Integrating Technology into Your Methods of Teaching

Instructional strategies and methods are the ways we teach our students and are based on the content, the student, and the competency of the students we are teaching.  We have learned that students acquire knowledge in several ways and instruction must be adapted for all students to access.  These strategies are just as important to our 21^st Century learners and technology plays a vital role in how accessible materials and information is for students to achieve success.   Some strategies teachers use to instruct students are direct instruction, drill and practice, summarizing and note-taking, role-playing, using advanced and graphic organizers to identify, organize and demonstrate acquisition of new knowledge, and cooperative learning.  All assist learners comprehend and demonstrate understanding of particular subjects, learn how to organize thoughts on a particular topic, and develop social and team playing skills that will also assist them in the future.  Technology plays another vital role in the implementation and acquisition of content.  Technology provides an active, engaging means to the more traditional approach of lecturing which elicits less excitement and less elaborative feedback from the students.  There are many types of software and online programs that can assist and enhance instruction such as online games, simulations, tutorials and practice exercises.  All these examples promote “direct instruction” method of teaching and many allow for student tracking.  Some technology is student-centered – promoting independent problem solving and critical thinking skills through research and collaboration such as Google Docs, Logo, etc. Many types of programs/ software are used mainly for reinforcement and continuous practice of skills and skills in a specific area.  These applications are called Curriculum free software and Curriculum-specific resources.  Curriculum free software includes spreadsheets, word processing, databases and graphics programs.  Curriculum-specific resources include software and online programs designed specifically for a particular academic area.

Good Website:

http://www.saskschoolboards.ca/old/ResearchAndDevelopment/ResearchReports/Technology/97-02.htm