Meaningful_Technology_Integration

Meaningful technology integration would be using technology in the classroom to help students learn more than if the technology was not present. Successful integration could take many forms. The teacher could use technology to help deliver information to students and parents. The technology could also allow students to work independently or in groups to create projects, do research, or assist in studying. The technology could also help communication between participants by reading blogs, sharing resources, and basic e-mail. Regardless of the method, meaningful technology integration would be using a type of technology with the purpose of helping the students, parents, or teachers in some way.

Technology is more than machines. It's any tool that is used to enhance what that student does, anything that is an asset incorporated into their learning. Enhances the student's ability to communicate his/her knowledge. Serves as a means to network students and engage them.

Meaningful technology integration should use web 2.0 tools (This seems silly. Surely there is technology that is not a web 2.0 tool that could be used meaningfully in the classroom. What about graphing calculators or calculators in general?)

Using technology **__when and where it's really needed__**, not just when it's The teacher decides? The students decide? Death by PowerPoint? PowerPoint, may miss ideas and if you didn't write it down, the teacher wouldn't.

Not always using it, staring at screen. Need variety otherwise I get bored. (I'm not sure I understand this one...)

Using it when it's **__appropriate__**.

Challenge the teacher to think of things in new ways and have students use technology in the future. (as one of the articles we were suppose to read pointed out, meaningful technology integration is not necessarily meant to TEACH the students how to use technology. Teaching a student how to type is NOT successful integration. Successful integration does not even require the student touch the form of technology but could simply be the teacher putting a movie up on the screen or the announcements on a slideshow. Students are not required to walk away with a better understanding of technology after successful integration has occurred.) Both you and the teacher learn something from it and maybe the students as well.

Meaningful Technology Integration is being able to find a new way to teach the same old stuff, but so more people can learn it. Using technology in a classroom that enhances learning and invites interests for all students. (meaningful technology integration is not just to teach the "same old stuff." Technology integration CAN be used to teach the same material as without technology BUT meaningful integration can be used to teach things that could never be taught before. In a foreign language class students could actually have discussions with students from other countries through a webcam and microphone for free when in most cases having a verbal conversation with a telephone would have been too expensive or time consuming for schools)

Meaningful technology occurs when the goal of the technology is the same as the goal of the learning. The technology would enhace the learning of students by helping extend their ability to learn for and by themselves in the future.