Blog #1: Technology Integration in the Classroom

Summary: Technology in the classroom can be very beneficial to students’ success. Teachers must decide on which type of technology would provide the essential skills needed to increase the chance for success in each student. This article states two popular, yet controversial, types of integration: direct instruction and constructivist instruction. Direct instruction focuses heavily on the teacher leading instruction and using technology as a tutorial for students. Preprogrammed software and online skill assessment activities are examples of direct instruction. Constructivist instruction focuses more on the technology being used to motivate students to learn new skills that can be applied to previously learned skills.

Reflection: Direct instruction and constructivist instruction can both be beneficial to the student as long as I make a knowledgeable decision on which type of technology methods connects sufficiently to the teaching objectives needed to be reached. Directed instruction is more assessment based while constructivist instruction is more engaging. Alternating between the two methods will allow me to promote, motivate, and assess student learning. Depending on the material being taught, as well as the activities associated, I will be engaging students in the curriculum and reinforcing previous topics we have covered.

Entry (10^th grade ELAR): In my classroom, your child will use technology following direct instruction. Students will practice grammar through an educational website. This website is designed to provide practice grammar drills to students in the form of a game. The game covers the grammar taught in class and serves as a tool to assess whether or not students are able to apply the material covered in class to grammatically incorrect sentences. Your child will also be expected to use technology through a constructivist instruction approach. Through the use of PowerPoint, students will learn to create bubble charts. This technological approach allows students to successfully organize information they have gathered for their essays.