Future of Education » Integration http://futureofeducation.edublogs.org Where are we going??? Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:34:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Embed Instead of Integrate http://futureofeducation.edublogs.org/2008/01/17/embed-instead-of-integrate/ http://futureofeducation.edublogs.org/2008/01/17/embed-instead-of-integrate/#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:31:06 +0000 Toby Fischer http://futureofeducation.edublogs.org/2008/01/17/embed-instead-of-integrate/ After reading this post by Bob Sprankle, I finally had a little light bulb click on in my head (it may be a dim bulb, but at least it turned on). The days of integrating technology need to end. For those of us who have had the job of technology integrator, it has been a great run. It needs to change. As long as we are integrating technology, the big shift into 21st century learning will not happen. We need to embed the technology into the classroom, not just integrate it. What is the difference? Great Question! Look at the definition of the two words:

Embed: to incorporate or contain as an essential part or characteristic
Integrate: To make part of a larger unit

When we integrate, it is sometimes there, but it isn’t essential. You can integrate technology for one day, or one week and then not use it again. If the technology is embedded, it is always there.

There is only one way I know of to make this happen and that is to put a machine in the hands of every student. I have started a push for a 1:1 program in my district. It is actually being recieved better that I could have ever imagined. What are you doing to make the shift happen? I would love to hear.

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