Chapter 7: Evaluating Educational Technology and Integration Strategies
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Transcript of Chapter 7: Evaluating Educational Technology and Integration Strategies
Chapter 7: Evaluating Educational Technology and
Integration StrategiesLindsey Blome, Jared Petz, Andrea Branam, Jessica
Crowden, Amera Covert
Chapter Objectives
Identify sources of information for evaluating educational technology and digital media
Outline the considerations and tools used to evaluate software applications
Describe and explain the key criteria used to evaluate Web sources Describe the tools for evaluating the effectiveness of technology Compare and analyze the methods used to evaluate student
projects Identify different technology integration strategies by classroom
layout and design Define and describe the value of a curriculum page Describe ways to integrate technology into specific curriculum
subject areas Describe authentic assessment tools for student projects Identify and compare possible sources of funding for classroom
technology
Sources of information for evaluating educational technology and digital media
School districts and state departments of education◦Many school districts compile software
evaluations that provide guidance on subject-specific software.
Professional education organizations◦Many local, state, regional, national, and
international educational organizations provde extensive information on how to evaluate educational resources.
Sources of information for evaluating educational technology and digital media
Catalogs◦Often, companies list hardware and software
suited for educational use in their catalogs.Conferences
◦Every year, dozens of national and state organizations host technology conferences. Technology conferences
Evaluating software applications
Content◦When evaluating educational software, content
is the most important area to consider. Valid
Documentation and technical support◦When evaluating software consider the
technical support and documentation the software offers. Documentation and technical support
Evaluating software applications
Technical quality and ease of use◦Technical quality refers to how well the
software presents itself and how well it works. Ease of use refers to anything that makes the software easy to use.
Evaluating web resources
Affiliation◦Affiliation refers to the professional organization,
school, school district, university, company, or government office with which a particular Web site is associated.
Purpose and Objectivity◦Purpose is the reason the Web site was created
or the intent of the Web site. Objectivity is the process of determining or interpreting the intent or purpose of the Web page and if it is free of bias, such as advertising.
Evaluating web resources
Audience and currency◦The audience is the individual group intended
to view and use the Web page. Currency is the measure of how up to date, or timely, the Web page content is and how often it is updated.
Assessment tools for evaluating the effectiveness of technology integration
Authentic assessment◦Authentic assessment can be formal or informal
and aims to present students with tasks that mirror the objectives and challenges typical of their instructional activities.
Checklists, rating scales, and rubrics◦When using any authentic learning technique,
many teachers use a checklist, a rating scale, or a rubric to evaluate the learning process.
Assessment tools for evaluating the effectiveness of technology integration
Teacher observation◦When evaluating technology integration or
curriculum integration, one of the more widely used authentic assessment techniques is teacher observation.
Evaluating technology supported student projects
Evaluating planning◦Effective presentations involve planning,
students also must plan a project before creating it, if it is to be effective. Visual learning techniques Flowcharts Storyboards
Different technology integration strategies by classroom layout and design
One computer classroom◦Most classrooms are equipped with one digital
media computer and are referred to as a one-computer classroom.
Multicomputer classroom◦Having two or more computers in your
classroom fosters additional learning opportunities that allow flexibility in computer usage and make technology integration a integral part of the curriculum.
Different technology integration strategies by classroom layout and design
Computer labs and media centers◦Computer labs and media centers offer
teachers instructional opportunities that are not possible in a one-, two-, or even a five-computer classroom.
Value of a curriculum page
Curriculum pages◦One of the main technology integration
challenges that teachers face today is determining exactly how to use the Internet in their classrooms.
Ways to integrate technology into specific curriculum subject areas
Exceptional education integration◦Also known as special education curriculum usually
contains instruction in all curriculum areas with adaptations made for students with unique characteristics or special needs.
Interdisciplinary Integration◦An interdisciplinary curriculum usually includes two
or more academic disciplines or curriculum areas to form a cross-discipline or subject-integrated lesson. Cross-discipline lessons Subject-integrated lessons
Authentic assessment tools for student projects
Teacher ObservationProject RubricsEvaluation RubricsQuizzesPeer Editing/Critiques
Possible sources of funding for classroom technology
Fund-raising drives and academic contests◦Class car washes, bake sales, and other
activities can help raise money to purchase additional computers, hardware components, and software for classrooms.
Grants◦The majority of outside funding sources for
technology fall under a general category called grants. Grants
Summary of evaluating educational technology and integration strategies
Technology will not make a difference in the quality of students graduating from K-12 schools unless teachers learn how to integrate the use of technology into their curriculum.