Abstract
Transformative educational technology (EdTech) is a practice in education that improves student learning by implementing real-world, authentic tasks and activities that would not be achievable without the use of technology. Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in EdTech in the classroom, yet teachers still lack clarity and uncertainty around creating engaging and meaningful technology-integrated lessons. The focus of this chapter is on the practice of creating real-world, authentic lessons with the use of technology for elementary teachers. This chapter provides an overview of EdTech in the current educational system, technology integration frameworks to support teacher growth towards transformation with technology, and suggestions to guide educators in implementing research-based strategies for lessons and assessments.
TopBackground Behind New Technology Demands
Educators continue to struggle with providing transformative, innovative, and creative lessons that incorporate Educational Technology (EdTech) in their daily lessons. The current educational system is going through a shift from pushing minimal EdTech requirements in the classroom to overhauling the learning environment and finding benefits in hybrid, concurrent, blended, and fully digital classrooms. This shift for educators, especially elementary educators, is happening with minimal scaffolds for teachers and even less time for building a new understanding for EdTech. It is also important to note that most educators have received minimal (if any) formal training in the area of EdTech. The reality of incorporating technology is a struggle for elementary teachers, especially those who previously had minimal devices in their physical classroom.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Inquiry-Based Learning: A type of active learning that promotes students to ask questions and search for solutions to their questions.
Asynchronous Learning: Classroom activities and assignments that are completed independently by students.
Authentic Learning: A classroom teaching method that involves real-world problems and activities.
Summative Assessments: A type of classroom assessment that is given at the end of a unit, course, or term to determine students overall understanding of the concepts.
Feedback: An instructor’s response to students on an assignment or assessment.
Synchronous Learning: Classroom activities and assignments where the learning takes place as a whole class, in small groups, or in partners.
Formative Assessments: A type of classroom assessment that is given as a checkpoint to guide future instruction throughout a unit, course, or term.