Evaluation

University of East London,
Library & Learning Centre

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Implementation

Resource Collection
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Evaluating Use Of Technology

'If you're not going to support the technology, then don't put it in the classroom. It's worse than not having it.'

Bill Lewis, Arizona State University⁵⁸

Evaluating and maintaining technology is vital to ensure that it continues to be relevant, useful and up-to-date. Christopher Johnson talks about how technologies can change: today's cutting edge gizmo may not be relevant tomorrow.⁵⁷

When it comes to technological developments, obsolescence can arrive at speed and this can make you feel disheartened, as well as being expensive for those holding the purse strings in institutions. It can be argued that this is just one of the realities of the digital age. Johnson recommends that the availability of new technology should be balanced with the acceptance of a given innovation by both instructors and students. He believes that, 'constant evaluation and assessment will ensure that support goes where it is needed the most. Well-used and well-supported spaces will help institutions meet the learning needs of our Net Generation students'.

The following sections list some of the ways in which you might want to collect information to evaluate the effectiveness of the space.