Evaluations are critical to improvement. I've always heard, and even said myself, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The problem is, if we are not evaluating our programs how are we supposed to know if they "ain't broke"?
By evaluating the technology we are using and HOW we are using it, we are affording our educators and our students the opportunity to compete at the highest possible level in the 21st century. For example, in a two year project where teachers participated in staff development that pushed them to involve technology in the classroom "47% of project classrooms were originally classified as 'low' in learner-centered approached" but "by projects end, just 15% remained in the low category" (Burns 2002). Without an evaluative standard teachers would never have known how to improve performance in the classroom.
Where I think technology evaluations fall short is in their generalities and impersonal assessments. For example, one survey I took last week assessed that I MIGHT be comfortable using email and occassionally use products like Microsoft Word. Really? I didn't realize I was so advanced! Of course, there are several other surveys that are much more useful and more accurate. Despite the flaws, having the ability to guage where we are technologically is vitally important to our success as educators and to the success of our students.
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