Article Review

The article that I chose discusses using technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge as a framework for technology integration. It gives us the acronym TPACK as a tool to help us remember the thoughts in the article. The authors state that there are five general approaches that dominate the past and present integration efforts: Software focused initiatives, Demonstrations of sample resources, lessons, and projects, Technology-based educational reform efforts, Structured/standardized professional development workshops or courses, and Technology-focused teacher education courses. The article states that these approaches tend to form what is done to the technology used and not to the standards. It says that the biggest weakness of such approaches is that it often leaves out content and pedagogy. The article then introduces TPACK in a more detailed manner. It talks about each of the areas and how it can all work together to develop effective educational technology integration. The article closes by giving specific examples using this method. It gives a lot to think about in the relationship of the technology used to the standards that are supposed to be taught.

I believe that this article is very valuable because it talks about why we use technology and how we incorporate it into our classes.  It makes me think about my own teaching.  Am I using technology because it is there or am I making it fit the purpose of my class?  Many times technology is just an addition to a lesson and not part of it.  My reflection posting from 8/31 goes into a little more detail about that so I won't do so here.  I see that this article further supports my concern that standards based instruction is not being followed when technology is involved.  It gives us a lot to think about.

Link to Article

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.