Teachers' or Students' Knowledge and Technology Assessment

Regarding the implementation of technology in the classroom a question that is important to address is if school districts should give priority to apply resources to access teachers’ technology leadership knowledge and skills or, students’ technology knowledge and skills?  Personally, as a teacher, I do believe it is more important to access teachers’ and students’ knowledge and skills both at the same time and use the same technology to evaluate students’ achievement. Why?  First we need to understand that technology implementation is not optional. “What do students really need to be learning today in order to be ready for an unpredictable future?” (Warlick, 2008) Also, “Dramatic changes in information do not mean that we must change our definition of literacy, but they do point to an expanded notion of what those skills are”  (Warlick D. , 2007); the concept of literacy related skills should change to include the additional skills required for this new era. This means technology needs to be implemented in the classroom.  Second, teachers’ require technology knowledge and skills to have the leadership required to lead students in their own learning of technological tools and new era skills acquisition. Third, students have their own expectation regarding technology.   We have students surrounded by televisions, video games, computers, cell phones and we can not expect them to continue learning the same way we learn decades ago. Students need to become problem solvers and critical thinkers. Finally, according with my experience, technology assessments are beneficial because of its fast implementation and analysis; also they provide students the opportunity to master technology skills. For instance, my students take Accelerated Reading test to improve reading comprehension skills but at the same time the master computer use skills like using the mouse, keyboarding and operative system skills. The test is quick and I get results that help me to personalize instruction according with the student needs. Personally, I do  not see any disadvantages of this technology assessments.

Warlick, D. (2007). Literacy in the New Information Landscape. Library Media Connection , 20 - 21.

Warlick, S. A. (2008). The new literacy The 3Rs evolve into the 4Es. Technology & Learning , 20 - 28.