Week 6, October 3, Assessment and evaluation, professional organizations, using technology to deliver instruction

Chapter 11 goes deeper into assessment for improving teaching.  I was shocked to discover how little assessment takes place in some teaching situations.  It is time consuming and possibly expensive but it is critical to reflect to see where improvement in teaching is needed.  There are many tools and types of assessment.  Assessment can benefit teacher and learners. 

I love technology and was pleased to serve as discussion leader for the topic of using technology to deliver instruction.  Technology is a tool and not the teacher.  Technology is part of instruction but must be used correctly.  There is research that students can learn more with technology but you must consider the learners and their needs, learning outcomes, cost and access.  Advantages of using technology are that it can be engaging, allows for more teaching time, increases access to information, attracts new users, can meet special needs, and prepare students for the future.  Disadvantages are that it can be distracting, lead to loss of critical thinking, it can be too impersonal, hard to keep up with and it can fail in which the teacher must have a backup plan.  I also learned from my presentation when I could not share my desktop to show the class their comments they sent about the Powerpoint.  I have since learned how to share my desktop with dual monitors.  There is a selection in Powerpoint as to which monitor you want to share that I never knew I needed until my appshare failed.