Research on Technology Integration

For the past few weeks I've been researching for our curriculum committee.
I'm working on developing our position statement on Technology Integration
into the Curriculum as a tool. I have lots of how to's but struggle finding
valid research. If any of you know of a good souce to speed my summary
process, I'd appreciate the help.

Laura Hayden
Derby Middle School
Derby, KS

Dear Linda:

The positive impact of technology integration on student learning is an area
which many are questioning and investigating. Currently, the most reliable,
data-driven research study on this topic was done and is continuing to be
done by Apple Computer. See web address
http://www.apple.com/education/k12/leadership/acot/index.html

There are a number of teacher-researchers who have noted that attendance
increases, behavior problems decrease, students show a zest for learning in
technology-using classrooms, and that retention rates increase; however, this
is considered anecdotal evidence by school boards and policy makers. The Apple
research parallels with hard numbers the areas mentioned above over time (ten
years). In my own classroom, I noted the areas mentioned above as well as
others such as word processing encouraged writing with complex sentences,
logical progression, and grammatical understanding.

I urge you not to overlook how virtual tutoring centers can assist students as
well. Another good point to include in your report, if appropriate, is how
technology can support virtual professional development, which is online, on-
demand addressing topics that teachers need, when they need it, and increased
collaboration with peers. Virtual professional development also supports
mentoring and stream-lined administrative tasks--saving a teacher's time for
her job--teaching students. And, of course, community collaboration and
parental involvement can be increased when using networks if designed
appropriately.

There are other resources; however, one that comes immediately to mind is the
Technology & Learning issue (May 1998) titled :Taking Stock: How Are We Doing?"
Articles include "Taking Stock: Assessing Your Technology Program" and
"What does the research say about technology's impact on education?"

For the extended vision of technology use, knowing that curricula design,
instructional strategies, assessment of student learning and classroom
management must all be revisited to effectively integrate technology will make
the case for systemic professional development. (I would suggest about 22%-25%
of a technology budget be reserved for professional development. Of course,
software purchases should parallel curricula needs and those decisions should
be in the hands of teachers, not the Central Office.)

PS: Education Week and the Milken Exchange issued the Technology Counts '98 report. See the highlight "The Link to Higher Test Scores" by Jeff Archer. For specific to data-driven research, see the article "A Question of Effectiveness." Barbara Means is the SRI researcher on the GLOBE project.

Hope this helps.

Emily Vickery
EmilyV8036@aol.com

Emily H. Vickery, a former inner-city classroom English teacher and adjunct
college professor, successfully integrated technology into her classrooms,
while also establishing school technology programs, a virtual tutoring center,
and community partnerships. She's now an educational consultant whose
clients include Apple Computer, A+ Education Foundation, MiddleWeb, and the
National Commission on Teaching and America's Future.

CHECK OUT THESE OTHER RESOURCES RELATED TO
TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION in Technology & Learning magazine

HERE'S A SELECTION OF 1998 NEWS STORIES
ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ED TECHNOLOGY

Is that classroom computer screen half-full or half-empty? Depends on which story you read about the new study of school computer use, conducted by the Educational Testing Service and reported on in Education Week as part of its special report "Technology Counts '98." The Washington Post (9/30) headline says the "Study Faults Computers' Use in Math Education", but the Philadelphia Inquirer (9/30) chose to accentuate the positive in its story, "A High-Tech Route to the Basics." The negative take on the story by the Post and some other U.S. newspapers raised the cyber-ire of ZDNet's "Internet Mom," (10/1) who offers a cogent description of the report's actual findings in her fiesty column, "Don't Let Journalists Trash Computers in the Classroom."

AND HERE'S A CNN INTERACTIVE ARTICLE ON THE TOPIC:

"Wiring the Classroom" (11/5/98)