Using Tools of Technology

Yeah…another sad story of a great blog lost in cyberspace. So, I will try to recall the hour’s worth of wonderful metaphors that danced throughout my lost blog, and try not to shed a tear. …one moment, please, while I try to gather myself… …and type this offline as to avoid said problem.
Tools that are used in any situation are an indicator of advancement of efficiency and complexity. Once the wheel was invented, transportation became more efficient and, eventually, more complex. The same can be said for tools of technology.
Choosing the correct tool is first and foremost in advancing learning through technology. The chosen tool must be the best for the job at hand. If I needed to drive a screw into wood, a hammer may help, but it would surely ruin the wood and the screw is not likely to remain in the wood. A screwdriver would be a better choice. Likewise, when choosing a technology tool, one must consider its productivity through the lens of the desired end result. For instance, there is an eclectic array of software that could present written information, but if the end result is simply a written response, presentation software would detract from the efficiency of the process by offering too many choices of presentation, therefore detracting from the true objective. In this case, a word processor would be the right tool for the job, while providing the efficient editing options and offering more complex visual organization than a hand written document could provide.
Secondly, using the right tool correctly is also of importance. If a nail needed to be driven into wood, then a hammer is the obvious choice. But, using the handle of the hammer as opposed to the head would make the job less efficient, if not nearly impossible given time limitations. There several ways to use almost any technological tool, but how it’s used will determine its effectiveness. Content specific games can provide students with motivation to practice skills, or explore ‘what if’ possibilities. Without usage guidelines and assessment or accountability, however, a game can be just a time filler, where a student’s learning is minimized. A slide presentation is a great way for students to be creative in presenting what they have learned, but is can also be overly time-consuming if no guidelines are given for the presentation.

All in all, we need to be aware of using the right tool for the right job. To make our choices, we need to have a working knowledge of what's out there, consider the learning needs of our students, know what it is we need them to learn (involving both 21st Century Skills and content knowledge), and be ready to assess all of that with a focused assessment.