Technology Assessments

Technology assessments are an important tool used by states, school districts and teachers to find areas of strengths and weaknesses in current technology practices in the classroom. Discovering the areas of need help in the development of planning and budgeting for technology needs for students and teachers. The Texas STaR Chart is one tool that helps to monitor student achievement in technology and ensure teaching, learning and professional development for teachers.

The Texas STaR Chart must be submitted every year by each campus and is available online. Having access to this information online allows all stakeholders to know what goals have been met and where improvements are needed. For example, my campus, as well as nationwide schools, has made improvements in the area of Infrastructure for Technology due to the need of updating all locations computers’ hardware, software and internet capabilities. Without the data provided by this online assessment, schools would not be complying with the goals necessary to meet the 21st Century technology needs. Additionally, schools would not have budgeted nor received the appropriate funds to purchase new technology equipment and software that is vital for students and teachers to be successful in today’s technological society.

There are several pros to conducting technology assessments for teachers and students. For teachers, the advantages are having the capability to use website self-assessments, video streaming, on-line tutorials and using Smart Boards and other interactive assessment to engage and assess student learning. The pros for students are that it allows them a varied assessment to their learning, as opposed to the typical essays or multiple choice testing forms. Also, technology equipment continues to change at a rapid pace, and there are assessments that can address the multiple types of learning styles.

The cons of technology assessments for both teachers and students are that there is an abundance of assessment tools and information. If not careful, much of the information and different assessment tools may not be reliable. Teachers and students must use good judgment about what assessments and information they consider to be relevant and accurate.

References:

Social and Cultural Foundations of American Education/Technology/Pros and Cons. (2010). Retrieved September 3, 2010, from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Social_and_Cultural_Foundations_of_American_Education/Technology/Pros_and_Cons

7 things to consider about teaching styles. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2, 2010, from http://www.sc.edu/cte/guide/teachingstyles/index.shtml