Infusing and Integrating Technology

Reigeluth and Joseph’s case for technology transformation and integration caused me to ask critical questions for me as a trainer such as:

How can teachers and trainers use technology to enhance learning, create meaningful learning environments that support active, constructive, goal directed, reflective, authentic, and collaborative learning? I use content management systems but most of my students are not computer literate enough to engage the technology fully. So what is my role in this?

What specific strategies will be effective to help instructors overcome technophobic behaviors, and eliminate the barriers to change that they face as they work towards technology transformation and integration? Most of my colleagues are stuck to traditional ways of teaching yet they admire technology and its efficiency. Not because there is no technological support for them to transform, but because they are afraid of the constant changes and innovations.

What I liked about this article is the author’s focus on learners and learning as a collaborative event rather than a process of teaching and curriculum completion, testing and post testing. Principles of authentic  learning where students are exposed to diverse methods of learning, given ample time to practice and master a skill using their own learning style, freedom to choose content that is relevant to them, and solving real world problems collaboratively is what new learning technologies is all about (p.2-3). 

Reigeluth, C.M. & Joseph, R. (2002). Beyond technology integration: The case for technology transformation. Educational Technology, 42(4), 9-13.