Integration Strategies

Once you have chosen a specific technology it can be challenging to go about integrating it into classroom practice. Here are some strategies for guiding the planning process:

SAMR and Student Experience: Using the SAMR framework examines the function of technology in the lesson and how it shapes the student experience. Essentially, any technology falls into one of four levels of integration:

Substitution: The chosen technology is simply replacing an element of the lesson. For example, students using a word processor to type instead of writing answers.

Augmentation: The chosen technology is enhancing the learning experience by introducing a new level of functionality. For example, digital simulations can provide information rich, real time demonstrations of science concepts beyond what a static graphic or visual model can demonstrate.

Modification: The chosen technology is now allowing for a task to be redesigned. For example, instead of explaining a science concept in writing, students use video recording software to create a video presentation to demonstrate their science understanding.

Redefinition: The chosen technology is now being leveraged to create tasks that were not possible prior to the technology. For example, this could look like having students use a collaborative web platform to participate in a virtual science fair where they share their experiments with students from around the globe and give one another feedback on their work.

ADDIE and Instructional Design: Consider the ADDIE framework when looking to integrate technology into the lesson.

Analyze: What is the problem you are trying to solve by using a technology in your lesson? Who is your audience and what prior skills or knowledge might they need to be successful with this technology? For example, word processing software can support students in their writing, but they might need support with the user interface and utilizing the embedded tools.

Design: Identify your learning objectives and ensure your technology is in alignment. For example, a digital simulation may seem to support understanding of a concept, but is it using vocabulary aligned to the lesson plan and objective?

Develop: This is when you build your lesson plan and assemble your identified digital tools. Consider having a colleague review your work for accuracy, quality, and alignment.

Implement: Deliver the lesson and be mindful of the impact of your selected tools and interventions. This will lead naturally into the final step of evaluating lesson outcomes.

Evaluate: Dig into the data collected from the lesson. How did students respond to the digital tools? What trends do the formative and summative data show about student learning? Use this data as feedback for future planning and instruction to identify successes and areas for redesign or improvement.