Effectiveness of Educational Technology--A Review

The article I read and reviewed is titled Does This Really Work? The Keys to Implementing New Technology While Providing Evidence That Technology is Successful by Sara Sawtelle. This article appeared in the June/July 2008 edition of Learning and Leading with Technology. You can obtain the article by clicking on this link: http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/EJ824514.pdf.
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This article approaches the idea of how to make technology use more effective in the classroom by using the Scientific Method as a planning approach. The author notes that proving that technology use is effective is a very detailed and difficult process. The author suggests using the scientific method because it includes gathering observable , measurable data to determine conclusions. The article follows a fictitious account of a school trying to implement a new technology plan. The principal in the story is supportive of his teacher's plan, but requires that there be statistical supportive data to continue the project.

The planning committee follows the steps of the Scientific Method when implementing technology. They form a hypothesis (the plan) to make sure that the team is working toward the same goal. Under step 2 (planning the experiment) the team chooses which classrooms to implement the technology in and who should be on the team (IT from the district, curriculum and instruction leaders, etc.). Step 3 of the process is preparation. Preparation includes training all staff, students, and stakeholders on the tools. This will ensure that all members are adequately prepared for the experiment and have the most chances for success. Step 4 is testing the predictions. This step involves that dreaded word, documentation. Documentation is the key step to proving that technology use has been effective in the classroom or school. Step 5 is adjustment. At the end of the year, the school gathers all data that they have from Step 4 and from testing data to make changes to the technology plan. The technology in the case proved to be successful and so therefore the teachers suggested that the entire district move forward using the same technology.

I think that this article was very informative and a great suggestion. Every article I read for class this week was either pro technology use in the classroom or against technology use in the classroom. There seemed to be no middle ground when it came to this topic. At the same time, there seemed to be no definite data that supported either side. One reason I chose this article is because I think it suggests a great way to decide the effectiveness of educational technology. Let each school or district decide for itself. Who knows our students, teachers, community, or classrooms the best? We do! This article suggests that by implementing a definite plan and tracking data all year you can make the best decision on whether or technology is being effective in your school. It focuses on school-specific data such as the digital divide and the training that was mentioned in step 3. I think that the suggestions in this article were very accurate and that by implementing such a plan in my school, we would see technology use become much more effective than it is currently. I believe that the ideas and suggestions of this article might be the most applicable suggestions I have read when it comes to educational technology because it follows the Scientific Method, a simple approach that everyone has studied! So what are you waiting for, form a committee, make a hypothesis, collect data, and see how technology begins to affect your classroom or school!