Learning First - Technology Second

I am a huge fan of technology and using it in education. In fact I think using technology is an absolute necessity. However, we must still focus on the bread and butter of teaching and learning. A poorly designed lesson isn't going to get any better with technology, it could get worse though!

This raises a number of questions and challenges though.

How can we measure the impact technology is having on the learning?

I'm not sure how to answer this fully yet. I know when it has had an impact, I know that giving my students easier access to learning is helping and I know that there are time savings to be made with using technology purposefully. However, I am still not able to quantify a clear number to say what impact the technology is having compared to not having it.

How to not let the device/technology drive the instruction

Some teachers use a tool, website or piece of technology because they feel they have to shoe horn technology into a lesson. I see this particularly when I am observing teachers formally. I have seen instances of fun but not powerful learning. Children taking part in interactive quizzes and fantastic looking activities, but when you drill down into the learning it has been lost. We should be training our teachers to be critical with which technologies they choose to integrate and when they are choosing to integrate them.

WTP?

I use the abbreviation WTP in my classroom a lot - What's the Point? WTP?

I throw this at students regularly, WTP in learning x, y or z. This helps them to build an awareness of why I am teaching them certain skills or knowledge. I now ask this to my students when I integrate technology into lessons. For example WTP in using an iPad to add and subtract when we can do it on paper? Asking this question also helps the students to question their own use of technology? Maybe this can be taken further to asking WTP in texting someone when I can go round to their house and play? Or WTP in posting this selfie to a social networking site.