Integrating Technology into the Curriculum
As VBSD creates its technology vision and plans for instructional technology,
it considers the ways instructional technology supports school improvement goals.
A: Goals: The Arkansas Department of Education Curriculum Frameworks Standards
for grades K-12 and the Arkansas School Comprehensive Improvement Plan
(ASCIP) goals that were consistent throughout the district included:
- Increasing student achievement in mathematics.
- Increasing student achievement in literacy.
- Implementing methods of alternative assessments, which encourage reasoning,
problem solving, communicating, connecting, internalizing.
- Increasing the use of technology in all areas of study.
B: Strategies: Instructional technology supports instructional goals by allowing learners to:
- Use powerful tools such as word processors (e.g., “Microsoft Office”), music synthesizers, digital cameras, scanners, and other multimedia to produce professional-quality products.
- Use computer simulations when doing the real activity is not feasible.
- Use computer-based tools to demonstrate problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills interactively.
- Collaborate in researching and analyzing complex issues (e.g., “Internet Research Projects”, “Library Research Indexes”).
- Collaborate in writing projects.
- Create documents to share and display data (e.g. “Multimedia, Business, and Learning Labs”).
- Pool strengths and skills in making video clips, scanning images, digitizing sounds, creating animations and writing text as they produce multimedia presentations (e.g., “Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Movie Maker, Scanning Equipment, Word, etc.”).
- Improve reading and writing skills in all curriculum areas (e.g. “Accelerated Reader”, “Skills Connection”, “Curriculum Designer” – other software applications).
- Connect what students learn in different content areas by working on thematic projects.
- Use tools such as spreadsheets to examine data and pose hypothesis in a variety of disciplines (e.g., “Microsoft Excel and Access”).
- Be assessed with alternative forms of assessment such as multimedia presentations, creating written reports, senior projects, etc.
- Access information and other learning opportunities through education community partners such as the Adult Education Center, Parent Resource Center, local libraries, and university campuses.
C. The Teacher’s Role Teachers’ professionalism is the sum of what teachers do to orchestrate student learning and to contribute to the art and craft of teaching. Teachers guide and facilitate learning based on their knowledge of both the content area and the craft of teaching. They create meaningful learning experiences and encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning. Classroom teachers take on the roles of coach, problem poser, expert, facilitator, manager, and clinician. Beyond the classroom, teachers share their knowledge and expertise with colleagues. Teachers exemplify learning by keeping abreast of school-based research, new methods of diagnosing student needs, and emerging knowledge in their subject areas. Teachers will utilize technology to:
- Overcome barriers of time and distance to collaborate on professional issues.
- To retrieve information from local, commercial, and online databases to plan lessons.
- To use computer-based tools to collect, store, and exchange information for efficient decision making.
- To create instructional materials.
- To make more effective classroom presentations using multimedia.
- To individualize learning and empower students to become lifelong learners.
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