TIM

No I am not talking about Tim the Enchanter from Monte Python.

I am talking about the "Technology Integration Matrix". This tool from the University of Souther Florida, illustrates how teachers can use technology to enhance learning for K-12 students.The TIM incorporates five interdependent characteristics of meaningful learning environments: active, constructive, goal directed (i.e., reflective), authentic, and collaborative (Jonassen, Howland, Moore, & Marra, 2003). The TIM associates five levels of technology integration (i.e., entry, adoption, adaptation, infusion, and transformation) with each of the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments. Together, the five levels of technology integration and the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments create a matrix.

For one of my graduate courses, we were to find 5 lessons that integrate technology, then we were to evaluate them using the following criteria

• Identify the cell on the TIM into which it would be classified.
• Explain why it was classified in that cell. What attributes make this a good fit.
• Explain how this would fit into your world of teaching/learning. How would/could you use it in your classroom.

Then we were to take it up a notch (or as Emeril would say BAM!)

• The Characteristics are not in any sequence, so how would you take it to another characteristic
• The Technology IS in sequence so how will it be moved to the right?

So here is an example of one that I did.

Title: Digital Storytelling
Objective: Identifying major characters from history or literature
Apps Needed: SonicPics Lite (Free)
Age Group: High School
Subject: Social Studies or Literature
TIM Cell: Active-Adaption

Description:

In this lesson, the students will be given iPads to use during classtime. They are to choose three literary or historical figures and using the internet, they are to find pictures of these figures. Saving a picture from the iPad web browser is accomplished by pressing the image on the iPad and holding your finger in place until the option menu pops up. The student can then select "Save Image". The image is stored in photos in the "Saved Photos" album. The student will then import the images into SonicPics and record their explanation for selecting these people. To finish the project, they share the video by emailing it to the instructor, using the built in email capabilities of SonicPics.

Outcomes:

• Students will be able to identify key figures in history or literature.
• Students will articulate and defend their choices for historical figures.
• Students will utilize the SonicPics App to record their explanation for choosing their historical figures
  
• Students will earn how to use an iPad Application
  

The next part of the assignment was to move the lesson into a different cell on the matrix. So BAM! To move the project to the "Active-Infusion" cell, students would be allowed to choose the application that best works for them. If they want to use iMovie on the iPad and create a movie instead of the SonicPic, then they can discuss relative figures in history using that application. Giving them the choice to decide what works best for them, is letting technology work for them.

The complete list is here in this google doc. I am also attaching a walk through that I created about a year and a half ago that I was planning on using to evaluate instruction in the district. That template is available here.