Journal #3

Infusion or Integration
By: Kimberely Ketterer

Ketterer attended a conference where she repeatedly heard the words, infusion and integration. To her surprise the words were used interchangeably and inaccurately. This had Ketterer wondering how schools are using technology and if they were infusing it or integrating it. She gave the definition in ED tech terms for Infusion which stated, “Acquisition and accessibility of hardware and/or software for students and teachers to use in the classroom. Her definition for Integration in ED tech terms stated “Using technology appropriately and seamlessly as a tool for learning and teaching in the classroom.” She goes on to explain that the difference from infusing and integrating in the past is now it’s digital, rapidly changing, and inequitably available to all students. It is possible to have infusion without integration but not integration without infusion.

Questions:

What are some ways to infuse technology in the classroom?
Some of the more modern ways to infuse technology in the classroom is to use computers for word processing, using copy machines or digital cameras, projectors for movies or even overhead projectors. Infusing technology depends on what is available for use.

What are some ways to integrate technology in the classroom?
When integrating technology there is more involved and technology is used as a tool to teach. For example, listening to an MP3, or multimedia presentations that involve audio, video, text, and photos. I think when technology is integrated and infused you can accommodate to the individual needs of the students more so than technology that is just infused.