Does Education need Technology?
It pays to carefully consider this question when reviewing plans to implement new technologies in an educational environment. A terrific article by Michael Simkins, Does Technology Pay?, appeared in the 2/06 Technology & Learning magazine. Simkins encourages questioning not just if the technology works, but also how will it make learning better? For instance if you introduce blogs in an english class, do test scores rise? Does student writing improve? What aspect of the student learning do you expect to improve, and how will you know it happens?
The specific questions he proposes are:
- How does the technology add value?
- How will you know the technology is working?
- Is the value added worth the cost and the risk?
In the area of adding value, does the technology do something old better? and/or does it allow you solve an old problem with something new? Simkins points out the automated teller machines are an example of a technology that takes the old process of basic bank transactions and improves it. Technologies work when they enable new ways to “do education.”
The issue of measurement is a crucial component. First the institutions needs to agree on what improvements they expect the technology to bring. Simkins doesn’t mention research, but I’d first look for similar examples from other schools that can help lend credence to your beliefs. What reasonable expectations will signify success, how they will be measured (don’t forget to establish a baseline!) and over what period of time are these expected? This type of discussion will certainly help build support for the technological change and focus the direction of the effort. Its always helpful to know where you’re aiming for.
Finally what alternatives are there that do similar things? What else could you do with the money? In either case could the money be spent for something else more effective or that addresses a more pressing need? What’s the risk with the technology you’ve chosen? Do you have an exit strategy?
Follow these three points and Simkins says you’ll have a plan that will help ensure a good return on your investment and building a stronger learning environment for your students.
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