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Joy Renfro MEDT 8484 Research Proposal

==**Research Title: Integrating Technology into the Elementary Science Classroom** ==  ** Often, the presence and basic usage of technology in a classroom is thought to be sufficient. In my experience, technology in the elementary science classroom is often limited to having students watch videos that are streamed from the Internet, and Interactive White Boards are often used primarily as expensive dry-erase boards. Through these practices, technology is not truly integrated and is not enhancing student learning. Today, as in the past, the role of a teacher is to provide students with the skills needed for success. This success should extend far beyond the classroom. A teacher’s purpose is to help students develop abilities and proficiencies that they will draw from in the near and distant future. In a world that is becoming increasingly dependent on technology and science, the skills that students need are evolving. Teaching the “three Rs” is no longer sufficient. Technology must be integrated into learning from the very beginning, providing students with the opportunity to interact with and develop technology skills as they acquire content knowledge (Pine & Aschbacher 2006). Elementary science should be taught with these things in mind. Students need to experience science and develop knowledge through inquiry-based learning that is enhanced by technology. However, teachers often lack the knowledge and skills to create this sort of learning environment (Conderman & Woods 2008). The purpose of this research is to evaluate technology integration in the elementary science classroom and learn what impact it may have on student achievement and engagement. **