Helpful+Tips+for+Integrating+Technology+Effectively

These are some helpful tips to help make integration of technology into the curriculum, effective and easy.


 * Know your curricular objectives. What do you really want the students to know after the assessment or unit?**
 * Keeping focus on the final objective, helps to guide the technology project and the final outcome.
 * Developing a profound question or essential question for the unit/lesson, will also aid in planning.
 * Example:
 * Why does the struggle in Israel and Palestine still exist today?
 * Does the transmission of the microbe/disease coincide with popular tourist vacation sites?
 * Would you rather be an immigrant in 1890 or 1990? Why?
 * Which simple machine idea is most valuable in your life?
 * How should we solve the problem of water pollution in our neighborhood?


 * Know the smaller objectives and skills. Do your students need reinforcement on specific curricular or IT skills? Can these skills be incorporated with the project or assessment?**
 * Are there any skills that you need to teach or assess in this unit?
 * What are they?
 * What skills do the students need to practice on?
 * Are there smaller objectives that need focus?
 * Is group work an option? Or should it be individualized work?
 * Are there small IT techniques or skills that are used or needed?


 * Know how long you wish to spend on the topic. Setting a timeline will help you be more realistic when planning.**
 * Approximately, when will you start the unit?
 * Approximately when will you want to finish the unit?
 * Are there any major holidays in between?
 * Always factor in time, in the event that technology fails.


 * What kind of assessment do you plan on doing? What are the needs of the curriculum?**
 * Will the activity allow student creativity and choice?
 * Is this project the assessment?
 * Is there another form of assessment needed?
 * What are the needs of the assessment criteria?
 * Are the IT skills part of the assessment?
 * Will the activity require the student to create a new knowledge or information?


 * What kind of differentiation do I need?**
 * Is scaffolding needed?

What is the best tool for the technology project?
 * Is the technology the best solution? or will it be a hindrance?
 * Is there a selection of tools that the students can choose from?
 * Is there freeware or other applications that could be easier/cheaper?
 * How much assistance do I need?


 * Designing the activity!**
 * Do you already have an idea of what you want to do, but need to finalize the “how to’s?