Value of Assessing Educators' & Students' Technology Skills

There can be a multitude of benefits by assessing educators’ and students’ technology knowledge and skills.  Assessment results from the “Texas STaR Chart” can assist an Infrastructure and Campus Leadership with funding and budgeting.  They can take these results and evaluate what technology “needs” should receive the most amount of funding.  The results also can help in the planning of professional development for educators.  Teachers can use the results to make informed decisions about current technologies and their applications.

On the down side, negative results can add additional pressure and stress to teachers.  Many teachers feel pressured to provide exemplary results on high-stakes test and they don’t seem to have the time to improve their standards that are outlined in the “Texas STaR Chart”.  A technology assessment can also prove negative to students, because they are already overwhelmed with the emphasis that is put on high-stakes test.  Consequently, I think many educators will continue to put technology on the back burner unless it becomes a high-stakes test.

I think many educators ask those “why” questions when they don’t see the value in technology assessments.  A data driven approach to the value of technology will unveil the answers to those “why” questions.  I have heard many educators ask the following questions:

·         Why am I being forced to use these new technologies?

·         Why are my students off task?

·         Why would I use this technology if students aren’t going to be tested on TAKS in this same format?

·         Why do I need to change?

The proof is in the pudding.  The answers are in the data.  Our students and the world are changing and their needs are evolving with the digital revolution.  In order to keep 21^st Century Learners engaged, educators must be willing to evolve into digital mentors that stay technologically savvier than those they teach.  I believe the value added with technology will become apparent when educators see the effectiveness of technologies and how use of these technologies correlate to higher student achievement.