Technology Assessments and Evaluations

     As the need for use of technology increases in the twenty-first century, assessments and evaluations of student's, administrator's, and leader's technology knowledge becomes of high importance as well.  In order for states, school districts, and school campuses to implement a technology plan, they must first assess the issue.  Technology assessments and evaluations provide data showing current technology knowledge of staff and students, as well as providing data to show where improvement is needed.  These assessments and evaluations are a way to measure areas with need for improvement over a period of time as well.
     As stated by Williamson and Redish (2009), computer-based testing (CBT) is emerging as one of the most promising technologies to address these current needs.  Not only do CBT's provide immediately results for teachers, students, and parents, they also allow teachers the opportunity to adjust and differentiate instruction in their classroom immediately.  "Electronic tools such as online electronic rubric makers and database software assist teachers in creating alternative assessment instruments.  Once created, these instruments can be loaded onto handheld computers, permitting teachers to circulate among students and document student performance," (Williamson and Redish (2009), p.80).
     Even though there is a high demand for the use of technology in the twenty-first century, and there are many benefits for the use, evolving the traditional ways of teaching to twenty-first century teaching has it's difficulties.  These include limited availability of high-quality assessment tools, developing environments appropriate for technology literacy assessment is expensive, limited financial resources, stronger federal emphasis on core content areas, and lack of federal requirements for technology literacy assessment reporting, (Williamson and Redish, 2009).


Reference
Williamson, J., Redish, T. (2009) ISTE's Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards.  What Every K-12 Leader Should Know and Be Able to Do.