Technology Integration
The term technology integration is associated with the intelligent application of technology tools and resources to among others, teaching and learning processes as well as learning outcomes. It is a very important aspect of the present-day digital world as it lays the base for the students to be part of a technology-oriented world while at the same time provides a rich learning experience for them.
Innovative technology integration is the process of achieving several important steps: it is the alignment with the curriculum, the provision of appropriate technology tools, teacher training and professional development, and the continuing assessment of the impact of learning on technology. As an example, the use of interactive whiteboards in the classroom could be the most engaging students if it is aligned with the lesson plans and teachers are trained to use them properly.
The inclusion of technology in education can be a great way to improve the student learning process because it provides several resources, promotes collaboration, and helps in personalized learning. For example, educational software gives students the freedom to learn at their own rate, and Google Classroom is a platform that enables student collaboration on projects, thus, their teamwork and critical thinking skills are advanced in the process.
Integrating technology in the classroom can be the main issue for educators who encounter problems such as insufficient resources, insufficient training, the resistance to the transition to traditional teaching methods, and the requirement of constant ongoing technical assistance. For instance, a school can have state-of-the-art technology but if the instructors are not sufficiently trained in its usage, it could prove difficult for them to efficiently include it in their lessons.
Institutions can enhance the integration of technology into their curriculum by organizing total professional development programs for teachers, creating a collaborative environment, and making sure that the technology tools they use are in line with the CAI plan. along with this, they can initiativamente the workshops, the regular sessions where the teachers present successful figures of technology they have used, that would encourage their pairs to do the same or similarly in their classes.