| Picture the modern office. What would you | | | | internet-based sources correctly in a bibliography. |
| expect to see in there, technology wise? You'd | | | | Use computers to present information to your |
| expect a computer per workstation - with | | | | class. Whether you have an up-to-date projector |
| internet access for each one - plus a proliferation | | | | or not, remember your students and you are |
| of laptops, Palm Pilots, Blackberries and all the | | | | used to seeing images via media players on the |
| rest. So why do you see most schools - where | | | | internet. It is important to learn about different |
| the next generation to enter the work force is | | | | players and use them in center work with the |
| being trained - using methods of teaching that | | | | computer or in guided instruction with the class if |
| haven't progressed many steps on since the use | | | | you have a projector. There are different media |
| of the slate? Primarily, this is the main reason | | | | files to know, but the Internet has already |
| why you should try to integrate technology in | | | | updated itself and a lot of embedded players play |
| your classroom. | | | | right from their webpage so you can bookmark, |
| And that's not the only reason why you should | | | | time signature mark or have several of the same |
| integrate technology in your classroom. When an | | | | pages queued for matching different lesson points. |
| organization you belong to wants to contact you | | | | Don't forget PowerPoint, it is still an effective |
| (and thirty other people) about an upcoming | | | | point-by-point, easily available and usable software |
| event, how do you get notified? Via email, usually. | | | | program for presenting lesson information. New |
| So why do teachers still use "Pupil Post" and send | | | | technologies like the interactive white boards are |
| messages home on slips of paper to parents (a | | | | coming, so take a look at online tutorials and |
| notoriously unreliable method of communication)? | | | | usage because even if you don't have the |
| Even if you're the sports coach/physical education | | | | technology yet, there are creative lesson ideas |
| teacher, you can integrate technology in your | | | | and techniques for using technology. |
| classroom. Don't all the top sports coaches use | | | | Use a classroom video camera to record your |
| slow-motion replay to show the athletes they | | | | most important lessons and upload this to your |
| work with how to improve their technique? While | | | | classroom website. This way, students can catch |
| you may not be able to provide this sort of | | | | up on lessons they missed out on, parents can |
| coaching to every student, you may be able to | | | | have a way to see what's going on in the |
| use a video to show how the muscles in a | | | | classroom, valuable classroom activities and |
| runner's leg work together, to give one example. | | | | student participation can be had by having and |
| The possibilities are almost endless. Here are | | | | using a classroom video recorder and you and |
| some suggestions to try if you want to integrate | | | | your students can learn valuable editing techniques |
| technology in your classroom: | | | | that come with camera software. |
| Use video. This is imperative for science, social | | | | This is an exciting time to be a teacher. The new |
| studies, film study, media studies or Shakespeare | | | | resources open up unbelievable possibilities, |
| study, but this most common form of technology | | | | especially when time is such a constraint in your |
| has wider, cross-curricular uses. Similar technology | | | | day to day schedule, but it is important to take |
| types include DVDs and online video clips. Don't | | | | the extra time to set up technology in your |
| just play them - use them creatively as part of | | | | classroom and in your lessons. The result will be |
| your lesson. | | | | better lessons for your digital native students. |
| Use computers for research. Most of your | | | | Don't let the words "technology integration" scare |
| students probably already know how to use | | | | you. Standard methods for using media in your |
| search engines to find what they need or want to | | | | elementary lessons are still the benchmark for an |
| know. As a teacher who wants to integrate | | | | effective lesson. Technology should be seen as |
| technology in your classroom, your task is to | | | | just another tool in your lesson-not the lesson. |
| teach them how to use these (if they don't | | | | Check out the free video tutorial "The 7 Biggest |
| already know), how to sort good and useful | | | | Mistakes Teachers Make Using Video in the |
| information sources from unreliable ones (e.g. | | | | Classroom" to see how your lessons measure up |
| someone's blog is probably not likely to be the | | | | and download the Expert Guide for your Lesson |
| best source of scientific information... unless it's | | | | Planning Resources. |
| the blog of a leading scientist), and how to cite | | | | |