Teaching with Technology: Designing Opportunities to Learn (with Infotrac) [With Infotrac]

by Priscilla Norton and Karin M. Wiburg

The distinctive characteristic of TEACHING WITH TECHNOLOGY, Second Edition is its clear correlation between theory and practice. This text focuses on ways to use technology to foster learning in K-12... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0534603092
• ISBN13: 9780534603090
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.5" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Well-written and readable

I am a PhD student and 30 year practitioner of computer assisted language learning. Like the previous reviewer, this book is one of the best I have read that sits in between the highly theoretical texts and general practice texts that fill the bookshelves at libraries of educational technology subjects. It is bit expensive, so check out your library first before buying, but if you buy, you won't be wasting your money.

The best book I've found so far on the subject

I teach technology to adults on a daily basis, and I also teach teachers technology. I have read a fair number of books on the subject. To date, this is the best book I've found. It covers a wide range of topics, and takes what I consider to be many of the best pieces from other books and puts it into one. So why do I give it only 4 stars? Well, I haven't found a book yet about technology that really jumps out at me, and says "This book is completely awesome, and every teacher should own it" But this is the closest I've found to that, other than "Computers as Mindtools for Schools", which is not as comprehensive as this book, but goes into territory not charted as well by any other book I've found.

A reference for all new users of technology in the classroom

As the debate continues on the importance, need and role of technology in today's classroom it has become clear that the focus still needs to remain on learning. In Teaching with Technology, the authors Kathleen Norton and Carolyn Wilburg, say that "technology is a means to an end; it is human activity....Making wise choices about the use of technology then depends on recognizing the ways in which it facilitates what humans can do."(2) This brief statement, emphasized in the first chapter of the book, ends up being the common thread in which the meat of the text is woven around. The authors take the reader on a journey of explaining how the intentional planning of the learning environment can serve as a teaching tool, when thought is given to how the students will interact with digital information resources and other classmates. Through the authors' exploration of several process models that help the student to explore electronic resources, evaluate content and synthesize meaning, the learning environment unfolds to expose a mix of meaningful, enjoyable learning experiences for both student and teacher. A natural way for this to happen is to design learning environments within the context of a problem. This process is thoroughly explained and supported through the several classroom examples in which students engage in problem solving to arrive at the key content concepts. Through this process the teacher takes on the role of facilitator and the student is then put in charge of developing and constructing the learning that is required to solve the problem. As a result the students are put into an active mode of seeking tools to aid in a learning process that more closely resembles the level at which they will function when collaborating in the world's workforce. Aside from addressing the concerns of the learning environment and problem solving, this book also explores designs for literacy, knowledge structure and process, and communities of learning. All of these issues make up a support system in which the technology-enriched environment is delicately balanced. The tool of technology is what helps to orchestrate the learning within the context of these concepts. Particularly, when a community of learners is established within the classroom climate students function at a level of respect and responsiveness to content that is beyond what is typically present in a traditional classroom. It is the sense of community that fosters a sense of belonging and contribution to the learning process that results in higher retention and participation levels previously unseen. I chose to read this text for a graduate class assignment but then also gave a copy to a teacher that I am mentoring. She and I are working together to design a learning opportunity for her students that would involve the use of four new computers. She was feeling uncreative and frustrated about using them meaningfully and so we decided

Excellent resource on curriculum and technology

Despite the title, this book focuses on designing curriculum using technology, and provides and excellent breakdown of the different ways of doing this. Easy to read and understand, it progresses logically from more traditional instructional methods to more innovative, and also has a chapter that discusses designing learning environments. Excellent resource for anyone interested in integrating technology into their classroom or those teaching the subject.

Learn how to integrate technology into your classroom!

This book is well organized and not difficult to digest. As a computer sort-of-beginner, I was happy to read examples of how other teachers have brought new life to old tired lessons by using electronic technology. Very inspiring; it should be required reading for administrators and school board members everywhere!