This document provides guidance on planning for technology integration in the classroom. It recommends assessing available resources, including student and teacher skills, access to computers, and available hardware, software and training. It suggests using a "STAR" approach to evaluate these four areas. Next, it advises setting initial goals, such as using technology to manage classes or having students use software for a content area each month. It also provides tips, such as focusing student research by pre-selecting websites and using online learning tools like WebQuests. The document stresses starting small and remaining confident and flexible.

1. Planning for
Technology
Integration in the
Classroom

2. ASSESS YOUR RESOURCES
Thefirst step in determininghow to
integrate technologyinto your curriculumis
to take a quickassessment of where youare
in terms of technology.

3. Four-point "STAR" approachto technology
assessment
Student skills and attitudes: What can students alreadydo with
computers and what's their attitude toward technology? Do
students have computers and Internet access at home?
Teacher skills and attitudes: What can youdo on a computer
and how do you feel about using computers in the classroom?

4. Access: How much computer time can you and your students get
each week? Do you have classroom computers or lab access only?
How much labtime is available?How many computers?
Resources:What kinds of hardware, software, and training are
available?Are computers reliable? Is the availablesoftware
education software (such asmath drills) or productivity software
(such as aword processing program)? What types of training (free
or paid) are availablethrough your school or community

5. TIPS
 Takea momenttopencil(ortype!)yourthoughtsoneachoftheseSTAR
points.Thebetteryouunderstandthelayoftheland,thebetteryou'll
knowwhatyouneedtodotojump-starttechnologyuseinyourclass.
 Don'tletanynegativeor weak areas depressyou.
 Makeanhonestevaluationofwhatyouhavetoworkwith.
 Evenifyouare a beginnerwitha singlecomputerinyourclassroom,few
trainingopportunities,andstudentswithnohomecomputers,youcan
integratetechnologyintoyourclassroom

6. GOALS AND PLANNING
 Manage with technology: Use technology to manage yourclasses. Average
gradeswith a spreadsheet, use mail mergeto send parent letters, and surf the
Internet for lesson plans. Focus on using technology yourself before
introducing it to your students.
 Start small: Set an initial goal of including technology in one content area or
unit a month. Have students write a letter with a word processing program,
create a graph in a spreadsheet program, orpractice math skills using content
software

7. Surf in shallow waters: Surfing students misspell site addresses and
become distracted by commercial sites. Focus class research by
hand-pickingrelevant, age-appropriate Websites. For help, check
out 42eXplore or the Education World site reviews.
Online learning tools: Learn how to use WebQuests, scavenger
hunts, and other online learning tools --and how to make your own
--at Ed Index. (Click Online Learning Basicson the drop-down
menu.)

8. Test online: Save instructional time and motivate your kids by
creating, administering, and grading tests online. Check out the
Education World articleMotivate While You Integrate Technology:
Online Assessment for more information.
Know whento say no: Technology isn't perfect; it can't replace face-
to-face teaching. Learn to determine when technology helps --and
hurts --the learning process and use it accordingly. Your curriculum,
not your computer, should be the focus of technology integration.

9. TIP
No matterwhat you know --or don'tknow --about
technology, no matterhow many computers you have, no
matterhow skilled your students are, you canintegrate
technology. Remainconfident,flexible, and enthusiastic
and you will succeed.