Discussion Summary: Week 4 Article: Integrating Technology into K-12 Teaching and Learning: Current Knowledge Gaps and Recommendations for Future Authors: Khe Foon Hew and Thomas Brush In our discussion this week, we covered barriers to integrating technology in K-12 classrooms and strategies for overcoming these barriers. We also discussed existing knowledge gaps concerning technology integration. We began by defining technology integration. The class generally agreed with the main definition given in the article, which is the use of computer devices, software, and internet for instructional purposes. The six barriers named in the article are resources, knowledge and skills, institution, attitudes and beliefs, assessment, and subject culture. We reviewed each barrier and discussed individual thoughts on each. We also discussed possible reasons for the existence of these barriers, one being leadership. The strategies for overcoming barriers discussed in the article are having a shared vision, overcoming resource scarcity, changing attitudes and beliefs, professional development, and reconsidering assessments. We discussed these strategies and some class members offered more detailed solutions, such as purchasing older computers for schools without a lot of technology and having a more diverse group of people to develop a shared vision of technology integration. We went on to discuss examples of how technology is being integrated in our graduated courses as well as in some secondary courses. For example, students are able to watch live video of class instead of having a teacher in front of them. We closed our discussion with a brief review of some other variables to technology integration. Some examples that were cited were home life and expectations of parents, politicians and legislation (mainly NCLB), and student involvement. Dr. Hur added that as graduate students and as educators, we should aim to come up with systematic answers by discussing all barriers, identify problems, and decide what we can do. She also presented questions that should be discussed when creating a shared vision.
Article: Integrating Technology into K-12 Teaching and Learning: Current Knowledge Gaps and Recommendations for Future
Authors: Khe Foon Hew and Thomas Brush
In our discussion this week, we covered barriers to integrating technology in K-12 classrooms and strategies for overcoming these barriers. We also discussed existing knowledge gaps concerning technology integration.
We began by defining technology integration. The class generally agreed with the main definition given in the article, which is the use of computer devices, software, and internet for instructional purposes.
The six barriers named in the article are resources, knowledge and skills, institution, attitudes and beliefs, assessment, and subject culture. We reviewed each barrier and discussed individual thoughts on each. We also discussed possible reasons for the existence of these barriers, one being leadership.
The strategies for overcoming barriers discussed in the article are having a shared vision, overcoming resource scarcity, changing attitudes and beliefs, professional development, and reconsidering assessments. We discussed these strategies and some class members offered more detailed solutions, such as purchasing older computers for schools without a lot of technology and having a more diverse group of people to develop a shared vision of technology integration. We went on to discuss examples of how technology is being integrated in our graduated courses as well as in some secondary courses. For example, students are able to watch live video of class instead of having a teacher in front of them.
We closed our discussion with a brief review of some other variables to technology integration. Some examples that were cited were home life and expectations of parents, politicians and legislation (mainly NCLB), and student involvement.
Dr. Hur added that as graduate students and as educators, we should aim to come up with systematic answers by discussing all barriers, identify problems, and decide what we can do. She also presented questions that should be discussed when creating a shared vision.