Hello, Readers!
Welcome back to my blog. Buckle up, because today we will be discussing Technology Integration Models!!
These past couple weeks, I have been learning all about Technology Integration Models, and how they support students and teachers in the classroom. Some specific approaches I have read about include TPACK, Triple E, and SAMR. Models such as these are used to assess how technology is used to promote content understanding for students, and create a more enriching classroom experience with that technology. For example, the SAMR model stands for substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition. Specifically, redefinition is how technology creates new opportunities for students that would not have been possible otherwise. Redefinition can be implemented in a foreign language classroom in which students Skype call a person that currently lives in a different country that speaks the language being learned in the classroom. This is redefining students' learning as without the use of technology and video calling, students would not be able to talk "face to face" with a person who currently resides in a different part of the world.
I would have to say that the model that I find most useful is TPACK, or Technology, Content and Pedagogical Knowledge. This method is one that considers content knowledge specific to a certain lesson as well as pedagogical knowledge or the processes and procedures used to promote learning, both in relation with technology. Both content and pedagogical knowledge are important in creating a lesson, as teachers must ensure that the type of activities and instruction used in the lesson are appropriate to help students learn the content. In turn, any technology used in a lesson must satisfy both of these needs. This approach is also something that I find quite easy to understand and follow in terms of determining whether or not I created a lesson that uses technology appropriately. I read an interesting article the other day called Associations among Teachers’ Attitudes towards Computer-Assisted Education..., which helped me better understand the purpose of the TPACK approach. In the article, I found a specific quote that helped me better understand the purpose for this model: "Indeed, technology-based education does not mean solely the provision of a technology...but rather the whole process concerning the pedagogical methods and techniques for using technology within education" (Baturay et al., 2). In other words, technology isn't only something that should be used with students meaninglessly, but should be used to as a means to make a lesson more enriching for students when appropriate, given the opportunity to do so.
An example of how I would use this method in a classroom could be when giving a PowerPoint presentation in a history lesson. I could ask myself questions such as "Does this PowerPoint promote better understanding of the content knowledge in this lesson?" and "Is this PowerPoint an appropriate tool to use for instruction in this lesson?" If the answers to such questions are "yes", then the presentation would be an excellent choice for the lesson according to the TPACK model. However, if my answers to such questions are "no", I may want to take another look on how I can improve and enhance the use of technology in my lesson. For example, if the lesson involves introducing a new vocabulary word to the students, it may be helpful to use a video which can further explain the definition of the word, and maybe how the word is used in a sentence.
Here is a picture of a diagram for the TPACK model:
I have thoroughly enjoyed learning all about these approaches. I do have some questions, however, about how they can be used in the classroom. When considering all three models, TPACK, Triple E, and SAMR, and possibly other models, is there an appropriate time and place to use one model over the other when determining the effectiveness of technology in a lesson? How would we determine which one to use in certain situations? If you have any ideas, feel free to share them in the comments below!! :)
Sources:
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1140678.pdf
