Technology Integration Article

Borsheim, C., Merritt, K., & Reed, D. (2008). Beyond technology for technology’s sake: Advancing multiliteracies in the twenty-first century. The Clearing House, 82(1), 87-90.

This article focuses on more than simply implementing technology in the classroom just for “technology’s sake” by discussing the benefits of teaching with a commitment to a multiliteracies pedagogy in order to help students “understand how to move between and across various modes and media as well as when and why they might draw on specific technologies to achieve specific purposes” (p. 88). The examples in the article relate to the English classroom, but the authors state a desire to reach audiences from all disciplines through their suggestions that reach across curricular boundaries. The article is divided into three categories concerning multiliteracies: multiliteracies in the traditional curriculum, multiliteracies beyond classroom walls, and multiliteracies for preservice teachers. In the traditional curriculum section, Borsheim discusses the importance of integrating technology even in the age of high stakes testing and mandated curricula. Merrit, in beyond classroom walls, discusses incorporating the technologies that students now use to communicate (text messaging, social networking sites, etc.) into the classroom as a way to engage students in reading and writing. When teaching preservice teachers, Reed encourages the use of wikis and blogs to help her students see how the kinds of technology they use in the classroom matter. The key to all of this technology use in the classroom is providing students with meaningful information about using new technologies in order to “enhance students’ abilities to use them as well as understand the complex ways they challenge us to participate in the world” (p. 90).

Working Definition of Technology Integration

Before discussing exactly what I believe technology integration is, I will first mention what it is not. Technology integration is not using any and all available technology just for technology’s sake; there must be a purpose or reason behind the use of the technology in the classroom. Students don’t need to come to my English class to learn how to use a new piece of technology, but they need to learn how that technology can better help them in English class. Many teachers at my school are afraid to use a program or website the students have never used before because they think it will take too much time away from their curriculum to teach the students how to use the program. Sure, my class is English, not computer class, but if I teach them how to use say Movie Maker at the beginning of the semester, then we can use it several times over the course of the semester. Only the first time will require extra instruction. But, I'm not using Movie Maker just so my students will know how to use that program. I am using it because I think it enhances the standards that I am trying to teach. That program, and the movies they can produce using it, serves to get the students more interested in world literature, and that is a good thing.
Based on this, I believe that technology integration is utilizing available technologies to better teach the required material and make a connection to the “real world.” Available technologies can be many things from the traditional paper and pencil technology of the past to the newest, latest invention, and in my case, the required material is found in the Georgia Performance Standards for high school English. Technology integration for my classroom involves using the technology that I have available to better teach those English standards and prepare my students for the Georgia High School Graduation Test and End-of-Course Tests and eventually, life after high school. It is unfortunate that everything I teach must be looked at through the lens of "Do my students need this for _____ test?" but that is the reality of today's educational system. Why not utilize technology to help the students become more successful on those dreaded tests? Then, they might not be so dreaded.

The Digital Playas (Group 6)

Group 6 includes
Rebekah--Blog project leader
Betsy--Comic Life project leader
Barbara--VoiceThread project leader
Michael--Digital Storybook project leader

The Digital Playas

Our group

How do you effectively use technology in the classroom? How do you integrate technology into the existing curriculum so that it helps you teach the standards instead of hindering you from teaching them? What new technology is available for classroom use that I don't know about? How do you deal with lack of technology in your school? These are just a few of the questions that I have about integrating technology into my classroom, and hopefully, through this blog, my group and I will hash out some answers and become better teachers along the way.