1-4: Reflection

What are your ideas of what a technology integration specialist is as you previously learned in other SNHU courses? 

My current ideas of a technology integration specialist based on prior courses, is the tech integrator is a person who is responsible for teachers other teachers about technology. The technology integration specialist is responsible for finding new technology and resources for teachers to use in their lessons and help teachers integrate these tools into student learning. Tech integrators work with teachers inside and outside of the classroom. The tech integrator should be helping teachers to incorporate the national technology standards into their classroom. 

Also, discuss today’s students and teachers as related to their use of technology in and out of the classroom. 

In the MacArthur Foundation's video (2010), one idea was that students and teachers use technology appropriately and put it away when it is not necessary. Students currently are very connected to technology and usually have their own devices they use at home. At school, it seems like the majority of classrooms in my building ask students to unplug from technology completely. Teachers need to give students a chance to connect in the classroom like they do in their out of school lives.

The video also talks about students becoming a producer of content using technology. In my building, students and teachers are both content viewers (which can be seen through the conversations they have with each other), but rarely do students get a chance to create with technology in school. My students will often tell me about elaborate worlds they have created in Minecraft at home, so my third graders can be content creators in their home lives.

David Warlick's article (2010) discusses how the focus of technology right now is about getting one to one devices, when it should be on the type of activities we are using the devices to accomplish. Warlick discusses how 21st century learning is about creating experiences that will benefit our students. This means that we should be having our students use technology in useful ways, not just to word process documents. However, this is not the case in all schools (mine included). Teachers are unsure of how to integrate technology in a useful manner.

Reference:

MacArthur Foundation. (2010, December 1). Rethinking learning: The 21st century learner. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=c0xa98cy-Rw 

Warlick, D. (2010, August 16). Technology for 21st century learning: Part 1. Retrieved from http://2cents.onlearning.us/?p=2712