Hector Arellano

EDU 225
7/19/15
Professor Clark

The focus of integrating instructional technology is to assist students in adapting to

technology and enhance their learning. In todays global society, it is imperative that students
become familiar with using technological tools that will facilitate their learning. Employers in the
workforce are seeking graduates that are able to perform in a global economy. Since 2000, the
impact of technologies on our society has been critical, significant, and extensive (Delacruz,
2004). Educators need to spend time teaching students proper usage of social media since we are
all exposed to it. Educators use technology to motivate students to be innovators and keep them
engaged. Some examples of technology in the classroom are computers, tablets, web cam, and
whiteboards. The rest of this paper includes a brief description of three technology tools, their
pros and cons and impact and their impact in student learning.
Using tablets in the classroom keeps students working together while making the lesson
fun and engaging. Tablets allow students to research, explore, watch videos, and download apps.
Some students come from low social economic families and do not get the opportunity to explore
tablets at home. All students get the opportunity to use technology that other districts, states and
countries use. Teachers have access to hundreds of educational applications that are free and easy
to install. Tablets are also practical because they can be transported with ease to different
environments like the playground, cafeteria, music class, nature walk, etc. With the use of tablets
students have access to high quality graphics, interactive lessons, and educational videos. After
researching several options on applications, I know that sight words is going to be an app I will be
using to close the achievement gap with struggling readers.
Another technology device that can be used in the classroom is using laptops. Laptops
help students with assignments, research, and projects. Students will practice their workplace
readiness skills by collaboratively working in groups. Using technology helps students with

problem solving, decision making, communication and critical thinking. Laptops enhance
learning by allowing students to type journals, word documents, create power point presentations
and create spreadsheets that strengthen their math skills. A very important concepts that student
work on is creating folders, and saving their work. Student can also email their teacher and access
their classroom website. Educational agencies use desktops and laptops to implement
interventions to struggling students. Many districts are using stride academy, and I-Station. These
web based tools help teachers identify the areas of weakness and allows them to provide
interventions. Also, software programs are installed on laptops to help teachers reinforce student
learning. I have witnessed how successful stride academy is with my son, I will definitely use this
tool on any laptops in the classroom.
Whiteboards is an amazing technology tool that increases student engagement
dramatically when used appropriately. Whiteboards also known as Smartboards bring the end of
the traditional chalkboard and dry erase boards. Most students find it fascinating when they are
able to go up to the board and interact with it as if they do with tablets and smartphones. Instead
of using markers and chalk student are able to use a pen or their fingers to make their selection on
the board. Interactive boards project high quality graphics that attract the attention of all students.
Whiteboards allow you to access various software, the internet, graphics, pages and activities and
tools. Students really enjoy taking part in a lesson that includes the use of whiteboards.
Technology is a resource tool that needs to be incorporated during instruction every day.
During lesson planning educators need to plan the incorporation of technology in every lesson.
Power point presentations are only a minute fraction of the resources available for teachers. Many
of the discipline problems today are a result of students that are not engaged in the classroom.
Educators need to understand that we live in a society where social media is the main form of

communication and therefore it should be included in their learning. Many teachers spend most of
the day fighting against the electronic devices in the classroom while other successful instructors
use the technology as a form of interaction during instruction. It is important that teachers
understand that technology fails regardless of their effort of incorporating it in instruction. Plan B
needs to be in place in case technology fails. There are great benefits in using technology in the
classroom but unfortunately not all districts dedicate the appropriate funds to purchase it. Great
educators learn how to make the best out of every tool provided. They always have technology in
mind and plan ahead to use it.
Wireless classrooms meet the need of a social media community by allowing students to
use technology to interact with their teacher. In an article titled Improving Mathematics teaching
and Learning Experiences an ideal tool and set up is described perfectly.
A Tablet PC is an ultramobiic laptop computer with a convertible screen that can be used
like a tablet, with a stylus and on-screen keyboard input. The teacher writes and presents
teaching contents or questions by using a stylus, while students write remarks on the
questions they do not understand, or answer the teacher's query. All answers can be
transmitted to teachers through the wireless network. The teacher evaluates student
results on the Tablet PC screen directly, then demonstrates the process on the projector to
all students, thus implementing formative assessment (Chen-Chung, 348).
Wireless PC/Tablets makes it more convenient and mobile for the teacher, it suites better for the
classroom environment. Wired classrooms are typically much faster than wireless, extremely
reliable and provides more than enough capacity when using multimedia tools and downloading
files. Contrary to the wireless classroom the wired classroom restrains the teacher to the mobility
around the classroom. With online classes students are able to learn at their own pace and have
access to numerous online resources. Evidence suggests that new technologies also can support
students who struggle with composing print texts (Cunningham & Allington, 2007) or illustrations
(Baker & Kinzer, 1998), and that students motivation to write may increase when they are able to

publish their work online for an authentic audience (Karchmer, 2001). Wired or wireless
classrooms they both support the use of technology for the 21st century learner.
In this global social media community, education agencies are finding new ways to access
student learning. The integration of instructional technology has been ongoing over the past
decade. Districts across the United States have hit bumps along the way but highly encourage and
support educators with the implementation of instructional technology. It is not a secret that we
are all living in a globalized economy and we need to produce scholars that are highly competitive
with those students across the world. There are numerous technology tools that enhance learning,
keep students engaged and encourage innovative thinkers.

References
Anastasiades, P. S., & Vitalaki, E. (2011). Promoting Internet Safety in Greek Primary Schools:
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DeFranco, J.F.(2011). Teaching Internet Security, Safety in Our Classrooms.
Techniques:Connecting Education And Careers, 86(5),52-55
Zydney, J., & Hooper, S. (2015). Keeping Kids Safe From a Design Perspective: Ethical and
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Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 59(2), 40-46. doi:10.1007/s11528-015-0838-x
Black, J. (2009). Necessity Is the Mother of Invention: Changing Power Dynamics between
Teachers and Students in Wired Art Classrooms. Canadian Review Of Art Education:
Research And Issues,3699-117.
Chen-Chung, L., Chien-Chia, C., Baw-Jhlune, L., & Jui-Wen, Y. (2006). IMPROVING
MATHEMATICS TEACHING AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR HARD OF
HEARING STUDENTS WITH WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED
CLASSROOMS. American Annals Of The Deaf, 151(3), 345-355.