Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?: The Reasons Are Many

http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction


This article was interesting to me because it gave several good reasons to use technology in the classroom setting. I know this graduate course we are currently taking has helped me in a lot of ways expand my use of technology and resources for where to find specific educational sites for students to use that are engaging to them.
I liked how the article talked about four key components of learning - active engagement, participation, interactions/feedback, as well as real-world experts. These were all very true of using technology in the classroom. I believe it encourages student interactions, not only with other students, but in the whole class setting. By giving students real world examples and pictures, they get to see examples of those real world objects and make connections to what they are learning in the classroom setting.
The article also talked about how technology helps students to stay more engaged on the lesson and on what is being taught in the classroom. By giving students pictures, videos, and real-world experts that know about a particular topic that the class is studying, it can really help students to make those connections and stay engaged on what is being taught. When students are engaged on the lesson, they are less likely to cause behavior issues in the classroom and more likely to stay on-task on the lesson. I know that when I was in school, I loved when the teacher would play a clip or video on a particular topic we were covering in the class. Often times, students need a visual or another learning technique other than the teacher just standing in the front of the class lecturing. By keeping students engaged in the lesson with the use of technology, students are more likely to make connections and understand the material, as well as participate and provide feedback during classroom discussions.