I think everything is going alright in the course. It’s coming to the end of long semester – meaning I had to do a lot of work. Was it worth it? You better believe it!?! I learned more about how important technology is in the classroom and will vouch for it every waking minute. I first thought that this really was going to be geek central and now I know the term geek means something you are passionate about and guess what I am technology education geek.

What is not going well in the course?

Well time was not on my side last journal and I don’t like repeating my same failures. I feel one thing that is not going well is the ending of this course. It ends all of a sudden and that is sad for me because I’m learning so much and bringing it to my school.

What are my frustrations?

Frustrations…They are there but I think it’s because of my lack of time management. I do have one frustration dealing with collaboration of team members. I’m frustrated of being part of a team that not all the members work to their potential. What is frustrating too is stating something you want to do and having nobody respect the notion or give consideration to. Time and time again I try to work around my other obligations to meet and work with my team and how quickly they are to state “nope can’t do it” The frustrating part for me is lack of effort and towards the end I am so fed up with it. The group is going well it’s just that I feel that not all worked as hard – I feel that I didn’t on some because it was already done without even asking others input or making attempts. It was stated and that was it.

What are my accomplishments?

Well I’m feeling more confident in what I am able to produce as a means of a great lesson plan that has technology integrated within it. I’m finding wonderful uses of taskstreams and seeing how beneficial it is to use it because not only can you create a lesson with a template but the standards are there too! That is great since we need to post the standards anyway.

My life as an online learner…Well I’m continuing my education and persuing my masters. I started my subscription to t.h.e journal and I am reading about a lot of innovated ways happening in elementary schools. I’m enjoying using taskstream sooo much. It’s fantastic and really easy to use – once you play around with it.

I am learning so much in this course it’s fantastic. What is also going well is that the other course I’m taking ETC 547 compliments this one so it is helping me a lot. Plus I’m not going crazy trying to find something since the same thing happened in the other class.  I actually feel like I’m on top and that is great!

What is not going well in the course?

I feel like there is a road block from my learning and I’m referring to the fact that the class is coming to an end. I amfinding so many more ways that I am able to integrate technology into my school! It’s exciting and invigorating. So what is the problem? Well for me the class is ending and in most cases when my class ends so does my further exploration of the field. I don’t want that to happen at all.

What are my frustrations?

Frustrations – don’t have a lot of them really. My group is fantastic – we work well together and we each share in the load so that is nice.  I really can’t think of any so yeah not so frustrated this time

What are my accomplishments?

I’m working really hard in my classes and in my work. I’m finding many ways that I can show how easy it is to integrate a form of technology into the classroom. As a result of my eagerness many peole are asking for my input on how things work and how it will be beneficial for their students.

My life as an online learner…Well I’m continuing my education and persuing my masters. I started my subscription to t.h.e journal and I am reading about a lot of innovated ways happening in elementary schools. I’m enjoying using taskstream sooo much. It’s fantastic and really easy to use – once you play around with it.

What is going well in the course?

Well I am beginning to see how I can incorporate my studies into my classroom. I’m learning a lot and trying really hard to put it into use so that I won’t forget about it later on.

What is not going well in the course?

I believe that some of things that are not going well in the course is timing of elluminate presentations. The last two were scheduled on Wednesdays and that was a hard night so I’m trying hard to work around those schedules with other obligations that were previously set.
What are my frustrations?

My frustrations are with my school. I worked on my schools technology plan for class and evaluated by working along with the website from the Milken Foundation. I asked questions because the plan was great, they used the template from the Arkansas School District that I looked up from class. Everything was in place except for professional development opportunities for the teachers. I discussed this with some people who created the plan and they informed me that the school does not even use the plan. I was so frustrated with that because I was under the impression we were because we had a grant that made it possible.

What are my accomplishments?

I believe that my evalutation on my school’s technology plan was an accomplishment because I took time to look at what a plan would entail for student success. Also viewing this and commenting on it is making the faculty aware of how they can integrate technology with their curriculum.

My life as an online learner…because of my classes and seeing how I can enhance my teaching, I am going to start creating a presentation on the importance technology has with science learning. I’m going to be doing research and create templates to help start our teachers off with teaching science. I’m looking forward to this and I feel technology is an extremely important tool with learning.

What is going well in the course?

My knowledge of how important technology is with my curriculum has heightened. I’m looking into incorporating many ways that I can integrate technology with my phonic lessons. I’m learning a ton of information on purposes of having detailed lesson plans. I’m also realizing how important it is for students to start learning and using technology within their studies.

What is not going well in the course?

I will have to say that my stamina in keeping up with everything is losing it’s power. I work so hard and yet I always feel that I am not on top of things.  It’s sometimes hard working on something that will not be used later on in my job.  It’s important to learn how technology can help K-12 and up but not a whole lot of information for the primary grades.  This is not that helpful when I’m bringing information back to my colleagues.

What are my frustrations?

My frustrations are coming from my school. I’m learning a lot of information and telling my school what I have learned and what we can do to help bring the use of technology into the classroom. The problem is that they want to but are not willing to listen or see. It’s very hard when my principal sees the importance of integrating technology but will not listen to anyone.  Another frustration goes with what was not going well in the course.  Frustration of what I’m reading does not really apply with my teaching – it’s more for higher education.  Sometimes I feel that my students are left out of the picture because they are seen as too young with little or no experience.  That is very difficult for a teacher to hear.

What are my accomplishments?

I believe one of my accomplishments is determination.  I’m finding many parts on my assignments overwhelming but I am not giving up hope.  Because of being somewhat naive I am beginning to see how important it is to have technology integrated into the classrooms.  I’m going to be trying to apply through a couple of fields within my district that will help bring more technology training and utilization into the elementary schools.

My life as an online learner…In a few weeks I’ll be going to Washington D.C. for a social studies conference that will deal with integrating technology and how it can assist with learning.  I’m looking forward to this very much.  I just bought a few books as well that deal with the computer and education working together.  I can’t wait to start reading it during the winter break.

Did you see our presentation!?! It was fantastic and I was so scared but it really turned out well.

http://elm.elluminate.com/NAU-Institution/recordings.html?s=1160982000000&e=1161068399999

just click on and see the recording from the first installation of The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. I’m liking this book a lot.

What else is going well in this course? Relevency I am beginning to really start using my school in a project and as a result help out with our school’s technology plan. I’m really looking forward to that.

What is not going well in the course?

Missing some guided directions so some of things I do is a little blindly. That is confusing so that is not going so well in the course. Other things is dialogue online – I felt so bad that I’m not communicating that much online – it all has to do with timing and being up night after night. I need to work on that.

If we are given rubrics on how our work is graded then we should be able to see what we did wrong on them so that we don’t do any mistakes again.
What are my frustrations?

The inability to freeze time so I can finish my work. There are many times I sit and wonder where did the time go. I’m am really organized for this class and it is scary but I am always seeming to be rushing to finish all the time and that is really frustrating. I have told myself that I cannot take three classes at the same time and work three jobs.

What are my accomplishments?

Being able to create a Likert Scale and ask relevant questions that relate to my school was very beneficial for me. I’m beginning to see and understand the use of technology more clearly than ever before. I’m beginning to communicate to my staff about issues that come up from what I have learned and we are working out ways to use technology in our classrooms. Doing the needs assessment questionnaire was wonderful, it made me to analyze what we had and how we are not using it.

My accomplishments are taking the ideas and content from this class and using it in my teaching. I was in Mesa last weekend for a science conference and I went to the vendors and asked them how their science package uses technology? To my surprise a lot only had the CD ROM that had audio for the readings. So we talked about ways that technology could be used to help with understanding science a little more. It felt good that I knew what I was talking about.

My life as an online learner…Is that I am continuing to find books and articles relating to the use of technology and finding out how I can bring that into the classroom. I want to go back into teaching my own students so I’ll be searching for a job for next fall. Working with kindergarteners with their phonics is ok. I am still incorporating technology with them but still I would like to do that with all the subjects.

I am beginning to enjoy working with my cooperative working groups; I am getting a variety of ideas from them. We are really ahead with our work and we try really hard to work with everyone’s needs.

I’m really getting into writing my ideas and finding ways of incorporating the use of technology in my classes and studies. Last weekend, I was in Mesa for a Science Convention and every table I went exploring in I kept asking how they incorporated technology with their program.

What is not going well in the course?

If we are given rubrics on how our work is graded then we should be able to see what we did wrong on them so that we don’t do the same mistakes again.  Everything else is going alright just wish I knew how to freeze time .

What are my frustrations?

Biggest frustration these past two weeks go with my group’s meeting. Two weeks ago connection was horrible with our VistaChat and we could not communicate real well. What was frustrating on my part was my job as commentator and copying down our chats. The following week it was decided that we use Eluminate and unfortunately a team member could not log on and that was frustrating. We did however work together to get everything situated it just took more minutes away. My problem is getting things done on a timely fashion. It’s way overconsuming me but I am getting a lot out of this class. Which is a very good thing!

What are my accomplishments?

I’m beginning to see and understand the use of technology more clearly than ever before. I’m beginning to communicate to my staff about issues that come up from what I have learned and we are working out ways to use technology in our classrooms.

My life as an online learner… Will never change – I really love using my computer for my work and I want others to as well. I’m finding many ways that I can use technology in the classroom. I’m also learning more things that are out there that I can use for my job, for my personal life and helping others. It’s fantastic!

I’m really enjoying the readings from the book – Toys, Tools and Teachers by Marge Cambre and Mark Hawkes. I’m learning the understanding of where technology tools came and how it is evolving in education.

Communication is a critical part of the course. I’m talking to other teachers and learning a variety of ways that I can collaborate and integrate technology with learning in elementary education.

Reading the materials provided in the class is well too – The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman is an eye opener of how the world came to be with technology and the use in America with comparison to the world. I am finally understanding the two flatliners thank goodness since I have to present in a couple weeks. But it is making sense.

What is not going well in the course?

I’m feeling that part of the course goes too fast that after I’m done with an assignment I have to go on to the next one and so I’m unable to fully understand what I’ve done. I’m not getting response from the instructor but that is okay some students are responding when I post some questions so I do feel some relief on that.
What are my frustrations?

Overload on assignments is a big thing. I am understanding different techniques. Many things that I’m learning about I am finding not useful in what I am teaching. I am however seeing how it could be used in a classroom setting – just not mine. I am also seeing a shift between elementary level and secondary level. The assignments that I see acceptable in secondary are not interesting for me because I do not plan on teaching or being in that type of setting.

What are my accomplishments?

I’m working on taskstream and understanding how to use Eluminate with on of the assingments for The World is Flat. I’m really looking forward to this to see how to make an online presentation with my group. I don’t feel that discouraged anymore which is a nice feeling.

My life as an online learner…I am beginning to be more determined when it comes to searching for items online. I’m seeing a lot of sites that I would never have thought of as a potential teachable moment. I’m learning a lot of information that I’m beginning to use with my parents, who are teachers, and my faculty staff. I am listening to teachers on podcast and getting innovative ideas on how technology can really help my students in certain levels. For example, on a podcast they talked about the drill and kill model and how it can help some ELL students understand concepts, vocabulary so I use that with them for letter sounds. It works! I’m looking toward my future and seeing what it might hold.

Time management is working with me – which is very scary because I lose my managing about this time. The book by Jonassen is really interesting – I am getting some great ideas on what I can do with some of my students and plans when I go back to teaching in my own classroom for next year.

What is not going well in the course?

A lot of assignments are being posted and I feel a tad overwhelmed. I am learning a ton of information that I can use in the classroom but I’m also seeing things that will not because of where I’m teaching. Elementary and secondary education are two different worlds and use of technology in them are different. I don’t plan on teaching secondary and not interested in higher education so participating in them is not worthwhile.
What are my frustrations?

Overload of assignments is one of them. Everytime I get a week’s worth done I have more on my plate to get accomplished. I breathe in and then work out my next assignment. Other than that pretty ok.

What are my accomplishments?

Ability to learn more information is great. I’m able to take some of the things that I’ve learned and used them in my class and I tell teachers at my school what I’ve been doing in class to give them some ideas. Some use them but it’s nice to know that I’m finding ways to apply them.

My life as an online learner…I am beginning to be more determined when it comes to searching for items online. I’m seeing a lot of sites that I would never have thought of as a potential teachable moment. I’m learning a lot of information that I’m beginning to use with my parents, who are teachers, and my faculty staff. I am listening to teachers on podcast and getting innovative ideas on how technology can really help my students in certain levels. For example, on a podcast they talked about the drill and kill model and how it can help some ELL students understand concepts, vocabulary so I use that with them for letter sounds. It works! I’m looking toward my future and seeing what it might hold.

What is not going well in the course?
The idea that this class is a master level. The work is sometimes overwhelming – juggling work and school is really hard right now.

What are my frustrations?
Not finding the right site or the right kind of information is very tedious and burdensome. But keeping on trying and not giving up I do finally find it.

What are my accomplishments?
Getting to learn more ways on how to integrate technology in my classroom. Giving information to parents on the benefits technology has on their child’s learning.

My life as an online learner…
I’m am loving podcast and webcast right now. Learning a lot about different varieties technology has made in education. Listening and viewing how teachers are trying to educate more teachers on using technology in the classroom and how it will benefit them. I’m learning about different references I can use other than a book.

            Today many students and teachers are dreading going to school.  Standards and high-stake testing are making it difficult to think individually and be creative.  There is a solution to help everyone out – welcome integration of technology.  Technology, in particular computers, has been part of the school system since the 1980’s but now many people are pushing that technology must be taught.  This content area is still relatively new and causing fear for educators, who for some are not that savvy in the subject.  The purpose of technology can help students with their social foundation and understanding of complex concepts.  Technology can help students through interaction and participation which many students will gladly do their work.  Another add-on to this subject is video gaming and how it can help students with their learning.  Teachers need an extra hand and technology is here to assist.

Introducing The Next Challenger – Technology!

            Andy Roddick, an experienced well-known professional tennis player has competed against other well-known tennis players.  He steps out onto the tennis court.  The crowd cheers and looks forward toward his new opponent, Pong.  Pong is an electronic computerized style of table tennis, a sport very similar to tennis.  The match begins and Roddick is losing, the Pong paddle seems to always be a step ahead.  Andy Roddick is frustrated, he feels like all is lost unless through some miracle he can find a way to pull through and win.  He tries different strategies to bet this rectangular paddle and finally he finds a way and wins – Pong is defeated.  Roddick’s comment, “life is about taking challenges.”  Even though this is a commercial promoting the American Express Credit Card, an educator can view this as how they feel dealing with technology in the classroom.  Education is becoming more and more detailed about student success.  With this urge by the federal government on the need of improving education, technology has been involved in giving multiple ways to lend a helping hand.  But like Pong, technology is so vast that it can be overwhelming.  Technology can be used to interpret data from various high-stake testing.  It can also bring in many incentive ways to get students engaged and comprehend the posted objectives.  Finally, technology can be utilized effectively and efficiently, as long as the educator is comfortable allowing this style to enter their domain.  Technology is like the paddle, educators need to find a way to take control and use it to help improve the learning of today’s youth. Love, set, match.

            The History of Technology in Schools

Education has never really changed.  The strategies on how to teach students have shifted because more is being asked for the learners to know.  “Since the colonial era, Western institutionalized education increasingly has been put into the service of civilization-building by seeking to advance practical industrial needs (Chafy pg 1).”  Technology is driving force that allows for new innovations to be created and explored, very similar to education.  During the 1980’s the government reported on how poorly public education was in America.  The government report,

“‘A Nation at Risk,’ addressed four issues in the American school

system.  They were poor structure on the curriculum and content

areas, low expectations on student outcomes with low requirements

for acceptance to higher learning facilities, students were not in school

as long as students from other parts of the world, and finally, teacher

preparation programs were not producing able minded educators

(Fletcher pg 2).” 

Technology during the 1980’s was not really being utilized in the classroom effectively.  It was used mainly as an organizer for student information at the human resource department at school districts.  Databases were created to store personal information and student absences (Fletcher pgs 2-3).  The use of computers at this time was not beneficial for student academic progress.  Also there were hardly any workshops to help train educators on using computers in the classroom. 

Soon more computers were being delivered to the school because the government felt technology could help improve high-stake testing scores.  With the increase of computers, more of them were being placed in school.  The computers were either setup in one big room or few rooms and were called computer labs.  “The instruction and assessment –student and teacher – side of the district was even more disconnected…it measured minimum skills and there were no ‘stakes’ to it…there was no attempt to link what happened in the computer lab with what happened in the real classroom (Fletcher pgs 2-3).”  Teachers and students were not engaged during this time, since for the assessment tool with technology was hardly viewed or interpret.  Also for students, this was a break away from their regular class work (Fletcher pg 3).  This was the typical view on the use of technology at many schools nationwide but then a change occurred.  A new outlook on viewing education and learning, standards, assessments and accountability on students took front stage.  “In reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind Act), the federal government has required all states to establish accountability systems with high-stakes testing (Fletcher pg 3).”  With this act, the teacher had to teach the students what was based on the standards, which were set up by their district, state and or nation.  Now with the strain from No Child Left Behind, teachers are asked to find necessary practices using technology to help improve their teaching to raise students’ performances on high-stake testing.  Integrating technology in the classroom and utilizing the use of the computer lab was a new strategy for teachers to use in order to help improve students academically.  Educating teachers on using them was a strategy did not used, so teachers were faced with using something that was new for them.  Teachers may have become afraid on trying a new tool that they did not master.  Worse yet many students were more knowledgeable than their instructors.

            Socially Adaptable

            In regards to technology and how educators can utilize its potential to strengthen students understanding, social standards need to be looked as guides and helpers for teachers.  There are many views on how the use of technology can relate with learners’ social foundation.  One view is simplicity with technology.  Liz Marr reviewed the book The Social Shaping of Technology and states, “rapid developments in technology especially in the field of information and communications technology, appear to raise new issues which demand we go further than ‘these social condition brought us these new technologies’…wider social relations of class, gender or ethnicity often distracted attention from the technology itself (Marr pgs 1-2).”  Technology is growing and because of this growth the need to teach social skills and awareness is a critical issue.  Through another source technology is viewed as an aide with social development.  “The computer is likely responsible for the single largest developmental shift across many areas of learning and performance; this is especially true of not only what conceptualize problem solving and the degree to which abstract reasoning is important in concept formation (Flye, Gibson, Seemann, Wilkinson 2511).” 

Where Learning Evolves

            Children go to school to learn foundations and from there be able to build upon them later on in their years of schooling.  Technology can help foster and improve the understanding by creating more concrete ideas.  With the No Child Left Behind Act on its way of making the attempt to have students succeed that is based on high-stake testing, technological companies are making an effort to help schools nationwide.    No Child Left Behind is trying to make use of technology work with student achievement.  Having companies work in collaboration with districts is allowing technology be a universal tool for learning.  Yanlu Xu reviews on a theory, “attempt to conceptualize curriculum delivery within the framework of new technology.  When we analyze the differences of curriculum delivery…we see there are three main parameters that strongly influence the curriculum delivery…three parameters are knowledge, pedagogy and technology (Xu pg 1231).”  Looking at that teachers and administrators can see the connections between learning and using technology together.  There are many debates on how technology should be used in education in relation to student achievement.  An issue that has been stated is that some students do not know how to use technology.  One person that can explain this is, Dr. Caroline Crawford, who in a podcast said that students are unaware on how to use computers because computer literacy is a test not given to show accountability measures from the act.  She tries to give a solution stating that technology could be used to support the standards that are tested such as science, math and language arts (Instructional Technology Podcasts 4/13/2006).

Where Did This Come From?

            In short, technology seems like it is a brand new subject.  However, it has been around and used to assist teachers in education.  The difficult part now is showing how useful technology is by itself.  It is a very powerful tool and that is the bottom line.  Trying to find teachers to integrate technology can be a challenge.  Administration has no problem, but teachers are shown to be more resistance.  Reason is according to

fear and time efficiency.  Change is difficult for the classroom teacher.  Kari Rhame, Chief Technology Officer of the Deer Park Independent School District in Deer Park Texas, states that giving ideas to teachers during staff development to help them see and start from there.  “Building a relationship with teachers…and getting them to see a project they can do…let us show how technology can have a role (Instructional Technology Podcasts 1/27/2006).”  This is not a problem that will be solved in one meeting, it is gradual and needs to have recurring collaborative meetings.  Another difficult part with trying to help teachers use technology within their subjects is time.  Teachers feel that learning a new tool will take away time from the students.  Another problem that Rhame talks about is the difficulty attempting to integrate technology through the elementary level because of the high cost (Instructional Technology Podcasts 1/27/2006).  It is difficult for elementary schools to have a school wide technology program because every child in their respected grade level should have the same mode and tool for instruction.  Technology cost money and many companies are looking at investing their product in the hands of older students because they are the ones that will need to find employment and have a large gap in learning.  The government tries and assists middle schools to high schools because of testing and better outcome to show results. 

Another problem with technology is competition of technology.  When a consumer purchases a new computer with state of the art components, a better model is just getting ready to be launched.  Along with competition in technology there also comes the use of educational professional development.  Some experienced teachers dread going to professional development in regards to innovative ways on using technology in the classroom.  They are taught how to use it and how it will improve test scores.  Educators are shown graphs of students excelling after using certain technological programs in their core curriculum and then the meeting is over; the teacher is standing there alone.  Fear is a key issue here, an educator is afraid of the unknown because they do not know what will happen in the classroom if using the technology fails.  Also the new teacher is given many wonderful ways of instruction during their training and student teaching but again they are overwhelmed with following the school’s guidelines, managing their class and teaching to the standards.  Mentorship is a solution that can assist and help develop a team that can work together on finding ways to integrate technology in their class.  Having someone as a support system is always beneficial.

Gaming – Friend or Foe?

            Listening to some podcast in handling games in the classroom, Brian Russell of Audio Activism discusses about the Mobile Media Conference.  During an interview with one of the attendants, Dan Smith, the two talked about how interesting it was of the use of a video game, it typically was used for entertainment value and now can be something to use as a learning experience.  Things discussed were impact on learning, social interaction, exploration and engagement. (podcast Audio Activism 05/06/2005). 

In a webcast presentation entitled Technology in Education Games from Orange County School District, Michael Guerena and Mark Wagner discuss the positive side toward gaming in education.  One point that they bring out is the purpose of using games in schools.  Gaming is helping students with skills and is creating more authentic exploration.  Dr. James Gee from University of Wisconsin states that students find a connection with language, action and talk.  Students are able to get dialogue and find out how to use certain vocabulary words correctly.  Having games in the classroom, students are more engage and interact (Games in Education 07/09/2006).  Something also described in the webcast was the notion that games is not replacing the teaching but enhancing it.  It is assisting the teacher to help build that foundation and make sure the students understand it through their own terms.  The role of the game is as stated my Dr. Gee, “complex systems is any time you play a game it’s a role system you have to discover what that role system is and how to leverage it to your own purposes and how to even find emergent propertities to flow through it…because everything in life is a complex system (Games in Education 07/09/2006).”  The ability for students to venture outside of the classroom is unlimited, anytime no matter what.  Students have the ability to interact, take risks, be motivated and involved.  In the webcast, the teacher mentioned that the effectiveness of using games was that it fulfilled meeting the state standards (Games in Education 07/09/2006).  Teachers might be more accepting with using technology in the classroom if technology will help fulfill state requirements and standards. 

            A negative side that Dr. Gee mentions is limitations. He brings up a game known as S.W.A.T.4 and states that students cannot kill to kill but must follow directions that S.W.A.T. team members must go through, students understand the language from the dialogue and experience at hand decision making and social interaction.  Unfortunately there are not simulations dealing with scientist or other occupations because it is not that popular and people will not invent that (Games in Education 07/09/2006).  The bottom line is how to create that one game that will want to make kids yearn to learn.  Problem with gaming is with teachers’ ideas of what games are – fun.  The webcast says not to call it fun but engaging (Games in Education 07/09/2006).  Challenges with games are students have no desire to participate.  Another challenge was student’s ability to be a ‘gamer’ if they do not like it then they will try and avoid participating at all cost (Games in Education 07/09/2006).  These are in parallel with using a textbook in regards to the themes of motivation to participate; if student is not motivated will they complete their assignment to the best of their ability?  Most likely no because they have limited or zero engagement.  Another issue brought up with using technology in a history class was dealing with a war simulation and the player can actually change history.  Finally, a problem also is unaware.  When mentioning gaming, people might visualize simple arcade games or violent, senseless killing and pure fantasy, it’s not learning, it’s fun time (Games in Education 07/09/2006).   Learning can be fun too and worthwhile.

Where To Go From Here?

            Educators have a lot on their plate and the government is asking a lot from them to improve the students’ results from high-stake testing.  Instead of reinventing the wheel, educators should use something to help strengthen the students’ understanding of the curriculum and objectives.  The solution is technology, instead of using technology as its own content area, educators should use it as a tool to make more connections for the students.  Teachers need to be trained in programs to help them become more familiar with the it so that they can be knowledgeable and model for the students.  Instead of creating isolation, where the teacher feels alone and overwhelmed, have collaboration and more practice during professional development.  When the teacher becomes better at it they will find more ways that they can use technology to help with student progress.  Not only that but students will be more engaged and have that desire to learn more because technology is helping them with interactions, building social skills and improving their logic just to name a few.

References

Chafy, R. (1997). Exploring the Intellectual Foundation [review from Journal of Technology Education]. Journal of Technology Education Vol. 9, Number 1, 1997.

Fay, R. & Wagner, M. (2006). Games in Education [webcast from EdTechLife] http://robfay.com/2006/07/09/games-in-education, 07/09/2006.

Fletcher, G.H. (2002).  Igniting the Internet Revolution: A New Category for Education Technology [Review of the program Concert from Pearson Education Technologies]. T.H.E. Journal (http://thejournal.com/articles/16752), 1-8.

Flye, A., & Gibson, G., & Seemann, E. & Wilkinson, L. (2002). Technology as a Developmental Influence [Review of the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference]. Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2002, 2511-2512.

Marr, L. (1999).  Sociological Research Online [Review of the book The Social Shaping of Technology: Second Edition]. Sociological Research Online, 1-2.

Russell, B. (2005). Interview with Dan Smith About Serious Games [podcast Audio Activism] http://www.audioactivism.org/audio/AA_MMCon_Smith_GamingEDU.mp3, 05/06/2005.

Smith, R. & Crawford, C. (2006).  Computer Literacy and NCLB [podcast Instructional Technology Podcasts] http://inst.cl.uh.edu/podcasts/Comp%20Lit%20and%20NCLB.mp3, 04/13/2006 04:43 AM.

___________. (2006). Implementing Computers in Schools [podcast Instructional Technology Podcasts] http://inst.cl.uh.edu/podcasts/Kari_Rhame.mp3, 01/27/2006.

Xu, Yanlu. (1999). Exploring Curriculum Delivery [review of the World Conference on Educational Mutimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications 1999] Proceedings of World Conference on Education Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications 1999, 1231-1232.