References & Credits

Obstacles to technology integration

from Leggett, W. P., Persichitte, K.A. (1998). Blood, sweat, and tears: 50 years of technology implementation obstacles. TechTrends, 43 (3), 33-35.

The article summarizes research into obstacles that teachers have faced over the last fifty years in integrating technology into their instruction.

Teacher resources

All links open in a new window.

• Center for Applied Research in Technology [CARET] http://caret.iste.org/
• Special Needs Resource: http://www.closingthegap.com/
• National Educational Technology Standards [NETS]: http://cnets.iste.org/

Obstacles

Solutions

Lack of time to

• plan for incorporating technology into lessons
• prepare integrated lessons and support materials
• collaborate with peers
• evaluate efficiency of implementation and effectiveness of lessons
• develop, maintain, & expand personal technology skills

• Faculty meetings or staff development for technology implementation
• Parent or business partners who support technology implementation responsibilities during class time
• Comp time for after school or weekend technology efforts
• Release time for teachers to attend technology conferences
• Release time for teachers who are proficient with technology to mentor peers

• Lack of technology skills
• Tradition of inadequate and inappropriate technology training opportunities (!)

• Training to teach technology skills using a variety of approaches
• Training for teacher strategies to incorporate technology into the classroom
• Identify peers(opinion leaders) who will share technology integration strategies & experiences
• Periodic skill development opportunities

• Lack of uninterrupted, on-demand access to hardware, software, networks, and other technologies both in and outside of school

• Allow teachers to “borrow” palatable technologies already equipped as those available in school
• Identify technology access within the community or with businesses that might be “shared” after school hours.

Lack of

• budgets that provide for continuing costs of technology use
• financial resources to provide for technology training
• necessary expertise for the use & implementation of technology

• Establish a person who will write government grant proposals for technology implementation.
• Reimburse or share costs associated with tech. Classes completed at colleges
• Negotiate vendor agreements for discounted tech. Purchases for teacher home use.
• Enlist active support from parent organizations

• Lack of administrative & technical support
• Negative environments that do not encourage experimentation or that do not value the effort required for integration

• Develop a vision for technology use
• Document technology plans and share with staff and community
• Identify non-monetary means of recognizing positive technology integration