Reading Review #2

Lights are starting to go off in my brain after working through this Reading Review Part 2! I am learning, discovering, understanding, and accepting new information on my topic! Yippee!

(image retrieved from BC Curriculum Reporting and Assessment section) https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/classroom-assessment-and-reporting

 

My search criteria and keywords that I came up with last week were “integrating technology into the primary classroom.” I found the following Youtube videos, images, and blog sites useful (see below). Then I added the word “successfully” to my search. Lesson plans from Pinterest popped up and interesting academic articles.

The first resource I want to mention is a blog site called “Education to the Core.”   https://educationtothecore.com/2015/05/making-technology-meaningful-in-primary/#respond

I really enjoyed Emily Liscom’s blog because it tapped into many of my concerns about technology integration. She is a kindergarten teacher who has successfully implemented technology into her classroom. She mentions how she grappled with the idea of “technology replacing teachers” and her concerns with this, but also mentioned that, “technology is not going away, and it is our responsibility to prepare students to use technology as a tool – to use it to explore, create, and produce.” She uses QR codes and Showbie, which I have heard of but have not personally experimented with. She also has a class set of iPads that makes her technology usage easily accessible for her. I do not have the same access at my school but if I can get my hands on an iPad to explore with on my own time, perhaps eventually I could request a class set of iPads for my students to use.

(image retrieved from Education to the Core blog site)

A few videos I found on my topic were the following:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuFN2L5_hQQ
This video was an animated snapshot of technology integration and the benefits for students and teachers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOTEQVYDPpg
Also on TEDx Ed I found many videos on this topic. Here is one I watched and enjoyed.

Here is another useful resource I found on the Edutopia website titled,
“What is Successful Technology Integration?”

https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-description

It provides a definition of what technology integration is and related articles to this topic. Their definition is, “technology integration is the use of technology resources -- computers, mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, digital cameras, social media platforms and networks, software applications, the Internet, etc. -- in daily classroom practices, and in the management of a school” (2007). It also proves that “when technology integration is at its best, a child or a teacher doesn't stop to think that he or she is using a technology tool -- it is second nature” (2007). However, the article also brings up my concerns with technology availability. The article states, “In a classroom with only an interactive whiteboard and one computer, learning is likely to remain teacher-centric, and integration will revolve around teacher needs, not necessarily student needs” (2007). They do give the suggestion to implement an interactive whiteboard to make it a tool for your students. The Smart Notebook program has many cool facets and tools like rolling dice, interactive hundreds chart, geometic shapes, and viewing videos that I love using with my primary students. But I know there are many more to discover. The article also includes another useful link to a blog about which iPad apps can tie in with Bloom’s taxonomy of higher order thinking.

https://www.edutopia.org/ipad-apps-elementary-blooms-taxonomy-diane-darrow

The article, "What is Successful Technology Integration?" also has a nice visual of two models for Technology Integration known as SAMR and TPACK.

SAMR Model

Image © 2012, by Dr. Ruben Puentudura       
   
The SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) model, created by Dr. Ruben Puentudura, guides the process of reflecting on how we are integrating technology into our classrooms. The ultimate goal of technology integration is to completely redefine how we teach and learn, and to do things that we never could before the technology was in our hands. For more information, you can watch a series of podcasts by Dr. Puentudura, visit his blog, or read Dr. Puentudura's paper on the model (PDF).

TPACK Model

 
Image © 2012, by TPACK

The TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) framework lays out the knowledge that educators need in order to successfully integrate technology into their teaching. The TPACK website provides a large collection of free resources for teachers and other instructional leaders.

The Edutopia article also posted some links if you have obstacles in terms of available equipment or support. I do at my school so I will be checking out these links as well. The two resources they provided are: Suzie Boss's article, "Overcoming Technology Barriers: How to Innovate Without Extra Money or Support," and Mary Beth Hertz's blog, "Integrating Technology with Limited Resources." 

(image retrieved from Pinterest)

I definitely have to say, I enjoyed my research much better when it involved pictures, videos, and websites/blogs. I find searching academic articles boring, long, and tiresome and I’m sure many students feel this way as well. However, because many accredited research findings are posted in an academic journal format, I know it is beneficial to also search and utilize academic journals in my research.

So here are some academic articles I found useful.

In the article, Trends Shaping Education (2013), they pose some important questions about technology use in education and the best ways to support and guide teachers in their use of technology in the learning process. Such questions as “Are we adequately preparing students with the techniques and skills needed to take advantages of the opportunities that ICT offer?” (p.93). The article also points out that “as adolescents and children are the most frequent users of online services and social networks, schools and teachers are increasingly faced with the challenges of educating and guiding students through the positive and negative aspects of the virtual world” (p. 100). The article also mentions the anonymous nature of online posting and commenting can encourage hate speech and lack of accountability which will ultimately affect communication in today’s children (p. 105).
http://www.keepeek.com/DigitalAssetManagement/oecd/education/trends-shaping-education-2013_trends_edu-2013-en#page3

In the publication, Decoding Learning (2012), they provide wonderful examples of how technology integration has been successful in schools and explain how and why it was successful. For instance, they give an example of students learning from experts, with others, through making, through exploring, through inquiry, through practicing, from assessment, and in and across settings. An example from the Chapter “Learning through Making” suggests that students learn to construct something and share it and how digital technology can bring constructionism alive. Then students can share, discuss, reflect and learn through this “making” process (p.25).
http://www.nesta.org.uk/publications/decoding-learning

A quote resonated with me from the handbook titled, Information Technology for Primary and Secondary Education (2008). It stated that, “Education is no longer limited to taking place in one physical environment at a certain time during the day” (p. 30). We don’t need to be putting aside a block a week to teach technology. It should be seamlessly integrated in our day-to-day teaching and lessons. However, for me, this seems to be hard to implement, both because of the lack of individual technology devices available at our school, and limited time available for educators to find apps and online tools that will support their lessons. It is an overwhelming digital world out there! Yet, being able to use technology is seen as one of the core competencies in the twenty-first century (p. 32). This handbook is a little outdated, almost ten years old, but it still makes some valid points that I will investigate further.
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-0-387-73315-9/page/1

My initial list of resources and articles I had found for Part A was a little overwhelming, but I am happy with my progress in looking through them and finding a few different resources through google searches and on Pinterest, blogs, TEDx videos, academic articles, and the UBC library. I feel my topic is coming together nicely and I am learning a lot along the way about “successful technology integration in primary classrooms” and I am being inspired to try some new technology ideas with my class now! :) 

Bibliography

Blog site

Liscom, Emily. “Making Technology Meaningful in Primary.” Education to the Core. May 12, 2015. https://educationtothecore.com/2015/05/making-technology-meaningful-in-primary/#respond

Videos

Moovly. “Technology Integration in Early Childhood and Primary Classrooms.” Youtube, Commentary by Kelsey Eichelberger, December 16, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuFN2L5_hQQ

TEDxNorwichED. “Redefining Learning & Teaching using Technology.” Youtube, commentary by Jason Brown, March 28, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOTEQVYDPpg

Website

Edutopia. (2007, November 5). What is Successful Technology Integration?  Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-description

Articles

Luckin, R. et al. (2012). Decoding Learning: The Proof, Promise, and Potential of Digital Education. Nesta Publishing, 15-43. Retrieved from
http://www.nesta.org.uk/publications/decoding-learning

OECD (2013), Trends Shaping Education 2013, OECD Publishing, 93-105.
Retrieved from http://www.keepeek.com/DigitalAssetManagement/oecd/education/trends-shaping-education-2013_trends_edu-2013-en#page3

Voogt, J. & Knezek, G. (2008). International Handbook of Information Technology in Primary and Secondary Education. Springer, (20), 30-38, ISBN: 978-0-387-73315-9 Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-0-387-73315-9/page/1