New Technology...HELP!!!

It is a new school year and you learned that each student will have their own device. According to your administrators, it is imperative to fully implement technology into your instructional practice. Instantly, you are frustrated because you have minimal training with the devices and do not know how you are going to incorporate the technology in your daily lessons.  So what do you do?
Well... a great place to start would be the PIC-RAT Model.

The PIC-RAT model is a framework developed for technology integration. In this model, it is imperative for educators to ask the following questions when students are using technological devices in the classroom.

• What is the students' relationship with technology? (PIC: Passive, Interactive, Creative)
• How is my use of technology influencing traditional practice? (RAT: Replace, Amplify, Transform)

When integrating technology into the classroom, it should not be used as a replacement of traditional practices. For example, the teacher uses a PowerPoint for student notes or students are taking a test and quiz on the computers. The use of technology should encourage students to tap into their creativity and critical thinking skills. They can create animated videos to tell a story or create an infographic to bring awareness to a topic. 

The PIC-RAT framework was created to help educators move the use of technology from just being a replacement to being transformative. Take a look at the PIC-RAT matrix.

 For many years in education, the teacher has always been responsible for the learning outcomes for students. However, the PIC-RAT model shows educators how to gradually transfer the responsibility of learning outcomes from the teacher to the student.  Students become in control of their learning experience and teachers become facilitators to guide students. 

As an educator, it is important to understand that technology is apart of students' everyday lives and we must use it to enhance their learning experience. To ensure that our students' are equipped with 21st-century skills, we all must become 21st-century educators.

To learn more about the PIC-RAT model, watch the video below:

K-12 Technology Integration by Dr. Royce Kimmons

Share your thoughts about integrating technology in the comments.