Implementation is the process of putting your lesson design into practice.  As in any lesson, it is critically important to use good lesson design and planning to drive the implementation.  With regard to technology, it should always be used as a tool in your design to augment the lesson's objectives.  You should not try to "fit" technology into a lesson for the sake of using technology.  However, analyze the lesson and see if there are ways technology can enhance learning goals.  Technology itself does not make learning happen.  The teacher is still the most important factor in the classroom.  Technology should be used in implementation to support the teacher.

For example, word processing is not a determining factor in producing improved student learning.  It helps writers do some things better (copy and pasting, editing, deletions, formatting, etc.).  However, it does not help a writer create a better story.  Better stories come from students whose have creative, active minds with compelling messages and the writing skills to put it into words.  Appropriate technology tools assist the writer in the creation process.  It is the interaction between the user and the tool that makes the difference.  Think about using technology to implement a lesson in those terms and be sure your students understand the connection.

Several suggestions for implementing the lesson you have designed are:

1. Be mindful of having the necessary hardware, software, and support materials in place before beginning the technology lesson.  Be aware of the timelines for completing your lesson.
   

2. In the introduction of your lesson, motivate students to be excited about using technology to master the tasks.  Gain their attention to foster an eagerness for applying technology skills to gain new understanding. 
   

3. Understand the options for using technology:  open access lab project, two or three students per laptop computer, library and Web activities, students with Internet access at home, etc.  Projects should enable students to gather information, carry out simulations, produce projects, and interact with software for learning.
   

4. Create a Web page to pre-select the Internet resources for students to access to carry out the assignment.  Be sure to describe the link you are sending students to and not just give the Web address.  This helps students to know the direction of the link they are visiting.  Choose on-line resources which support the design of your lesson.  Keep in mind the sites you choose should directly relate to the desired curriculum standard you are using to teach this lesson.
   

5. Create a Word file to be stored on the network which will provide a guide for the pace of your lesson identifying the activities you want your students to complete and the timeframe for doing so.  Have students access the read only file and save it to a floppy disk or use a free web-based e-mail account to e-mail you their finished product.
   

6. Customize the lesson activities to take into account the range of learner skills.  Provide different levels of learning activities that can utilize groups of collaboration which seek higher-order thinking skills as well as tasks for the challenged learner.
   

7. Utilize not only the vast amount of Internet resources but software applications available to summarize the learning of various students and groups.  These include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access as well as others.  Have students use appropriate technology to go beyond summarizing a lesson.
   

8. Create a PowerPoint presentation to introduce the lesson and the activities as a preview of the action you want students to take.  Use hyperlinks in the presentation to access work on local drives of former students who have completed exemplary work.  Print those examples for study and distribute for discussion.
   

9. Team teach with a fellow teacher using the wireless lab to have students in different rooms collaborate for new learning.
   

10. Take digital pictures of students as they are using technology to post on a class Web site recognizing their accomplishments and documenting the technology learning process.
    

11. Communicate with your students by e-mail to help them feel connected to a support system and allow you to keep informed of their progress.

Step 4 - Evaluating the Lesson

TLCF Home Page