Glossary

When students need to develop global skills and insights over time (e.g., cooperative group skills, approaches to solving novel problems, mental models of highly complex topics) and when learning may be assessed with alternative measure such as portfolios or group products.

When students need an efficient way to learn specific skills that must be assessed with traditional tests.

Technology-based strategies offer many unique benefits to teachers as they look for instructional solutions to these problems. Time and effort are required to plan and carry out technology -based methods, however, and sometimes additonal expense is involved as well. Teachers have to consider the benefits of such methods compared to their current ones and decide if the benefits are worth the additional effort and cost.

TCK is knowledge of content. Knowing the content of a specific discipline is necessary to develop meaningful learning experiences within the classroom. Assessing your knowledge of your content area(s) is important in fostering the meaningful use of technology within the classroom. Do you need to update your content knowledge before employing the lesson you developed?

TK is the knowledge one has of technology. It is very important that teachers be cognizant of their attitudes toward and skills with technology. In addition, teachers need to be aware of the various technologies they could integrate within their content area. Attitude, skills, and awareness all affect the success of technology integration within a classroom. Do you need to improve your technology knowledge before employing the lesson you have developed?

Refering to the TPACK model. Teachers should identify where they believe they currently reside within the TPACK model. In addition, teachers should consider how they might foster their movement to the center of the model where technology, pedagogical, and content knowledge overlap and intertwine. How do you believe your teaching would improve if you were at the center of the TPACK?

Referring to one's knowledge of pedagogy. Teachers' choices of pedagogy influence their everyday ability to foster learning within a classroom. Teachers must be aware of the ways they stimulate learning through the teaching methods they employ. By being aware of the tools and strategies they use in addition to the theoretical foundations that guide their practice, teachers can understand how their pedagogy will affect their use of technology. Do you need to expand your pedagogical knowledge before employing the lesson you developed?