Technology Assessments as Tools

Technology assessment is a valuable tool to determine the direction of a district technology plan for both students and educators.  This assessment determines the feasibility of specific programs and determines who should be mentors within a certain area and who needs to have more computer training.

            The assessment of an educator’s technology skills and knowledge is valuable for the district and the educator’s personal information.  The advantage to the district’s overall knowledge of technology skills is beneficial when planning, coordinating and executing continuing education and professional development.  This allows the district to save time and money that could be spent elsewhere.  The district will also be able to determine the type of continuing professional development and adjust schedules accordingly.  Once educator’s skills are collated district wide, educators can be placed in groups according to their skill levels.  Additionally, by identifying those educators with advanced or more in depth knowledge in specific areas, they can act and serve as mentors either within the district or at campus levels. 

            The educator can benefit from a technology assessment.  They can discover areas of weakness or areas that need reinforcing as well as strengths.  Understanding the areas needing improving or enhancing, the educator can then begin to work more with other teachers with the same desires and goals.  With the new technologies available and an ever-increasing emphasis on using technology in the classroom, educators need to have an understanding of what their strengths and weaknesses are.

            Students can also benefit from a technology assessment.  Many students come into the classroom already understanding some basic technology while others come in with an advanced knowledge.  Many times the students may have an understanding of technology more so that the teacher.  By giving a student a technology assessment it allows the educator to assess the student’s skills from basic typing and computer to using the Web 2.0 technology skills.  Once the student level of expertise has been identified, they can be placed into study groups for further enhancement of their skills.  Many may be able to serve as mentors to other students or as leaders for collaborative learning experiences. 

            As with any assessment there can be downfalls to a technology assessment.  In lower social economic status areas, students may not have the availability and access to technology that other students may enjoy.  This will put them behind when it comes to dealing with technology.  This may not be a fault of the student but merely a shortcoming.  Students in the lower social economic status group could be a high level learner but do not have the opportunity to experience this technology outside the school.

Students with learning or language disabilities may also be at a disadvantage.  Through no fault of their own, they may not have the capability to understand the technology if it is above their learning level.  Those with English language learning difficulties assessment may be skewed if not in the parent language.