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“For example, apps like Educreation  in which teachers record lessons and allow students to play them back several times as necessary are great for learning,” said Rackley. “This feature also allows students to record themselves working through a problem enabling the teacher to play back the recording and observe students’ thought processes as they work through the lesson. For an educator, this is priceless because they may be able to alter the instruction to better support student learning,” she said. 

Outside the classroom, assistive technologies can increase the number of weekly instruction hours that a student receives from their teacher.

Another unique aspect of digital learning is that it can create a more inclusive learning environment. Just as there are diverse types of technology, there is diversity in users as well. For students with special needs, technology can enable them to be more independent and fit in with classroom learning and routines. Students with visual or hearing impairments can utilize voice-over for accessibility on Apple devices. Similarly, the VGo robot has assistive technology like text-to-talk, which may be helpful for homebound students who are verbally impaired.

he future of technology in education can be revolutionary and endless. With access to new technologies and services, students no longer need to frantically write answers to pop quizzes with pen and paper. Instead, they can submit answers using instant classroom response polls and complete quizzes that display answers in real time, with online software like polleverywhere.com

“The class is very important because it focuses on safe and appropriate use of technology integration strategies. We have found that although education students may be comfortable using technology in their every day lives, they are hesitant to integrate it into their teaching practice,” said Viruru. “Overall, the course provides an environment where future educators can experiment, ask questions and measure outcomes for future practice.”

For these students, access to technology and instruction can make a difference in their ability to keep up with assignments or withdrawing from school. 

Instead, they can submit answers using instant classroom response polls and complete quizzes that display answers in real time, with online software like polleverywhere.com.

“The class is very important because it focuses on safe and appropriate use of technology integration strategies. We have found that although education students may be comfortable using technology in their every day lives, they are hesitant to integrate it into their teaching practice,” said Viruru. “Overall, the course provides an environment where future educators can experiment, ask questions and measure outcomes for future practice.”

can submit answers using instant classroom response polls and complete qu

The main objective of the course is to prepare pre-service teachers to become technology-proficient educators.

Because technology is rapidly changing and affects student’s lives in and out of the classroom, it is important that the integration of technology be carefully implemented at a reasonable pace

education students who are exposed to technology before entering the classroom as professionals are better prepared.

education students who are exposed to technology before entering the classroom as professionals are better prepared.

Students in groups were instructed to use an app like Popplet to produce webgraphs from reading assignments covering the American Revolution. Later, they used the tablets for a science lesson on weather and terrain to collect and organize photos. In this example, the technology was easily adapted for use in varying formats across disciplines.

they used the tablets for a science lesson on weather and terrain to collect and organize photos.

While traditional forms of technology, such as projectors and interactive whiteboards are often standard classroom equipment, students who are unable to attend a traditional classroom can take advantage of new technologies from home. 

students who are unable to attend a traditional classroom can take advantage of new technologies from home. 

For these students, access to technology and instruction can make a difference in their ability to keep up with assignments or withdrawing from school. 

With all the new technology possibilities, there is still some debate among educators on the appropriate use of technology in the classroom and whether or not it creates an environment for inappropriate use.

The VGo is a computer-operated robot with a camera display that can be physically placed in the classroom for students that are homebound. With a Wi-Fi connection from home students can use computer keyboard arrows and webcam to manipulate the robot around the classroom. By having their face displayed on the VGo camera monitor students are able to have social interactions with classmates and virtually raise their hands to answer questions in class by signaling to the teacher with the VGo light. 

Technologies like the VGo offer a wide range of possibilities and benefits for all students

it becomes an extension of the student and classmates are still able to interact with them

For students with special needs, technology can enable them to be more independent and fit in with classroom learning and routines. Students with visual or hearing impairments can utilize voice-over for accessibility on Apple devices. Similarly, the VGo robot has assistive technology like text-to-talk, which may be helpful for homebound students who are verbally impaired.

Schools can also benefit from the use of new technologies during a major illness or outbreak, or to keep students on track during a suspension or long-term illness.

Integrating Technology in the Classroom: It Takes More Than Just Having Computers

Access an online weather forecast. Most elementary grade teachers begin each school day with a discussion of the date and local weather. Why not take an extra minute to visit a site such as UM Weather, The Weather Channel, or USA Today Weather, to find out what the rest of the day might bring? If you have a few extra minutes, check out weather in other parts of the country as well.   Include URLs in your monthly calendar. Each month, Education World provides a printable and editable coloring calendar for classroom use. Before distributing copies of the calendar to your students, add the URLs of a few sites that will add to their understanding of the months events -- and encourage them to visit those sites. The September calendar, for example, might offer links to sites about Labor Day, Grandparents' Day, and Hispanic Heritage Month. (A kid-friendly search engine such as Yahoo Kids will help you locate appropriate sites.) Or, students can find the sites themselves as they complete a Months of the Year Project.   Access online weather forecasts in French, German, or Spanish. Begin foreign language classes with a discussion of the day's weather. The Weather Channel provides weather information for Brazil, Germany, France, and Latin America in the native language of each country.   Challenge students with online mathematics problems. Add a daily or weekly mathematics challenge to your seatwork assignments, math lessons, or extra credit activities. The Math Forums Math Problem of the Week offers word problems in five categories -- math fundamentals, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus. The AIMS Puzzle Corner provides more than 100 math-related puzzles appropriate for students in upper elementary grades and middle school. Most include printable worksheets. Aunty Math's Math Challenges for K-5 Learners offers biweekly word problems for younger students, while high school students will enjoy the news-related math problems at Math Counts. Dont like todays problem? Not to worry! Most of the sites listed also include extensive archives. If you teach grades 3-8, extend your students online math experience and encourage them to match wits with students around the world by participating in the Abacus International Math Challenge.

Provide a URL in place of a quote. Do you write a quote on the chalkboard each day, for students to reflect on and discuss? Instead of writing out the quote, provide students with the URL and have them locate the days quote themselves. Quote of the Day, Quotes of the Day, and Quote A Day are all excellent sources of funny, inspirational, or thought-provoking quotes.   Introduce a word of the day. Extend students vocabulary by including an online word of the day in opening activities, seatwork assignments, or language arts lessons. The Daily Buzzword at Word Central provides a word of the day and related activity appropriate for upper elementary students. Vocabulary Builder offers words and definitions for students in grades 4-6 and grades 6-9. The