Section 3: Integrating Instructional

Technology
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Introduction
Technology integration in the classroom has become the new norm of teaching practices

for K-12 instructors. There is a plethora of evidence that indicates that a large number of teachers

have already acquired technology skills, yet so many have only just begun to develop these

necessary skills to adapt instructional methods in a technology-based learning environment. This

blog will discuss how technology facilitates not only teaching practices, but student learning as

well, and we are going to look into a few of the pros and cons of using technology to enhance

instruction.

Poverty in a technology-based world

It is estimated that only 38% of schools across America are using local area networks

(LAN) for student instruction, but at least 64% have access to the Internet. 85% of US schools

have access to computers, ¾ of schools have cable TV, 1/3 have videodise technology, and 1/5

have satellite technology. With all these statistics, you would estimate that technology has

prevailed in explicit teaching instruction, but the sad truth of the matter is that many schools

across the nation still cannot afford such privileges. Only 14% of US classrooms have Internet

access such as in Delaware, Hawaii, New Mexico, and South Carolina. Although studies show

that “helping teachers learn how to integrate technology into the curriculum is a critical factor for

the successful implementation of technology application in schools” (Coley; Cradler; Engel,

2015), it still doesn’t help that these areas are in a state of poverty. On average, technology can

cost about $3 billion, or $70 per student.

Pros and Cons

I am fortunate enough to work in an area where high paying jobs are found, and our

school has technology all over the school- in classrooms, the multimedia center, and even in the

gymnasium. In an observation conducted by 2 researchers from the Journal of Educational

Computers in New Hampshire, J. Margerum-Leys and R. Marx determined that when using an

interactive documentary camera named “Elmo”, “Evidence of teacher and student interaction

shows that both parties benefited from the sample sharing activity on Elmo in various aspects.

The teacher had an opportunity to understand the students’ thinking process in problem solving,

assess learning, and use the assessment information to redirect instruction” (Liu, 2016). On the

other hand, teachers faced organizational issues, time management, and student efficiency; not

because of the technology, but because of student behavior.

Wires VS Wireless Communications

We need to remember that computers alone do not aid in learning. Although they make

learning more efficient and fun, students’ writing, drawing, and graphing abilities do not

drastically change. Technology may provide powerful learning opportunities, but both teachers

and student need to learn how to take advantage of them. Advances in technology has proven

many successes and failures, and in a few years, technology will make wireless communications

in the classrooms the only logical choice in most situations. There is a compelling difference

between wire and wireless communications and Prakash Nair, representative at CEFPI

conferences in Baltimore, MD, proposes that all new schools consider wireless because of the
rising extra cost of computers. He explains that “With this solution, you would essentially have 2

very inflexible computer labs within every eight-room segment of the school. On the plus side,

you would have a very generous bandwidth for your heavy multi-media applications that must

travel through LAN. However, this arrangement will not necessarily speed up Internet

communications, which will continue to trickle in about 1.5 mbps” (Fielding, 1999). I believe

that although technology has come far since the age of the first Apple computer, not all

multimedia software will be effective in teaching curriculum content. I plan on alternating types

of instructional methods, and determine which is best to teach the students in my classroom at

any given particular time. I still believe in the concept of kinetic learning, and giving students

hands on learning experiences (not screens) to teach them about the world around them.

References

Coley, Richard J. (2015). Computers and Classrooms: The Status of Technology in U.S. Schools.

Retrieved from https://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/PICCOMPCLSS.pdf

Fielding, Randall. (1999). Wired VS Wireless: Technology in School Computer Networks.

Retrieved from http://www.designshare.com/Research/Wired/Wired1.htm

Liu, Ping. (2016). Technology Integration in Elementary Classrooms: Teaching Practices of

Student Teachers. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1096803.pdf