Technology Evaluation and Assessment

Course Description: This course covers the evaluation of technology in the curriculum as well as ways technology can be used to assess student learning. Uses of online portfolios for student and teacher assessment and uses of video for assessment are included.  In addition, students learn how locate grants for technology integration in school settings, including how to design the evaluation component of the grant proposal (techniques for designing evaluation, collecting data, analyzing data, and reporting results).  This course is required for instructional technology licensure candidates.

Rationale: Instructional technology teachers must be able to evaluate technology use in the curriculum. 

Objectives:

--Select and evaluate appropriate hardware and software for the curriculum.

--Design plans and procedures to evaluate and assess the impact of educational technology on the curriculum.

--Design appropriate assessment of learning using technology tools, including databases, online surveys, and online testing tools.

--Apply authentic methods of evaluation to determine the extent to which students use technology as a learning, communication, and productivity tool.

--Apply authentic methods of evaluation to determine the extent to which teachers use technology to support learning.

--Design and develop an electronic portfolio that documents progress in meeting program competencies.

Course Activities:

--Post analytical responses to course readings.

--Written review of selected educational technology products.

--Written review of selected teacher and student assessments of technology use.

--Conduct case study of student learning in a technology-rich environment.

--Prepare grant proposal and evaluation activities.

Evaluation:

--Responses to readings. (10%)

--Review of educational technology software or hardware. (20%)

--Review of technology assessment techniques and tools. (20%)

--Technology evaluation of an authentic situation or selection from a series of educational case studies.  (25%)

--Grant proposal with evaluation design. (30%)

Readings and Resources: 

Haertel, G. and Means, B., Eds. (2003) Evaluating Educational Technology: Effective Research Designs for Improving Learning. Teachers College Press, New York. 

Sanders, J. R. (2000). Evaluating School Programs: An Educator’s Guide. Corwin Press: Thousand Oaks, CA.  

Quiñones, S. & Kirshstein, R. (1998). An Educator’s Guide to Evaluating the Use of Technology in Schools and Classrooms. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology. 

 Objectives:

--Select and evaluate appropriate hardware and software for the curriculum.

--Design plans and procedures to evaluate and assess the impact of educational technology on the curriculum.

--Design appropriate assessment of learning using technology tools, including databases, online surveys, and online testing tools.

--Apply authentic methods of evaluation to determine the extent to which students use technology as a learning, communication, and productivity tool.

--Apply authentic methods of evaluation to determine the extent to which teachers use technology to support learning.

--Design and develop an electronic portfolio that documents progress in meeting program competencies.

Course Activities:

--Post analytical responses to course readings.

--Written review of selected educational technology products.

--Written review of selected teacher and student assessments of technology use.

--Conduct case study of student learning in a technology-rich environment.

--Prepare grant proposal and evaluation activities.

Evaluation:

--Responses to readings. (10%)

--Review of educational technology software or hardware. (20%)

--Review of technology assessment techniques and tools. (20%)

--Technology evaluation of an authentic situation or selection from a series of educational case studies.  (25%)

--Grant proposal with evaluation design. (30%)

Readings and Resources: 

Haertel, G. and Means, B., Eds. (2003) Evaluating Educational Technology: Effective Research Designs for Improving Learning. Teachers College Press, New York. 

Sanders, J. R. (2000). Evaluating School Programs: An Educator’s Guide. Corwin Press: Thousand Oaks, CA.  

Quiñones, S. & Kirshstein, R. (1998). An Educator’s Guide to Evaluating the Use of Technology in Schools and Classrooms. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology.