3.6 Selective and Evaluating Digital Tools & Resources
Candidates collaborate with teachers and administrators to select and evaluate digital tools and resources for accuracy, suitability, and compatibility with the school technology infrastructure.
Artifact: Emerging Technologies Project
Reflection:
This report on an emerging technology was written in the spring of 2012 for ITEC 7445. The paper focuses on an emerging technology in the classroom, Apple’s iPad. In this report, the cost, compatibility, uses, and potential impact of iPads are documented. In addition, the necessary professional development and student trainings are outlined in the report. With citations from multiple sources, this paper provides a detailed summary of iPads in education.
Standard 3.6 suggests the importance of evaluating and selecting digital tools and resources. In this project, I developed an extensive report on an emerging technology to share with school administrators. The artifact included outlines the accuracy, sustainability, and compatibility of iPads in education. In addition, this report provides relevant data on the impact of iPad integration on student learning and outlines a plan for implementation, providing information for administrators as they make decisions about selecting this resource.
This project taught me about the importance of thorough evaluation of technological resources before selection and implementation. While I have often found it easy to “buy-in” to the latest and greatest with technology, I learned that there is much evaluation and thought that must go into selecting digital tools for a school. While preparing this report, I learned about assessing accuracy, sustainability, and compatibility of technology based resources. Prior to this learning experience, I would have likely overlooked much of this information when exploring available resources. Because this project was completed when data about the impact of iPads on education was just emerging, the available information was somewhat limited. To further extend this project, I would be interested in gathering the newest data that has become available to further evaluate this resource.
As data suggests, technology has the potential to drastically enhance student learning experiences and professional development. In order for this to happen, technology must be thoroughly evaluated and researched before being purchased. This report and others are vital for selecting technology resources that will be most influential on the learning process. By providing administrators with pertinent and meaningful information about digital tools and resources, effective technologies can begin to be purchased and implemented. Then, the impact on student learning, professional development, and school improvement can be measured and assessed.
Reflection:
This report on an emerging technology was written in the spring of 2012 for ITEC 7445. The paper focuses on an emerging technology in the classroom, Apple’s iPad. In this report, the cost, compatibility, uses, and potential impact of iPads are documented. In addition, the necessary professional development and student trainings are outlined in the report. With citations from multiple sources, this paper provides a detailed summary of iPads in education.
Standard 3.6 suggests the importance of evaluating and selecting digital tools and resources. In this project, I developed an extensive report on an emerging technology to share with school administrators. The artifact included outlines the accuracy, sustainability, and compatibility of iPads in education. In addition, this report provides relevant data on the impact of iPad integration on student learning and outlines a plan for implementation, providing information for administrators as they make decisions about selecting this resource.
This project taught me about the importance of thorough evaluation of technological resources before selection and implementation. While I have often found it easy to “buy-in” to the latest and greatest with technology, I learned that there is much evaluation and thought that must go into selecting digital tools for a school. While preparing this report, I learned about assessing accuracy, sustainability, and compatibility of technology based resources. Prior to this learning experience, I would have likely overlooked much of this information when exploring available resources. Because this project was completed when data about the impact of iPads on education was just emerging, the available information was somewhat limited. To further extend this project, I would be interested in gathering the newest data that has become available to further evaluate this resource.
As data suggests, technology has the potential to drastically enhance student learning experiences and professional development. In order for this to happen, technology must be thoroughly evaluated and researched before being purchased. This report and others are vital for selecting technology resources that will be most influential on the learning process. By providing administrators with pertinent and meaningful information about digital tools and resources, effective technologies can begin to be purchased and implemented. Then, the impact on student learning, professional development, and school improvement can be measured and assessed.