Week # 10: Levels of Technology Integration

This week we had to read the LoTI framework and use it to assess our level of technology integration. We had to think about where we are now and where we would like to be in a year.


Now, I am at Level 4b:

Level 4b – Integration: Routine
At a Level 4b (Integration: Routine) students are fully engaged in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. The teacher is within his/her comfort level with promoting an inquiry-based model of teaching that involves students applying their learning to the real world. Emphasis is placed on learner-centered strategies that promote personal goal setting and self-monitoring, student action, and issues resolution that require higher levels of student cognitive processing and in-depth examination of the content.Students use of digital tools and resources is inherent and motivated by the drive to answer student-generated questions that dictate the content, process, and products embedded in the learning experience.

What is missing now, in my case, is the collaboration beyond the classroom for authentic students problem-solving and issues resolution.

So, in a year, I would like to be at Level 5 (Expansion), where emphasis is placed on learner-centered strategies that promote personal goal setting and self-monitoring, student action, and collaborations with other diverse groups (e.g., another school, different cultures, business establishments, governmental agencies) using the available digital assets.

I think the binational centers in Brazil could come up with some collaboration ideas so that we could promote learner-centered activities using the available digital assets.

I know the binational center where Gil works is well equipped. At Alumni we have the one-computer classroom and the Computer Labs. I think we have the required equipment. Now we need authorization to implement those ideas. 

Although being a 6 (Refinement) would be the ideal situation, it is not my target in the short term. At Level 6, the content emerges based on the needs of the learner according to his/her interests, needs, and/or aspirations and is supported by unlimited access to the most current digital applications and infrastructure available.

At Alumni, classes are pre-planned in that teachers take training courses, get guidelines with lesson plans and are supposed to use the school's materials: cards and PowerPoint Presentations. The examinations are ready regardless of the students' real needs.

I'm happy I'm at Level 4b! I just hope now I have the chance to pass on what I have learned in this course to my peers and convince my educational director to implement some of the ideas. I know there are the administrative issues, though. 

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to reap that which is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

Helô