Technology Integration in the Classroom

 The more we advance technologically, the more important it becomes to adapt our pedagogical approaches to instruction using technology. If we do not, then as students become members of the industrial world, they will be left behind and left at a disadvantage to those who have been exposed. This will produce a society of inequity and will serve to further divide those who are privileged and those who are not.

A Lack of Good Technological Teaching

There are many factors which lead to teachers not integrating technology in their approaches to education. One such factor comes from a lack of quality professional development. This is partly due to the speed of technological advancement. As people are learning a new set of technology, another has come to replace it. Ultimately, this leads to fatigue of teachers trying to constantly adapt to current trends.

One aspect of technology integration that math teachers struggle with is the use of calculators in the classroom. In some sense it is very liberating to not have calculate endlessly monotonous computations. However, in another sense it takes away from the rigor of adding fractions and dividing whole numbers. With the new TI-Nspires, students do not even need to solve equations anymore. So, teachers are struggling to find the right balance of allowing technology to aid students and students becoming overly dependent.

Another aspect of lack of quality professional development is its nature of being voluntary. One way the state of Texas addresses this is by requiring that every five teachers receive 150 hours of Continuing Professional Education. 

Tips For Having Emphasizing Technology in the Classroom

Like Texas, it is important to showcase the new technology through mandatory trainings. While it is impossible to keep up with all of the new trends, administration should sift through quality educational resources and those that are not fruitful. An issue that comes up in educational technology is implementing resources that hinder learning. The teacher is the one who is responsible for seeing what the students need and how to best facilitate the learning in the classroom.

Administrators can aid teachers by giving data driven metrics showing the benefit of utilizing the technology in the classroom. With this data and proper training, teachers may become inspired to utilize technology in a way that motivates students to learn and prepares them for the working world.

References:

Agency, T. E. (2020, September 16). Continuing Professional Education Information. Tea.texas.gov. https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/preparation-and-continuing-education/continuing-professional-education-cpe

‌Lawless, K. A., & Pellegrino, J. W. (2007). Professional Development in Integrating Technology Into Teaching and Learning: Knowns, Unknowns, and Ways to Pursue Better Questions and Answers. Review of Educational Research, 77(4), 575–614. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654307309921

Author

John Snell is an M.S. in Mathematics with a concentration in the study of Arithmetic Functions. He has spent the last seven years teaching, educating students from 8th grade to Calculus. His passion is for student growth and an appreciation for mathematics as a whole.

‌