“Can I integrate technology with only one technology device?” is a question many educators ask. You will be amazed at how much technology you can integrate with one device available in your classroom.

When I started on my integration of technology, I only had my classroom’s desktop and my cell phone. I was in a high school, so most of my students had mobile devices. But what happens in classrooms where students are younger with no mobile devices?

Quick Tips

Below I have listed ways you can integrate technology in both situations:

1. Google Docs / Drive is a great way to integrate technology as a classroom management tool.. Google Docs is a great way to store, assess, and create organizational tools for classroom management.

2. Use the computer as a presentation tool. PowerPoint, Keynote, or Prezi let you create presentations to use in your classroom to engage students. If you have a single iPad, invest in a mirror image app such as AirDisplay or use a dongle to display the presentation through a projector.

3. Learning Stations or Learning Centers – Create one center that students can use together in order to accomplish particular tasks or assignments. For example, use a single learning station for some project-based learning assignments or group work.

4. Guest Speakers – Invite speakers to talk to your class via Skype. Then use the aforementioned dongle to display the chat via a projector. High-tech but low-cost and easy to set up. Plus, it connects your classroom to opportunities like never before! International pen pal time!

5. If you have an ActivBoard, integrate flipcharts as a presentation tool and have students come to the board and work out problems. Also, ActivExpressions/ActiVotes are great tools to use to engage students in presentations and assessments.

7. Utilize educational videos from YouTube, TeacherTube, SchoolTube, etc. as lesson starters, reviews, or summaries.

8. Use your mobile device for students to use in groups. (This can only be done if you have exceptional classroom management). Activities such as podcasts and videos are great ideas for this.

9. Create lessons using QR Codes where students use their cell phones to scan the code. They can then research where to look using the single computer. Digital field trips ahoy!

10. Allow a student to post a daily blog on the class website summarizing the daily events in class. All it takes is a keyboard, monitor, and computer. Or just the WordPress app on your iPad.

11. Use the computer and projector for large group reading assignments, evaluating, and analyzing student work.

Engagement & Participation

The goal of integrating technology in your classroom is to get students engaged and participating in learning. You don’t need dozens of devices to get there. Just a single one is good enough. After all, education can be integrated with computers, video recorders, cameras, iPods, calculators, and more. All it takes is some desire to do so!

For classrooms with students who have personal mobile devices, integrate technology with the use of their mobile devices. For students who do not have a mobile device, assign them a ‘mobile mate’ to share devices. It is very important that you set expectations and procedures to use mobile devices in the classroom. After all, technology in the classroom is only as good as the teacher and student using it!

For more ideas on fun ways to integrate technology into your classroom, visit me at funintegratingtechnology.
Felecia M Young – Salisbury High School, Salisbury NC