Stages of Technology Integration

Reflective Post #3: Stages of Technology Integration
Which Stage Am I in?

Stage 1: Entry
Stage 2: Adoption
Stage 3: Adaptation
Stage 4: Appropriation
Stage 5: innovation

Looking at the stages of technology integration slides and having to choose a stage where I am at now, I would say I am in Stage 4: Appropriation, both professionally and personally. I use technology at work for mostly everything and when the internet or one of the technology tools is not working I can not do anything (so I might as well go home)! My current school district also has integrated technology in every classroom with smart boards, iPads, lap tops, and where every student will be using some type of technological tool in the classroom and at home. My confidence in Technology is high and I would definitely integrate it in my classroom whenever possible. I am not sure I would be willing to "borrow" a technology tool from someone without being able to keep it, and I do not think that would be a problem now since everyone has their own tools. Having every kind of technology tool available at work, I think that my co-workers will not have a problem with adapting to technology because they will have to anyway! I did not find any of the stages difficult and I think everyone will have to at least reach stage 3 and adapt to technology changes.

Research

What stood out for me in the research was how much students, and at such a young age, use technology! Working in an elementary school, I see many students as young as kindergardeners with cell phones. Having kids myself and having a seven year old daughter, I have not allowed her to have a cell phone yet but realize how much young students utilize technology. Another statistic that stood out for me was the research findings from the 2010 Project Tomorrow Speaks Up about how much young boys and girls update their social network site and most of them are not OLD ENOUGH to register on the sites.. I'm not really surprised at the statistics but I am aware how much young students use technology and how much we as educators can use it and integrate it in the classrooms to engage the students. I also took a look at Beloit's Mindset and thought that this is a great way to "further look" at students entering college and sort of have an idea of the things they may or may not know. I looked at a couple of the mindsets and I would fall in the 2002 category list...Some of the things on there where funny. I remember how cool it was having a walkman and I still have no idea when or why Jordache jeans were cool!