Objects of Interest

Every teacher has lessons that could be enhanced or refreshed using technology. Technology integration strategies offer many benefits to teachers as they look for new instructional approaches. However, time and effort are required to plan and execute technology-based methods. Teachers have to consider the benefits of using technology and decide if the benefits are worthwhile. 

Rogers (2004) refers to this decision as seeing the “relative advantage” of using a new method. Technology-based strategies offer many unique benefits to teachers as they look for instructional solutions to problems that students may face with abstract concepts, motivation and time consuming tasks. Teachers have to consider the benefits of using such methods compared to their current ones and decide if the benefits are worth the additional effort and cost.

As an instructor of educational technology, a model I am familiar with is the Technology Integration Planning Model - TIP (Robyler, 2006). This model is designed to help teachers, especially those new to technology, plan for effective classroom uses of technology.

The model consists of 5 phases:

1. Relative Advantage - Deciding on instructional problems and if a technology-based solution would be better than other ways of addressing the problems.
2. Objectives and Assessments - Stating desired outcomes in terms of better student achievement, attitudes, and performance; matching appropriate assessment strategies to each outcome.
3. Integration Strategies - Deciding on teaching activities that incorporate technology resources to enhance student learning.
4. Instructional Environment - Deciding on resources and conditions to put into place to support the activities.
5. Evaluation and Revision - Collecting achievement data to determine if the activities were successful in meeting outcomes, and what could be improved next time.