Mid-South Instructional Technology Conference
Teaching, Learning, & Technology
The Connected Classroom
April 7-9, 2002
Integrating Technology Across a Curriculum
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By: Pam Taylor |
Abstract
Looking for your next challenge? This workshop can provide the map! Relying on a computer science 101 course to prepare our students for technology applications can no longer be the answer. This workshop will discuss the steps and techniques necessary to integrate technology across a curriculum. During the workshop, you will explore the process of identifying core technology concepts and practices, mapping learning activities throughout a curriculum, and discuss guidelines for implementation and evaluation. We'll also discuss potential solutions to the two biggest roadblocks: resistance to curricular change, and lack of funding for technology.
Description
Whether we stand before our students in a classroom, or perhaps a television, or even in a web-based chat room, our goal is the same: to impart to them the knowledge and skills they will need in their chosen field or profession. As educators we strive in everyway possible to prepare our students to meet the challenges the work world will bring. We want them to understand their discipline, how its practice interacts with the world, and how they can contribute to the world using the knowledge and skills they have received in the university setting. Yet relying on a general education computer science 101 course to prepare our students for the many applications of technology in diverse professions can no longer be the answer to meeting the technology needs of our students. We must re-examine our curricula to ascertain that not only are we providing students with a solid body of knowledge, but also an understanding of how technology will impact their use of this knowledge. The journey has just begun ..
But you say, "I'm using email!" or "My course is on-line!" or even "My students have a technology in practice assignment!" While these are great initial steps, they alone are not enough if your students are to be competitive in the future. Technology integration means that there are significant gains to the students' understanding, expertise, and experiences in using discipline-specific technology as they progress through the major. It requires that courses within a major be designed to provide progressive use of technology in learning activities so that discipline knowledge and technology experiences grow semester to semester. It is not the result of one course or one educator; it takes a team effort to insure that the progress is made every semester.
This workshop will discuss the steps and techniques necessary to assist you to integrate technology across a curriculum. It must be recognized early that this journey will never be complete as technology continues to change and grow around us. During the workshop, you will be taken through the process of identifying core technology concepts and practices for a discipline at a given point in time and then mapping learning activities throughout a curriculum that move students to higher levels of knowledge and experience. We'll discuss guidelines for implementation that will make your journey less difficult as well as some evaluation practices to help you measure student and faculty progress along the way. We'll also discuss potential solutions to the two biggest roadblocks that can stop or slow your progress: resistance to curricular change, and lack of funding for technology.