April Benton - Blog 3- Technology Integration Part 2

Current Technology Strategies

My goal as an educator is to integrate technology in a way that allows the students to create. Our district is 1:1 with Chromebooks, and therefore the students have the opportunities to create as needed. This allows the students to problem solve, work in groups, and teachers can assess their students with rubrics designed around their finished products. My vision and goal follow under a more constructivist theory. This approach helps grow our students into problem solvers. Chart 2.2 Directive and Constructivist Instructional Needs, Methods, and Assessment help compare the two theories. Looking at the chart, my vision is definitely aligned with cooperative groups, problem-solving, and problem-oriented activities, yet as an educator, students are held to standards and are required to show their knowledge through a state-mandated test. Therefore although my vision aligns with the constructivist theories, it does not mean I would exclude directed theories completely. Even in a primarily project-based classroom, the teacher still has goals and objectives that have to be met, which leads him/her to have a blended classroom of direct instruction while at many times acting as a facilitator.

New Instructional Strategies

Maker Spaces are becoming part of daily instruction throughout our district in the media centers. As the coach of our district, I would like to see these activities trickle into the classrooms with a connection to the curriculum. My plan is to guide the teachers throughout my district to create tasks cards with content standards on them to help administrations see that Maker Spaces are more than playtime. Maker Spaces would be an example of discovery learning. They allow the students to discover how things work without being given explicit directions. Maker Spaces would also fit with Multiple Intelligence since you can set up a wide range of options based on your students’ needs and interests. For example, maker spaces can include green screen videos, creation of 3-D objects, creating decals with the Cricut machine, and building activities.


As an educator in a small town, our students often lack in experiences. With small budgets and a lack of resources, we do not always have the funds to provide those experiences for them. Through the use of technology, we can bring those things to them in the classroom. I would love to bring my students to places through google expeditions which would lead our students to opportunities for discovery. Also, I would like to use video conferencing tools like Zoom to give my students a chance to learn from experts. Video conferencing will support the social activism theory, where students can use the web to communicate with others to enhance their learning.