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Educational Technology: Evaluating Technology

Technology Evaluation

Questions to Consider

  • For what age group(s) is the technology appropriate?
  • How would a teacher incorporate the technology into the classroom?
  • Does this technology allow you to do something you were unable to do in the past?
  • Does the technology address more than one learning style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)?
  • Does the technology allow for progress monitoring of multiple users?
  • Can student data be sent to the teacher or parent via email?
  • How much instruction will need to be provided on use of the technology?
  • Will the technology meet the needs of all students in the class or will it be used with a specific subgroup?
  • Does the technology provide enough positive reinforcement to hold the interest of the students?
  • Does the technology encourage the use of higher order thinking skills including creating, evaluating, and analyzing?

Content-Based Technology

 

YES

NO

 N/A

Curriculum Connection: Are skills reinforced connected to targeted skills or concepts?

 

 

 

Authenticity: Are skills practiced in an authentic format/problem-based environment?

 

 

 

Feedback: Is feedback specific and results in improved student performance?

 

 

 

Differentiation: Does the technology offer flexibility to alter settings to meet student needs?

 

 

 

User friendliness: Can students open and navigate the tech independently or successfully with teacher guidance?

 

 

 

Student Motivation: Are students motivated to use the tech and select it to use often?

 

 

 

Reporting: Is assessment/summary data available to the student/teacher?

 

 

 

Sound: Does the music/sound add to the educational aspects of the content?

 

 

 

Instructions: Are the included instructions helpful for the student?

 

 

 

Support page: Does the tech’s supporting web page provide useful information?

 

 

 

Evaluation criteria adapted from resources on Kathy Shrock’s iPad App Evaluation guides http://www.ipads4teaching.net/ipads-in-the-classroom.html