The document discusses several key issues regarding technology integration in K-12 schools. It addresses how technology, such as assistive devices, can benefit special education students. It also highlights the need for adequate funding, teacher training, collaboration between schools and universities, and addressing the technological disparities between well-funded and under-funded schools. International organizations like ISTE have also created standards to help guide the effective use of technology in classrooms.

1. K – 12 Technology in Classroom

2. Integration of Technology in K – 12 Schools
• Integration of technology in K – 12 schools. School
Administrators must devote research and time in planning
their overall programs when introducing technology in their
classrooms.

3. Integration of Technology in Special Education
Classroom
• Technology plays a unique role in the special education
program for eligible students. One area of technology for
these students is assistive technology. Assistive technology
includes devices that extend the abilities of an individual in
ways that provide physical access (i.e. Braille, close
captioning), Roblyer and Doering (2013) Other assistive
technology devices include FM Amplification systems and
wheelchairs.

4. Funds for Technological Resources
• Funds for technological resources. When considering the
purchase of technology tools for the school the
administrator should consider government and private
grants in addition to district allotment for technology.

5. Teacher Training
• Teacher Training. Researchers agree that little has been
done by most teacher education institutions to help teachers
use instructional technology or to prepare preservice
teachers who are capable of using technology. Integrating
technology into teaching and learning is a difficult task for
most teachers because it requires them to first learn how to
use the technology and then reconceptualize their approach
to teaching

6. Collaboration with Universities, Mentors, administrators, and
Teachers of K – 12 School
• In order to meet the challenges of effectively facilitating
technology in K – 12 schools. Thompson, Schmidt, and
Bentley (2011) recommend collaboration on technology with
the school and a teacher education program. These
collaborations can help facilitate technology in schools and
change the way teachers teach and students learn.

7. International Society for Technology in Education
• International Society for Technology in Education. The ISTE
developed National Educational Technology Standards
(NETS) for students, teachers and school administrators.
NETS for students are considered to be the basic skills that
students, as well as their teachers should meet. NETS for
Teachers focus on teaching skills that use technology
(Roblyer and Doering, 2013).

8. Technology in Virtual School
• Since their inception in 1996, K – 12 virtual schools have
grown in popularity (Di Pietro, Ferdig, Black and Preston,
2008). Roblyer and Doering (2013) use the National Forum
on Education Statistics’ definition to define virtual schooling
as “Instruction in which (K – 12) students and teachers are
separated by time and/or location and interact via computer
and or telecommunications technologies.” There is little
research on the success of online teaching in K – 12 schools
according to these researchers.

9. Community Input
• The school is a part of the Community therefore, parents
and community leaders are expected to have a voice and
participate in the decision of integration of technology as
well as any other program or activity at the school.

10. Technological disparity in K – 12 Schools
• The technological disparity among school districts and their
schools is a problem. Many school in the same city are
wired for technology which provides the Internet while
others have funds for only a few computers. Usually, those
schools who have a small number of computers are located
in low income communities.

11. References
• DiPietro, M., Ferdig, E.R, Black, W.E., Preston, M. (2008). Best practice in teaching K
– 12 online: Lesson learned from Michigan Virtual School teachers. Journal of
Interactive Online Learning, 7 (1), 1 – 21. Retrieved from http://www.ncolr.org/jiol
• Roblyer, M.D.,& Doering, H.A., (2012) Integrating Educational Technology into
Teaching (6th ). Boston: Pearson.
• Thompson, D.A, Schmidt, A. D, Bentley, E. (2012). Technology Collaborative for
Simultaneous Renewal in K – 12 Schools and Teacher Education Program. Iowa State
University. Retrieved from
http://aces.nmsu.edu/bchamberlin/589/paper.cocsso.thompson.doc
• Thieman, Y.G., (2008). Using Technology as a Tool for Learning and Developing 21st
Century Citizenship Skills: An Examination of the NETS And Technology Use by
Preservice Teachers With Their K – 12 Students. Contemporary Issues in Technology
and Teacher Education, 8(4), 342 – 366. Retrieved from
http://www.citejournal.org/articles/v8i4socialstudies1.pdf