What constitutes technology "integration"?

Technology integration is something that many educators are struggling to understand both conceptually and in practical terms.  Educators in Maine have been asked to focus on TPCK and SAMR. In Florida, the conceptual framework is apparently the Technology Integration Matrix, "a video resource supporting the full integration of technology in Florida schools."

In the interest of full disclosure, I must say that I am suspicious of all such attempts to define technology in matrix-form.  I find the danger in these approaches is the suggestion that one box and only one box (e.g., top right or bottom right) represents satisfactory pedagogy when it comes to technology integration.  Whether intended or not, the implication is that this one box represents full integration, and when a teacher is not in that box, it represents failure.  I consider the mix of technology-based and non-application oriented approaches to be more complicated than that.

That said, I have looked at Florida's TIM (Technology Integration Matrix), and must admit that it has lots going for it.  It seems to be grounded in well-respected theory (Jonassen, Howland, Moore, & Marra, 2003), and incorporates learning environments widely recognized as meaningful.  What I find particularly engaging is that each indicator of technology integration is supported by video depicting an example narrated by teachers and/or students.  This is not only engaging and clear, but it also practices what is being preached about leveraging technology to support a more traditional text-based document.

I must admit that I have not viewed all of the fifty videos, but I have viewed more than half and have noticed a few trends I would question.  First, most applications seem to involve Internet search, presentation applications (Powerpoint and Inspirations), and local applications like GarageBand and Keynote.  Multimedia is also well represented.  What I find curious is what's missing.  I found only one example of blogging and none using collaborative online writing (e.g., Google Docs) or collaborative work on a wiki.  I will be the first to apologize if I have missed these in my cursory review, but I will also say that for me integration must include more than staying on a local laptop or going to the Web simply to retrieve something.  Integration must involve going to the Internet to work and to do so in the company of others.  Nevertheless, I must say the videos on TIM along with the matrix provide excellent food for a discussion of what integration really entails.