Integrating Technology

As an aspiring educator in the twenty-first century, I have come to realize that technology is an integral part of education. The world of technology is vast and ever-expanding, and now, more than ever, teachers need to prepare their students for a world that is reliant on technology. Teachers who are well informed of the newest technologies and integrate them into their classrooms are best serving their students. It is essential that educators become fluent in the newest and most effective technologies so that they can integrate them into their lessons and also relate to the world that their students live in. 

The integration of technology offers unique opportunities for teachers and students alike. Using technology in the social studies classroom allows students to understand and experience the world in a new way. Social Studies helps students to become citizens of the world and to form a  global understanding. Technology allows teachers to bring the outside world into the classroom. Through technology, students are able to see foreign places, communicate with people around the world, and explore historic sites. The internet allows teachers access to countless primary sources to enrich study. With the help of technology, there are endless possibilities for showing our students a world that exceeds far beyond their own.

There are countless ways to incorporate technology into any unit of study. In the third grade, students study maps and globes as a part of their Social Studies curriculum. Here are several ways to incorporate technology into a unit involving maps and globes.

WebQuests: WebQuests provide students with the opportunity to acquire information on their own. They can explore any community or landmark around the world; past or present. Students navigate the internet by following multiple links, at their own pace. These links have been provided by the teacher, which assures the students are only viewing secure and relevant sites.

Brochures/Advertisements: Students can create brochures or advertisements  in a number of ways. Using programs such as Microsoft Publisher or Glogster, students can practice selling a product or location in an engaging and creative way. These programs allow students to combine written information with relevant pictures, charts, or diagrams to display and organize their knowledge.

Digital Cameras: Digital cameras are an exciting and practical technological resource for the classroom. They are a great resource to bring the outside world into the classroom. Students can use cameras to go on scavenger hunts and capture images that relate to the unit of study.  

Blogs: Blogs are a great way for both students and teachers to communicate with people around the world while developing writing skills. Students are able to respond to teacher prompts or other blog posts pertaining to the curriculum.  

Pen Pals: Students are now able to connect with pen pals online. Instead of writing letters, emails can be sent back and forth instantly. This allows students to learn about a different country being studied from a pee who is an expert on their own culture.

Although technology allows students to acquire and express their knowledge in a variety of ways, schools are not always equipped to provide students with these experiences. Integrating technology across the curriculum is important; however, it is not always possible. In my third grade classroom, the only technologies available are an overhead projector and two computers. There is also only one computer lab which is shared with the entire school. Unfortunately, many of these wonderful learning experiences are not feasible in all classrooms.

Technology will undoubtedly continue to change the way  classrooms operate. According to the U.S. Department of Education, technology allows students access to different types of information that they could not otherwise find in their classrooms. It allows them to become more independent in their research and versatile in the way they present their work. By familiarizing our students with technology in the classroom, we are ultimately preparing them for a competitive and more effective workforce.