Preparing Teachers to Integrate Technology Effectively

Technology has the greatest impact on student learning outcomes when students complete technology-rich activities that also develop their higher-order thinking skills (HOTS). This chapter presents findings from a study that examined two lesson plans from 74 first-year teachers who were learning how to plan technology-rich instruction focused on students’ HOTS. Findings indicate that teachers’ lesson plans did not address students’ HOTS and rated low on the Level of Technology Integration (LOTI) scale. Further, teachers’ use of an indirect instruction lesson plan format that promoted student discovery was associated with higher levels of HOTS and technology use. Implications and future trends for both practice and research are also shared.

Peer Assistance and Interaction in an Online Forum

This study examines peer interaction and peer assistance observed in on an online forum, part of a graduate level instructional design course during the 2008 spring academic term. It incorporates both content analysis and social network analysis techniques. The content analysis results showed that the four types of peer assistance adopted from an existing framework were adequate to categorize the peer assistance that the students received during the study. Students tended to receive more Reflective assistance from their peers if their reading reflections provided high relevance to the course projects. Social network analysis results revealed that while 70% of the students provided peer assistance to one another, they were less likely to go beyond the course requirement of posting toward to end of the semester. Also, a further analysis demonstrated how SNA approach may help examine the influences of actor attributes on their observed communication.

Student-Authored Textbooks

This chapter describes a unique educational initiative requiring students to write their own, shared textbook using wiki technologies. This chapter attempts to address the strengths and weaknesses of this type of educational program. In addition, it explores the philosophical underpinnings of such a process, the implications of this process for educational systems in general, and several methods for incorporating this type of project into every level of education. Special emphasis is placed on exploring how student-authoring addresses skills including information literacy skills, that are underserved in more traditional educational settings.

The Digital Information Divide

This chapter explores the gap in information between digital natives and digital immigrants. Advances in computer technology have transformed information, and resulting changes in information behavior clearly mark the digital information divide. These changes in information behavior have affected information literacy instruction, yet educators have opted for quick fix strategies, ignoring the need to develop a comprehensive information literacy curriculum for the digital age. Partnerships—between primary, secondary, and postsecondary teachers and librarians and curriculum designers working to establish a vertically and horizontally scaffolded K-16 information literacy curriculum—may effectively bridge the divide.

Perceptions of Students and Teachers about the Use of E-Learning / Sharing Portal in Educational Activities

This study examined the perceptions of the students and the teachers of METU Development Foundation Schools about the use of e-learning / sharing portal technology in their educational activities. Their perceptions were investigated in terms of three aspects: effects of the use of this technology on their perceived motivation, the perceived usefulness, and the perceived ease of use of this technology. A central server was installed for setting up an e-learning / sharing portal environment. Microsoft SharePoint, which is a Sharing Portal Software, was used to access to the central server. The study was conducted in the form of action research. The data were collected from 6th and 7th grade students by using a questionnaire. In addition to the questionnaire with students, interviews were conducted with the teachers. Descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, and descriptive analysis methods were used to analyze the results. The findings of the study indicated that the students and the teachers perceived that e-learning / sharing portal technology is a useful and easy to use technology. It was found out that the students and the teachers are satisfied with advantages of the use of this new technology in their learning environment. Furthermore, the teachers and the students stated that using the system affected students’ perceived motivation towards the educational activities positively.

Developing an Online Mentoring Program for Beginning Teachers

If schools are to retain well-qualified and much needed new teachers, it is important that teachers are provided a variety of resources for helping them through the transition from pre-service education to the classroom. An electronic mentoring program that provides school administrators and teachers a connection to a wide spectrum of professional contacts without the constraints of time and distance can be a valuable tool for the retention and professional development of this precious human resource. The leadership role for an electronic mentoring program calls for a unique combination of in-depth knowledge of the developmental needs of beginning teachers, a plan for development of an online program based on knowledge of the necessary program components, an understanding of professional development and adult learning, skills to effectively communicate online, and the ability to work in a collaborative, facilitative, and ever-changing environment.

The Momentum of the Technology of the Classroom

This paper examines the viability of the concept of “technological momentum” from Thomas Hughes’ Technological Systems Theory in the context of the adoption and use of online courses in post-secondary education. A case study approach using qualitative interviews is used to explore the “technological momentum” of the classroom as professors adopt the use of online courses. The findings provide specific examples of how previous classroom practice influences professors’ attitudes and practice in relation to the adoption and use of online courses.

The Trend of Commitment

Through the lens of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK), this chapter’s goal is to understand how commitments affect readiness to innovate and how readiness to innovate affects commitments. Even further, it initiates the conversation on what engages faculty to change and improve their own teaching. Can faculty’s commitment to pedagogical quality (CPQ) predict instructional technology adoption? Current Instructional Technology Adoption Models (ITAMs) ignore issues of pedagogy and are mostly developed for an alternative audience and environment, outside the realities and characteristics of higher education. A literature review explores exiting models for factors motivating full-time faculty to incorporate technology. Three audience categories naturally emerge (non-educational, K-12, and higher education), which highlight how each community treats teaching and learning differently. In addition, a study was conducted to analyze relationships between CPQ and adoption. Results indicated CPQ is related to instructional technology adoption through beliefs, academic title, years taught, tenure status, intrinsic and extrinsic motives, and curriculum.

The Integration of Social Networking in Creating Collaborative Partnerships in Education

Technological communication advancements in recent years, including, but not limited to, the Internet, cell phones, PDAs and texting, have changed communication, accessing information, and doing business. Unfortunately, education has often lagged behind in the effective implementation of these technological advances. This chapter examines one technological development that has the potential to change the higher educational landscape. The use of online social networking tools can be used to help establish connections student to student, student to faculty, faculty to student and faculty to faculty. These tools can be used to encourage scholarly collaboration in a constructivist manner that builds upon the social learning theories of Albert Bandura and Lev Vygotski.

Teaching in the Future

Based on an intellectual exercise that guided projections of the classroom environment in 2020 and beyond, this chapter envisions a future where fewer faculty are affiliated with only one institution and more are independent scholars. Faculty will serve as knowledge-brokers, and learners will assemble their own cohort of scholars and other learners around similar inquiry projects. Tools to facilitate learning will include personal learning environments and computer-based instructional agents. Social practices will include learning content in the context of doing the work and jointly coming to agreement about what constitutes mastery of the subject matter. Faculty development must attend to the interactions among tools, participants, social practices, learning in community, and the learning outcome.