IT INTEGRATION

 Technology Integration Then and Now

Then
1.      Anna is a new posted teacher and she had high hopes for the 1978-1979 school year especially since the principal had asked her if she could use two brand new Apple Computer system that had been donated to the school.
2.      She had helped children use computer-assisted instruction (CAI) on terminals that were located in the school’s computer lab and connected by telephone lines.
3.      She found some free and “shareware” drill-and-practice and instructional game software packages, and usually lobbied the principal to buy others.
4.      All the students wanted to use the computers, but with only two machines Anna quickly devised activities that allowed everyone to have a turn.
5.      As Anna used her new computers, she coped with a variety of technical problems.
6.      Some of the software designed for an earlier version of the Apple operating system and each disk required a format adjustment every time it was used.
7.      Despite these and other difficulty, by the end of the year Anna was still enthusiastic, about her hopes, plans and expectations.

Now
1.      Anna had been almost 30 years since the first pioneering work with her Apple microcomputers.
2.      Her class’s favourite activity this year was working with students around the state to gather and compare data on prices for various products and services.
3.      Everyone communicated via email, and many, like herself, had their own web pages so students and parents could check homework assignments and view class projects.
4.      There will still problems, of course.
5.      Computer viruses sometimes shut down the school server, and there was a growing issue with students plagiarizing work from internet sources.
6.      Some teachers complained that they had no time for the technology-based group projects students loved because they were too busy preparing them for the new  state and national tests.
Objectives
1.      Define the term educational technology.
2.      Periods in the history of educational computing
3.      Generate a personal rationale for using technology in education.
4.      General Hardware or software categories.
5.      Technology resource configurations would be appropriate for given educational need.
6.      General categories of educational technology.
7.      Impact of issues on current uses of technology in education.
8.      Trends in emerging technologies and implication
9.      Technology skills teachers and their students need to have to be prepared for future learning.
Introduction : Why do we need the “Big picture”?
1.      Saettler (1990) noted in this chapter’s opening quote, educational technology is not new at all, and it is by no means limited to the use of equipment, let alone computer equipment .
2.      This chapter explores the link between the early applications of educational technology and those of today and tomorrow.
·         Key Terminology
·         Reflecting on the past
·         Considering the past
·         Looking ahead to the future

What is “Educational Technology”?
1.      Educational technology historian Paul Saettler (1990) says that the earliest reference for educational technology seems to have been made by radio instruction pioneer w.w. Charters in 1948 and instructional technology was first used by audiovisual expert James Finn in 1963.
2.      Technology means the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical task. Therefore, educational technology is based on theoretical knowledge from different disciplines, plus experiential knowledge from educational practice.
3.      Educational technology is the use of technology to improve education. It is a systematic, iterative process for designing instruction or training used to improve performance. Educational technology is sometimes also known as instructional technology or learning technology.
4.      The study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.
5.      A definition centered on its process: "A complex, integrated process involving people, procedures, ideas, devices, and organization, for analyzing problems, and devising, implementing, evaluating and managing solutions to those problems, involved in all aspects of human learning"
Four Perspectives that define educational Technology
1.      Educational technology as media and audiovisual communications.
·         The combination of the processes and tools in addressing educational needs and problems, with an emphasis on applying the most current tools:  computers and their related technologies
·         AECT defines educational technology as media for communicating concepts
·         Most part of learning applications of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are based on international standards for distribution of audiovisual contents.
·         Audiovisual movement: ways of delivering information that could be used as alternatives to lectures and books.
·         Audiovisual communications: the “branch of educational theory and practice concerned primarily with the design and use of messages which control the learning process.” (Saettler, IETIE,p6)
·         AECT- Association for Ed. Commo. and Technology.

2.      Educational technology as instructional systems and instructional design
·         1960s and 1970s
·         Human and non-human resources(teachers and media).
·         Systematic approach to designing, developing, and delivering instruction matched to carefully identified needs.
·         International Society for Performance Improvement.
·         Validating and creating instruction.
·         Educational technology was now seen as a systematic approach to design, develop and deliver instruction matched to specific needs.
·         From the 1960’s to the 1980’s the application of the systems approach was influenced by the popular learning theories of the time.
·         Initially Behaviourist theories followed by Cognitive theories.

3.      Educational technology as vocational training.
·         Vocational Training is another view of educational technology.
·         It sees technology as a tool used in business and industry called technology education.
·         It derived from trainers and vocational educators in the 1980’s.
·         Key words:  Job skills, work world, business/industry
·         Examples:  Robotics, manufacturing systems, and computer-assisted design
·         Computers are shaping the world around us.  Both are constantly changing as we speak.  Business, industries, and teachers all play in important part in vocational training in the industrial classroom and in the classroom itself in all content areas.


4.      Educational technology as computer systems.
·         Advent of computers in 1950’s for business, industry, and military trainers
·         Recognized the potential of computers as instructional tools
·         Computer  technology was predicted to be the most important components of educational technology
·         Instructional applications of computers did not produce the anticipated success
·         From 1960’s to 1990’s educational computing was created to encompass both instructional and support applications of computers
·         In the 1990’s a combination of technology resources, including media, instructional systems, and computer based support systems
·         Currently our system combines all resources to aid in learning

How this textbook defines technology in Education
1.      Individuals in this scenario each had a different perspective of what Technology Integration meant. Their idea of the technology plan could have been different.
2.      Each individual had one piece of the pie, but nobody was seeing the big picture.  In order to attain Technology Integration combined resources, including media, instructional systems and computer based support systems must be used.
·         Process : We look to learning theories based on the sciences of human behaviour and applications of Technology
·         Tools : Although this textbook looks at Technology tools as an overlapping combination of media. Focusing primarily on computers. 3 reason for this focus :  
      a)          Capabilitie
      b)          Convergence
      c)          Complexity
3.      It is with this rationale in mind that this text assigns the following “evolving” definition.
·         Educational Technology is a combination of the process and tools involved in addressing educational needs and problems.
·         Integrating Educational Technology refers to the process of determining which electronic tools and which methods for implementing them are appropriate response to given classroom situations and problems.
·         Instructional Technology is the subject of educational technology that deals directly with teaching and learning applications.

How has the past influenced today’s technology.
1.      Pre-microcomputer  era
2.      Microcomputer era
3.      Internet era

What have we learned from the past
1.      No technology is a panacea for education
2.      Computer/technological literacy offers a limited integration rationale
3.      Teachers usually do not develop technology materials or curriculum
4.      Technically possible does not equal desirable feasible or inevitable
5.      Things change faster than teachers can keep up
6.      Older technologies can be useful
7.      Teachers always will be more important than technology

Why use technology
Four current conditions combine to make it essential that we do so
1.      Increasing costs of keeping up with technology
2.      Attacks by technology critics
3.      Low teacher use
4.      The influence of the accountability movement and the no child left behind (NCLB) act
What factors shape the current climate for technology in education
ü  Influence student academic performance
ü  Develop higher order thinking and problem solving
ü  Improve student motivation, attitude, and interest in learning
ü  Help to prepare students for the workforce
ü  Address the needs of low performing, at-risk, and learning disabled students
When Does Technology Work?
ü  Directly supports the curriculum objectives
ü  Provides opportunities for student collaboration
ü  Adjusts for student ability and prior experiences, and provides feedback
ü  Is integrated into the instructional day
ü  Provides opportunities for students to design and implement projects
ü  Is used in environments where teachers, the school community, and the district support the use
    of technology

Legal and ethical issues shaping current Technology uses.
·         Viruses/hacking
·         The new plagiarism
·         Privacy/Safety
·         Copyright
·         Illegal downloads/ software piracy
Emerging Trends in Hardware and Software Development
1.      Wireless connectivity
2.      Merging of technologies
3.      Portable devices
4.      High-speed communication
5.      Visual immersion systems
6.      Intelligent applications
Implications of New Technologies for Teachers and Students
         Flexible learning environments
         Adaptable assessment options
         Reliance on distance learning
         Support for peoplewith disabilities

ISTE NETS · Technology Foundation Standards for Students
  1. Basic operations and concepts
  2. Social, ethical, and human issues
  3. Technology productivity tools
  4. Technology communications tools
  5. Technology research tools
  6. Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools
Electronic Portfolio Options
         “Ready-made” software packages
         PDF documents
         Multimedia authoring software
         Databases
         Websites
         Video



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