My Ideas on Evaluating Technology Use in the Classroom

    This week I read that article "Evaluating Technology Use in the Classroom". It brought up a few good points when looking at if the technology in the classroom is effective or not. In my main placement and my dyad placement I haven't really seen kids using technology in the classroom. A lot of my opinions on this subject so far is based on my own experiences and the little technology in the classroom I have seen so far, although I believe this will be changing as the year goes on.

Although my ideas on evaluating technology are just starting to develop, I do agree with the points that were brought up. When evaluating technology this article brought up 4 questions that could be asked.

1. Is the technology being used “Just because it’s there”?
2. Is the technology allowing the teacher/students to do Old things in Old ways?
3. Is the technology allowing the teacher/students to do Old things in New ways?
4. Is the technology creating new and different learning experiences for the students?

I think that if the technology in the classroom is just there because the teacher think they should have technology, it becomes a distraction. With no real focus, as the article says, there is no real reason to even have it.

I think that the best way for technology to be used in the classroom is by old things in new ways and creating new and different learning experiences for the students. I LOVED the idea of using technology  to help enhance students learning by showing visuals. The article explained this by saying how students would read the Martin Luther King Jr. speech but by watching a video online students can know

As I have said throughout this post, I don’t know where my exact stance with technology in the classroom stands, but technology is present it should be effective instead of a distraction. I am excited to learn more and develop my opinion.