Integrating technology into the classroom can have a powerful impact on student learning. Any effective technology plan begins by considering the following core principles:
Equity: There is a measurable digital divide between students that do and do not have access to technology and 21st century learning opportunities. This inequity can then influence career outcomes, especially regarding who and who is not represented in STEM occupational fields. Therefore any effective technology plan in the classroom should seek to close this opportunity gap and ensure that technology resources are accessible for every student. This looks like all students having access to the devices, internet connections, and time needed for any planned activity.
Ethical Use: Any technology plan should be compliant with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Additionally, any plan should also comply with fair use laws regarding the use of materials for educational purposes. Integrating information about these regulations and modeling them to students is also part of a comprehensive and effective technology integration plan.
Social Responsibility: Integrating technology into the classroom also means empowering students to be knowledgeable digital citizens and socially responsible users of technology. Embedding lessons and classroom norms that teach and reinforce digital citizenship skills and 'netiquette' are integral pieces of a technology plan that can also blend naturally with teaching and modeling socio-emotional skills in the classroom.
