Technology is all around us and weather we are tech savvy or not, just face it, we all use technology. Many think that just typing a paper or checking your email make you capable of teaching others how to use technology. I think that it is extremely important for educators to have the knowledge and skill to operate the material they will be allowing the student to use. I am not saying this to say that a teacher must be an expert but they should have a working knowledge to know how to best use the technology to enhance the students learning.
I find that it is important to find out what knowledge and skills a student has before starting a project. Many times we underestimate a student’s knowledge of technology because as the teacher we are here to teach them. This a huge mistake because as teachers we are also learners and learning can come from anywhere even a first grader showing us how to use a tool on the new software program.
This is where I find technology assessments useful. They help you to understand the skill and training in an area. This can help the person self assess what they feel that are okay, good or proficient at. In every way I advocate for using assessments to determine the level of help that is needed. Now having the time to compete a detailed assessment can cause a problem. When assessments are used you are getting what the person perceives to be their level of skill. If a student was asked if they knew how to use the computer there response may be “yes” but if that same students was asked if they knew how to use the page stroll, shortcut, email, word or excel. You would get a better understanding of what they are capable of doing.
I think that when ever we are working with technology it is important to know the level of the person you are working with educator or student.
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