Running Head: INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA RESOURCES

Integration of Technology and Media Resources

Candice Milam
Regent University

In partial fulfillment of UED 495 Field Experience ePortfolio, Spring 2015

Introduction

INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA RESOURCES

Technology can be used for instruction, classroom organization, student learning,

and assessment. Not a day goes by when technology is not being utilized in todays
classrooms. Technology is a great tool for teachers to use during the instructional day to
help keep students engaged and on task. This generation of students is known as the
Digital Natives because they have grown up in the digital world. They are familiar with
most technology and respond well to it being integrated in the lesson.
Rationale for Selection of Artifacts
I used technology in the classroom daily with my students. They really enjoyed
using technology which made the lessons fun for everyone. The artifacts I chose are my
adding mixed numbers lesson with a picture of student using the promethean board, and a
picture of students at guided reading groups with a timer displayed on the promethean
board.
The first artifact I chose is my adding mixed numbers lesson. I also included a
picture of a student using the Promethean board during this lesson. I chose these artifacts
because I incorporated technology all throughout the lesson from start to finish. I
allowed student volunteers to come up to the Promethean board to share how they
completed different math problems. After the students finished the multiple addition
problems I had for them, they were allowed to get laptops and play Fraction Nation.
Fraction Nation is great because, it is an educational game that makes practicing fractions
fun.
The next artifact I chose is a picture of students participating in a guided reading
lesson with a timer displayed on the Promethean board. I chose this artifact to show one
of the many technology tools that I used in the classroom. There is a plethora of tools for

INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA RESOURCES

teachers available. The timer helped as a visual reminder of the amount of time we had
during our reading groups which helped us use our time wisely. I also used the timer
when I incorporated cooperative learning. I would give them a certain amount of time to
discuss content and displayed the timer on the Promethean board. There is also
Reflection on Theory and Practice
Regent has prepared me with skills to effectively integrate technology throughout
instruction. I have learned to often allow students to use technology to access, retrieve,
collect, process, display, analyze, evaluate, create and communicate information. I have
also learned that technology is not meant to replace the teacher, it is simply a tool for
teachers to use to reach students needs. In the book, Teach Like A Techie (2011), Lori
Elliot states,
The tools we choose to use in our classrooms to engage learners wont
work without a strong understanding of best instructional practices and
classroom management. Throwing a cool web tool at students without
solid lesson plans, expectations, guidelines, modeling, practice, and
assessment is really a waste of time (p. 4).
Regent has taught me that I need to plan meaningful lessons and use technology to help
enhance my lessons. Without positive student-teacher relationships and best instructional
practices, integrated technology is worthless. Students will respond to a teacher who they
connect with and also, to efficient, student centered instruction. In my courses at Regent,
I have learned that the students of this generation are very technologically proficient. As
an educator it is my job to take that knowledge of technology in account when planning
and incorporate it in other content-based lessons. There are so many technology tools

INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA RESOURCES

teachers can use in their lessons, such as, the internet, Skype, Google docs, eBooks,
interactive whiteboards, tablets, digital cameras, etc.
References
Elliott, L. (2011). Teach Like A Techie: 20 Tools for Reaching The Digital Generation.
Peterborough, N.H.: Crystal Springs Books.