Why integrate technology in the classroom / curriculum?

As a teacher and a parent, I believe that we want our students to have opportunities to acquire and/or improve upon the skills that they need to be successful today, and tomorrow. Among other things, students need to be effective communicators who are confident, engaged, creative, collaborative, empowered, technologically literate, and are able to think about their thinking (meta-cognition).

Technology has revolutionized the way we think, work, and play. Integrating technology into the curriculum revolutionizes the learning process and provides our students with the preparation they require to be successful in our dynamic society. I have experienced, first hand, the improved student engagement and achievement that comes with appropriate integration of technology in the classroom & curriculum.

If my experience is not enough, simply look at the commitment my school board has made to integrating technology into the educational culture. Every classroom in my board has been equipped with BrightLink technology that allows for digital content to be presented to students and allows them the opportunity to interact with it. The step forward that my board has made will help students learn by emulating the technology they are familiar with and use every day.

It is no longer a surprise to hear about or see that most people are ‘connected’ (socially, physically, and emotionally). This ‘connection’ allows them to acquire knowledge easily and at their convenience. The technology is a tool that our students are familiar with. Integrating it into the classroom & curriculum shifts the focus from the tool to the critical thinking skills (e.g. problem-solving, use of information, etc)  that have become a necessity in our ever changing globalized society.