Technology integration is the incorporation of various kinds of digital devices and media into an elementary, middle or high school teacher’s lessons in an effort to enhance the curriculum being covered, engage the students, and introduce new technologies to the students. The term technology includes, but is not limited to, computers and applicable software, digital video and still cameras, mp3 players, interactive whiteboards, student response systems, the Internet, e-books, CDs, DVDs, digital voice recorders, and video games.
Successful technology integration occurs in a number of ways. First, technology integration can be successful if teachers ensure that a lesson combined with technology will be more effective in developing a student’s understanding of an idea than the same lesson without technology. In other words, technology should enhance the lesson, not distract or confuse the student. Secondly, technology integration should educate the student not only in the course material, but in the technology itself, either through use of the technology in follow-up assignments, or by allowing students to interact with the technology during the lesson. Lessons infused with technology should also be standards-based, and should promote the development of higher-order thinking skills. Finally and most importantly, technology integration will only prevail if school administrators make technology use a priority in their schools. In order to accomplish this, they must regularly purchase new software and devices, provide adequate training and support for the teachers, and encourage and allow time for teachers to work together and increase each other’s confidence in using technology.
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