Question

Example of how educational technology helps in developing curriculum

Answer 1

What does the integration of technology into the curriculum look like?Is it being able to create a spreadsheet that calculates student marks? How about typing a handout and printing it out for students? Is it having students line up at a computer to complete several levels of a drill and practice software program?  My answer is a firm NO!  Technology is a wonderful tool that can be used to assist teachers and students in the classroom.  In fact, teachers should be encouraged to use technology to assist them in their role as teacher.  This is an important step towards integrating technology into the curriculum.  However the true integration of technology goes far beyond the role of assistant.Technology is changing at a rapid pace and causing more and more confusion on how to use it in an effective, integrated manner in schools.  It seems that there has been a focus on the physical machine when it comes to teaching with computers.  In fact, the teaching has been teaching computers.  Students spend many hours learning how to use software applications or computer science concepts. The question arises should students be learning aboutcomputers or should you let students learnwith computers as they learning content related to curriculum objectives.  The integration of technology should contribute to the teaching and learning in the classroom.  Computers shouldnt be an add-on or used as a time filler.  The computer should be a means for reaching the instructional objectives in the classroom.  Therefore, the curriculum is the place to start when integrating technology.  The teacher, along with the curriculum, should guide the integration of technology and not the computer.