Week 4 Reflection

Zhao Logic Model

• Technology or funding alone does not lead to improved education. It is how the funds or technologies are used that will determine the degree to which the potential of funding or technology is translated into desired educational outcomes; (p. 644)
• Technology is just one tool in a teacher's toolbelt

Zhao Logic Model Cont.

• Context of the school is important.
• Characteristics of the teachers, students and administrators can affect the success of new technology implementation.

Dynarski Report

• The study did not show a statistically significant increase in achievement
• However, it was a narrow study, only certain technology programs in Math and Reading
• Success included other factors: time spent with tech, and student-teacher ratio

Dynarski Report Cont.

• Technology use can have other effects besides higher test scores
• Teachers using the technology spent more time teaching one-on-one than lecturing compared to the control teachers
• Students spent more time engaged with the programs

Personalized Learning

• Students work at own pace
• Mastery learning instead of seat time
• Teacher acts as guide
• Allows student to learn in their own learning style
• Difficult to find studies of the effectiveness of this type of learning

Action Research

• Uses systematic data collection, analysis and reflection
• Research is done in regular school setting
• Easier to accomplish and more practical than the Logic Model or scientific studies
• More personal, but not generalizable
• Can apply ideas from formal research to own practice and assess it

Evaluation Research

• Using quantitative or qualitative data to evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs
• Laden with politics and value judgements
• Tax payers and stake holders want to know their money is being spent well
• Different people have different definitions of success
• Many different models for evaluation research

My main conclusion:
Evaluating Technology
is Difficult!

Other Thoughts

• It was great to be able to do my reflection with new technology!
• Haiku Deck is Awesome!

References Part 1
Dynarski, M. (2007). Effectiveness of reading and mathematics software products findings from the first student cohort: Report to Congress, executive summary (United States, U.S. Department of Education). Washington, D.C.: National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved June 9, 2015, from http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pdf/20074006.pdf
Gall, J. P., Gall, M. M. D., & Borg, W. R. (2014). Applying educational research: How to read, do, and use research to solve problems of practice. Pearson Higher Ed.

References Part 2

West, D. M. (2011, October 6). Using technology to personalize learning and assess students in real-time (Publication). Retrieved June 10, 2015, from Brookings Institute website: https://bb.uvm.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1590466-dt-content-rid-6937241_1/courses/...
Zhao, Y., Yan, B., & Lei, J. (2008). The Logic and Logic Model of Technology Evaluation. International Handbook of Information Technology in Primary and Secondary Education, 633-653. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-73315-9_37