Technology with Intention: Designing Meaningful Literacy and Technology Integration (NOT THIS, BUT THAT)

Educational software can do many things–assess a student’s reading skill, give instruction and practice at the student’s level, and assess again to determine progress. But software cannot build a relationship with a child and it cannot look at a child’s face and recognize understanding or confusion. It still comes down to teaching students, not technology. EdTech cannot replace a knowledgeable and skilled teacher, but it can support effective literacy learning and be your assistant in creating powerfully literate students and citizens. With constant upgrades, innovations, and new capabilities, in some ways technology has never been more overwhelming. It’s easy to get lost in the abundance of options and steadily increasing administrative demands. Suzanne and Beth offer a path that puts teachers in charge, pairing research on literacy and technology with practical, actionable advice to help you bring quality instruction and technology together. While there are books that show you how to include tech, Technology with Intention also addresses how to decide whether to use tech at all. Intentional is the key word for integrating technology into instruction, and you will find helpful guidelines and prompts to help you decide when, how, and why to use technology with your students. Cut through the noise and focus on what matters most–teaching students, not technology. Learn to how to use technology to enhance, not replace, quality teaching and learning, and consider the best choices for the specific content and the students in front of you. How will you use tech with intention?