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"3 Tips on Integrating Technology in the Classroom Former Gov. Bob Wise discusses Digital Learning Day and how high school teachers can embrace technology. By Laura McMullen Jan. 25, 2012 SHARE Integrating technology into a high school classroom isn't a one-step process. "You can't just slap a netbook [computer] on top of a textbook and say, 'Great, now we have technology," says Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia and president of the Alliance for Excellent Education, an advocacy organization. Wise says that digital learning starts with teachers, whose performance is enhanced by technology-not the other way around. That's also the idea of Digital Learning Day, which the Alliance is spearheading. The first annual Digital Learning Day falls on February 1 and will celebrate innovative K-12 instructors who successfully bring technology into the classroom by assigning online course content, using adaptive software for students with special needs, and utilizing online student assessments and other digital tools. Educators, as well as parents, students, librarians, and community leaders, can learn about classroom innovations and get new ideas by chiming in during the virtual National Town Hall meeting held on Digital Learning Day. [Learn how a new iPad app is revolutionizing textbooks.] "The whole intention of Digital Learning Day is to really celebrate teachers and good instructional learning practices," says Sarah Hall, director of the Alliance's Center for Secondary School Digital Learning and Policy. And good teaching, especially the kind that involves working with evolving technologies, sometimes requires good advice. Hall and Wise shared the following ideas for effectively using technology in the classroom-not just on Digital Learning Day, but anytime. 1. Plan ahead: There has to be a comprehensive strategy in place to implement technology into the school system, Wise says, and the teachers have to be involved in the planning stages. "When a schoo

"Best Practices for Using Technology in the Classroom Technology in the Classroom When using technology for teaching, there are four basic principles to be kept in mind: Alignment: Technology should be used for a purpose-not for the sake of being flashy and not as a distraction from other forms of pedagogy. Carefully consider the ways in which video or other media that you share with your class are aligned with your learning objectives. Consider the technology that is most closely in alignment with your teaching skills and the needs of your students-if you don't like to teach with Power Point, consider giving students a handout outlining the main points of your lecture and listing major concepts to assist them in note-taking. Accessibility: Be sure that the technology that you intend to use is accessible to your students. While computers are virtually ubiquitous, and students living on campus have ready access to computing labs and other technology on campus, do consider whether or not your students have access to technology that you want them to use. Also, consider your own access to technology: make sure that you are familiar with all of the technology that you use and that media technology in your classroom is functioning correctly before the class. Plan ahead. If you are going to show a film, for example, don't wait until you walk into class to find out if the player in your classroom supports your DVD's regional format, or you will find yourself scrambling to come up with a lesson plan that does not include the film. By checking the regional format in advance, you will be able to have a matching-format DVD player delivered to the classroom by Technology Services. Assessment: As with lectures, discussions, and labs, provide your students with guidance when dealing with media technologies. If you are showing them a film, provide them with the learning objectives that you have for them in watching the film. Consider giving them a short assignment to be fil

Faces of Learning is a collaborative, solution-oriented site that seeks to answer the questions: What does an ideal learning environment look like? and How do we create more ideal learning environments? It is a blog as well and there are many shared stories of learning experiences. There is an interactive 'learner sketch' to determine your own (or a student's) strengths and weaknesses. You can record your own story too.

This had a major impact in my teaching. If the process he describes is what is innate in children, how does our teaching now help or hinder that effect? I think technology is a great way to bring students natural inclination for learning to the fore.

This is a great website to preview books and look up Lexile levels to see what is appropriate for your students. It is geared toward Middle school. Students can use this site to make their own book trailers. A nice alternative to book reports.

This is a great blog on activating prior knowledge, so important when expecting full comprehension and engagement from students! It is amazing that the simplest things can make the biggest difference in the classroom, each student has something unique and valid to offer, we as teachers need to make sure we give them the opportunity to share what they know and discuss what they are learning.

This is a blog I follow which is packed with great kindergarten ideas!

Another great site to support special education students that need more practice and sometimes modified work. It's also a great resource for all students.

This is a great site for printouts and theme based activities. I use the project ideas on the site a lot. It is free, but you need to create an account. 

This is a great post on how change is necessary for a teacher.

This is a fairly open and comprehensive list. There is at least one other RSS feed aggrigator on here, (I think) and some cool looking personal organization things.

Varied online games across several academic areas. Different medium for students to access information. There is a game called windfall; the point of the game is to set up and maintain a wind farm to create energy and revenue. Instead of just lecturing to the students about clean energy this allows them the opportunity to try it.

I thought this site was really cool. It helps promote curiosity and exploration for children of all ages. The site includes a wonder of the day…Today's wonder is "Is there a planet between Mars and Jupiter?"…and the answer is yes! There is a dwarf planet called Ceres between the two planets. You also have the option to explore other wonders on this site or to post something that you are wondering.

This site--English pedagogy guru Jim Burke's ning--is a treasure trove for middle school and secondary English instructors. Joining requires verification of your relationship to a learning institution. The site is well organized, allowing me to browse by general topics and within forums. It's a virtual teacher's lounge, allowing for quick takes on strategies for teaching any number of things, or in depth discussion on the viability of Literature Circles for Shakespeare study. I could easily get lost in the forest of great ideas here.

This Website is useful for those of us who need to convince our administrators that technology is essential in delivery of instruction.

This is a great website for information on the latest assistive technology. The website was founded over 25 years ago by parents of a child with a disability. The website is easy to use and very informative. An annual conference, webinars, and magazine are also available. 

Basically, this is a helpful google tool called "Swiffy". Many computers (like iPads) do not yet allow for the use of "flash" content, which is how most video clips and visuals work. This handy tool essentially converts files rapidly into HTML5, giving individuals with incompatible software the opportunity to access all Flash SWF files. It's easy to just upload the file and convert with a click of the mouse!

This is a sample template for a science fair PowerPoint presentation. I found the format to be really easy to understand. Also, because this is a googledoc, every student can access and post their projects online!

Article with links on what a Professional Learning Network is and how it is useful, especially for teachers.

The NCTM website is one everyone is familiar with; there are a lot of resources here that are great for explaining concepts. This is an interactive activity working with vectors to help students understand basic facts about the difference between magnitude and direction.

This is a really cool website that is about an iPad trial in schools in Australia. The website provides case studies, information on the benefits of using iPads, classroom ideas, videos and pictures, and more. My favorite part of the website is that it also provides a list of great educational apps broken into different categories and subject areas.