Blog Post 1: Technology Assessments—Valuable or Not?

I believe that the assessment of educator and student technology skills is important to the necessary advancements in education. Printed books, notepad, pencils and overhead projectors are no longer the staple items needed within our classrooms to access, review, and synthesize information. To the contrary such antiquated sources would serve to disengage our 21^st century learners, limit the amount and types of information readily available, and create a chasm with no bridge to migrate over. As cited in Meris Stanbury’s article, effective ed-tech programs have shown decreases in student dropout and increases in student graduation of high risk students (17).  Without assessments improvements and adjustments would not be made.

Ready or not the need for technological change has come and with it our need for accurate data. The gathering of this data presents both pros and cons. Some of the pros and cons listed in the article, “Savvy educators reveal secrets of reform,” include the following:

       Pros                                                                                       Cons

       1.       Increased student performance                               1. Lack of funding  

2.       Data to support individualized planning                 2. Inadequate infrastructure

3.       Decreased dropout rates                                          3. Inadequate professional development

4.       Innovative, out-the-box thinking                             

5.       Student-centered instruction

As indicated above, I believe the pros of technology assessment far outweigh the cons. The cons can actually be addressed and developed in a manner that makes each a pro. Assessments should not be feared, but embraced for the data gained.  After all “we need data to know where we need to make changes” (page 17).

Resource:

Stansbury, M. (2007). Savvy educators reveal secrets of reform. eSchool News, 10(9), 17.