Integrating Technology Into the Curriculum

Over the past few years,  I've spent many hours writing campus/district technology plans,  training administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents in the instructional use of technology.  The process of discovery is invariably exciting and frustrating.

While integrating technology into the curriculum is exciting, it can also be frustrating.  Frustrating because the greatest obstacle to technology integration into the curriculum is not students, parents, or even, teachers.  Rather, it is administration.  Often, administrators see technology in the classroom as a toy, as an expensive add-on.  And, while some administrators are supportive, they often attempt to hold the reins to technology integration in their hands.  

And, that's exactly the wrong thing to do.  For technology to succeed in the classroom,  teachers are the ones that must be empowered.  To empower them,  administration must provide teachers extensive technology staff development, distinguish in that training between drill & practice/tutorial programs and tools/simulations software,  and allow teachers to write their own campus technology plans, district technology plans, linked to instructional goals.

It's a simple process; here's the "formula:"

1.  Hire an Instructional Technology Specialist (read below for job description):

a.  Instructional Responsibilities of the Technology Coordinator(s):

--Plan with classroom teachers activities/projects that involve the 

use of technology 

applications in the classroom.

--Coordinate on-campus staff development and log all hours off 

campus.

--Keep abreast of instructional technology software and make 

recommendations 

so  long as they coincide with Technology 

Plan goals.

--Establish a computer club for all grade levels.

--Teach an instructional technology parent class that 

meets Technology Goals 2, 4, and 5.

--Publish an up-to-date technology newsletter.

b.  Technical Responsibilities of the Technology Coordinator(s):

--Ensure maintenance and care of ALL computers--Apple //e, 

MacIntosh, 

MS-DOS--on campus.

--Maintain an up-to-date inventory of software and hardware on 

campus.

--Ensure the operation of networks in the school.

2.  Tell teachers you believe in them and their students. "Ask not what computers can do to students, but what students can do with computers."

3.  Offer teachers training, make them earn computers for their classrooms."Hardware without software is just junk, but software without teaching is just noise."

4. Establish a campus technology committee that will write a campus technology plan (sample copy included).

5. Train campus technology committee, then provide time for them to train other teachers on their grade level or in their area of specialty.  Encourage teachers to use computers in the classroom, and be supportive during teacher evaluations.

6. Have teachers have their students present work they have done to the whole campus, and even district-wide, at Kids' Technology Conferences.

7. ALL teachers can learn how to use a computer instructionally. Never forget that.