The Mis-Integration of Technology in Education

Educators are facing an upcoming dilemma and may not realize it as of yet. They must decide whether there will be continued focus and reliance on state tests, standardized tests, and other instruments meant to rank students in comparative groups and sub-groups. We don't really need technology to accomplish this task since this is the model of the past. Students don't need a computer or web 2.00 tools to prepare for this educational model since there is no point of collaborating, cooperating, or creating artifacts. Students will merely need to recall information and synthesize mental constructs to make a choice and bubble in the correct answer.

Many schools and districts are choosing to serve two masters. They want students to prepare for tomorrow by using technology in the classroom to collaborate and create, solve real-world problems, and use digital media to inform and inspire others. Schools then agonize over student performance on standardized tests, regardless of how well prepared they are for the 21st Century. Educators want students to become adept at learning while using blogs, wikis, mashups, and other digital mediums. Educators want students to create, produce, publish, and reflect. Educators want students to become lifelong learners and face the challenges of the brave new (digital) world with responsibility and integrity. Students engage in classroom activities that promote the development of these skills, enjoy learning, and reflect metacognitively. They are then handed a pencil and paper exam to test what they learned about a particular subject following the activity and the air is sucked out of the room and the learning/academic progress is minimized by this archaic, culminating educational assessment practice.

It's time to take a closer look at 21st Century assessment options. Maybe it is time to rethink whether the 21st Century needs to be measured by a 20th Century ruler. How will the focus on data help students and teachers become better users of technology in the clssroom? It proably won't. It will just keep one foot in yesterday and the other in tomorrow without realizing the benefits of technology in education today.