Article Summaries

Article Summaries
Krisann Johnson
Georgia Southern University

Article Summaries

Article 1:
Nemcek, F. (2013). A progressive approach to integrating education technology. Techniques:
Connecting Education and Careers. 88, 32-35.
Type of Article: Professional Practice Article
Summary: In this academic journal, the author describes a progressive approach to integrating
technology into all classrooms. She gathered that schools have greater achievement when
teachers have confidence using technology in the classrooms. As a result of technology,
teachers are reporting that they have more time in class for individualized instructions; deeper,
critical-thinking discussions; and hands-on instruction and labs. (35) The author claimed that
students are more involved in class discussions while using technology. They are more likely to
take notes and use a variety of apps to help study and organize. In conclusion, the author gave
specific details of how technology can improve the learning environment for teachers and
students. Embracing the technology that students use and love, is a progressive approach in
integrating education.
Critique: The author presented the evidence of a progressive approach of integrating technology
in education. A statement that I found to be interesting and strong, We train our students in the
latest technology because they quickly become the experts. (35) It is important to not only train
the teachers to the technology, but also the students. Teachers appreciate when students are able
to help others in the classroom use the technology. When this happens, the technology ball keeps
rolling forward. In my experience, it is hard to take time of the school year to teach using
technology in all class. I can see where it is important, but it would be taking away content
teachings. Through the evidence provided by the author, Teachers regularly collaborate and
present new ideas related to technology. If there is new training or a tutorial, teachers are
provided with the time and resources to experience it. (34) In my opinion, this is not for every
school district. The amount of cost for professional development can be expensive. Districts
would need to write grant with would also take time. I believe that technology training can be
beneficial if bountiful funds and time are provided.
Article 2:
Venable, M. (2010). Using technology to deliver career development services: supporting todays
students in higher education. Career Development Quarterly. 59 (1), 87-96.
Type of Article: Professional Practice Article
Summary: Teachers of Career Readiness courses are increasing discussing the use of technology
within all content. This article presents a number of considerations to be explored, including
characteristics and needs of todays students, available technologies, funding requirements, and
confidentiality issues. (87) The author refers to several approaches. This include: strategic

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planning, needs analysis, training and ongoing support. Specific technologies that the author
presents are: email, discussion board, video, podcasts, websites, internet-based guidance and
information systems, telephone, instant messages and virtual rooms. In conclusion, services
should meet all students needs. There should be a mix of technology and in-person contact.
Training and ongoing support pave ways for success while using technologies.
Critique: The author of the article provided reasons for supporting todays students while using
technology. The integration of technology into career choice interventions requires support in
terms of administrative support, financial resources and infrastructure. (93) I believe that this is
a strength statement in the article. In my experience, coordinating with the existing campus
resources is an important in this process. This coordination should take place early on to ensure
that adequate and appropriate technology resources are available to support the development and
provision of planned online career center activities. (93) The article addresses the blended
center can be most beneficial. As a career readiness teacher, I can see that a blended approach
could be a positive and a negative. A blended classroom may reduce the interaction among
students. When preparing students for careers, it is necessary to teach in-person interaction. A
positive point of using technology is that it does increase students self-help abilities which are a
standard of career readiness content.
Article 3:
Saurbier, A. (2014). Using infographies as an integrative higher-order skill development
assignment in undergraduate leadership instruction. Business Education Innovation Journal. 6
(1), 13-23.
Type of Article: Theory-into-Practice Article
Summary: Inquiry and collaboration should be dominant skills of career readiness students.
These skills are necessary for success in the 21st century workplace also including teamwork,
reasoning, technological and well as employability skills. This article searches the use of
infographics in a course as a means to stimulate competencies. Infographics allow students to
achieve Blooms higher-order thinking skills including reflection, integration, internalization and
personalization. In short, using infographics as a summative assessment not only helps students
to visualize concepts that may else remain theoretically, but also allows students to truly
synthesize the concepts into coherent and comprehensive body of knowledge. (20)
Critique: The author states the how infographics provide opportunities for students to achieve
higher-order thinking skills of the Blooms Taxonomy. A strong point of this is, The use of
problem-based, project-centric assignments, in an open-ended learning environment, may allow
students to not only engage but also enhance these skills. (20) In my experience with
infographics, all students project results are different but focus on the same content information.
I have products that have enlightened my own perspective. A weakness of assigning infographics

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as summative assessments is the difficulty to formatively assess progress of students. I would

suggest creating a rating or check-ins to check students progress.
Article 4:
Kerr, S. (2011). Tips, tools, and techniques for teaching in the online high school classroom.
TechTrends. 55(1), 28-31.
Type of Article: Research Article
Summary: The opening statement of the author claims, In the online setting students may work
independently and in isolation more often than in a face-to-face setting. (28) The author writes
about research on providing the best education for online high school students. Provided in the
article are recommendations and best practices list for teachers, students, schools and districts.
The recommendations were constructed through research findings in three secondary online
learning settings. A teacher may offer a fun introductory activity that provides opportunities for
the teacher and students to meet each other. When providing content resource, offer multiple
resources and variety choice assignments. This promotes students to take responsibility for the
learning and encourages needed differentiation. In conclusion, students must be motivated in
order to become successful in an online course.
Critique: As I read through the article, I applied the research to my online courses. When
students do not receive timely, consistent feedback, throughout the duration of the course, they
miss numerous opportunities for scaffolding, higher order learning, and the development of
meaningful learning. (29) As an instructional designer, providing feedback is essential in an
online course. As an online student, I am more successful and motivated in my students when I
am provided with comments from the expert of the course. Comments are more meaningful
when they are constructive and provide directions. Like Kerr wrote, rubrics are a key for students
to understand teachers expectations. As a teacher, I have found rubrics to be a place to provide
immediate feedback on given assignments. Models or examples of desired outcomes are helpful
and give clear example of expectations. When presenting instructions, my students are more
successful and motivated when they see examples. I disagree with the author of including social
networking among online course settings, especially with high school students. Being in a school
where technology is greatly accessibly, these social websites are distractive among the students.
It is best to use educational site where the teacher can monitor post and comments.
Article 5:
Carey, J., Lucrezia, C., Price, S. (2014). The role of touch in preschool childrens learning using
iPad verse paper interaction. Australian Journal of Language & Literacy. 37 (2), 86-95.
Type of Article: Research Article

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Summary: This article examines how physical learning such as finger painting process, common
activity in early childhood education, might change to a digital learning process such as using
iPad. Touch-based interaction is increasingly a key feature of digital learning environments.
(86) The researchers examine and evaluated the two groups in the following areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Hand and finger used

Type of touch
Quality of touch
Sequencing & configuration

Researchers compared drawings that were completed digitally and physically. Drawing on a
study that compares childrens finger painting in a physical paper environment with a similar
activity with a digital technology shapes young childrens touch-based interaction. It ingenders
broader use of a wider range of types of touch, which include more complex and longer
sequences of continuous touch interactions, fostering more elaborate touch repertoires. (94)
Critique: The research properly implemented the study to young students. I agree with the
statement, These environments differ in part as they provide children with different points and
surfaces for interaction. (92) The overall weakness of the paper was the show of bias towards
the use of iPads. As I read through the article, I felt as if the author believed that the iPad
drawings were better and did not make this assumption base on the data. However, the paint
palette was an important site in the childrens touch-based interaction in the paint-paper
environment, and is therefore included in the reported results and discussion. (90) I teach Early
Childhood Education and we study how the finger painting experience is important to young
children. This paint palette interaction that was shown is important because children are using
their several senses in this process improving their cognitive development. The iPad experience
only allows involvement of few senses.
Article 6:
Chih-Hao, C., Hong-Ren, C., Wen-Shan, L. (2013). Learning effects of interactive whiteboard
pedagogy for students in Taiwan form the perspective of multiple intelligences. Journal of
Educational Computing Research. 49 (2), 173-187.
Type of Article: Theory-into-Practice Article/Research Article
Summary: There is a rapid growth in information technology and interactive whiteboards have
become integrated in teaching activities. The article investigates the influences of interactive
whiteboards on the learning effectiveness of science students from the perspective of multiple
intelligences. The study was motivated by the following 3 issues:
1. The study sought to explore the learning accomplishments related to the use of
interactive whiteboard instruction in the field of natural life sciences.

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2. The study sought to analyze the differences in the learning accomplishments of students
with different intelligence strengths in the context of using interactive whiteboards in the
classroom.
3. It is hoped that the study can be used to understand the extent to which students accept
and respond to interactive whiteboard instruction. (175)
In conclusion, the study determined that learning is achievement of students is greater when
taught while using the interactive whiteboard than that of lecture instructions.
Critique: The authors of the article did an excellent job describing the details of the interactive
whiteboard and related approaches. The interactive whiteboard can replace the writing function
on blackboards and also accommodates diverse displays of instructional materials. (176) In my
experience, the interactive whiteboard is a way to teach students with multiple intelligences
unlike the older blackboard. I can use the whiteboard to simulate and enhance the learning
experience for all students. The process of interacting with the interactive whiteboard can
promote kinesthetic learning, and the educational applications of the interactive whiteboard can
also better promote the conceptual development of students. (177) This study demonstrates that
the whiteboard can apply the perspective of multiple intelligences which can effectively improve
learning. Overall, the article and study was well designed and properly implemented.
Article 7:
Lazaros, E., Parker, J. (2013). Addressing STEM concepts through a food safety activity. Science
Activities. 50 (3), 84-89.
Type of Article: Professional Practice Article
Summary: The article describes an activity that engages students by using the internet and
learning about the procedures of properly storing meat. Students apply knowledge through the
creation of a pamphlet that will be displayed in their kitchens. Students also participated in class
food storage experiments. The learning objectives consist of the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Students will understand the importance of correct and safe meat-handling techniques.
Students will gain knowledge of proper meat storage techniques.
Students will be aware of potential consequences to improper meat handling.
Students will practice researching materials from reputable sources.
Students will implement table and clip-art techniques in Word processing software.
Students will experience typing and printing from Word processing software. (85)

Through the use of technology, students gained a greater understanding of the diverse
instructional phrasing.
Critique: Integration of technology with Food Science classes can be used to teach important
concepts. The authors introduced the ideas and implemented the concepts properly; especially
while creating pamphlets for the kitchens. The authors made a point that I believe that it is a

Article Summaries

necessary in classroom. Class discussion encouraged students to exchange their findings and
reactions. They developed more personal understanding of the material. (88) While using
technology, it is important to create class discussions in order for an instructor to formative
assess students understanding. Also, students are able to scaffold their knowledge by hearing
their peers thoughts. In order to better the activity, I would suggest that the authors instruct the
students to complete the process in other Web 2.0 tools. I believe that students would benefit
more from creating the pamphlet in Google Drive. There, they would be able to collaborate and
share easier.
Article 8:
Schaffhauser, D. (2014). 5 skills that games teach better than textbooks. The Journal. 41 (10), 1118.
Type of Article: Professional Practice Article
Summary: The author of the article describes the benefits of integrating game-based learning
into curriculum. The best practices for game-based learning consist of the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Play-test your games.

Align games with Common Core and other learning standards.
Fit the game to the goal.
Create an authentic learning experience.
Games dont have to be digital to work.

In perspective, games allow students to have real world experiences. Gaming offers the
excitement of competition and a clear promise of rewards for accomplishments. It can also help
prepare students to win in the real world. (11)
Critique: The author properly presented evidence that clearly convey the reasoning of
introducing game-based learning to the curriculum. Well-designed games have an intrinsic
motivation that drives players through the experience, and that persistence can be put to good use
in the classroom. (15) In my experience, students are excited when a game is used in a lesson.
The motivation that is created during the game can be used during the lesson and even the
summative assessment. Students make associations between what they experience during the
game and can use it to remember concepts. The authors claim that game-playing teaches good
old American competitiveness. (14) I disagree with this concept. I believe that teachers need to
teach collaboration instead of competiveness. Students need to learn that there is greater overall
achievement if students are able to share and work together on ideas and activities.
Article 9:

Article Summaries

Lowther, D. L., Ross, S. M. & Morrison, G. M. (2003). When each one has one: the influences
on teaching strategies and student achievement of using laptops in the classroom. Educational
Technology, Research & Development, 51(3), 2344.
Type of Article: Research Article
Summary: The authors of the article examined the influences of laptop computers in a
classroom setting on the teaching strategies and students achievement. The purpose of the study
was to examine the outcomes within a year time-span of classrooms that implement laptop
program Anytime, Anywhere Learning. The authors determine that our society is viewing a need
of developing computer skills that are applicable to solving real-life problems. Statistically
significant effects favored laptop classes on using more student-centered instructional strategies.
(40) Overall, instructions and activities were more in-deep in the laptop classrooms than the
controlled classes.
Critique: In the article, the authors reference a quote from Alfred Bork. The quote was first
presented over 20 years ago: We stand at the beginning of a major revolution in the way people
learn. We are moving rapidly toward a future when computers will comprise the dominant
delivery system in education for almost all age levels and in most subject areas (32)This quote
acts as a prophecy, emphasizing the results of the research showing the need for technology in
the classroom. While the article highlights the impact of teaching strategies and student
achievement while using laptop computers in the classroom, I think more could have been done
to strengthen the validity of the research. Logical outcomes were proven at the completion of the
study. While working in a 1:1 laptop school, I can apply several of the research findings to my
teaching. I believe that the laptop classrooms can provide a more active learning environment.
Technology provides students with more opportunities to utilize research and word processing.
When creating lesson plans, I will apply these findings and create activities that allow students to
use their technology for research and problem-solving.
Article 10:
Grant, M.M., Ross, S.M., Wang, W., & Potter, A. (2005). Computers on wheels (COWS): An
alternative to each one has one. British Journal of Educational Technology, 36(6), 1017-1034.
Type of Article: Research Article
Summary: This article evaluates portable computer labs. When asked about their confidence
during fall semester, students replied that there were lacking computer literacy skills. They also
suggested a typing or keyboarding class would prevent them from typing slowly. Teachers were
concerned that they were teaching computer skills above grade level. During the spring semester,
students were asked the same questions. Many of the students did not include the same
challenges while using the laptops and felt as if they were benefited. Teachers felt as the state
and district standards prevented them from using the computer fully. Also, they reported that they

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felt pressure from administration to use laptops more. Students reported that they if they used the
laptops all day, it would become boring.
Critique: This article was intriguing and applicable to me because my school district is
converting to a 1:1 device system. Recently, all middle grade students in the district received a
take-home device. Most of the challenges and fears the fifth grade teachers faced are the same
that we have. From my understanding, the original plan of the studied program was that every
student receives a laptop device. After evaluating funds, they realized that they did not have
enough money to support this plan. As a plan B, they decided to allow classroom to share carts. I
believe that this is a great solution for all to benefit. I believe that this could be a plan for school
districts. Teachers reported during the fall semester that they lacked confidence while using the
technology. I can personally relate to this. During the beginning of my masters program, I felt
that I lacked confidence while using technology in my instruction. I even made gaining
confidence as a part of my goals each semester. As of right now, I feel comfortable while using
technology. I have created online classroom for my six classes. Therefore, students must use
devices daily to view all assignments and instructions. I find myself searching for more strategies
that are based on student-centered projects.