Technology Education

"Teachers should emphasize quality over quantity when it comes to technology use in schools, because giving students ubiquitous access does not equal better learning" (Liz Kolb in Learning First, Technology Second: The Educator's Guide to Designing Authentic Lessons, page 18).

It is my belief that there needs to be an intentional effort (it will not happen by accident, no matter how tech savvy students tend to be) to infuse technology skills and knowledge with content area knowledge, whether that be in the ELA, social studies, math, science, or specialist classrooms. The technologist and classroom teacher work hand-in-hand to plan and scaffold this combination with best educational practices. The TPACK model above illustrates the delivery of technology skills alongside of what students are learning in their respective curricular areas. A prime example would be delivering word processing instruction at the time of report writing in the ELA or social studies classroom.

Additionally, it is my firm belief that technology should transform the learning experience, enabling students (and educators) to do what they can never do without it. Technology skills should be introduced, developed and secured via a spiraling curriculum through the various grade levels. An excellent example would be using iMovie (or similar movie editing/producing software) for students to make mini documentaries on their favorite Civil War hero for social studies, or to create an animation to show cell reproduction for science. iMovie skills can begin as early as Kindergarten with students recording a greeting for a parent, or making a clip where they say their ABCs. Basic, intermediate and advanced video editing techniques can be introduced through the grade levels. The students will demonstrate that they have secured the skills with such projects as those mentioned above in the Middle School subject areas.

It should be noted that at Glenburn School students are exposed to multiple platforms, namely Macintosh and Google, as well as multiple computing devices--desktops and laptops. Additionally, students can use other hardware peripherals as needed.

Liz Kolb, author of Learning First, Technology Second is challenging my thinking even further regarding best technology educational and integration practices.