Through the Texas STaR Chart assessment, valuable information is collected in several areas in order to evaluate the progress of movement toward technology proficiencies.
This is needed in order to plan and manage a budget for future implementation and training, to assess the infrastructure, and to evaluate the effectiveness of current practices. Assessment in the classroom is used to drive instruction; likewise, assessment within the use of technology is important in order to drive its usefulness and effectiveness.
If no formal assessment were in place, it would be easy to very subjectively deduce that technology was being used to a "high degree," simply because teachers felt that to be based on the use of email, new computers, and possibly an Elmo. However, by using a formal assessment, such as the Texas STaR Chart, subjectively is taken away by having criteria applied and grouped by indicators.
These indicators can then supply a rating, giving districts specific targeted areas. Breaking the behaviors and trends into groups allows us to target needs that give specific details about. All this guides us towards making the mark in the long range plans.
Problems exist within the methods we employ, however. I distinctly remember a time I filled out a Texas STaR Chart. Many of the questions were not applicable - but I had to select an option. Also, many people know that funding is attached; and when this happens, many people do not answer honestly. Moreover, many people simply complete the chart to check it of the list of things to do.
http://starchart.esc12.net/docs/TxCSC.pdf
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