Assessing the technology knowledge and skills of educators’ and students is valuable because it allows districts to create a plan for increasing the benefit of technology in its schools and allows districts to budget for and measure the results of the plan. The STAR Chart created by the state of Texas is valuable because it provides a shared goal for all the schools in the state. By working toward this shared goal, Texas is insuring that it will keep up with the rest of the world and prepare students for a global, high-tech society. Some specific benefits of the STAR Chart are that it encourages schools to use their funds on technology that will be directly used by students. It encourages a new way of teaching so that the teacher is a facilitator and the student directs his/her own learning. To reach the target level, schools must have adequate resources, technical and instructional support, and must provide professional development so that its teachers meet the technology standards.
A pro to assessment for both teachers and students is that it motivates both groups to make incremental steps and eventually reach the target level. Assessment also shows teachers and students their strengths and weaknesses so that they have specific goals to achieve. For example, a teacher who is currently using a teacher-directed technology approach such as showing a PowerPoint might move to a learning method like a web quest, allowing students to direct their own learning. Assessment also makes teachers accountable for their own improvement of technical skills as well as accountable for the technical knowledge and skills of their students. A con to assessment is that it sometimes evokes resentment in teachers, especially experienced teachers. Some teachers feel that they have taught well for many years without technology and feel as if their way of teaching is being insulted and invalidated.
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