Technology and Instruction

• Is the ITS relating the tool to a relevant instructional need?

• Does the ITS demonstrate proactive outreach to teachers?

• Are strategies in place that effectively create a relationship of trust and professional growth between the ITS and the teachers/staff?

This toolkit section helps you connect your practice to your teachers' needs. By understanding teachers' curricular demands, you can anticipate their needs. Use these resources to answer the rubric questions affirmatively. The resources address three categories of Technology and Instruction for Instructional Technology Specialists.

How is technology used in blended learning?

The most common use of technology for blended learning is to deliver what would typically be direct instruction. The use of a learning management system, like Canvas, in this case, is important. It houses all the learning activities and instruction that students need to use during their individual work time. Other types of edtech that can be used during the individual work time would be adaptable software that meets students where they are at and provides them with practice to push them forward. EdTech tools can also be utilized during the collaborative time, as projects, or as options for assessment, similar to how they would be in a traditionally run classroom. The benefit of learning during the pandemic is that students may have a greater familiarity with edtech tools for learning. 

The Online Course Component 

When building the online component of your course, start with your standards and outcomes in order to determine your assessment and subsequent activities. This kind of planning supports effective technology integration because all uses of technology will be purposeful and intentional. The best question is to ask, “What activities can be supported or made more engaging by using a technology tool?” Popular and effective tools supported by the district for online and blended learning will be introduced later in the module.

When choosing whether to incorporate technology into the activities students will be completing, consider these tips:

• Find resources or tools for what you need and then get to know them inside and out. Less is more. Use a few tools really well and in innovative ways instead of using multiple tools that could potentially accomplish the same outcome on their own. 

• Do not ditch a great lesson for technology. If it works, is hands-on, and your students love it don't feel like it needs to be replaced with a tool.

• Start with what you want students to know. Do not build lessons around using technology. 

• Allow students to teach you - it’s okay if you don’t know the technology tool that they want to use to show their learning.

Below is a fantastic reading with various links supporting technology integration and specific ideas for lessons that may be useful.

What is Successful Technology Integration?