Educators Innovate Through Technology Integration

Best, M. (2009). Educators Innovate Through Technology Integration. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/forest-lake-nasa-technology-integration.

In this article, the author describes the many ways Forest Lake Elementary Technology Magnet School has integrated technology into their curriculum. Beyond technology being integrated into the school's name, technology is integrated into every single class in the school. In addition to technologies like SmartBoard that can be used in almost every classroom, there are also specialized programs geared towards Science or Music or English for the teachers and students to use. The key word for how they use technology is 'integration'. Instead of slapping a technology bandaid onto static, boring, traditional curriculum, they have focused on ways to best use technology in natural ways. Technology is used often enough that students become naturals. Teachers use technology for instruction, group projects, grading, and more. The reason they can afford all this is because they have a partnership with NASA that provides resources they wouldn't otherwise have. Technology integration seems to be paying off for them, because their standardized test scores have risen.

Technology integration is definitely important, but this article makes me wonder how hard it really is to effectively integrate technology into our curriculum. I hope it can still be accomplished if my school doesn't have a partnership with NASA. Another hurdle to technology integration is lack of IT support, which is common in schools. But I think technology integration can still work as a slow process. When I was in high school, the only technology we used on a regular basis was Word and Powerpoint. Now, more students are becoming comfortable with SmartBoards, turning in assignments over the internet, using movie-making software, and more. The more we use technology in the classroom, the more natural and integrated it will feel.