3 Tips on Integrating Technology in

the Classroom
Former Gov. Bob Wise discusses Digital Learning Day and how
high school teachers can embrace technology.
By Laura McMullenJan. 25, 2012 | 8:00 a.m. EST+ More

Integrating technology into a high school classroom isn't a one-step process. "You can't
just slap a netbook [computer] on top of a textbook and say, 'Great, now we have
technology," says Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia and president of
the Alliance for Excellent Education, an advocacy organization.
Wise says that digital learning starts with teachers, whose performance is enhanced by
technologynot the other way around. That's also the idea of Digital Learning Day,
which the Alliance is spearheading.
The first annual Digital Learning Day falls on February 1 and will celebrate innovative K12 instructors who successfully bring technology into the classroom by assigning online
course content, using adaptive software for students with special needs, and utilizing
online student assessments and other digital tools. Educators, as well as parents,
students, librarians, and community leaders, can learn about classroom innovations and
get new ideas by chiming in during the virtual National Town Hall meeting held on Digital
Learning Day.
[Learn how a new iPad app is revolutionizing textbooks.]
"The whole intention of Digital Learning Day is to really celebrate teachers and good
instructional learning practices," says Sarah Hall, director of the Alliance's Center for
Secondary School Digital Learning and Policy.
And good teaching, especially the kind that involves working with evolving technologies,
sometimes requires good advice. Hall and Wise shared the following ideas for
effectively using technology in the classroomnot just on Digital Learning Day, but
anytime.

1. Plan ahead: There has to be a comprehensive strategy in place to implement

technology into the school system, Wise says, and the teachers have to be involved in
the planning stages.
"When a school says, 'OK, we want to use technology better,' you have to develop your
goals and what learning outcomes you're trying to reach," Wise says. School leaders
and teachers must then think about the "three T's," he adds, which ask how teaching
can be improved, what technology will be used, and how time will be used more
efficiently.
2. Try something new: The Digital Learning Day website includes a number of teacher
"toolkits" with lesson ideas and devices for enhancing lessons with technology. One tool
mentioned is the websiteAnimoto, which allows students to create and upload videos,
such as oral book reports. There are also lists of ideas for digital learning, which have
been submitted by other teachers.
[Experts give parents tech tips on embracing digital education.]
One idea that has seen great results, say Wise and Hall, is the "flipped classroom." With
this setup, they explain, the lectures and homework are reversed. Students will listen to
a webcast or recording of the teacher's lecture at home, and then they will come to
class and work on projects and problem-solving activities related to the lecture with the
teachers.
With this system, says Wise, "The teacher is able to engage with each student and
immediately determine what their needs are."
[Some schools rely on in-house tech experts to train teachers.]
3. Become an educational designer: As technology evolves, so must the teachers.
"For the last 100 years, teachers have essentially been the sage on the stage," Wise
says. "They're the only access point of knowledge."
But now, Wise says, teachers are more like designers, who get to choose and develop
what kinds of content their students access and which technologies they use. Wise says
that with new content technologies, too, teachers can quickly see assessment results of
their students.
"They have tools so that instead of seeing 25 students sitting in front of them looking the
same," Wise says, "they now know that this student needs this particular assistance,
and this student needs that something else."

Using Technology in Education: Does It

Improve Anything?
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Saomya Saxena
08 October 2013
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We have been using technology so much these days in each and every domain of our lives, be it
education or the regular household work, that have we ever taken out a second to wonder if its leaving a
positive impact on our work or its just that we have been relying too much on it that weve become
habitual to it, ignoring the direction of its impact?
Say for instance, is technology causing education to improve over time or have we just been catching up
with the trend of educational

technology.

Earlier, technology in education was a debatable topic amongst the society. Everyone had their own views
on modernizing education and making it technology aided. There were a huge number of positives and
negatives to education technology. But, gradually as technology was embraced by the educational
institutes, they realized the importance of technology in education. Its positives outnumbered the
negatives and now, with technology, education has taken a whole new meaning that it leaves us with no
doubt that our educational system has been transformed owing to the ever-advancing technology.
Technology and education are a great combination if used together with a right reason and vision.
To elucidate on the topic of this article, I am more than definite that technology improves education to a
great extent and it has now become a need for revolutionizing education for the better.

(Recommended Read: Textbooks vs. laptops are compared well in this essay - textbooks vs. laptops)
With technology, educators, students and parents have a variety of learning tools at their fingertips. Here
are some of the ways in which technology improves education over time:

Teachers can collaborate to share their ideas and resources online: They can
communicate with others across the world in an instant, meet the shortcomings of their work,
refine it and provide their students with the best. This approach definitely enhances the
practice of teaching.

Students can develop valuable research skills at a young age: Technology gives
students immediate access to an abundance of quality information which leads to learning at
much quicker rates than before.

Students and teachers have access to an expanse of material: There are plenty of
resourceful, credible websites available on the Internet that both teachers and students can
utilize. The Internet also provides a variety of knowledge and doesnt limit students to one
persons opinion.

Online learning is now an equally credible option: Face-to-face interaction is huge,

especially in the younger years, but some students work better when they can go at their own
pace. Online education is now accredited and has changed the way we view education.

There are innumerous instances till date where we can see the improvement in education, once it
embraced technology. I will state a few remarkable ones of them to provide you with a more realistic
picture of the whole scenario. Heres the list along with the references to the originals:

The Flipped Classroom: This popular technological approach has gotten to everybodys
ears by now. It is a practice in which, students watch lecture videos as homework and
discussion is carried on them in the class-time by the teachers. It has resulted in a
remarkably better student performance, with noticeable grade boost-up. Students can now
learn at their own pace and save class-time for interaction. To go into more details about this
approach refer to this article on The Flipped Classroom .

Effectiveness of EdTech on Mathematics for K-12: Technology has proved to be effective

for making students efficiently adept with Math. Out of several, there are three remarkable
technologies, which in my opinion should be brought to the light. Computer-managed
learning is a program that uses computers to assess student learning on Math and assign

them with appropriate Math material, which they can work on to score and receive a chart of
their progress for self-assessment; Comprehensive models such as Cognitive Tutor and I
Can Learn use computer-aided instruction as well as non-computer activities for students to
approach Math; Supplemental CAI technology consists of individualized computer-assisted
instruction (CAI), to provide additional instruction at students assessed levels. Findings
indicate that educational technology applications produce a positive effect on Mathematics
achievement. For details, refer to the review on Mathematics/ Effectiveness of Technology .

Long-term research indicative of the positives of technology on learning: Researches

have been performed to address to the question, does the use of computer technology affect
student achievement in traditional classrooms as compared to classrooms that do not use
technology? An extensive literature search and a systematic review process were employed
and insights about the state of the field, implications for technology use, and prospects for
future were discussed. Refer to the original review,Review of Educational Research .

Educational Technology improves student learning outcomes: Evidence suggests that

educational technologies can improve student achievement, so long as such tools are
integrated thoughtfully into teaching and learning. When digital capabilities like, online
environments are incorporated meaningfully into instruction, students have new opportunities
to learn and achieve. Refer to this research brief for details.

The effect of technology on education depends on the design of instruction: The

design of the instruction accounts for more variance in how and why people learn than the
technology used to deliver the instruction. Educators and educational researchers should be
encouraged to focus on determining how to better integrate the use of a given technology to
facilitate learning, rather than asking if it works or if one is more effective than another. Refer
to this report for a detailed study.

Over the past years, a number of studies have shown benefits from the use of technology in education.
The role of technology in education is vital, and the question is no longer if technology enhances learning,
but rather how do we improve our use of technology to enhance learning?
I encourage you to think about more ways of how technology has improved education and how it can
positively impact it in the near future. Feel free to share these views, additional knowledge or clarify
doubts you may have on the relation of education and technology. The Comment Box awaits you.

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Computer Education in Pakistan

Computer education and the education in IT is very needful in Pakistan, in the past one
or two decades almost each and every organization has developed its own operating IT
department which monitors the usage of the computers and its applications with
interconnected as well as externally connected operation. This department consists of
people who are trained and are having the educational background of computer
information and are well aware of the process and operations of computers in all the
forms, so there is always a need and deficiency of such people who are highly trained in
computer education which ultimately provides them the best opportunity for a better
job and career as compared to the other professions.
This could be the strongest motivating point in convincing the students to get involved
and indulged in the computer education as by doing this very qualification they might
be able to conquer attractive jobs and can establish their careers. People having the
computer education are being hired immediately and are even given handsome
packages just because of their worth and their need in all the organizations no matter of
what nature they are; they are dependent on the person having the knowledge
regarding the computer usage and its applications.
So in the modern era the people having the computer education are acknowledging and
appraised so this should encourage the youth of not only Pakistan but of the entire
world to get themselves inculcated in the vast fields of computer education all over the
globe. In Pakistan it is more significant because still Pakistan is a growing nation and it is
not long before when the organizations in the country started to shift from manual work
to the computer based activities so they are more in need of such skilled and computer
education qualified students to assist them and to carry out the activities concerning
this modern technology.

Pakistan

Your Generous Donations will be used to Promote IT amongst youth of

Pakistan so that they can learn and get jobs or start their own businesses.

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Computer Education- An important aspect of Our Daily Life

Posted on December 3, 2012, 5:05 am By Sherjeel Awan

In past couple of decades computers have brought up a revolutionary

changes. Its used by everyone in advanced technology. A huge amount of
data is stored safely which can be easily managed and accessed, thats why
now use in every field. They play an essential role in our daily life because
their benefits are beyond of our imaginations.
Computer education is the need of time because computers are being widely
used in our daily life. Its very much necessary to know the basic knowledge of
computers, its applications and operations. Both basic and practical
knowledge completes the basic computer education.

Computers are not only storage or processing device also an excellent

communication media. You can easily connect to the world through internet
services. Its not only retrieving and searching through the internet, only
computer education can increased the applications of computer across the
world.
As coupled with computer knowledge that may be programming, networking
or any other, are always preferred over others and the chances of job
opportunities as now in the modern world no one can start do their business
without computers. So no one can deny the importance of computers in
advanced technology.
Various business transactions can be made fast and safe to get acquainted
with computer education. Nowadays there is no need of paper documentation
because all the business records and documents can be stored in computers.
You can easily do online shopping as orders can be placed on internet
through which you can save your time and transportation cost.

The large amount of data as per requirement can be managed with various
database management software which are available in market. They are used
all over the world for not only business purposes, also for gaming and media
purposes. Thus all of the above benefits proving its worth.
In the advanced world of computers we must rise and to achieve the ladder of
success through computer education.

Computer education in Pakistani

schools: Are we there yet?
NOVEMBER 4, 2008 3:26 PM 3 COMMENTS
(VISITED 336 TIMES, 54 VISITS TODAY)

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Author:

Rimsha Sohail

The past ten years brought in Pakistan a revolutionized, I.T oriented approach which stretched
to the educational system as well. Introducing the subject merely was not considered the only
pathway to achieving this milestone, but the whole stream of teaching saw an evolution in which
the traditional learn-it-off-the-book strategy was downsized by integrating the concept of
extensive and comprehensive research. From primary to high school, such approach was what
the Ministry of Education aimed to achieved. Recently I thought Id spend some time to see how
far theyve gotten.

However, unfortunate as it may seem but this milestone is yet to be achieved. Computer labs
have been introduced, yet the hardware is inadequate; the software is outdated- and mostly the
systems fail to work. Lack of proper maintenance and upgrading of the systems portends an
outdated approach of the students towards computer education. Aawareness about this
discipline can not be spread just by setting up computer labs. Proper updating of the labs should
take place; leading I.T companies should come to schools help including counseling sessions.
The children of today have to be educated about networking and programming, about cellular
technology and artificial intelligence. This should be done right from the elementary classes and
not when they enter university.

Putting aside the supposedly superficial short coming of the computer labs in schools, let me
focus your attention to the curriculum that is being followed. The general outlay of the
curriculum fails to provide a gradual acquaintance of the students with the subject. Computer
education is not confined to learning the definition of hardware; it is not synonymous to word
processors and spreadsheets and presentation software. computer education is a vast subject
and such a vast subject requires the proper breakup of its components, in a gradual grade by
grade process. Mostly in their SSC, students are exposed to programming, when previously their
approach was confined to writing in the word processor or creating presentations. Thus, many
fail to excel. This is the reason why programming appears to many, as a hailstorm of foreign
alphabets. The fact that computing is such a cosmic stream, there is a component out there for
every student; if only they are exposed to it at the right time in the right manner.
The third flaw in the system is of the quality of teaching. Since every MBA can not teach
business nor can every MCS teach Computing. Teaching is a serious issue and only the qualified
teachers, who can adequately teach the students the dimensions of this subject should be
appointed. A diploma of 25 courses in one month is not the eligible criteria for a
teacher, even if it means teaching primary school children. Primary school and junior high is the
perfect age for the students to be acquainted with the magnitude of I.T; from networking to
programming to cellular technology, so that they make the right choice in the future.
This is not the age to make Jack of all trades and master of none but we need to raise
experts and we have to start from the grass root level. In order to get Pakistan rolling on the
Tech highway, first and foremost the course outline needs to be revolutionized. Subject-specific
people should be responsible for making the course, selecting the books and every other thing
associated with it. Proper guidance by experts needs to be an integral part of the teaching
system. Most importantly, dedicated and hardworking teachers need to be appointed. Education
is the key to excellence, and this key need to be fashioned in the most articulate manner so that
the benefits are not restricted.
(Visited 336 times, 54 visits today)

Facebook comments:
3 COMMENTS

Momekh

November 4, 2008
4:56 pm

Although I appreciate your fluid writing style and the way

you have built up the post, I am afraid the appreciation
stops right about there.
I write in hope that it is not seen as some form of attack on
you, but my interest is in your opinion about the above
discussed education.
Firstly, no children of today need to be educated about
cellular or programming or for that matter, computer
technology. Using a computer and studying computer
technologies are two exceptionally vast areas. We do not
at all need any specialized subject of ANY sort to be
taught to primary or even Metric level students.
I think you have confused skill with education. Teaching
children skills is a much needed aspect that our society
lacks. This is societys ill, not the education systems fault.
Our edu system does need an overhaul, but your
suggestion that programming to be introduced as part of
your break up of the vast field of computer science is no
where near the overhaul this education system needs. We
dont need programming languages being taught to
primary grade students, please.
Our first problem is the disparity between madrassahs,
public and private schools. All three need to united under
a single syllabus STRICTLY controlled by the Edu
ministry. Just as all mosques SHOULD be under the
government, so should be CORE syllabus that should be
made compulsory on ALL education-related institutes.
This is not difficult, only the ever-illusive political will is
required.
A computer lab is EXACTLY what familiarizes the students
with a computer. Putting computer labs for primary
students can at best, pass off as automation of school
work, and nothing more. In our society, I think having a
computer lab to begin with is a bad idea. The same

amount of money can be spent on increasing the

teachers salary.
You raise important issues, Rimsha. Your identification of
the problem is pretty much spot on. I just tend to disagree
with your proposed solutions.
Being a jack of all trades and master of none for
example, is now in fact a very debatable issue. Even a
cursory glance at th world history will tell you that only the
JACKS OF ALL TRADES were the ones that changed the
world and dented the flow of history. Specialists are
needed, but not as desperately as our parents would
have us believe.

Teaching your junior high

student a skill of say, fixing mobile phones, carpentry,

troubleshoot PCs etc goes a long way in not only
imparting a sell-able skill, but giving young minds the
confidence that they can do stuff on their own.
I hope my attempts at adjusting your opinion by voicing my
own is taken as a shot at setting the priorities straight in
terms of the issues our society in Pakistan faces. I wish all
of us the best of luck in moving forward to make this land
a better one. Aamen.

IT Park

November 4, 2008
5:54 pm

Jack Ass of All Trades!

Rimsha

November 5, 2008
6:20 pm

@ Momekh.
Thankyou for your valuable comments. I second your
opinion with regards to the disparity. This indeed is a very
crucial issue. The problem with the local stream is that we
have people who are not properly acquainted with I.T
designing the course outlines and setting the books so
they mostly end up assigning the wrong books for
computing. In contrast to this, the A-level computing
course outline is designed by people related to this
particular field.
Furthermore, What basically I meant to imply was that up
till junior high computing is taken more or less as one of
the free periods of the day. Teachers and students
do not quite pay heed to the subject.Keeping in view the
boost of the I.T industry in our country, i felt that students
should be made aware of its vast scope. Giving the
students a basic idea of networking, programming,
robotics etc would build their acquaintance with the
different components of computer education.
Programming was just used as an example to explain the
phenomenon