Integration

Integrating computer applications has great application for older students and staff. At the younger grade, I see greater importance in teaching student how to use applications successfully one at a time before integrating multiple applications. At the higher levels; however, I see a need to teach students how to meaningfully integrate so that they are ready to compete in a globally competitive market. As a portfolio consultant at UW, I worked with pre-service teachers to integrate documents into Dreamweaver. Had many of these teachers been exposed to the concept of integration at an earlier age, my job would have been much easier as a consultant! Additionally, their level of frustration would have been much lower. If students are exposed to these concepts at an earlier age, they would become part of a known skill-set such as using Word. The more skills we can "automatize" at an early age, the more competent computer users they will become as adults!