Decisions About Using Technology

Introduction 

     In recent years, school districts, universities, and corporations have placed a great deal of importance on the utilization and integration of instructional technology. However, for many educators this has proven to be a daunting and seemingly insurmountable goal. Experienced educators, as well as those new to the field, often experience difficulty in determining the most effective and efficient ways to use technology to meet their curricular goals and enhance student learning. This document is designed to help educators meet their technology integration goals and will guide them through the decision-making process.

     First, it is important to define technology integration and discuss its purposes and ultimate goals. According to Lorrie Jackson (2002), "integrating technology means simply using technology within the existing curriculum". She contends that technology should not replace current lessons and curricula, but rather should be used as a tool to support and enhance them. Expert contributors on the Edutopia Website further this idea by contending that "effective tech integration must happen across the curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the learning process" (Edutopia Website, "Why integrate technology into the curriculum?"). In addition, they assert that the overall goal of technology integration is to "support four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts" (Edutopia Website, "Why integrate technology into the curriculum?").

     Next, it is necessary to determine which technologies best support these goals and how they can be utilized in the classroom. As a field we tend to be fad-driven, so often we see the in-service offerings and technologies chosen to go along with what are perceived as the latest trends. A better strategy, of course, would be to look at the actual strengths, weaknesses, and needs of the students, teachers, and institutions.   

Our goals are to:

• Provide guidance and working/nonworking examples to teachers as they choose technology tools to incorporate into their instruction.
• Provide guidance and working/nonworking examples to teachers as they consider technology that can assist with lesson planning and record keeping.
• Provide guidance and working/nonworking examples to administrators as they make decisions about new technology purchases.

     An additional important component that relates to the use of technology in schools is communication with outside constituencies.  As Susan Brooks-Young outlines in her book Critical Technology Issues for School Leaders(2006), parents and community members also have expectations for up-to-date technology uses, such as receiving online communications through e-mail, classroom Web sites, telephone messaging systems, blogs and homework pages.  Technology plans cannot just focus on inside-the-classroom use, but must also incorporate an infrastructure for presenting the school to external constituents as well.  Many of these are referenced on the "Technology Resources to Consider" page.

Here is the list of members for this group as of October 10:

Ashley Kistler

Carolyn Petite

Denise Goble

Elizabeth Slanina

Jamie Dalton Rhoads

Jennifer Ellis

Jennifer Hall 

Jennifer Schmidt

Jody (Eleanor) Kistler

Karen Gedeon

Keri Stoyle

Nancy Vondrak

Rochelle Croston

Sarah Kuholski

     Contributors to this wiki created a number of tools designed to assist educators in making decisions about technology. The Decision Maker Tool, in the form of a Quandry Maze, leads educators to age-appropriate technology tools and resources.

DecisionMaker.htm - made using information contributed on this page: Interactive Decision Making Tool

 Decision Making for elementary, middle school, and high school.

Based on the goals of this document, this page has a list of questions to consider in order to help guide educatos in decision making. Questions to Consider

     Additionally, the following tables will assist educators in determining which types of technology tools will best meet their needs. Also included is a description of the minimum skills that are required for the successful use of specific technology tools. 

Technology Resources to Consider - 21st Century Skills for students

Technology Resources to Consider Part Two - Minimum skills to acquire for both students and teachers

Technology Resources to Consider Part Three - Using different media tools to determine which skills to be met 

References for Decisions about Using Technology - List of references

Pages Used in Development

Interactive Decision Making Tool  - Record of group contributions and information used in creation of the Quandry Maze

Original Decisions About Using Technology