Chapter Six

Education and Technology Integration

Objectives:

You will be able to:

Describe authentic learning activities that integrate technology.
Locate Web resources specific to your curriculum area.
Describe different learning theories.
Discuss ways in which a specific Web site can be integrated in the classroom.

This is Important Because...

Many state mandated tests that students take require demonstration of higher order thinking skills. Providing students with authentic learning experiences fosters these skills and encourages students to access, analyze, and apply information to the activity. Integrating technology into these learning activities provides a powerful learning situation for students and prepares them to be digital citizens of the 21st century.

Authentic Learning

au-then-tic adj. Date: 14th Century: not false or imitation: REAL, ACTUAL. Source: WWWebster Dictionary

One of the aims of educational reform is to create authentic learning tasks for students. Authentic learning involves students using higher-order thinking skills and practicing advanced skills; collaborative learning; students exploring; the teacher as a facilitator; and teachers using interactive forms of instruction and performance-based assessment. Many schools are making an effort to incorporate this approach into teaching and learning.

While authentic learning is not a new idea, it continues to receive attention and merit as an effective teaching and learning strategy. Below are a variety of resources for authentic learning.

Providing Hands-On, Minds-On, and Authentic Learning Experiences in Science - This article provides an excellent overview of authentic learning experiences in the area of Math and Science.
Articles about Authentic Learning - 2Learn Together hosts this site with summaries of articles about authentic learning and links to other Web resources.
Authentic Learning - This site gives a history of authentic learning, as well as how technology can be used in authentic learning tasks. In addition, there are links to Internet sites that "exemplify authentic learning."

Authentic learning has many different names: problem-based; real-life; project-based; collaborative; etc. Regardless of the name, authentic learning experiences enhance the learning for all students. Integrating technology gives teachers another way to integrate authentic learning tasks into the curriculum. This in turn will assist students of all levels in learning critical skills that prepare them for a successful future.

Learning Theories and Educational Research

Learning is a complex task. Learning theories provide frameworks for interpreting the conditions and observations of teaching and learning and provide the bridge between education and research. Educational research is the basis for the development of all sound instructional strategies, including those that involve technology integration. The Special Feature following Chapter 6, starting on page 6.45, examines different learning theorists and their impact on education. Be sure to read this very important special feature.

Time Saver!

Today's teachers do not have the time to "recreate the wheel" every time they have to create new lesson plans, curriculum pages, rubrics, presentations, etc. Fortunately, today's teachers do not have to constantly recreate the wheel. There is an incredible abundance of current and outstanding resources available for you at thousands of educational Web sites, all available at the click of your mouse. You have already previewed a number of these remarkable Web sites and you will have the opportunity to review many additional sites throughout the remainder of this course. Don't recreate the wheel. Review what others have created and successfully used in their classrooms and then modify their lesson plans, curriculum pages, rubrics, ideas, and more for use in your classroom. In addition, you do not have to throw out everything you have done in the past as you start integrating technology into your curriculum. Modify what you currently have by adding technology components. Don't be afraid to experiment!

Chapter Six Assignments

Read Chapter 6 in the textbook and the supplemental information provided with this chapter. Spend some very important and quality time reviewing the Special Feature that follows Chapter 6: "Learning Theories and Educational Research." You will be using information contained in this special feature to create a Newsletter
Go online to the Shelly Cashman Web site, http://www.scsite.com/tdc2/ and complete the following textbook end-of-chapter sections.

“Education Issues”

Write a 150 – 300 word reflection on Educational Issue #3 (page 6.37) “Integrating the Internet,” focusing on what you learned. Do not summarize the report, instead discuss ideas and significant insights and how the information can be used to support classroom integration of technology, also reflect on your personal reaction to reading the article. Type your assignment single space with an extra line between paragraphs. You must use Microsoft Word.

Send this document via the “Assignment Dropbox” DO NOT SEND VIA EMAIL. The assignment must be submitted on or before 11:40 p.m. of the chapter’s due date.

“In the Lab”

#1 - Follow the directions given on pages 6.40 – 6.42 to create and modify the newsletters shown in Figures 6-38 and 6-39 as follows:

· Create a newsletter using Microsoft Word. You must use Microsoft Word.

· Newsletter must be based on an aspect of interest to you found in the section “Learning Theories and Educational Research” (pages 6.45 – 6.66).

· If the template shown is not available choose another.

· Must include a minimum of two relevant graphics.

· Minimum 150 words

· Proper spelling and grammar

Send this document via the “Assignment Dropbox” DO NOT SEND VIA EMAIL. The assignment must be submitted on or before 11:40 p.m. of the chapter’s due date.

3. Complete Chapter 6 Test