Chapter 7: Evaluating Educational Technology

Chapter 7:

Evaluating Educational Technology

This activity aims to determine the significance of evaluating educational technology.

                                                                                                 

After learning the need of evaluating educational technology, answer briefly the questions below.

11.      Why is it important for teachers to evaluate educational technology and software prior to its use, during its usage and after its use in class instruction?

Evaluating the instructional materials is important for teachers because of not having a problem that affects the execution of the technology. It is simply important for teachers to firstly evaluating the instructional materials to be used before, during and after class discussion to make it sure that the technology is conducive and appropriate for the approximate level of thinking and appreciation of the students involved in the process. Then, teachers could come up to personal theories and hypothesis on what to improve and what is to maintain by the used of the same but, developed technological materials in teaching.

1.      When is the appropriate period to use checklists, rating scales and rubrics?

Rubrics are very suitable to use when rating a particular tasks – performance or project. It could be used to have a fair judgement of student’s works and outputs. For instance, role play, video projects and the like. In short, these kinds of rubrics help both the teacher and the students to assess their strengths and weaknesses especially in the side of the learners.

  

Name: Jhoana Rose R. De Leon

   Date: June 22, 2018

Rating for Usability and Effectiveness

This activity aims to determine the effectiveness and appropriateness of instructional software.

           

Using the adapted evaluation tool on the next page, evaluate two (2) of the instructional software mentioned below (as listed in Chapter 6):

·         Vocabulary Practice by BrainPop – http://www.mindbrainpopesl.com

·         Memory Challenge by the Critical Thinking Co. – http://www.instructuralcriticalthinking.com

Software/App Evaluation Tool

Use the following system to rate the software.

1 – Strongly Disagree    2 – Disagree   3 – Agree   4 – Strongly Agree   NA – Not Applicable

Software: BrainPop ELL

Content
	1	2	3	4	NA
1.      The content is accurate and factual.
2.      The content is educationally appropriate.
3.      The content is free of errors.
4.      The content meets your learning goals and objective.
5.      The content is free of stereotypes and cultural bias.
6.      The content meets the school standards.
Comments: The great thing about this software is that, its content could be used appropriately by the children as its target users because its friendly in terms of its content that are based on the objectives presented by the software.
Documentation and Support
1.      The teacher/instructor manual is clear and thorough.
2.      The software has a support is available.
3.      Online technical support is available.
4.      Help and tutorials are clear and easy to use.
Comments: In terms of the software’s documentation, it is well-explained with the used of instructional manual which is very easy to understand even by the young learners. Tutorials could also be found if necessary.
Ability Levels
1.      The ability level can be set by the teacher.
2.      The ability level automatically advances.
3.      The software covers a variety of ability/skill levels.
Comments: This software could be manipulated by the users so does, the teacher. The levels of the games could be distinguished by the teacher or innovate so that, students could hone better. Though, the contents of the software itself are educational, the good thing is, it still could be developed.
Assessment
1.      Software has built-in assessment and reporting tools.
2.      Assessment methods are appropriate and suited to learning objectives.
3.      Software documents and records student progress.
4.      Teachers can assess students’ progress easily by evaluating progress reports.
Comments: This software automatically assesses the player/student. It leaves comments and scores for the achievement of the player per level thus, assessing what they know and they still need to know.
Technical Quality
1.      Animation and graphics are used well.
2.      Audio (voice) input/output is used well.
3.      Feedback and prompts are appropriate.
4.      The application allows branching and chunking.
Comments: The technical quality is good. Graphics are well-suited to the players. It is not too attractive but, maintains the equilibrium of the game. Additionally, the used of voice recordings as a tool to develop listening content are good assessment strategy.
Ease of Use
1.      Directions are clear
2.      Students can exit the program at any time.
3.      Students can restart the program where they stopped.
4.      The software is reliable and free of disruption system errors.
Comments: This software is user-friendly, anyone at age could easily understand how the game being played.

Software: The Critical Thinking Co.

Content
	1	2	3	4	NA
1.      The content is accurate and factual.
2.      The content is educationally appropriate.
3.      The content is free of errors.
4.      The content meets your learning goals and objective.
5.      The content is free of stereotypes and cultural bias.
6.      The content meets the school standards.
Comments: The content of this software could be varied accordingly making it greater and better for students at any basic educational level. The facts and lessons presented are based on books making it as a reliable source of information that could be used in teaching field.
Documentation and Support
1.      The teacher/instructor manual is clear and thorough.
2.      The software has a support is available.
3.      Online technical support is available.
4.      Help and tutorials are clear and easy to use.
Comments: It documented some important and basic information that the readers wanted to learn about. Some aspects are also technically supported online that is why, it is accessible to use anytime and anywhere.
Ability Levels
1.      The ability level can be set by the teacher.
2.      The ability level automatically advances.
3.      The software covers a variety of ability/skill levels.
Comments: This software has information for all basic education using the Kto12 curriculum. It is very much helpful for the students and also to the teacher that aid them to their needs in schooling.
Assessment
1.      Software has built-in assessment and reporting tools.
2.      Assessment methods are appropriate and suited to learning objectives.
3.      Software documents and records student progress.
4.      Teachers can assess students’ progress easily by evaluating progress reports.
Comments: It also assesses the students based on their chosen level. It identifies their strengths and their weaknesses that teacher might use in order to remediate lessons or not.
Technical Quality
1.      Animation and graphics are used well.
2.      Audio (voice) input/output is used well.
3.      Feedback and prompts are appropriate.
4.      The application allows branching and chunking.
Comments: It has appropriate technicalities, appropriate and easy to use by the users.
Ease of Use
1.      Directions are clear
2.      Students can exit the program at any time.
3.      Students can restart the program where they stopped.
4.      The software is reliable and free of disruption system errors.
Comments: Everything is ready to use and easy to use. It has clear directions at all sections. Users could easily access it anytime and anywhere.

Name: Jhoana Rose R. De Leon

Date: June 22, 2018

I can make ET

           

This activity aims to develop one’s own evaluation tool in using and evaluating educational software for classroom use.

            This activity will be done by pair going back to the activities of the previous chapter, create your own (original) evaluation tool to evaluate the kiosk earlier created. Consider the content, use of multimedia, presentation, and delivery of message/content, effectiveness and others. Use any productivity tool in producing your evaluation tool.  Print and paste your work below.

CRITERIA IN EVALUATING MULTI-MEDIA OR ELECTRONIC INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Criteria	Exemplary	Superior	Satisfactory	Unsatisfactory	Remarks
1.       User-friendliness : -          Is it easy to start using the MM? -          Are the design comprehensible and the image quality satisfactory? -          Is the function of control elements evident? Are the software requirements clear and of adequate proportion?
2.       Attractiveness: -          Is the layout appealing? -          Is there a motivating introduction? -          Are there interactive components? -          Is the topic interesting (reference to everyday life,  applications, explaining a phenomenon)? -          Is the MM up-to-date / innovative?
3.       Clear description of purpose and work assignment: -          Is the intention of the MM evident? -          Does the user know what is expected from him? -          Is there a problem to solve or a context to understand?
4.       Relevance: -          Is the topic important? -          Does it make sense to use the MM (e.g. problems in understanding, dynamic process)?
5.       Scope: -          Is there a profoundness of content? -          Is there a broadness of content (special case, general overview)?
6.       Correctness: -          Is the content of the MM correct? -          Are simplifications indicated?
7.       Flexibility: -          Is the MM appropriate for a broad target group (incl. self-learning)? -          Is it possible to use the MM in different teaching and learning situations? -          Does the MM allow for the same topic to be approached in different ways?
8.       Matching to target group: -          Is a reasonable didactical reduction implemented? -          Are technical terms explained? -          Are the objectives appropriate?
9.       Realization: -          Is the general approach suitable to present the subject and realize aims of the given MM? -          Is the type of MM chosen reasonable (video, simulation, animation)?
10.   Documentation: -          Is the operation obvious or explained? -          Is the material self-evident or explained by additional text? -          Is there a reference to material for further studies? -          Are there any suggestions for implementation into the teaching process?