RUNNING HEAD: Integration of Technology and Media Resources

Integration of Technology and Media Resources

Sierra Allen
Regent University

In partial fulfillment of UED 496 Field Experience ePortfolio, Spring 2016

Integration of Technology and Media Resources

Introduction
The importance of technology in the world today cannot be overstated. Before a student
walks into the classroom, they likely see a television, use a computer, text on a cell phone, or
even drive in a car that is technologically advanced. When they enter the classroom, they need to
be instructed on how to use technology in a way that is appropriate and educational. Teachers
need to be informed and prepared on how to interact with needs of a 21st century learner.
Rationale
The first artifact that I selected is a lesson plan that I made to guide me through my
presentation. I chose to use a new resource that I have just learned about, called NearPod. This
site gave me the opportunity to make a slideshow presentation for my students, which can also
include surveys, quizzes, videos, and photos. This tool also allows me to control what shows up
on the students screens so that I can be sure they stay focused on the material. The plan I wrote
shows the steps taken to make sure that the students understood the lesson (through questioning
and relating to past material) while also showing how I assessed the students knowledge.
The second and third artifact I included are pictures from the lesson. One is a photo of
what the students were doing while I was teaching. They were able to access the presentation on
their computers, follow along, and answer questions. The presentation went through the physical
features of Rome, including the location, the condition of the land, important landmarks, and the
second photo shows the results that I received. This helped measure the students learning
throughout the lesson and showed me where the students might have struggled with the material.
Overall, the photo shows that the class got 93% of the questions right as a whole, with only a few
students missing the problems.

Integration of Technology and Media Resources

I decided to do this activity after a planning meeting with some other teachers in the
school. One of the teachers mentioned NearPod and showed a demonstration of its capabilities. I
was immediately hooked on how they were able to use this one site to do so many different
things. I decided this would be a great way to introduce ancient Rome to my students while
keeping them involved. Its was an interactive lesson and it went very well. My students love
being able to see the maps of Rome right as I was speaking about it. I told them about the Tiber
River, then was able to show them where it was.
As we went, students were required to answer questions and give me opinions. For
example, one question was whether they thought the surrounding water was more helpful or
harmful. This was a great opportunity to open up discussion about the lesson.
All of the slides on the lesson were based off of the standards for ancient Rome. Students
were learning right from the curriculum and I was able to include everything needed in new and
interesting ways. My students do not learning through lectures and sitting quietly. They spend so
much of their free time using technology and they gather vast amounts of information from it.
Finding ways to use it in the classroom is a large part of teaching in 2016.
Reflection
Studying at Regent gave me the ability to base my lesson off of the standards while
making sure it is geared towards their needs. There is a balance between making sure they get the
right information and making sure they get the right engagement. Teachers have to make sure
they know the curriculum, but they also need to know what technology is available to them.
Education is rapidly changing as a result of innovation and those who move with it will discover
new ways to reach students where they are.

Integration of Technology and Media Resources

Technology is the classroom needs to change with the different grade levels. Students in
the primary grades should not spend long amounts of time in front of the screen. They need to
have time doing hands-on activities and playing games with their peers. They also need one-onone time with their teacher. Computer time should never replace those things and should not be
used if it cannot improve upon them. According to Edutopia, Effective tech integration must
happen across the curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the learning
process. In particular, it must support four key components of learning: active engagement,
participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts.
(Why Integrate Technology, 2008)
It should also be noted that students who live in such a technology-filled world have
extremely positive reaction to technology in the classroom. In a study on the impact of
technology on students, Schacter found that, Students attitudes toward learning and their own
self-concept improved consistently when computers were used for instruction. (Schacter, 1999)
Students are likely to react well to different types of technology because they are so adjusted to
it. They also will pick up the skills surprisingly quickly because of their exposure.

References
ERIC - The Impact of Education Technology on Student Achievement: What the Most Current
Research Has To Say., 1999. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2016, from
http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED430537

Integration of Technology and Media Resources

Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?: The Reasons Are Many. (2008, March 16).
Retrieved March 29, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integrationintroduction