What is the difference between technology use and technology integration?
Technology use is the actual usage of any type of technology. This could mean using a whiteboard, entering grades on the computer, or using the Internet. Technology integration incorporates technology use, but it is more than that. Integration requires that the technology flow throughout lessons rather than being a separate thing. It is something that students as well as the teacher become accustomed to using. For example, during math class the students have the opportunity to work out problems on the interactive white board. During science class, the students research photosynthesis on the Internet and write about what they find. Being able to use the technology is the first step in the process, and integrating takes it a step further to really make it useful in the classroom.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Action Research Wonderings
How has learning about inquiry and creating a 'wondering' influenced the way in which you think about what you see at your PDS? Your responses may include your thoughts about teaching, students, student learning, your own learning, or a combination of these. Make sure you consider your thoughts in light of your understanding of inquiry as a way to study your own practice, your students learning, and your own interests or 'passions' as a teacher.
Learning about inquiry has taught me a lot about what I see at my PDS. I think about the things I observe in a different manner. For example, when I see different strategies the teacher uses, I think about it in relationship to research and why she would be using that method rather than another. I can see how inquiry would be useful to any teacher. It is the practice of trying different things, and studying it to see if it really worked, or if something else might work better.
When teachers utilize inquiry, it makes it much easier for the students. I have seen this many times during my school career. Everyone has had a teacher who does the same exact activities every single year and never changes a thing. Of course teachers would use some of the same activities throughout the years because they are probably good activites. But after teaching the same thing for fifteen years, I would think it would be time to mix it up a little. More than that, the students have changed, and the technology has changed so there may be a better way to go about teaching a particular lesson. I have heard the term "best practice" a lot and I have come to realize that what is "best practice" one year or for one group of students probably isn't the next year or for a different class.
This is where inquiry comes in. The teacher can test to see if what he/she is doing is in fact still working, or if it is need of an update. Teachers who are able to do this are much more effective and interesting to the students. When I see different techniques being used at my PDS, I often wonder if that is something I could incorporate into my "wonderings" and if there has been any research done on it. Inquiry has made me look at everything more from a scientific point of view rather than just guessing or assuming.
Learning about inquiry has taught me a lot about what I see at my PDS. I think about the things I observe in a different manner. For example, when I see different strategies the teacher uses, I think about it in relationship to research and why she would be using that method rather than another. I can see how inquiry would be useful to any teacher. It is the practice of trying different things, and studying it to see if it really worked, or if something else might work better.
When teachers utilize inquiry, it makes it much easier for the students. I have seen this many times during my school career. Everyone has had a teacher who does the same exact activities every single year and never changes a thing. Of course teachers would use some of the same activities throughout the years because they are probably good activites. But after teaching the same thing for fifteen years, I would think it would be time to mix it up a little. More than that, the students have changed, and the technology has changed so there may be a better way to go about teaching a particular lesson. I have heard the term "best practice" a lot and I have come to realize that what is "best practice" one year or for one group of students probably isn't the next year or for a different class.
This is where inquiry comes in. The teacher can test to see if what he/she is doing is in fact still working, or if it is need of an update. Teachers who are able to do this are much more effective and interesting to the students. When I see different techniques being used at my PDS, I often wonder if that is something I could incorporate into my "wonderings" and if there has been any research done on it. Inquiry has made me look at everything more from a scientific point of view rather than just guessing or assuming.
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