Technology Assessments- pros, cons, and my opinion.

Assessing educators’ technology leadership knowledge and skills as well as assessing the knowledge and technology skills of students is critical for continuous improvement in schools.

There are a multitude of reasons why technology assessments are crucial for a 21^st century technology education plan. In my opinion President Barack Obama’s challenge to educators simply states why there is a need for change in typical (outdated) assessments.  On March 10, 2009 the President stated:

“I’m calling on our nation’s governors and state education chiefs to develop standards and assessments that don’t simply measure whether students can fill in a bubble on a test, but whether the possess 21^st century skills like problem-solving and critical thinking and entrepreneurship and creativity.”

In order to assess students on their 21^st century skills, teachers, must be teaching 21^st century skills. Educators need to possess 21^st century skills themselves in order to teach these skills. How can teachers be held accountable for their knowledge of technology? The answer to this question is through assessment and data. Therefore while I think the reasoning behind Mr. Obama’s education challenge is simple, I do not feel that being successful in reforming assessments will be easy.

In my opinion technology assessment is a positive addition to the 21^st century education plan, however not ever educator may feel that way. Based on what I have experienced, some teachers do not want to spend their own time going to technology professional development to learn skills they need in order to teach 21^st century learners. Therefore if teachers are going to be assessed on their 21^st skills, every teacher should have to attend “on the clock” technology professional development and learn the skills needed.