F: Framing the Issues

The issue of professional development approaches and their effect on technology integration into classroom practices has been a reoccurring theme in etec 533 discussions. A key point in assumptions made about technology use was ‘Students are the center of our classrooms and integrating technology that will lead to learning environments that promote student success is good use”. During the interview with a colleague it became clear that although this teacher was using technology in other curriculum areas and valued the use of technology to enhance student learning, “it was like night and day the work they could produce”, “……..opened my eyes to what technology can do as a teaching and learning tool in my classroom….”, she was hesitant to use it in her Mathematics teaching and learning environment. “I haven’t used technology for Math teaching, used it mainly for Language Arts and cross curricular with Science and Art.”, “..but I think it is important, I’ve gone on the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives occasionally but I can’t say I have done a lot with my students in math instruction or assessment, with technology.” This interview was the impetus in reframing this issue about PD to include integration in content areas: What elements need to be present in professional development to lead to effective technology use in mathematics learning environments? Read more….. Wells_Framing_Issues_Paper