Integration is defined as the act of combining two parts to make one whole. In this regards, Technology can be integrated in teaching. 
Technology Integration is regarded the best as compared to technology use. 
In this unit I, had explored through the SAMR Model developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura which explains how teachers evolved from using technology to improve their teaching, to later integrating it to transform teaching and learning.

 

I also learnt on the importance of technology in education such as: learning is anywhere, it replaces old ways of learning, it helps to ignite innovations, and it also enables smarter feedback. 

The concept of deep learning was one of the important concepts I came across in this unit. Deep learning is important in a number of ways such as it promotes the qualities children need for success by building complex understanding and meaning rather than focusing on the learning of superficial knowledge that can today be gleaned through search engines. Deep learning instruction provides students with the advanced skills necessary to deal with a world in which good jobs are becoming more cognitively demanding. It prepares them to be curious, continuous, independent learners as well as thoughtful, productive, active citizens in a democratic society.

 

The TPACK Framework, this is the interrelationship between technology pedagogical and content in the learning process.  This framework makes learning to both teachers and students in the away that it makes learning simple and interesting. 

Multimedia resources combine any of these elements: 

·         Text

·         Audio

·         Graphics

·         Animation

·         Video

·         Interactivity

Multimedia is a type of content that combines different forms like text, audio or graphics, animations, video or interactive elements. Making use of multimedia in your classroom is a great way of getting students to interact with their lesson content. 

WhatsApp can also be used as a teaching and learning tool. In fact, many teachers use WhatsApp to support teaching and learning. WhatsApp became a powerful tool to support teaching and learning during lockdowns around the world.

There are two types of assessment and these are Assessment for Learning and Assessment of Learning.  Assessment for Learning is important in the way that; it provide students with accurate, descriptive feedback of their learning,  differentiate instruction by continually checking where each student is in relation to the curriculum outcomes and it provide descriptive feedback about student learning and ideas for support while on the other hand Assessment of Learning indicate each student’s  level of learning, report fair, accurate and detailed information that can be used to discuss and decide the next steps in students’ learning. Some of the eAssessment tools that we can use are kahoot, plickers and subject specific Apps. 

In face-to-face teachers can bridge physical and geographical spaces with relative ease: teachers can bring students to a central location in a class and if they can't hear them, teachers can speak louder or ask students to be quiet so they can all hear while in online class, teachers can use WhatsApp or emails to send messages and reach across vast geographical distances or even send lesson notes. In an online class teachers can reach out to students who are in far distant areas. 

"Synchronous interaction happens at exactly the same time. Students and teachers are online at the same time and all interact with each other in an online space like a WhatsApp call or Google Meet, a Zoom meeting or the BigBlueButton meeting room. Asynchronous interaction takes place at different times when everyone is online at a time that is convenient to them. They can access learning in a WhatsApp group and post a comment, complete a task in a Google classroom or on Moodle, and then participate in the class forum where they discuss it."

Social presence is the sense of being with one another. We can create a social presence by using the following applications; a Flipgrid can create a socila community. Flipgrid is an app to allow you to record short videos, introduce yourself, reflect on learning or share experiences, post a video to a 'grid' and share it with others, who can watch them and comment on them.Other applications that can create a social presence are WhatsApp or Facebook groups are other tools to create communities. WhatsApp works really well, as it is so immediate! Response time is minimal and it really helps for quick communication, dissemination of information and peer support. 

We can also connect with our students by using Bluetooth and SHAREit.