Digital Blog Post #L – Chapter 12

Chapter 12 in our text book is titled “Integrating Technology and Creating Change as Teacher Leaders”. It has a lot of great information about using technology to become a better teacher and learner. The first concept that I thought was important is technology integration.  Technology Integration is the “way that teachers connect technology into all aspects of their instructional and professional work” (Maloy, et al, 2013, p.298). This allows teachers to use new and creative ways to teach their students. Technology integrated into the lessons can also make learning for the students more fun and exciting. It also provides more options for teachers to provide a better education journey for their students. One good example of integrating technology into a lesson is virtual field trips that I talked about in the last my last blog on chapter 6. I think it is a great idea for teachers to use anything they can to make learning better for their students.

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

The second concept is educational change. I think this is a very important thing for teachers to understand and keep up with. The world around us is constantly changing and keeping up with that change as a teacher is important. Students need to know what is going on around them and they deserve the option to get the best education available to them. Sometimes the best education means that new technologies should be available to them and used. Change also allows teachers to modify something that isn't working for them or their students and make it better. Below is a YouTube video from the Council of Educational Change.

The third concept, BYOT programs, is a great example of integrating technology and educational change. BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) Programs allows students to bring their technologies from home and use them in the classroom. There is some controversy about this because not all students have technology to bring in or it might not be as updates as other students technology. There is also worry that teachers won’t be as up to date on the technology as the students. I think that these are things we shouldn't worry about. Students can always share devices in a group and if teachers aren't as up to date with technology then maybe it can be a learning experience for both the teacher and the students. I think this is a great program and more schools should use it.

Banner Created By Chasity Kahl on Piktochart

In conclusion, as the world changes around us it is important for teachers to keep up with and be aware of changes. Using technology integration with educational change and BYOT programs can make learning better for students. It can provide new and exciting learning experiences for students and teachers might also learn a thing or two along the way.

Resources:

Council for Educational Change. (2014, April 23). Council for Educational Change. Retrieved April 18, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4Ec77ekbnY

Kahl, C. (2015, April 18). Banner. Retrieved April 18, 2015, from https://magic.piktochart.com/output/5620191-untitled-banner

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.