplication facts, and the students loved them! They would frequently ask me to play these games!

    2. Digital Field Trips:

Using technology to 'travel' around the world is incredible! When using devices to take digital field trips, all students can experience a new city, museum, or place. Simply Google "digital field trips" combined with what you are studying to find options for your class. For example, when studying the Holocaust, I found a digital field trip to Anne Frank's house! My classroom got to 'travel' to Amsterdam.

    3. Gather Student Feedback:

Feedback is incredibly important to drive instruction. Understanding what information students have grasped and what needs to be reinforced is vital. Using online tools such as Google Forms is an efficient way to gather feedback from students. Google will create graphs and data for a quick view of student understanding so educators can spend less time dissecting data and instead have a quick snapshot of the data to plan their steps forward.

Want more tips for technology integration? Watch this!

Technology Grants

    With the benefits of technology integration, school districts across the United States are now providing devices for all students. The advantages of 1:1 devices have been noted but come with a cost. Frazier and Hearrington (2024) state, "grants have become a regular part of the funding equation for educational technology leaders" (p. 135). Although these grants are incredibly helpful in funding technology efforts in schools, they"often require considerable time and intense effort and commitment from the technology coordinator" (p. 135). To bridge funding gaps, the E-Rate program, "offer[s] schools discounts of 20% to 90% for telecommunications services they purchase or improvements they make to their network infrastructure" (Frazier & Hearrington, 2024, p. 139). With effort, funding can be secured for students' devices.

Are you looking for technology grants? Check out this resource for grant opportunities in Alabama. 

References:

Bhat, R. A. (2023). THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION ON STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: a COMPARATIVE STUDY. In International Journal of Social Science, Educational, Economics, Agriculture Research, and Technology (IJSET) (pp. 592–593).

Frazier, M., & Hearrington, D. (2024b). Technology Coordinator’s Handbook: A Guide for Edtech Facilitators and Leaders. International Society for Technology in Education.

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