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Here you can see games and activities to enhance my lesson.

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This video explains the use of a framework model regarding technolgy.

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Here there are plenty of exercises and activities regarding techonolgy to incorporate into the curriculum.

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Technology in the classroom has become a huge part of all of our lives. It's hard to keep up with all of the new must-have tech tools that are available. Teachers are now finding it harder and harder to ignore the fact that technology in the classroom has become an essential. With the Common Core State Standards requiring it, and science-based research supporting it, it's become imperative that teachers include it into their everyday curriculum.

The good news is that we are finally at a place where we have the technology at our disposal. Teachers can now incorporate technology-based lessons which have been proven to increase student motivation as well as build the skills that necessary for our students' future.

Here are a few ideas on how to integrate technology in the classroom. These ideas can be used in any classroom, regardless of the subject or content.

A classroom website is an excellent way to stay in contact with your students and communicate with parents. It not only keeps you organized and saves you time, but it also helps students develop those 21 st century skills that that they will so need for the future. A class website allows you to include classroom assignments, course information, classroom photographs, study links, classroom presentations, and so much more.

Have Students Create a Multimedia Presentation

Challenge students to use a variety of digital media to compete a multimedia presentation. Encourage students to use graphics, audio, video, or whatever else they would like to complete the task. A PowerPoint Presentation is a great choice for younger students.

Go on a Virtual Field Trip

Learning about the planets? Take your students on a virtual field trip to another galaxy. Looking for ways to have your students visit the world? Go to Reachtheworld.org and you can travel the world while educating your student's right from their seats! There are endless possibilities on the Internet, and just think no permission slips or funds are needed.

Create a WebQuest

WebQuests are a thing of the past, but are still known to engage students and fulfill the skills that they need. WebQuests can range from a single Internet-based activity to a longstanding project that may take a few weeks. You can find a WebQuest online or create your own. They are a fun way for students to use their higher-order thinking skills.

Computer Software

The Common Core State Standards require that students use a word processing application to write, edit, and print their assignment. Students can use any basic word processing software to fulfill this requirement. These computer software products will not only teach students the technology skills that is required, but it will also make their task easier to complete.

Global Learning Opportunities

Connect students with other children their age with sites like The Global Classroom Project. Students can virtually connect, learn, and share online with other students from across the globe. It's a fantastic way for children to physically see, hear, and speak with other children that they are learning about in their textbooks.

Weekly Online Assignments

Challenge students to weekly online extra credit activities. Each week provide your students with a URL that directs them to a word problem, higher-order thinking skills question, or a puzzle to figure out.

Utilize Online News Resources

Incorporate online news stories into your curriculum. While discussing current events, allow students to search online for international or national news stories that correlate with your discussion. The CNN website is an excellent choice for students.

Integrating technology in the classroom allows you to prepare your students to live in this technology-savvy world that we live in. By implementing this strategies you are preparing your learners to thrive in the 21 st century, which will only help them become that much more proficient in society.
How do you integrate technology into your lessons and classroom? Do you have specific strategies that you use? Share with us in the comment section below, we would love to hear your ideas. Janelle Cox is an education writer who uses her experience and knowledge to provide creative and original writing in the field of education. Janelle holds a Master's of Science in Education from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. She is also the Elementary Education Expert for About.com, as well as a contributing writer to TeachHUB.com and TeachHUB Magazine. You can follow her at Twitter @Empoweringk6ed, or on Facebook at Empowering K6 Educators.

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Technology in the classroom has become a huge part of all of our lives. It's hard to keep up with all of the new must-have tech tools that are available. Teachers are now finding it harder and harder to ignore the fact that technology in the classroom has become an essential.

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This page talks about how teachers can use iOS software for their classroom benefit.

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This is a model that concentrates more on moving from traditional teacher-created tasks  to student-centered, tech-integrated learning.

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This website tells about the benefits of integrating technology into all classrooms.

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It is important to acknowledge that students are already interested and engaged in using technology, this creates many amazing opportunities for schools and teachers to benefit from integrating some forms of technology in the classroom and to make teaching and learning more effective. Here are some of the main benefits of using technology in the classroom. Improves engagement
When technology is integrated into lessons, students are expected to be more interested in the subjects they are studying. Technology provides different opportunities to make learning more fun and enjoyable in terms of teaching same things in new ways. For instance, delivering teaching through gamification, taking students on virtual field trips and using other online learning resources. What is more, technology can encourage a more active participation in the learning process which can be hard to achieve through a traditional lecture environment.
Improves knowledge retention
Students who are engaged and interested in things they are studying, are expected to have a better knowledge retention. As mentioned before, technology can help to encourage active participation in the classroom which also is a very important factor for increased knowledge retention. Different forms of technology can be used to experiment with and decide what works best for students in terms of retaining their knowledge.
Encourages individual learning
No one learns in the same way because of different learning styles and different abilities. Technology provides great opportunities for making learning more effective for everyone with different needs. For example, students can learn at their own speed, review difficult concepts or skip ahead if they need to. What is more, technology can provide more opportunities for struggling or disabled students. Access to the Internet gives students access to a broad range of resources to conduct research in different ways, which in turn can increase the engagement.
Encourages collaboration
Students can practice collaboration skills by getting involved in different online activities. For instance, working on different projects by collaborating with others on forums or by sharing documents on their virtual learning environments. Technology can encourage collaboration with students in the same classroom, same school and even with other classrooms around the world.
Students can learn useful life skills through technology
By using technology in the classroom, both teachers and students can develop skills essential for the 21st century. Students can gain the skills they will need to be successful in the future. Modern learning is about collaborating with others, solving complex problems, critical thinking, developing different forms of communication and leadership skills, and improving motivation and productivity. What is more, technology can help develop many practical skills, including creating presentations, learning to differentiate reliable from unreliable sources on the Internet, maintaining proper online etiquette, and writing emails. These are very important skills that can be developed in the classroom.
Benefits for teachers
With countless online resources, technology can help improve teaching. Teachers can use different apps or trusted online resources to enhance the traditional ways of teaching and to keep students more engaged. Virtual lesson plans, grading software and online assessments can help teachers save a lot time. This valuable time can be used for working with students who are struggling. What is more, having virtual learning environments in schools enhances collaboration and knowledge sharing between teachers.
To learn more about different ways of incorporating technology in the classroom, visit the Webanywhere website.

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Top 6 Benefits of Technology in the Classroom - Advancing Education

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Explore the top 6 benefits of technology in the classroom. Enhance your teaching methods with School Jotter.

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How Important is Technology in Classrooms

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How Important is Technology in Classrooms

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Here on this page, it tells the main reasons why having technology in the classroom is crucial to student learning.

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Why is technology important? How important is technology in education?

There are countless reasons why technology is a key aspect of learning in the schools. Whether we like it or not, technology is everywhere; and in order for our students to survive in post-secondary education and the business world, they must know technology.

[ Related: View our other education blogs]

To narrow it down, we came up with 10 reasons for the importance of technology in education:

1. Students demand it
Students are engaging with technology constantly outside of the classroom. Kids like to be interactive, and learning through technology has now become a part of their lifestyle.

2. New teachers are demanding it.
The technology movement has been implemented in post-secondary education as well as other professional jobs. For new teachers, technology is considered a necessity for the learning environment.

3. Kids are the digital native
Kids know technology better than most adults. It has become the easiest way they learn, because it is such an integral part of their life. Engaging with technology in the classroom has not only helped them learn better, but they also acquire multi-tasking skills. At this day in age, they hardly know how to learn without it. This knowledge is important, because they would be way behind in the real world without it.

4. Kids can learn at their own pace
We know from years of experience that kids learn at their own pace, but sometimes the traditional classroom makes it difficult to do so. With the integration of technology in education, children have the ability to slow down and go back over lessons and concepts, and more advanced kids can go ahead. It also frees up the teacher to help kids on a more one-on-one level.

5. With technology, there are no limitations
Having access to other information outside of the book gives students many different ways to learn a concept. Teachers can come up with creative ways to teach their students that keeps them engaged. Technology has changed the learning environment so that learning is more hands-on. Schools throughout the nation are diverse in income, and often kids don't always get the resources they need. The implementation of technology in schools helps close that gap.

6. Technology has the ability to enhance relationships between teachers and students.
When teachers effectively integrate technology into subject areas, teachers grow into roles of adviser, content expert, and coach. Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun. Students are also able to collaborate with their own classmates through technological applications.

7. Testing has gone online
One protocol that schools don't have control over, but must adapt to, is online testing. Testing online is the way of the future, but it has a lot of advantages. Assessing students' performance can be done instantly with technology. Beyond seeing test scores in real-time, teachers can better track and understand students' grasp of the subject.

8. Multitude of resources
Computers, tablets, and other forms of technology bring multiple resources for the teacher that's not in the book. They not only keep students engaged with exciting new features and apps, but also have other ways to teach students material. Every kid learns differently, and technology helps with this gap as well.

9. Technology keeps kids engaged
The students of this generation are considered technological learners. They learn best being more interactive, and technology is what helps them do that. Children often struggle to stay on task or interested, and with resources to help the teacher, they can better stay focused and learn faster.

10. Technology is necessary to succeed outside of primary and secondary education
Whether we like it or not, technology is an essential concept to learn. Because it changes so quickly, children are better off learning about it sooner. It is a primary part of every industry, and there is no way around it. These days, technology means more than just learning basic computing skills. Technology has made itself part of every aspect of our lives today, and the students who understand it are the ones who succeed in the business world.

[ RELATED: How Important is Technology in Business? Pine Cove's Top 10 Reasons]

Check out the following in-depth case study outlining how Pine Cove Consulting was able to implement enterprise technology in a rural school district.

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How Important is Technology in Education? Pine Cove's Top 10 Reasons

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There are countless reasons why technology is a key aspect of learning in the schools. Whether we like it or not, technology is everywhere; and in order for our students to survive in post-secondary education and the business world, they must know technology.

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This diagram reflects the beliefs regarding technology in classrooms.

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This page explains exactly what "technology integration" looks like and means.

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Ms. Hart's classroom hums with activity. Scattered about are two dozen students working in small groups on their latest project: making a shoebox glide through the air.

Three students are searching for design principles on the web. Another group interacts with a drawing on the smart board - they touch the white surface, rotate the object to view it from different angles, and give each other fist bumps to celebrate their discovery. Across the room, a couple of students wait for the printer to stop its run. Their reproduced "airplane skins" are almost ready to be applied to their aircraft.

At the end of the project, the groups will video their shoebox flights. Then they'll upload these digital records to the class webpage, along with a written analysis of their findings.

Ms. Hart's students incorporated mathematics and scientific principles to design, construct, and test their creations. As they worked, they researched, evaluated, applied, and justified their decisions. The project would not have been so successful if it weren't for the appropriate integration of technology in the classroom.

According to the International Society for Technology in Education ( ISTE), classes like the one described above allow instructors to "rethink education and create innovative learning environments."

What does technology integration really mean?

Technology integration is the well-coordinated use of digital devices and cloud computing as tools for problem-solving, deeper learning, and understanding.

Technology facilitates access to curriculum but is not the curriculum itself. Teachers guide their students in using technology as a tool for accessing and understanding educational content.

The success behind technology integration in education

There are two keys to successfully integrating technology in the classroom. The first lies in understanding the role of technology in the classroom. Keeping students - not the technology - at the center of instruction is the second.

Authentic and meaningful technology integration is a relationship between the teacher, the student, and the curriculum. Technology is the vehicle that makes it happen.

In Ms. Hart's classroom, students used technology as an appropriate medium for completing their assignment. Their focus remained on the learning objectives and project goals - the tech was just a tool. Learning how to use the available technology also supplemented their learning experience and helped them work more efficiently.

Digital automation and machinery alone will never make school a better place. Technology integration in education doesn't shift the focus from instruction. Instead, it enhances an existing educational program by serving as a learning device.

Photo credit: Google

Benefits of technology integration

First, technology meets students where they are in the learning continuum by assessing their strength and weaknesses. Then, the programs identify appropriate learning objectives and establish learning pathways for each student.

Second, instructional software allows students to access their classwork anytime. Students may extend their learning by working on programs outside of class: before school, during lunch time, or from home if they have access to the apps from their own devices.

Third, learners find technology responsive and engaging. In the classroom, students with access to technology have useful tools that assist with active learning and problem-solving. Integrated technology encourages engagement and exploration in a way that traditional textbooks can never fill. Classroom lessons are less about the technology itself and more about deep learning. Students use technology to achieve the task at hand: understanding content.

Additionally, software and digital voice assistants provide alternative, reliable sources of information or fact-checking. These programs patiently repeat directions and lessons, customizing instruction through differentiation.

Finally, as learners engage with software and other technology, certain algorithms can collect data about student achievement for teachers to analyze. This data allows them to better plan future lessons and attend to their students' needs.

Integrated technology that improves learning

Computers and internet access have become staples of many modern classrooms, and we often take them for granted.

The diverse technology available in today's classrooms has transcended the personal computer, taking alternative forms such as:

Artificial reality/virtual reality

Digital smart boards

Intelligent gamification

Digital voice assistants/teaching robots

Interactive displays

But these tools alone are not enough for technology integration in education. How will the learners use the technology to create something new, like a blog, a video, or yes, even a shoebox that flies?

School administrators are trained to observe how students interact with technology in the classroom. Many principals watch classroom activities closely to ensure that every student in class is using the provided devices and instructional software. They pour over reports indicating how much time a given student has spent using software or devices like Kindles.

Simply logging screen time doesn't tell you whether students are benefiting from technology. Instead, school leaders should assess the various ways in which students interact with the available digital tools. It's critical to note how skillfully the learners use technology and for what reasons.

Expertise comes from understanding how and when to use digital tools. Edtech apps and solutions for classrooms continue to develop new products every year. The adoption of new edtech depends on one factor: teacher proficiency.

Photo credit : Google

Classroom technology integration begins with teachers

Teachers are the determining factor in successful technology integration. For technology integration to be so seamless that its inclusion is almost automatic, teachers must be competent in its use.

This kind of proficiency is the result of ongoing professional development. Teachers need specific technology skills, including:

Hardware maintenance

Acquiring basic troubleshooting skills.

Caring for equipment properly.

Developing an awareness of computer security and copyright laws.

Working with software

Downloading and installing computer software.

Creating and using documents, spreadsheets, and presentation slide decks.

Managing emails and other electronic messages.

Developing an understanding of social media platforms and how/when to use them.

Learning web navigation and search engine best practices.

Designing and maintaining websites.

Incorporating educational software that supplements classroom instruction.

Collecting and analyzing student achievement data.

Using video conferencing tools.

Perhaps most importantly, teachers need a willingness to use new technologies in the classroom as a part of the instructional process.

Technology integration is a dynamic process

Technology integration in education is more than the sum of hours spent on computer programs. It's a dynamic process coordinated by skilled teachers and supported by school leaders.

Not all students intuitively know how to use technology for educational purposes, but they are eager learners who depend on their teachers to make that technology available to them. In turn, school administrators must assist teachers in understanding technology's role in the classroom and learning how to integrate it. The effort requires not only professional development for teachers but also sufficient time for them to practice using technology in class.

Finally, it's important to keep in mind that the intent behind integrating technology is to supplement existing resources and instructional content. Students are, and always will be, the central focus of education, so technology needs to be effectively and appropriately employed for their learning to thrive.

Debi Christensen has taught in private and public schools, served as a PK-5 and 6-12 school principal, and worked as a Curriculum/Executive Director at the district level. She loves edtech that engages students and streamlines teacher workflow, saying yes to adventure, and dark chocolate.

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What does "technology integration" mean? - Classcraft Blog

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Ms. Hart's classroom hums with activity. Scattered about are two dozen students working in small groups on their latest project: making a shoebox glide through the air. Three students are searching for design principles on the web.

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