Classroom Integration of Technology: Are Teachers Understanding?

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 26-30
Author(s):  
Jerry P. Galloway ◽  
Author(s):  
Mawuadem Koku Amedeker

The chapter analyses some of the formal documents that led to integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the educational system in Ghana. These documents include Ghanaian government policy documents as well as international organisations’ research works on ICT in Ghana and other African countries. Most of the documents have the vision to revolutionize existing knowledge base of the Ghanaian society through the deployment and use of ICT by all sectors of the society, including education. The chapter demonstrates that Ghana government ICT policies are not classroom-integration oriented, but rather politically motivated. Further, not enough interventions have been introduced to move teachers away from the traditional ‘chalk-and-talk’ approach to teaching. Thus, all the flamboyant ideas of introducing ‘one child one laptop’ policy do not ensure the integration of technology into education and its use for teaching and learning purposes. It is suggested that training of classroom teachers to integrate ICT into learning is the way forward.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 991-1016
Author(s):  
Shameka Stanford ◽  
Ovetta Harris

Purpose In 2011, the United Nations estimated there were between 180 and 220 million youth with disabilities living around the world, and 80% of them resided in developing countries. Over the last 6 years, this number has increased significantly, and now, over 1 million people live in the Caribbean with some form of disability such as communication disorders resulting in complex communication needs (CCN). Method This publication discusses the benefits of an exploratory, descriptive, nonexperimental study on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) classroom integration training for 8 special educators in the Bahamas who work with children with CCN. Results The results of this study revealed that 100% of the participants reported the study to be effective in increasing their knowledge and skill in the area of implementing AAC into their classrooms, enhancing their ability to team teach and incorporate AAC opportunities for all students with CCN within their classrooms, and increasing their knowledge and skill overall in the areas of AAC and CCN. Conclusion The findings highlight an important area of potential professional development and training that can be replicated in other English-speaking Caribbean territories focused on AAC classroom integration training program for special educators who teach students with CCN.


10.31355/12 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 063-071
Author(s):  
Agyei Fosu

NOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED WITH THE INFORMING SCIENCE INSTITUTE. Aim/Purpose................................................................................................................................................................................................. The main aim of the study is to identify some of the barriers to the integration of technology into the teaching of mathematics in high schools. Background................................................................................................................................................................................................. Writing on chalkboards as a method of transferring knowledge is a key feature of traditional approach to teaching may have been successful in the past, but the minds of the current generation vary from those of the previous generation. Today’s students are immersed in technology. They are much more up-to-date on the latest technology and gadgets. Technology has certainly changed how students access and integrate information, so it plausible that technology has also changed the way students thinks. Growing up with cutting-edge technologies has left them thinking differently than students of past generations. This call for new innovative approaches to teaching that will cater to the students of today. Of course it is not wise to discard the traditional way of teaching that the past teachers have painstakingly created because of its past and some current success. This is why it is recommended to use this approach as a base for the new ones. Thus, if there is a way to transfer the advantages of this approach of teaching to new innovative approach then teachers should do everything in their power to merge the past and the present into one innovative teaching approach. Methodology................................................................................................................................................................................................. Purposeful sampling was used to survey a total of 116 high school mathematics teachers in the former Transkei Homelands. But only 97 questionnaires were deemed usable because of the way they have answered the questions. Microsoft excel was used in the descriptive statistics Contribution................................................................................................................................................................................................. To identify some barriers that need to be addressed by stakeholders, policy makers in high school education so that high school mathematics teachers will be able to integrate technology into their classroom teaching to meet today students’ learning needs. Findings...................................................................................................................................................................................................... The results indicated that the participating teachers need to be trained and supported in the use of the new technologies applicable to teaching mathematics. Recommendations for Practitioners.......................................................................................................................................................... The Eastern Cape department of education needs to consider the lacked of technology training as a barrier to the integration of technology into the teaching of mathematics and take necessary steps to address it. Recommendation for Researchers........................................................................................................................................................... There is the need to explore in depth whether the factors of gender and age also act as barriers. Impact on Society....................................................................................................................................................................................... The research will assist stakeholders, policy makers of high school education to identify the needs of mathematics teachers. That is to say, the skill sets, experience and expertise, as well as teaching equipment and classroom design and environment required by mathematics teachers. Future Research........................................................................................................................................................................................... More work needs to be done to check whether gender, age of the teachers have some effects on their attitude towards technology integration as well as evaluate the role played by choice of teaching methodology and teaching objectives.


1988 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion V. Panyan ◽  
Jeffrey Hummel ◽  
Lewis B. Jackson

This article describes a 3-year research project to develop an applications model to successfully integrate technology in the instruction of elementary school learners with mild and moderate handicaps. The model is based on decision theory and focuses specifically on the decisions of in-school agents (i.e., students, regular classroom teachers, instructional support personnel, and administrators). Decisions of these agents are considered with respect to four decision areas ( i.e., identification of content, instructional methods and arrangements, organization of instruction, and outcome assessment). Twenty research questions have been identified and clustered into five elements that represent the beginnings of an applications model. These five elements are: (1) software reference to the curriculum and IEP objectives, (2) integrated instructional activities, (3) collaborative planning, (4) student self-management, and (5) teacher training and support. Finally, this article provides a framework for understanding future project efforts as well as an orientation to the theoretical underpinnings of the research plan.


Author(s):  
J.L. Fozard

Applications of technology to improve the living and working environment and medical care of aging and aged people define a newly developing discipline called gerontechnology. Both this field and the human factors applications to aging that are embedded in it require a developmental view of the relationship between a person and her/his environment. From a developmental viewpoint, technology can affect aging through prevention of chronic problems that limit mobility; enhancement of social activities, work, education and recreation, and compensation for impaired functioning. Integration of technology into the lives of aging persons reacquires a developmental approach to the design of products and environments, consumer involvement in design and significant changes in the infrastructure for technology development and dispersal.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Schöpfel

Can the smart city provide a new perspective for public and academic libraries? How does the smart city impact the libraries as cultural and scientific assets? And how can libraries contribute to the development of the smart city? An overview of recent library models, like the learning center or the green library, reveals affinities with the concept of the smart city, especially regarding the central role of information and the integration of technology, people, and institutions. From this observation, the paper develops the outline of a new concept of the smart library, which can be described in four dimensions, i.e., smart services, smart people, smart place, and smart governance. However, the smart library concept does not constitute a unique model or project, but a process, a way of how to get things done, that is less linear, less structured, and more creative and innovative. Also, smartness may not be a solution for all library problems.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Brunetti ◽  
Dong-Churl Suh

Background: Medication errors are a significant public health concern.  Although significant advances have been made, errors are still relatively common and represent an opportunity for healthcare improvement.Methodology/Principal Findings: Since the publication of To Err is Human, medication errors have been under tremendous scrutiny.  Organizations have moved towards a non-punitive approach to evaluating errors.  This approach to medication errors has aided in identifying common pathways to medication errors and improving understanding regarding the anatomy of a medication error.  As a result, prevention strategies have been developed to target common themes contributing to errors.  Error prevention strategies may target common contributors of medication errors, broadly grouped as performance lapses, lack of knowledge, and lack or failure of safety systems.  Strategies to thwart medication errors range from process improvement to integration of technology in the health care environment.Conclusions/Significance:  Organizations should devote resources to address medication error prevention strategies in an effort to improve patient outcomes and decrease morbidity and mortality associated with medication errors.


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