The using technology vs integrating technology post provides a very useful chart that does a good job defining the difference between using and integrating.  The 5 classroom tips to integrating technology were also useful in helping define the most important aspects for attaining seamless technology integration.

In my classroom the most important aspect for attaining seamless integration is centered around easy instructions. I have three to four students who are tech leaders and they go around and help others by assisting with logging in, staying on task, and using the technology properly. By having a classmate help them, it makes it easier for students to learn how to use the technology as well as helps me learn how to use it. These tech leaders also help answer questions that can develop during class time by having experienced them themselves. These tech leaders help to build clear and easy directions for the class by giving them in their own way. THey then build rapport with the students by being able to answer the questions that arise themselves.

THis is an important tool to me for seamless instruction because it allows for more than one person in the room to be the teacher. It builds on necessary skills that the students need as well.

Technology has many different uses in the classroom and is constantly being used in new innovative ways as well. It's important for technology to be used correctly in these innovative environments because then the learning isn't interrupted. When technology becomes a central focus or even half an idea for learning, then it loses some aspects. With technology, we can't focus entirely on building learning around whatever technology platform is currently popular, because those platforms are always changing which then means the children's learning is changing. Technology needs to be a supplement to the learning rather than the full focus of the learning.

While technology as a learning tool is nice with automatic grading or intervention strategies that are provided, it acts better as a supplement than as the actual learning device. We as teachers are really the only ones that can teach the connections between what the students are learning and their daily life.

I believe if the district had a set framework such as TIM, SAMR, or TPACK, that there would be more consistency among the schools and their technology usage. It would be nice to be able to move forward as a school/district with a set guide. The SAMR really aligns with Blooms taxonomy in a way that makes it easier to see how to integrate technology within the classroom. By adding in an actual framework I feel that technology integration would be greater.

I think these resources help to see the usefulness of each model.

When it comes to engaging and motivating the students, a teacher needs to make them think critically and use content knowledge to solve a problem that is relevant to them. This results in application of students learning as well as building on the 4 Cs. They then build other skills outside of the 4 Cs that are important for their future. They can use Twitter or Facebook to do research. They can build online portfolios to show ongoing progress towards solving the problem presented creating a long term project as well.

Technology is a supplement to learning. It can be used to assist in teaching just as projectors and videos. There are apps and websites that build on knowledge the students have already learned. However, it is just that, a supplement. Technology cannot learn what interests the students and then teach them, Therefore it is most useful in assisting in the learning. Apps such as Dreambox or prodigy are supplemental to the teaching that was done by the teacher.