There are several relative advantages to integrating technology into your curriculum, or content area. All of the reasons listed below offer great benefits to the math content area that I am currently working with. Some of the obvious advantages include that technology is good for the environment and students like using computers. However, if you dig deeper into the real benefits, an instructor will also notice that it is easier to teach using technology, the resources available to teachers are unlimited, and the ability to teach students anywhere, anytime is especially important during our current world situations.
The use of technology helps teachers in many different ways, but the benefits it offers to students with special needs has changed the way students with accommodations learn in the classroom. According to eLearning Industry, “Technology integration in education inspires positive changes in teaching methods on an international level” (Norman, 2016). By using technology, you can reach all the students in class, regardless of the learning level they are currently at. With accommodations for English Language Learners, e-readers, assistive technology, voice-recognition software, and instant feedback on most programs, students can make use of all the accommodations they require. They go on to say “Technology helps provide students with individual learning events, and enables reaching higher flexibility and differentiation in educational methodologies” (Dikusar, 2018). Within the math content area, allowing students to work with educational games that offer real-time feedback on their progress helps to engage the students and encourage them to reach farther! In addition, with the ability to turn on closed captions and adjust the font size and color of a program, students can set up the programs to help them achieve success. There are many ways to help students with special needs including user-friendly services, technology that is easy to master, and augmentative communications systems.
Technology has opened the world to every classroom, every teacher, and every student. Within the math content area, students can watch per-recorded tutorials over and over again, or at a slower pace to help them solve math problems, or understand the lesson. Engaging math games allow students to work with virtual manipulatives in everything from base ten, telling time, adding and subtracting, and counting money. Resources available include online textbooks, online chats forums with students around the world, and a collaboration between teachers on absolutely every subject and lesson plan. According to the US Department of Education (n.d.), “technology infuses classrooms with digital learning tools, such as computers and hand held devices; expands course offerings, experiences, and learning materials; supports learning 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; builds 21st century skills; increases student engagement and motivation; and accelerates learning”. A vast array on online open-source curriculum and resources are available for students of all grade levels, including Khan Academy, Library of Congress, Google Earth, STEM programs, online books and music, and Microsoft Suite and Google Suite for online collaboration.
In this current stage of the pandemic, the transfer of education to online classes has changed for all teachers and students. Without the benefits of using technology in learning managements systems and blended learning, the transfer would have been much more difficult. Through collaboration-type programs, students and teachers are able to communicate in real-time, work together on projects and track student progress in real-time and over-time. Technology helps to engage students in hands-on activities and gives a voice to students who have a hard time talking in class.
Finally, Edutopia (2007) mentioned in an article listing the myriad of benefits for integrating technology into the curriculum, “Effective tech integration must happen across the curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the learning process. In particular, it must support four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts”. Technology is already a big part of every child’s life. By integrating technology into the curriculum, teachers are helping to make the lesson more authentic by bringing real-world situations into the classroom.
References
Dikusar, Aleksandra. (2018, August 9). The use of technology in special education. https://elearningindustry.com/use-of-technology-in-special-education.
Edutopia. (2007, November 5). Why do we need technology integration? https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-importance.
Norman, Stehanie. (2016) January 22). 7 Benefits of technology integration in the education sphere. https://elearningindustry.com/benefits-technology-integration-education-sphere.
US Department of Education. (n.d.) Use of technology in teaching and learning. https://www.ed.gov/oii-news/use-technology-teaching-and-learning.
Janeal Grosinger 