EDLD+5364+week+4

I really enjoyed this week lectures. There were so close to our reallity. We teachers sometimes feel like we have to integrate technology to curriculum without knowing how to do it. I personally feel that I need somebody modeling what is required to do. Even though I have some knowledge in technology, is hard for me to plan and integrate technology lessons to my curriculum lessons. There are other times where I know how to integrate them but I don't have enough materials/media to use in the classroom.

As Dirksen & Tharp, 2000; Ringstaff & Kelley, 2002 said, if teachers are not adequately and appropriately trained in the use of technology, its impact on student performance is minimal. Then, when lesson are integrated, teachers face another issue, most of their students don't have computers at home, and whatever is taught at school can't be put into practice at home.

Although our districts follow specific technology objectives for k-12 grades, as a pre-k teacher, I have to be aware of what my students need to know, their technology foundation. Other than knowing how to use the hardware, and have control of the mouse and knowledge of the keyboard, it is important to foster student's critical thinking. I totally agree with Schacter and Fagnano (1999) as they recommend technology implementations based on socio-cultural and constructivist theories rather than on behaviorist theories. It seems that technology integration is more effective when educators try to follow and foster discussions, debate, group collaboration, critical thinking, high engagement activities, creative-meaningful projects, motivation, problem solving skills, collection of data and analysis.