Technology Integration in Elementary English Language Arts

Technology integrations in the elementary classroom are becoming more common in today’s advancing society. As communication through technology evolves, it is important for teachers to adapt and provide a curriculum that promotes communication skills students will need to succeed in the future. Recent research reminds teachers that the key to successful technology integration is to “pay close attention to students’ responses to the use of [information and communication technology] in teaching by balancing these with traditional teaching” (Parvin & Salam, 2015, p. 57). This self-study research focuses on the implementation of Google Docs during the writing process. It takes place in a rural, fourth-grade classroom of 29 students, who each had access to a laptop during ELA time. Personal data collected consist of field notes, anecdotal records, lessons plans, and student work samples. Combining these sources displays how technology integrations impact planning, implementation, and growth.