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=**Effective Integration of Technology**=

__Explanation of the Focus__ This wiki has been designed to provide a mode of discussion regarding effective technology integration in the classroom and to elicit opinions and ideas from teachers on how to implement technology integration effectively. This is a new project that I am working on to help me develop a better understanding of topics that I am still investigating and experimenting with.

Further topics may include good projects, techniques and the underlying philosophy or pedagogy behind it all. Many ideas on projects listed are stumbled upon, but I find the best source of information has been through the collaborative work that I have had at my school.

Please feel free to add to the discussion thread on any topic of interest or to start your own.

I have begun to develop lists of projects that I have completed at my school, if you would like more information on any of the projects, feel free to contact me, via the wiki.

__The TIS at School__ The Technology Integration Specialist (TIS) is a helpful resource for implementing effective technology integration. The role of the TIS is to help develop technology project ideas, in which the best tool for the job has been chosen. The TIS acts as an advocate for the use of technology as a tool for creative thinking and problem solving projects. Furthermore, the TIS can help teachers efficiently and effectively incorporate technology into daily instruction, including both forms of assessments (Formative and Summative).

One goal of the TIS to help teachers and students choose the appropriate tool for the job and/or to encourage the use of technologies to the full potential.

__The Pending Pedagogy__ Technology should be used to reinforce and enhance learning and the curriculum, in opposition to using technology for the sake of using it. In today's environment, technology can no longer be taught as a stand alone curriculum. Teaching ICT skills in an isolated classroom may not encourage the complete development of 21st century skills; therefore, technology should be taught in a manner that will better prepare students for the workplace, develop their creative thinking skills and encourage the development of life-long problem solving skills.

Today's middle school students are multi-taskers who can listen to their iPods, talk on their mobiles, do their history assignment, Facebook their friends, and search youtube for entertainment, all in one go!They enjoy fast paced graphics, social environments, exciting and "cool" widgets that preform trifling tasks. Music videos are set to change at 1 frame per second to ensure that their attention is kept (Masters, 2009). Students want answers quick and easy and most understand that they can go to the Internet, or more specifically, to Wikipedia to get some sort of an answer. Today's students are learning how to problem solve and these are skills that are useful for their //current// needs. However, because these skills are sometimes self-taught, they alone may or may not continue to support them in their future endeavors.

It is important that we, as educators, cater to their current learning styles and adapt our teaching styles accordingly. We need to develop the skills that we feel will be necessary for the jobs that currently do not exist (Fisch and McLeod, 2009). It is important to recognize that some students will shut down or tune out when teachers assign five paragraph essays or give 50-minute Powerpoint presentations filled with an endless supply of notes and facts. It is important that we model the skills that students are required to use; and we use the applications that our students need to know in order to master skills for their future jobs and successes. Teacher and students together, should use applications that promote creative, problem solving and collaborative skills.

Current education pedagogy implies that there has been a fundamental shift in what and how we are teaching. Teachers are moving from teacher-led classrooms to a more student-centred education. Teachers should focus on integrating active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts into their classrooms daily (Edutopia, 2008). We are making a shift to an educational system where students are becoming more global collaborators and creative thinkers; however, is education moving as fast as it should?

New creative forms of technology have arisen in the past year that now allow us to develop creative graphic designs, web pages, movies, scrapbooks, widgets and more. The concepts of developing your own product, via expensive applications such as Dreamweaver, iPhoto, iMovie, or WIndows Movie Maker are no longer the only mode of production. Free, online applications where creative projects can be made quicker and easier. In addition, the doors have now been opened in such a way that students can collaborate with other students, not just their friends in their school or local communities but in other schools and classrooms all over the globe. How can we ensure that we keep up with the times?

There are many questions to consider.
 * How can we revolutionize the use of basic design applications in schools?
 * How can teachers reform their teaching styles to meet the needs of today's students?
 * What does a classroom with effective technology embedded in the curriculum look like?
 * What are the ways that teachers are promoting globalization and/or cultural awareness in their teaching?
 * What is the most appurtenant learning theory for technology integration? Constructivism? Cognitivism?
 * How can we extend the use of simple Word processing and utilize its full potential? or is it over-rated?
 * How can you encourage global movement locally?

Humanities: Geography, History and Humanities Mathematics Science Physical Education Arts: Drama, Music, Choir, Visual
 * ~ **Subject Areas** ||~  **Resources** ||
 * = Language A- EnglishLanguage B Project Ideas

||= Generalized Resources and websites  Helpful Tips Learning Skills and IT skillsIL integration model|Information Literacy- Integration Model

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References  Fisch, K. and McLeod, S., "Shift Happens." //Wiki//. (2009). 4 Jun 2009 . Masters, Andy. "4 Ways to Engage Today's Generation of Students."//Ezine Articles// (2009) Web.4 Jun 2009. .