Journal # 7

Journal #7
Technology Integration, What Happens Now?
This is an article written by Linda Merillat, Jennifer Holvoet, and Doug Adams about integrating technology into the classroom. Our society is so dependent on technology from cell phones to the Internet that our classrooms are trying to keep up. There was once funding in the past, but now that money is needed elsewhere. There is a program called R*TEC (Regional Technology in Education Consortia) with the original intent to “help state schools, districts, and other educational institutions implement advanced technologies to improve teaching and student achievement.” The article goes on about resources still available to help schools integrate technology into the classroom. No matter how prepared classrooms are technology is constantly advancing and in many ways it is a matter of schools keeping up with these advances that will make a difference.

Question 1: Does Technology inside the classroom truly make a difference in a students overall success?
Answer: I would like to think that if a classroom is not equipped with a computer that it would not make a difference in the success of students, but it may be somewhat hurtful. The more kids are around technology the better that they comprehend it. I wish every school had a state of the art computer lab, but as we read in this article the finances are not available.

Question 2: Rather than having a computer for every class what is another way to help catch schools up technologically?
Answer: I think that a media center, or computer lab where classes alternated days would be beneficial to the students, but it just wouldn’t be enough. I doubt that one day a week would make much impact unless it was more consistent.