My 11th Review: The Great Debate: Effectiveness of Technology in Education 12/9/10

Summary

Patricia Deubel’s article The Great Debate: Effectiveness of Technology in Education begins by questioning the platform of a debate concerning technology effectiveness, and what topics or definitions should be chosen to adequately establish clear and concise definitions of any concept that would be involved in such a debate.  In defining terms such terms as “effective”, the article mentions “the effectiveness of technology depends upon the appropriate selection and implementation of that technology to meet teaching and learning goals”(Deubel, ¶3).  The article also questions definitions of technology, what is education, and how do we define change as either good or bad (Deubel, ¶5-7).  As the article goes into further detail about changing thinking and implementing technology suddenly Deubel reminds the reader that “it’s not the medium, but instructional methods that cause learning.  Educators need to think in a systematic way about how and when to incorporate any new pedagogical strategy, including media, into instruction” (Deubel, ¶11).

Reaction

The Great Debate: Effectiveness of Technology in Education had me thinking during the whole article because this is a subject which I find myself in personal battle with.  I especially liked the concept of definitions and how we determine effectiveness.  I appreciated the reminder of local versus global thinking, looking at the individual and then having special needs, and how effectiveness translates into a variety of applications during specific subjects, grade levels and contexts (Deubel, ¶4).  I had not recently considered the 10 principles listed concerning implementation of technology, but found all ten items ongoing and pertinent to today’s debate surrounding technology.  I agree with Deubel in that the debate will continue concerning implementation of technology in schools.  Although we must realize that technology has proved in recent years to be moving faster than just about any debate can take place.

Source

Deubel, P. (2007, November 8) The Great Debate: Effectiveness of Technology in Education

                Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2007/11/08/The-Great-Debate-Effectiveness-of-   Technology-in-Education

Labels: Effectiveness of Technology