Peer Review

Chapter 2 - Device Possibilities and Resources - Supporting Technology Integration for School Leaders

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Reviewed:: Sep 20, 2024 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Chapter 2 is a chapter from an Open Educational Resource (OER) interactive textbook This textbook was written as the primary resource for a 3-hour graduate course delivered online by The Teachers College at Emporia State University. Chapter 2 is focused on resources classroom teachers can use to take advantage of the power of technology on devices ranging from a smartphone, to a tablet, to a desktop. After reading this chapter, learners will be able to: Explain key vocabulary terms, theories, and resources relating to ubiquitous experiences. Describe the connection between chapter topics and personal practice. Summarize the course content of the chapter. See the reference section of the book.

Type of Material:

A chapter from an Open (Access) Textbook with digital resources.

Recommended Uses:

This material is best suited for a course intended for teachers or school leaders, or it might be used as a self-study for an individual looking for ways to incoporate technology into their teaching practice.

Chapter 2 could be used for a assigned reading and/or the basis for class discussion, and hands-on experience during individual or group projects or practice.

Technical Requirements:

This chapter will display on desktop computers, mobile devices, and tablets. It included embedded videos and links to external sites. Internet connection required.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Chapter 2 is focused on resources classroom teachers can use to take advantage of the power of technology on devices ranging from a smartphone, to a tablet, to a desktop. After reading this chapter, learners will be able to:

Explain key vocabulary terms, theories, and resources relating to ubiquitous experiences.
Describe the connection between chapter topics and personal practice.

Target Student Population:

College General Ed, Graduate School

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

The author mentions constructivism, so an understanding of learning theories would be helpful to the individual using this resource.

Basic computer skills are needed for implementation of the technologies discussed.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The chapter begins with mention of a constructivist approach to learning, which is supported by research. Integerating technology into the classroom is also an important topic in education, along with finding good resources.

Chapter 2 presents valid skills for any type of modern classroom no matter the discipline. Technology should be incorporated into curriculum for all disciplines and all teachers would benefit from the abundant resources provided in this chapter. In addition, the resources are such that they will change with time so always be current for the user.

Concerns:

The content is of high quality and heavily cited.

There might be more of an emphasis on strategies for finding good resources so that the reader can apply those skills. The chapter itself might become outdated relatively quickly because it focuses on specific resources instead of how one might effectively sift through resources. The checklist at the end, however, can be applied to an educational resource but that checklist comes from an external resource.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The author includes various resources for the reader, such as blogs, books, and checklists. The open-resource nature of the material lends to its accessibility. The material is written in an easy-to-read style.

The purpose of the chapter is clearly stated in the learning objectives provided. This chapter is a great place to start curating resources for the latest technology for teaching and learning including a checklist for how to evaluate apps. The author even provides a suggested assessment in the Application section at the end of the chapter:

Application:

Pick 2 of the prompts below and respond to them in 7-10 sentences total.

How many resources or links (and which ones) have you &/or your students/staff worked with before?
Are there some in particular that you would like to explore? Why do those interest you?
What could you and your students/staff do with these resources in your classroom/building?
Seek out someone you respect for their views on--or use of--technology: what do they use and in what way(s)?

Concerns:

This chapter is effective as a technology integration teaching tool although the learning objectives may be too broad, especially the third learning objective, "Summarize the course content of the chapter," could be left off as it would be expected from any chapter a student might read. The chapter itself feels a little disorganized, as though the resources are somewhat pieced together. The writing might be a little too informal at times.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The most outstanding feature is that the chapter is short but sweet. Although the chapter itself is short, the reader can expect to spend plenty of time exploring the video and resource links provided. The chapter is well-written and organized, easy to access and navigate, and each chapters could be used individually or as a textbook. The chapter concludes with some application prompts that cause the reader to reflect on the material and apply it to themselves.

This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International so a user can remix if desired.

Concerns:

There was an outdated resource in the Integrated Technology section. The author did state that they would post the new link when they had it.

Accessibilty information could be provided.

Other Issues and Comments:: See the full textbook in MERLOT or use the search term: Supporting Technology Integration for School Leaders to view individual additional chapters in MERLOT.
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