Successfully integrating technology into your school's academic curricula is a complex and challenging educational goal. Complex because it involves many technology-related purchases as well as extensive teacher training. Challenging because it must be done within set, and often limited, budgets.
Although few argue the importance of achieving technology integration, much debate exists as to how this can be accomplished. FUTUREKIDS would like to end the debate by offering our tested and proven model of technology integration. By combining our curriculum development and training expertise, FUTUREKIDS equips teachers with the tools they need to infuse technology into lesson plans. The result is a radical transformation in how teachers educate and how students learn.
FUTUREKIDS TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION MODEL
1. A FUTUREKIDS consultant works with a school to define a technology plan or to enhance an existing one. During planning sessions, educational goals related to technology, funding constraints and keys to successful program implementation are identified.
2. Teachers are introduced to basic skills in ten technology areas: applied technology, databases, desktop publishing, graphics, multimedia, operating environments, programming, spreadsheets, telecommunications and word-processing.
3. Teachers observe and initiate effective teaching practices in the computer lab while teaching students using FUTUREKIDS K-12 technology curriculum. Curricular units incorporate learning objectives which are defined in a scope and sequence database, in the ten technology areas covered in the professional development course.
4. With the assistance of a FUTUREKIDS Certified Integration Facilitator, teachers learn to infuse technology into all academic curricula, either in the computer lab or in the classroom.
Professional Development Training
The FUTUREKIDS professional development program is the culmination of years of research and evaluation. The end result of this extensive study and development is a hands-on training course tuned to the specific needs of professional educators.
Our training is designed to allow teachers to quickly become productive technology users. Teachers learn as they work on projects, such as creating a Venn diagram using graphics, critically evaluating Web sites, creating a technology integrated lesson plan and generating multimedia presentations for their classrooms.
These activities allow teachers to understand the value of technology and to experience the software and learning strategies connected with each skill. From these activities, teachers glean ideas on how to infuse technology into their own lesson plans. Immediately, teachers increase their own productivity, improve their teaching methods and learn how to pass these technology skills on to their own students.
K-12 Technology Curriculum
Having received basic skills training, teachers now progress to instructing students in the computer lab or classroom using the FUTUREKIDS technology curriculum.
Our K-12 technology curriculum exceeds government standards in all 50 states. Curricular units are built on a framework of over 400 learning outcomes in the ten technology areas. FUTUREKIDS lesson plans provide teachers with challenging high-interest age-appropriate projects for students and assessment tools that measure the growing mastery of technology.
Teachers benefit enormously from this teaching experience because they are shown how educationally sound, technology-infused activities are constructed. They also are put into teaching situations that require them to apply their own computer skills and also to manage a room filled with computers and students.
Integration Facilitation
Having learned basic computer literacy skills and having experienced technology-oriented teaching situations, teachers are now ready to move on to the integration component of the model. With integration training and teacher mentoring, FUTUREKIDS facilitates the infusion of technology into all subject areas as well as school events.
The goal of Integration Facilitation is to generate activity outlines revolving around one central curriculum theme for implementation in the computer lab or the classroom. A FUTUREKIDS trained facilitator guides teachers through this process:
- Planning
The Integration Facilitator meets with up to 12 teachers who are grouped by grade or by subject area. Drawing from existing curriculum, the teachers select a thematic unit of study to be infused with technology. Teachers identify required content objectives and discuss how the activity can be enhanced with technology.
- Creating
Based upon the planning session, the Integration Facilitator works independently or with the teachers to create activity outlines. Each outline identifies key learning objectives and describes the technology infused activities that have been crafted.
- Presenting
The Integration Facilitator meets with the teachers to preview the activity outlines and to address any questions or concerns. The role of the Facilitator is to prepare educators to teach the activities.
- Supporting
The Integration Facilitator provides ongoing support and mentoring during and after the implementation of the activities. Teachers have the opportunity to discuss any technical problems that they encountered as well as the effectiveness of the lessons.
- Sustaining
Working with the Integration Facilitator on activity outlines, teachers are immersed in the development of technology-infused activities. As active participants in this process, teachers learn to model future lessons using the framework constructed by the Integration Facilitator. With this knowledge, teachers are then able to sustain technology integration.
Unfortunately, a shorter path to achieving technology integration does not exist. It doesn't exist because basic skills training cannot be bypassed in favor of integration. FUTUREKIDS believes that technology must be taught in the same fashion that reading or writing is taught. Before reading a novel, writing an essay or completing a computer- based activity, students must first build a solid foundation rooted upon basic skills. The same holds true for teachers.
Although integration cannot be achieved overnight, the end result is well worth the journey. For over fifteen years, FUTUREKIDS has been the leading provider of computer education, introducing students and teachers to the educational opportunities presented by technology. With operations in over 70 countries, FUTUREKIDS is currently guiding thousands of schools on the journey toward integration.
