Professional Development is crucial to teachers as they move beyond their college days and into the classroom. Professional Development provides teachers with the knowledge of the ever changing trends as well as the technology to teach. Technology is becoming an ever present thing in the classroom, whether it is in the hands of the students in the form of a cell phone or the projector a teacher uses to show students something in the classroom. Technology in the classroom is meant to enhance learning (Okojie, Olinzock, & Okojie-Boulder, 2015). Teachers have a hard time using technology to its full advantage, though. Teachers know how the basics of many technologies work but it is through the professional development that teachers can learn all the intricacies of the technology and how they can be fully implemented into the classroom. It is important to not use technology for the sake of technology though.

Integration by definition means to incorporate into a larger unit (Integrate, 2015). As teachers that means that we are incorporating the technology into the units of instruction. When planning or deciding what information to teach and how to teach the material technology needs to be thought about. In order for the technology to be integrated in the most beneficial and effective manner the technology needs to be considered when the pedagogy is being considered (Okojie, Olinzock, & Okojie-Boulder, 2015). If the technology is considered with the pedagogy then the technology becomes and enhancement of the instruction instead of an afterthought. It provides students with a truly integrated lesson. The challenge comes from getting teachers the professional development that is required for teachers to feel comfortable with using the technology in the classroom. The main issue in most schools is money. Financing the professional development for the teachers can be costly between getting money for the technology as well as the money for the trainers. The teachers also need access to the technology outside of the development opportunities.

Looking at all that goes into integrating technology it is no wonder that a technology integrator has to work with all members of the school environment, from student to administrator. The integrator needs to be able to teach all the different levels of understanding as well as experience with the technology. Integrators become not only teachers but grant writers, co-workers, and ear to listen. Integrators have to listen to teachers about what technology the teachers would like to see as well as explain which technologies are the best options for teachers. Integrators also need to be problem solvers for the teachers who may not fully understand how to use the technology and have difficulties with using the technology in the classroom.

References

Integrate. (2015, December 20). Retrieved from Merriam-Webster : http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrate

Okojie, M., Olinzock, A., & Okojie-Boulder, T. (2015). The Pedagogy of Technology Integration. The Journal of Technology Studies.

Staples, A., Pugach, M. C., & Himes, D. (2005). Rethinking the Technology Integration Challenge: Cases from Three Urban Elementary Schools. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 285-311.