Reflection Ch.2

Chapter 2: Page 27 of Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom


How do I plan an integrated lesson that will work with my students?


An educator must create a lesson that follows the "Ten-Step NTeQ Model" according to Morrison and Lowther (2010).  This model emphasizes the specificity of objectives, which must be all inclusive and not just focused on the computers.  The focus of the computers should be on its use as a tool to identify specific problems and then help generate answers.  This is accomplished through the computers ability to allow research and analysis to take place right in the classroom, organize this new information, and present it to others.

Why do I need objectives to help with my planning and lesson development?


Objectives are a critical aspect of designing a lesson plan.  It is true that much can be learned that was unanticipated, however, this does not mean that a teacher should no clearly define lesson objectives.  Usually objectives in the lesson are clearly spelled out in the state's course standards and teachers can design a plan to integrate computers to help reach these objectives.  Objectives are also important because it must be taken into account the variety of ways students learn.  According to Morrison and Lowther (2010), objectives can be presented in two ways.  First, a teacher can use the traditional behavior objective that specifically presents clear objectives that the students will follow.  The other is called cognitive objectives, which are not very specific and leave the student to interpret data in multiple ways.  Both are effective and can be used when dealing with education technology in the classroom.

How can I encourage my students to engage in the processing of information?


Instructors must make learning fun rather than a seemingly mundane activity.  It is good that students can look at objects on their computers and learn information about them, but it may benefit the teacher to bring in actual plant life (if that is what they were studying) or include an actual scientific experiment that is conducted after gathering the information and test the theories that were developed.  If it were a high school economics class, the teacher could present software that allowed students to manipulate a fictional market to see what actions are healthy or unhealthy for a community.  Whatever the approach, some "hands on" activities must accompany the teacher providing information to the students in the form of lecturing.

Do I have to use a different lesson plan when I want my students to use computers?

 It would be a waste of time to develop a completely new lesson plan because of the introduction of computers.  With computers in the classroom, instructors would be better able to communicate the lesson plan by providing the presentation (or notes) on each computer.  This would enable the students to not have to write down information and instead enable them to focus on listening.  Computers would make the lesson plans more efficient because the NTeQ lesson plan focuses on the computer as a tool.

What is the relationship between objectives and computer functions?


Objectives in a lesson are to discover facts about something of historical importance or learn about different ecosystems outside the United States.  In other words, objectives are what the teacher is hoping the students learn.  They are new information being passed down.  Computer functions, while they may be new information to many, they are simply the means of obtaining the primary goals.  This may include organizing spread sheets to better interpret data that was obtained about a subject.

Can you use a computer for every objective or lesson?


With technology rapidly changing it is possible to to use a computer for just about anything.  However, objectives in a lesson may be reached without the use of computers.  As previously mentioned, the computer is simply a tool being used to help gain information but it does have limitations.  It will not teach a student what certain surfaces of rocks or plants feel like better than taking a field trip to a museum.  History students can read articles and look at pictures of the events of September 11, 2001, but   actually seeing ground zero will put the event in perspective in a way that a computer can't.