November 2013
Concerns
Many high-quality technological solutions are available to enhance professional learning processes and resources in ways that may have not been available a few short years ago. As new technologies become more available and affordable, they are also easier to adopt. However, these technological tools can fail to live up to expectations and even have detrimental effects if they are selected and implemented without proper planning and follow-through.
To get the most from a new technology, it must, at a minimum,
- Be focused on your goals for student and educator learning.
- Align with the Standards for Professional Learning.
- Integrate into a comprehensive system of professional learning. Keep in mind that technology cannot stand on its own and does not act as a substitute for other forms of professional learning.
- Be part of a clear plan for careful selection, planning, implementation, and ongoing review and feedback processes. Each of these stages will require sufficient resource allocation, including people, time, and money.
- Contribute to the collective nature of your professional learning system. Avoid technologies that isolate learners.