Advantages and Disadvantage of Integrating Technology

Advantages of Integrating Technology

There are advantages of integrating technology into the classroom such as using virtual manipulatives to bridge the gap between abstract and concrete (Roblyer, 2013.) Here is an example of Technology Integration with Math Money Manipulative:

Including technology in the classroom is a useful classroom resource. The video showed how the students could use the online manipulative to increase their money math skills.

Disadvantages of Integrating Technology

Students can get off task if they are given too much free roam with the technology. Teachers need to establish a clear purpose and reason to be using the technology. Also, some students may not know the technology that is being used and it may be harder for them to work the program. Included is a link to the Navajo Code Blog that discusses 12 Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in Education. Some reasons they list include: the distraction computers cause in the classroom, cheating is easier, students believing that everything on the internet is true, and technology is expensive to keep up to date.

Specific Activities, Programs, Etc. 

Resources found in Roblyer, 2013: 
National Council of Teachers Mathematics
Spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel
Math Forum at Drexel-Ask Dr. Math
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
Hands-on/minds-on Science
Telescopes in Education
Carnegie's Cognitive Tutor Software

Module 3 Blog

Materials Generators

• Google Docs
• Puzzle Maker

Using Google Docs in the classroom would be beneficial to the students because they are able to create documents online and access them from different places if need be. The students would also  be able share the document with others and critique each others work online. The Puzzle Maker would be beneficial to the students because like Roblyer states, "Teachers create puzzles and worksheets to allow skill practice." (2016, PG 144) Using a puzzle to work on skill practice would be engaging for the students.

Testing & Grading Tools

• Google Sheets Add-on: Flubaroo
• Rubric Maker: RubiStar

I believe that the teacher using an electronic gradebook would be beneficial to the students because the teacher would have more time to focus on her students instead of calculating grades. Even if the teacher does this after school, this gives them more time to prepare for the next days lesson rather than calculating the weighted score on their own. Also, having an online site that creates rubrics would be beneficial to the students because the teacher would access to different ways to grade the student. The student would benefit because they would also be able to know what the teacher is looking for in an assignment because the rubric would have it listed for them.

Graphics Tools 

• Google Drawings
• KidPix

Using KidPix would allow the students to sit down and create graphics into their documents easily. Roblyer states that, "drawing is a representational form of communication that is a precursor to writing, and recommend drawing software on a tablet computer for its versatility." (2016, PG 157) The software would be beneficial to the students because they could communicate their thoughts and ideas in another way rather than writing and use the drawing as a stepping stone in communication. Google Drawings allows the students or teachers to add in drawings into their Google Docs or other Google online software.

Planning and Organizing Tools 

• Mindomo
• Schedule Maker

Mindomo would be a beneficial software for students because the "concept mapping software tools are designed to help people think through and explore ideas or topics by developing concept maps." (Roblyer, 2016, PG 160) The app also allows the students to convert their map into an outline which would benefit the students if they needed to do a presentation for the class. The Schedule Maker software allows the students and parents to see times that the teacher is available to meet. Not only is this beneficial to the students, but also a quick and easy way for teachers to keep their schedules readily available for others.

Research & Reference Tools 

• Google Maps
• Dictionary.com

Google maps would be beneficial to use in the classroom because you are able to pull up locations and sites that students may be learning about. You are also able to interact with the towns zooming in to see what the area may look like as well. Dictionary.com would be useful and beneficial to the students because the site allows the students to look up definitions and gives synonyms for words as well.

Online Tools, Uses, and Web-Based Development

Search Engines

Learning to use search engines and proper Web navigation can help the teacher and students to find better information that is useful to them. Knowing how to determine a reliable site will help determine if the site is a reliable resource. Knowing how to search on a search engine will cut down time spent looking through irrelevant links.

Website Evaluation Video

Included is a useful video that can be used in the classroom as a tool to teach students about how to determine if a site is reliable or not. Remembering the 5W's is simple and will help the student determine if the site could be trusted to use their information.

Favorite Professional Websites

One professional website that will be useful when I am a teaching professional is ReadWorks.org. On this site you are able to locate different passages based on reading level, topic, lexile level, and/or to target any specific reading skill or strategy. You are able to locate a passage that relates to the topic being discussed in class or a specific strategy that can be focused on during reading intervention. I found the website to be organized well and easily navigated (Roblyer, 2016).
Another website that I found useful is https://kids.usa.gov/. On this website it includes lesson plans, videos, and links to reliable websites that can be used in the classroom.

Online Safety and Security
Cyberbullying is very common in the technology world. "Cyberbullying is the practice of using technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person" (Roblyer, 2016). Creating a safe zone within your classroom with help teach the students how to interact with others online. The website Kids.gov that I mentioned earlier has information on how to teach students about online bullying and what to do if it ever happens. 

Basic Three

Word Processing Software

Word Processing Software is often used in the classroom by both teachers and students. Teachers are able to have access to documents through the cloud that can be modified instead of creating new ones, which makes your time more efficiently spent. (Roblyer, 2016, p.116) Students are able to write and edit their materials quicker and easier than with a paper and pencil. There have been concerns that by allowing the students to use word processing software the majority of the time that they will then not be able to write legibly, so there is a balance that needs to be in place to prevent that.

Spreadsheet Software

Spreadsheets are used often by teachers when creating assignments or as grading software. The spreadsheets can be saved in the cloud as well, so accessing them from home and school are helpful and will allow teachers to save time to not have to recreate materials that may have been left at one or the other. There have been some positives and negatives to the students using the software. One positive is that it tends to help students visualize numerical concepts better than other software. On the other side of the spectrum, if students have a fear of doing math it may add to their anxiety. To help students realize that the software is suppose to be used as an aid and not hinder them you may want to try giving the students smaller less involved assignments until they are more comfortable with the software. (Roblyer, 2016, p.125)

Presentation Software

Presentation Software is flexible in that you are able to use the software to support your teaching style. I would use this software by creating a PowerPoint that goes along with the lesson I am teaching. Having a PowerPoint allows the students to see what you are talking about or for you to "say and display", a way to limit the questions because it is on the board via PowerPoint Presentation. It is beneficial for visual leaners and ELL leaners in that you can have pictures that go along with the slides that help solidify what is being shown/taught. (Roblyer, 2016) Students are able to use the software to present to their classmates in a visually appealing way by including pictures, songs, and even videos (same as the teacher would to their students!) rather than typing out a paper on the subject. The teacher will also have to make sure the students do not put every single word they will be saying on the powerpoint, because then what's the point of being up there if you could just read it! 

Classroom Use--Chosen Software

In my classroom I would like to implement the presentation software while teaching. It enhances the lesson, let's you "say & display", and you are also able to edit the software with ease saving you time. There have been many a lessons by previous teachers of mine that have everything they are going to say written out, or having the students copy down everything that is on the board. It causes your mind to wonder and for you not to learn because you are too busy asking your friend what you missed from the slide before. In my classroom it will be used as a way for students to see what I am asking them to do and incorporate them into the lesson by having them respond to what is on the board.

I have included a video that I have found that showcases PowerPoint Morning Work templates that are editable. I love being able to change the Morning Work to suit the needs of my class! Having this system set up in my class will also allow the students to come in during the morning and go ahead and get started without having to ask questions and allow the teacher time to take role or lunch count for the morning!

Works Cited
Roblyer, M. D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into teaching (7th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Hello!

Hello, all! My name is Lane McKee. I have a loving husband and two precious dogs. The purpose of this blog is for a technology class that I am currently enrolled in. I have a passion for teaching and am currently pursing the goal of becoming an educator with a degree in Elementary Education at the University of Montevallo. I am looking forward to learning more about how to implement technology into the classroom! Thank you for coming on this journey with me!