Blog Post #13

What did I leave out?

Why is integrating the classrooms important? Why is integrating technology in the classroom important? Especially in a ELA High School classroom?

Look and read the following links. Most are saying why educators should integrate studies and also integrate technology in the classroom, but there is one link that looks into integrating technology into the Language Arts Classroom. In the same link, there are options to go elsewhere per subject or grade. These are great resources and explanations into why integrating studies and technology is useful and important in the classroom. Write a summary on 4 out of the 6 webpages, and think overall, would you as a future educator, incorporate technology and integrated curriculum in your classroom? Then provide the information in a post that adheres to the standards found in the ACCRS and Writing a Quality Blog Post.

An Introduction to Technology Integration- Edutopia
Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?-Edutopia
Integrating Technology into the Language Arts Classroom- Glenco
An Introduction to Integrated Studies- Edutopia
Integrated Studies: What Experts Say- Edutopia
Chelsea Hasenpflugs bPortfolio: Benefits of Integrated Curriculum

Summary #1

In An Introduction to Technology Integration- Edutopia, the first couple of the opening statements caught my eye. "Technology is being used to fundamentally transform what the classroom is. It fundamentally transforms what you can do in the classroom." According to Edutopia, technology integration can be defined as using technology in the classroom to the best of your abilities. "The common core state standards call for students to develop digital media and technology skills."Students are creating today by media tools. It makes learning more meaningful and keeps educators on the same page as the students. They can use many applications to show their learning. Often times, when using technology in a lesson, they learn beyond what the teacher has planned out. Another thing technology brings to the classroom is interest because the students know they have an audience to share their work with. "Integrating technology with face-to- face teacher time generally produces better academic outcomes than employing either technique alone." Overall, the gear of being a teacher has shifted to being a facilitator. It's all about the learning and the process when students stay focused and motivated when sharing ideas with each other. It can be proven by research that there are many improvements in the classroom when technology is integrated into it.

Summary #2

An Introduction to Integrated Studies- Edutopia is a helpful resource about integrated studies. Although we have not really changed the way education is taught since the mid 19th century when we adopted curriculum from Prussia, we find that outside of education, subjects flow in and out of each other. We now live in a knowledge economy, so we have to teach how things are used in the real world. "Integrated studies blend various subjects which brings them into meaningful association often through projects." Integration provides deep understanding that goes beyond individual subject matter knowledge. "Research shows that learning increases when information is presented in meaningful and connected patterns."Integrated studies requires flexibility in schedules for teachers, and also patience. Benefits of integrated studies include: a sense of teamwork, faster retrieval of information, and higher attendance and homework completion. Overall, it is hard work, but there are benefits for everyone in the end, students and teachers alike.



Summary #3

On the webpage, Integrating Technology into the Language Arts Classroom, Glenco provides useful resources for an ELA classroom. They not only provide links for ELA, but for any subject or grade out there. Specifically I am looking into how different ways to integrate technology in a high school ELA classroom.

Technology can help:

1. Create visual aids for teaching
2. Improve Access to Resources, such as online literature libraries
3. Review and comment on student work more efficiently
4. Integrate video clips into presentations
5. Broaden choices for students to demonstrate learning

Glenco also gave lesson ideas:

1. Assign Digital Presentations
2. Connect to Books Online
3. Use WebQuests
4. Battle Plagiarism with the Internet
5. Streaming Media for On Demand Viewing
6. Grammar Instruction
7. PowerPoint Presentations
8. Word Processing Software 

Again, this is a resource for any and all grades and subjects to show how each can integrate technology. 

Summary #4

In Chelsea Hasenpflugs bPortfolio: Benefits of Integrated Curriculum, she talks about her plans to use integrated curriculum in her future classroom. Chelsea quotes from source, Drake and Burns, that "integrated curriculum is all about making connections." Outside interaction and information play a big role in understanding concepts and retention of learning. Hasenpflugs also points out another reason to have integrated curriculum in the classroom is because it offers more repetition of information than to teach subjects in isolation. Without repetition, it often goes through the students' ear and out the other. Sharing the same information throughout different studies, helps improve the students to retain information. Lastly, Chelsea points out each student is different in the way they learn. Integrated curriculum gives more of a chance to reach out to students by their interests. Through these several reasons, I believe future educators should consider integrating with other curriculums to help the students learn further and actually retain information for when they get out of school.

Overall, I believe that technology and curriculum should be integrated in the classroom. Integration is very resourceful in the classroom. It helps get the lesson across better and helps embed in students brains longer.