Incorporating Technology into the Core Curriculum

The 2006-2007 Long-Range Plan for Technology focuses on four key components. The 2006-2007 Texas Campus STaR Chart Summary revealed that Aikin Elementary's area of weakness in the field of technology is Educator Preparation and Development. With this in mind I began researching websites that would assist teachers at Aikin Elementary in incorporating technology into the curriculum. In my search I came across the url address http://educate.intel.com/en/TechnologyLiteracy/Describe/TeacherGuide/. The webpage, titled Technology Literacy, provides a middle school curriculum that aids teachers in effectively implementing technology into the core curriculum. The site walks teachers through complex research projects that require students to use technology to research their subjects. The students are also required to deliver multimedia presentations to communicate their solutions.

The positives of the website are the navigation and design, content, appropriateness and authenticity. The site offers a wealth of resources and outlines for research projects that incorporate technology. The site offers clear and concise overviews of basic activities that involve the students using technology during their learning process.

One negative of the website is that the curriculum is designed for students in middle grades, ages 11 through 14. This limits the grade levels that will be able to apply the curriculum outline to their instruction.

The website's value to 21st century, information-age education is not as up-to-date as I originally assumed upon first glance. While the site is visually appealing and easy to navigate through it does not offer ways that the students can truly be creative with technology tools. The students are required to present their learning through various multimedia presentations yet it seems that the curriculum focuses on technology basics rather than expanding on the knowledge of a typical 21st century learner.