Blog#6

I chapter six technology, digital media, and curriculum integration are the main focus. It discusses possible ways to integrate technology into the curriculum, such as through the use of computers, CDs, DVDs, application software, digital media applications, electronic references, and the internet. The chapter explains a five step model for instructional transformation produced by Welliver that begins with awareness of technology and continues until full evolvement of technology in all subject areas. The book believes that the best method of integrating technology into the classroom is to educate the teachers, make it easily accessible, and let the teachers decide for themselves how to integrate it. Another model that the book teaches is the ASSURE model. This is an acronym for Analyze the learner, State objectives, Select methods, media, and materials, Utilize methods, media, and materials, Require learner participation, and Evaluate and revise. This is an instructional model for effective teaching using technology.
In the last class I learned about qualified websites and how to differentiate them between those websites that may not be appropriate. There is a list of criteria that help to determine whether the website is good or bad. There are seven questions that a web user should ask regarding the website: 1. who is the authority; 2. what is the websites objective; 3. what is the accuracy of the website; 4. what is the currency of the website; 5. what does the website cover; 6. is the website easy to maneuver. They should also consider whether the web version is different than the print version, that websites are subject to change, is the web the best place to locate this information, and that anyone can post something on the web. .edu is an educational website, .gov is a government website, .org is an organization’s website, .com is a commercial website, and .net is a personal-internet service provider. The provider is an okay quick method of determining whether the website has a good authority. Finally it is important to teach our future students that not everything on the web is okay to use and they should follow guidelines.