Blog Entry 2

In Zach Miner’s article Classroom Technology Integration, Zach focuses on how educators are expected to teach students how to “learn more complex and analytical skills in preparation for work and life in the 21st century global economy.” Miner thinks that we should develop students higher order thinking and performance skills. The major problem that is discussed in this article is the lack of effectiveness of professional development for teachers. Professional development opportunities are not “hands-on” enough for most teachers to learn the technology and be able to implement it into their classrooms effectively. Other teachers noted that there was tons of technology available, but little or no training available for that technology.

The major obstacles for properly integrating technology into classrooms according to this article are, scheduling, standards, funding, grants, the current economy, and attitude. The last part of the article turns into sort of an “infomercial” for the eMINTS program which stands for Enhancing Missouri’s Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies. The eMINTS program encourages teachers to use current technology such as blogs, wikis and podcasts to communicate with their students. The article concludes by posing the thought that “technology integration, in the end, is not really about technology but rather the life skills it instills in students and teachers.” I think that our focus as educators, should be keeping students interested in learning by using current/relevant technology in the classroom daily.

Miners, Zach (2009, April). Classroom Technology Integration, Retrieved August 20, 2009, from www.districtadministration.com