Jessica Kirkland

02/25/2014
Digital Learning Environments
Article Summaries

Theory into Practice Article

Atkinson, L.; Cate, J.; OHair, M.; Williams, L. (2008). Mutual support between learning community
development and technology integration: Impact on school practices and student achievement. Theory Into
Practice, 47:294-302. DOI: 10.1080/00405840802329219
This article discussed how a university developed a research-based model to help build professional learning
communities by first transforming school leaders into becoming more knowledgeable of technology integration
in schools. The theory into practice was effective only because school leaders were transformed through
personal development as well as technology innovations. One thing that stood out to me in this article is how
the school leaders thought that they were going to learn more about technology skill development (because they
were given laptops) at a seminar they had attended, but instead they were taught strategies as how to integrate
technology and how to create collaborative learning communities.
I feel that this article was useful after reading it and understanding how they were able to use professional
development as an opportunity to transform school leaders to becoming more aware of technology integration
and understanding the importance of integrating technology. The theory in practice of this particular article was
very self-explanatory and I was able to understand the purpose of the research with the school leaders. Change
begins with the leaders and continues to build along with collaboration so I feel that they went about the
research in an effective way.
Professional Practice Article
Bourgeois, M.; Hunt, B. (2011). Teaching 2.0: Teams keep teachers and students plugged into
technology. Journal of Staff Development, 32(5), 34-37.
This article (written by a pair of professionals) explained how their school district created a professional
development program in efforts to keep teachers and students more equipped with the use of digital technology
through collaboration. There were three elements that the authors focused on in the article and they werelearning takes time, learning is a social process, and learning about technology should be embedded in sound
instructional practices. The elements were broken down and explained in more detail as to how they were used
in the school district in which the article focuses on.
In my opinion, this article included some useful components that would be effective to other school districts
(including my own) if this type of practice was implemented because teachers and students need to become
more equipped with the use of digital technology. This article is useful because it gives insight as to how I could
better make use of my third grade team with collaboration of discussion about technology integration.
Professional Practice Article
Gunnewig, S.; McManis, L. (2012). Finding the education in educational technology with early learners.
Technology and Young Children. 67(3), 14-22.

This article had a few interesting key components that they focused on. One thing that the article discusses is
how research shows that computers and technology have increased quite a bit of young childrens skills that
they need. Another thing that the article discusses is how important it is for teachers to provide support for
children with their technology experiences. Also, the article discusses how technology should be age
appropriate as well as developmentally appropriate for children in order to be effective for them.
I really enjoyed reading this article because it set the tone for me and gave me a lot to think about as far as how
I am teaching my students using technology. I must admit that I dont always stop and ask myself if certain uses
of technology are age/developmentally appropriate for my students when Im teaching but that is something that
I should take into consideration each time I am teaching using technology. This article gave me a refresher as to
how I should effectively be using technology in my classroom.
Research Article
Lee, Y.; Lin, M.; Michko, G.; Padron, Y.; Waxman, H. (2012). Classroom observations of teaching and learning
with technology in urban elementary school mathematics classrooms serving English language learners.
International Journal of Instructional Media. 39(1), 45-53.
This article explains how research has proved technology to enhance student outcomes, however, not all
teachers have used solely that research evidence as enough to want to integrate technology into their
classrooms. The study that was conducted in this article was focused on the use of technology to enrich
practices for LEP students. The researchers aimed to prove how technology (if teachers use it in their
classrooms) can be used to support learners and their needs. The results of the research indicated that
technology-enhanced classrooms were more effective for the low learners who are at risk of failing.
The research conducted in this article seemed very useful and effective because it allow the researchers to
observe and determine how the use of technology in the classroom environment is or is not effective. There was
evidence to support the argument and also determine that technology is not being used in its full potential even
though most teachers are trained and exposed to it.
Professional Practice Article
Beschorner, B.; Hutchison, A.; Schmidt-Crawford, D. (2012). The use of the iPad for literacy learning.
Reading Teacher. 66(1), 15-23.
This article focuses on integrating digital technologies (mainly iPads) into literacy instruction in efforts to equip
students with literacy skills. The article also gave an example of a teacher who agreed to integrate iPads into her
literacy instruction and was able to develop literacy activities for her students. There are several apps that can be
used via the iPads when creating instruction for technology.
One thing I like about the article, aside from its general purpose which is inform educators on how to effectively
make use of iPads, is that they give examples of the instruction based activities that can be used with the iPads
to enhance literacy skills. This was very useful for me simply because I teach ELA and reading so this article
can be a great enlightenment for me as far as expanding my literacy activities for my students.
Research Article
Allsopp, D.; Colucci, K.; Doone, E.; Holhfeld, T.; Perez, L. (2012). Interactive whiteboard technology
for students with disabilities: A year long exploratory study. Journal of Special Education Technology. 27(4), 111.
This study focused on gaining insight on how a group of teachers who taught students with disabilities use the
interactive whiteboard in their classrooms effectively. The group of teachers were each given an interactive
white board for free for participating in the study. The data was collected through classroom observations of the

teachers use of the whiteboards and the students reactions and responses to the lessons. After the observations,
the teachers were then interviewed and asked questions about the use of their new white boards in their
classrooms.
This study was interesting to me and it was very well organized as far as the forms and data that they collected
on the teachers with the interactive whiteboards. I personally feel that the interactive whiteboards have been
very effective and are great tools in the classroom with students. The students in my classroom really enjoy
being able to come up to the white board and write with the pen, or play an interactive learning game, or even
answer a question. I enjoy the use of my interactive white board in my classroom every day!
Professional Practice Article
Fullerton, T. (2013). A reflection on my experiences engaging teachers in professional development on
the integration of technology into their practice. McGill Journal of Education. (48)2, 443-447.
The author of this article gave some background of his experiences with collaborating with classroom teachers
to incorporate what they are learning in the classroom so that he can support the same curriculum in his
computer lab when the students come to him. The author explained how he was able to build school-based
teams to help teachers learn more about technology integration in the classrooms and how to explore
technology.
I enjoyed reading this article simply because it gave some real life experiences and testimonies from a teacher
who wanted to encourage the use of technology in classrooms along with collaboration with classroom teachers.
He was very honest and open as to explain how other teachers felt about learning how to use technology
independently. Its funny to me because I have found myself getting frustrated with using technology in my
classroom and that was a common response that he had when working with the classroom teachers to teach
them how to effectively use the technology.
Professional Practice Article
Rutkowski, D & L.; Sparks, J. (2011). Information and communication technologies support for 21st
century teaching: An international analysis. Journal of School Leadership. (21), 190-213.
This article simple discussed how research has focused on ways that technology can and has transformed
teaching and learning in the 21st century.