Rana Walton

6/21/15
EDU 225
Mr. M

Integrating Instructional Technology

Some of the first educational technologies were illustrations in 17th-century books and
slate chalkboards in 18th-century classrooms. Educational technologies in the 20th century
include lanternslide and opaque projectors, later radio, and then motion pictures. During the
1950s, programmed instruction emerged as the first true educational technology, that is, the first
technology developed specifically to meet educational needs. With every other technology,
including computers, educators recognized its importance and debated how to apply each nascent
commercial technology for educational purposes. Integrating technology into classroom
instruction means more than teaching basic computer skills and software programs in a separate
computer class. Effective technology integration must happen across the curriculum in ways that
research shows deepen and enhance the learning process (Team, 2008). Having to teach through
technology helps students through active engagement, participation in groups, frequent
interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts.
Technology also changes the way teachers teach, offering educators effective ways to
reach different types of learners and assess student understanding through multiple means. It also
enhances the relationship between teacher and student. When technology is effectively integrated
into subject areas, teachers grow into roles of adviser, content expert, and coach. Technology

helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun (Using technogoly to differeniate
learning, 2012).
One of the major benefits of using technology in the classroom is the ability to
differentiate instruction to meet the needs of every student in every lesson. Just as every student
grows and develops at different rates, they learn in different ways and at different speeds.
Technology makes it possible to pace lessons appropriately for each students learning level and
can be used to promote learning in the multiple intelligence (Using technogoly to differeniate
learning, 2012).
Educators can use technology to their advantages and still manage to keep their students
engaged in learning. A typical traditional classroom can replace white boards with smart boards.
A smart board is a white board where the teacher can project a lesson on the screen (Jonassen,
2009). These lessons are saved and can be transmitted to students at any time. Therefore
students can keep the lessons to review later, and absent students can get copies of the lesson
when everyone else does or soon after. There is also a growing market of smart board lessons by
educational publishers, and textbook companies are incorporating the technology. It seems that
in the battle for direct instruction, smart boards are winning.
Another way technology can be used to enhance the learning is to replace textbooks with
tablets. Providing students with tablets solves many of the problems paper textbooks have. For
one thing, kids can annotate and take notes directly in the textbooksomething they simply
cannot do with paper multiple-user books. With tablets, kids can keep all of their textbooks in
one tablet, as opposed to carrying multiple heavy books. Also, tablets allow for additional
information to reach the student in the form of the content-rich internet (Jonassen, 2009). Kids

can easy copy and paste information into papers and notes. Tablets are much more versatile than
traditional textbooks. In the long run, they may also be cheaper.
Technology can be used to facilitate and enhance the learning process in many ways.
Students are being raised in a tech world, and their minds are built for hands on learning. As
educators we can use technology to engage our students in learning, participation in groups,
frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts. Technology also helps
the teacher with students who may have different learning styles. Not every student can process
information from textbooks and paper.

References
Jonassen, D. (2009, 2 25). How does techonogy facilitate learning. Retrieved from Education:
http://www.education.com/reference/article/how-does-technology-facilitate-learning/
Team, E. (2008, 3 16). Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?: The Reasons Are Many.
edutopia. Retrieved from edutopia: http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integrationintroduction
Using technogoly to differeniate learning. (2012). Retrieved from Teaching:
http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/8484-using-technology-to-differentiateinstruction