Interview with a Interview with a Technology Education Technology Education

TeacherTeacher

Emily SmithEmily Smith

MEDT 8461MEDT 8461

Diffusion of InnovationsDiffusion of Innovations

Dr. Carol TurnerDr. Carol Turner

Technology Education teacher at Technology Education teacher at Lee Middle School in Sharpsburg, Lee Middle School in Sharpsburg, Ga.Ga.Master of Science in Computer Master of Science in Computer Applications Applications Doctor of Education Specializing Doctor of Education Specializing in Technology in Technology Teacher of the Year in 2003 and Teacher of the Year in 2003 and 2006 2006 Published-April 2001, Published-April 2001, Connections (Special Interest Connections (Special Interest Group of Technology Group of Technology Coordinators), “How to Integrate Coordinators), “How to Integrate Technology Appropriately to Technology Appropriately to Support Effective Instructional Support Effective Instructional Practices Across the Curriculum”Practices Across the Curriculum”

What is your definition of What is your definition of technological literacy?technological literacy?

Technological Literacy is concerned Technological Literacy is concerned with developing students' awareness with developing students' awareness of how technology is related to the of how technology is related to the broader social system, and how broader social system, and how technological systems cannot be fully technological systems cannot be fully separated from the political, cultural separated from the political, cultural and economic frameworks which and economic frameworks which shape them.shape them.

When you hear the phrase “technology When you hear the phrase “technology integration” what does that mean to integration” what does that mean to

you?you?Effective technology Effective technology integration is achieved integration is achieved when its use supports when its use supports curricular goals. curricular goals. I design I design the technology the technology integration lessons in integration lessons in such a way that is such a way that is accessible and accessible and applicable to their lives, applicable to their lives, as well as flexible as well as flexible enough to be enough to be appropriate for the range appropriate for the range of learners. of learners.

How should technology be used How should technology be used in education?in education?

Technology Education is teaching about Technology Education is teaching about technology as a subject area like math or technology as a subject area like math or science. Educational Technology is using science. Educational Technology is using technology as a teaching tool to enhance the technology as a teaching tool to enhance the teaching and learning process. Technology, teaching and learning process. Technology, used best, involves high order thinking skills - used best, involves high order thinking skills - Evaluation, Synthesis, Analysis, Application, Evaluation, Synthesis, Analysis, Application, Comprehension and Knowledge. Comprehension and Knowledge.

What principles should guide your What principles should guide your approach for integrating technology approach for integrating technology

into instruction?into instruction?My goal is to develop authentic work, which my My goal is to develop authentic work, which my students see as relevant and challenging. While students see as relevant and challenging. While balancing hands-on-activities or student-centered balancing hands-on-activities or student-centered projects, I have to activate the prior knowledge projects, I have to activate the prior knowledge students have locked away or provide instruction students have locked away or provide instruction on new material. By creating this classroom on new material. By creating this classroom environment, I am preparing students to be self-environment, I am preparing students to be self-directed problem solvers and self-sufficient directed problem solvers and self-sufficient learners.  This is one of the greatest learners.  This is one of the greatest accomplishments that I as an educator can accomplishments that I as an educator can achieve. achieve.

When can you expect technology When can you expect technology to be effective?to be effective?

By teaching my students how to By teaching my students how to develop dynamic, interactive develop dynamic, interactive information, they develop their information, they develop their literacy standards by learning how literacy standards by learning how to become independent learners to become independent learners as well as developing their social as well as developing their social responsibility through the sharing responsibility through the sharing of information with others. of information with others. Students enrolled in Technology Students enrolled in Technology Education begin their course of Education begin their course of study in a group setting, learning a study in a group setting, learning a set of general skills that apply to all set of general skills that apply to all technology learning modules. technology learning modules.

What are some obstacles you have What are some obstacles you have encountered when trying to integrate encountered when trying to integrate

technology?technology? At the beginning of each nine-weeks in the At the beginning of each nine-weeks in the stadium-seating classroom, I provide whole group stadium-seating classroom, I provide whole group instruction for several class periods. This instruction instruction for several class periods. This instruction is aimed at introducing technology concepts and is aimed at introducing technology concepts and vocabulary quickly. As a common understanding of vocabulary quickly. As a common understanding of module technology develops amongst the students, module technology develops amongst the students, my teaching becomes more dialogic. This teaching my teaching becomes more dialogic. This teaching format is used to present materials for discussion format is used to present materials for discussion while I listen and respond to student reflections and while I listen and respond to student reflections and questions on the module topics. questions on the module topics.

Do you have a technology Do you have a technology integration success story?integration success story?

I feel that I have success stories everyday. I feel that I have success stories everyday. However I will share one story from last 9-However I will share one story from last 9-weeks. The module Urban Planning has weeks. The module Urban Planning has students planning and creating a city with the students planning and creating a city with the software, SimCity. SimCity is an excellent software, SimCity. SimCity is an excellent constructivist-learning tool, since my students constructivist-learning tool, since my students can negotiate environmental constraints, solve can negotiate environmental constraints, solve simulated real-world problems, and witness the simulated real-world problems, and witness the effects of changes in variables. This is effects of changes in variables. This is accomplished by an interactive multimedia accomplished by an interactive multimedia simulated complex work experience, through a simulated complex work experience, through a game, and served as a critical tool to evaluate game, and served as a critical tool to evaluate skills that are difficult to measure in tests. skills that are difficult to measure in tests.

What makes the difference between What makes the difference between successful technology integration successful technology integration

and a failed attempt?and a failed attempt?Staying organized, keeping Staying organized, keeping the equipment working and the equipment working and taking technology one step at taking technology one step at a time is the difference a time is the difference between successful between successful technology integration and a technology integration and a failed attempt. Also providing failed attempt. Also providing opportunities for the students opportunities for the students to interact with technology to interact with technology and to understand and use and to understand and use technology by encouraging technology by encouraging self-paced mastery, as well self-paced mastery, as well as a student-team approach, as a student-team approach, can be a success as well as can be a success as well as a failure if not handle a failure if not handle properly. properly.

What should you do if you are not What should you do if you are not convinced you can integrate convinced you can integrate

technology into your instruction?technology into your instruction?Take it one step at a time. Take it one step at a time. Start with a simple Start with a simple lesson, maybe only using lesson, maybe only using technology for research technology for research or even using technology or even using technology to present your results to present your results with PowerPoint. Keeping with PowerPoint. Keeping it simple is the key. Trying it simple is the key. Trying to do too much only to do too much only creates frustration and creates frustration and fear in using technology fear in using technology in your lesson. in your lesson.