My name is Andy Daniel and I am the Fine Arts Department Chair at Alexander High School in Douglasville, Georgia. I am one of two band directors there and also teach the drama, guitar, and music theory classes. I am also responsible for all of the technical aspects of the performing arts at Alexander including sound and lighting for our productions. Currently, I am working on my Masters Degree in Instructional Technology at the University of West Georgia.
This blog is to show my study of integrating technology into the classroom throughout the Fall semester of 2010. To me, technology integration is finding ways to use technology in and out of the classroom to enhance what is happening with student learning. I believe that it should be able to be linked to standards and when used the students should know why it is being used. I think that students knowing why it is used is vital. Integrating technology has to do with using tools to be able to differentiate learning and increase the higher order thinking skills of our students. In my classroom this means using video, audio, internet, and many other tools that can help my students see different sides of the arts.
Harris, J., Koehler, M., & Mishra, P. (2009). Teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Learning Activity Types: Curriculum-based Technology Integration Reframed. Journal of Research on Technology in Education , 393-416.
Egbert, J. L. (2009). Supporting Technology with Learning:Essentials of Classroom Practice. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education.
Technology is a tool for learning like a pencil and paper. Technology integration should be such a integral part of teaching and learning that the student does not think of it as "technology" but as a "way to learn."
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