Rachael Pawlik: Week 11 Step 8: Revise Technology Plan / Design and Conduct Summative Evaluation

1.    Describe the purposes for and various stages of formative evaluation of technology plan.

Formative Evaluation is done with a small group of people to "test run" various aspects of instructional materials. It's like having someone look over your shoulder during the development phase to help you catch things that you miss, but a fresh set of eye might not. At times, you might need to have this help from a target audience. For example, if you're designing learning materials for third graders, you should have a third grader as part of your Formative Evaluation. (Northern Arizona University, 2009).

There are different reasons to perform a formative/summative evaluation plan.  Formative.  Evaluation is usually done in the beginning stages.

According to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvements, the following are some of the purposes for evaluations.

To catch potential problems early so they can get corrected before more       serious problems occur.

To guide further evaluation efforts.  If the evaluation is performed, it may bring to light situations that may need deeper evaluation.

To see what technology assistance is needed.

To evaluate the impact of the program.

To have continual program improvements.

To influence the design of the program.

Help identify appropriate outcomes for summative evaluation.

Help collect data for the summative evaluation.

Stages of the evaluation:

1.    Get an overview of the program

2.    Determine why you are evaluating

3.    Determine what you need to know and formulate your questions

4.    Figure what information you need to answer the questions

5.    Design your evaluation

6.    Collect information/data

7.    Analyze information

8.    Formulate Conclusion

9.    Communicate your results

10.  Use your information to modify program

2.    Describe your instruments used in a formative evaluation.

Helpful documents:

Technology plan: The plan that Moorhead Junior High has in place for what was expected and is expected with the use of technology in the curriculum and school.

Information from previous evaluations: What information was collected before the program started? Was needs assessments done and then followed?

Curriculum/standards: Is there curriculum and standards put in place by the school, district and state?  Is technology integrated into the curriculum or is it separate?

School board minutes: School board minutes may give you an idea of what the district wants to take place with technology in the schools.

            Talk to people:

Talk with people who were involved in the previous planning of technology in the school.  They may be able to give you the major stakeholders are along with the motivation behind the program.

Forms:

There will be questionnaires along with testing that will be used to help with collecting data for the evaluation. 

3.    Collect data according to a formative evaluation plan for a given set of technology plan or instructor presentation.

Moorhead Junior High does collection of data through the star chart.  This is just the formative evaluation.  It is then up to each school to perform a summative evaluation on the data given from the star chart.  A summative evaluation has never been completed on Moorhead Junior High.  I would like to take the evaluation further by using the information above to progress our technology program.

I would like to interview teachers and leaders of the school in the area of using technology in the classroom.  How much do they use technology?  What area of content do they teach?  How do they use technology in the classroom?  How many days a week do they use technology in the classroom?

I will take the star chart and get more detail answers of the use of technology int he classroom.  I will also want to collect data on  how much do the teachers and leaders really understand on how they use technology in the classroom.

I will give some lessons on what each component is on the computer and how to connect them.  I would also like to do a session for the teachers at the staff development at the beginning of the school year that informs the teachers on what their curriculum offers in technology.  I have researched the curriculum and found that the companies are moving towards offering a lot on-line for the students and teachers.  I will open a blogging for the teachers to collaboration to help each other with problem solving, and sharing ideas. 

I want to offer at least one major fund raiser for the school at the beginning of the year that will help earn money for technology.  I want to research further on grants and how to apply for grants for technology for the school.

 

Loy, N. U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvements. (1998).An Educators Guide to Evaluating the Use of Technology in Schools and Classrooms. Retrieved from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ed-techguide/handbook2.pdf