Two Page Paper

About Assignment

Written using Microsoft Word, this two page paper introduces readers to using technology to facilitate K-12 instruction. Technology inclusion for the paper included using Microsoft One Note, making print screens of websites using the print screen feature of One Note, and use of Microsoft Word. Included below document is the source code from Kompozer, a free web page development tool.

Document

Teresa Hill

INST 6031

Dr. Driskell

8/31/2010

Using Technology to Facilitate K-12 Instruction

I often hear teachers that are close to retirement complain about learning a new computer application or about professional development regarding the use of new technologies on campus. On the opposite end, the newer teachers, usually those with an Iphone or a Facebook page are rearing to go as far as new technologies are concerned. Both groups fall into the current trend of use of technologies. Now how they both go about facilitating the use of technology in their classrooms vary-from I’m not doing it to I’m delivering my entire set of lessons through PowerPoint, SmartBoards, and Promethians. However, as technology continues to be implemented into classrooms most educators and researchers are starting to debate how teachers can effectively use technology for cognitive development and acquiring learning goals.

Teachers are at the forefront of the facilitation of technology for learning. This is due in part to teachers being the catalyst for lesson ideas and design of activity. The inclusion of technology changes the roles and responsibilities of teachers by requiring them to be up to date on how to use technology and making lessons relevant to the technology it is paired with (Najappa, A. & Grant, M., 2003). As such teachers have to find ways to constructively use technology in the classroom, engage students, and facilitate lessons in a way that will foster independent learning. In order to use technology tools with a purpose- teachers should try and focus on “five basic phases: planning, research, development, refinement, and implementation” (Robertson, B., 2000). In brief, the above process can work when constructing lessons involving technology. Take planning for example, if I want to teach students how to create graphs using Microsoft Excel, I would first consider if the computers accessible to me have the software, if I need to teach how to use the software, and what my hook is going to be in order to peck students interest in hopes of them continuing to use the software (Robertson, B., 2000, ¶ 6).

More often than not the barriers that are faced when trying to facilitate technology integration leaves teachers discourage or not putting forth strategic effort. Barriers described by authors Foon and Thomas (2007) were placed in six categories- a) resources, (b) knowledge and skills, (c) institution, (d) attitudes and beliefs, (e) assessment, and (f) subject culture. Resources, as the authors describe, are the most common barrier faced by educators. In depth, “Without adequate hardware and software, there is little opportunity for teachers to integrate technology into the curriculum. Even in cases where technology is abundant, there is no guarantee that teachers have easy access to those resources” (Foon & Thomas, 2007). In order to overcome the aforementioned barriers, teachers may implement techniques such as (a) having a shared vision and technology integration plan, (b) overcoming the scarcity of resources, (c) changing attitudes and beliefs, (d) conducting professional development, and (e) reconsidering assessments (Foon & Thomas, 2007).

Technology integration is never a steady task, for each year teachers experience new students, new technologies, and new technology related issues. Therefore, I recommend that teachers use web resources, and instructional magazines to keep up with trends and discover new tools. There is Tech & Learning Magazine which offers a print version and an online version found at www.techlearning .com . Simple web searches will yield a plethora of lesson ideas; one can enter search terms such as technology lessons or using Microsoft office in the classroom.

References

Foon, H., & Thomas, B. (2007, June 7). Integrating technology into k-12 teaching and learning: current

knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research. Retrieved from

http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/959553/integrating_technology_into_k12_teaching_and_learning_current_knowledge_

gaps/index.html

Nanjappa, A., & Grant, M. (2003). Constructing on constructivism: the role of technology. Electronic

Journal for the Intergration of Technology in Education, Retrieved from

http://ejite.isu.edu/Volume2No1/nanjappa.htm doi: ISBN 0-9718446-0-7

Robertson, B. (2008). Integrating technology into instruction. Retrieved from

http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/mar00/robertson.htm

Kompozer Source Code

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<h1

style="background: rgb(188, 0, 0) none repeat scroll 0%; text-align: center; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;"

align="center"><span

style="font-family: &quot;Bell MT&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; color: rgb(244, 183, 61);">Using

Technology to Facilitate K-12 Instruction</span><span

style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"

align="center"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">

<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></span></div>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt;"><span

style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span

style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"> I often

hear teachers that are close to

retirement complain about learning a new computer application or about

professional development regarding the use of new technologies on

campus. On

the opposite end, the newer teachers, usually those with an <span

class="SpellE">Iphone</span>

or a <span class="SpellE">Facebook</span> page are

rearing to go as far as new

technologies are concerned. Both groups fall into the current trend of

use of

technologies. Now how they both go about facilitating the use of

technology in

their classrooms vary-from I’m not doing it to I’m delivering my entire

set of

lessons through PowerPoint. However, as technology continues to be

implemented

into classrooms most educators and researchers are starting to debate

how teachers

can effectively use technology for cognitive development and acquiring

learning

goals.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt;"><span

style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span

style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"> Teachers

are at the forefront of the

facilitation of technology for learning. This is due in part to

teachers being

the catalyst for lesson ideas and design of activity. The inclusion of

technology changes the roles and responsibilities of teachers by

requiring them

to be up to date on how to use technology and making lessons relevant

to the

technology it is paired with (<span class="SpellE">Najappa</span>,

A. &amp;

Grant, M., 2003). As such teachers have to find ways to constructively

use

technology in the classroom, engage students, and facilitate lessons in

a way

that will foster independent learning. In order to use technology tools

with a

purpose- teachers should try and focus on “five basic phases: planning,

research, development, refinement, and implementation” (Robertson, B.,

2000).

In brief, the above process can work when constructing lessons

involving

technology. Take planning for example, if I want to teach students how

to create

graphs using Microsoft Excel, I would first consider if the computers

accessible to me have the software, if I need to teach how to use the

software,

and what my hook is going to be in order to peck students interest in

hopes of

them continuing to use the software (Robertson, B., 2000, ¶ 6).</span><span

style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt;"><span

style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">More

often the not the barriers that are

faced when trying to facilitate technology integration leaves teachers

discourage or not putting forth strategic effort. Barriers described by

authors

<span class="SpellE">Foon</span> and Thomas (2007)

were placed in six categories-

a) resources, (b) knowledge and skills, (c) institution, (d) attitudes

and

beliefs, (e) assessment, and (f) subject culture. Resources, as the

authors

describe, are the most common barrier faced by educators. In depth,

“Without

adequate hardware and software, there is little opportunity for

teachers to

integrate technology into the curriculum. Even in cases where

technology is

abundant, there is no guarantee that teachers have easy access to those

resources” (<span class="SpellE">Foon</span>

&amp; Thomas, 2007). In order to

overcome the aforementioned barriers, teachers may implement techniques

such as

(a) having a shared vision and technology integration plan, (b)

overcoming the

scarcity of resources, (c) changing attitudes and beliefs, (d)

conducting professional

development, and (e) reconsidering assessments (<span class="SpellE">Foon</span>

&amp; Thomas, 2007).</span><span

style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt;"><span

style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Technology integration is never a steady task, for each year teacher

experience

new students, new technologies, and new technology related issues.

Therefore, I

recommend that teachers use web resources, and instructional magazines

to keep

up with trends and discover new tools. There is Tech &amp; Learning

Magazine

which offers a print version and an online version found at <a

href="http://www.techlearning.com" target="_blank">www.techlearning.com</a>

.

Simple web searches will yield a plethora of lesson ideas; one can

enter search

terms such as technology lessons or using Microsoft office in the

classroom.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span

style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<h2><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">&nbsp;</span><span

style="font-family: &quot;Batang&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">Watch

this interesting video</span><span

style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>

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