Technology Assessments - Wk 2 Assignment

Technology Assessments - Wk 2 Assignment

In the world of Education, we are always trying new ways of reaching the students and preparing them for the world they will enter when they leave us.  As most people understand, education has recognized the need to integrate all forms of technology into the classroom and to teach our students to be successful "digital citizens."

Unfortunately education is often way behind the curve when it comes to technology.  So we are trying to scramble and get up to date on many things.  But, we don't have an open checkbook to buy every new technology that hits the market.  There are strings attached to all the expenditures, for good reasons.  One of the strings is that the educators and students are assessed on how technologically literate we are.  This makes sense, right?  What is the point of buying new equipment if the teacher won't know how to turn it on?  You don't give a monkey an iPhone and expect great results.  In Texas, we use STaR Charts for assessing teachers.  According to the Texas Education Agency, the Texas School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart is "an online resource tool for self-assessment of your campus’ and district’s efforts to effectively integrate technology across the curriculum. This rubric serves as the standard for assessing technology preparedness in Texas K-12 schools" (Texas Education Agency [TEA], 2006).  In this assessment, teachers rate themselves and their campus' on a scale of 1-4, 1 representing the lowest rating of Early Tech and 4 representing the highest rating of Target Tech.

I feel that assessing the teachers is a valuable tool to determine the effectiveness and readiness of the teachers with regards to their technology prowess.  However, I think the system Texas uses is slightly flawed.  Since the teacher rate themselves, I don't think we get a completely accurate rating.  I say this, because I feel that most teachers are intimidated by technology and often underrate their own abilities.  I have seen many examples of teachers that swear they don't know how to use technology, but will then successfully lead a class using several pieces of equipment and software without a single hiccup.  In their mind they rate themselves low, but in actuality their skills far exceed their perceptions.  I also feel that, since many people are intimidated by technology, they have not figured out that many "NEW" things are actually just re-badged versions of old stuff.  We are rolling out Google Docs at school and many people are just fascinated with the name.....GOOOOOOOOGGGLLLEEEE  DOOOOOCCCCSSS......(*can't you just hear that in full Dolby Digital Surround Sound at the movie theater*).  When I explain to them that it is just an online version of Microsoft Office Products with some new, albeit amazing, features, they say "oh, well that doesn't sound too hard."  So, a subjective assessment based on a person's view of their technological abilities may not be the best method.  However, I do not know a better method.  As we improve the teachers abilities, and they become better at truly rating their skills, this assessment will move closer to being a true reading of the teachers and campus.  Until then, I think it may be the best method we have.

Texas Education Agency [TEA], 2006 - Texas Campus STaR Chart -  http://starchart.epsilen.com/docs/TxCSC.pdf