In this section, we will explore how to assess whether the digital tools youâve chosen are effectively supporting your teaching. While tool evaluation ideally takes place before implementation, this is a valuable opportunity to reflect on how well your current selections are performing, using your equipment safety lesson as a case study.
With your students now engaging through the LMS and collaborative tools, itâs important to consider whether these technologies are meeting your needs. This section introduces the SECTIONS model to help you evaluate each toolâs relevance, usability, and alignment with your teaching goals. These strategies will not only support reflection on your current choices but also guide future tool selection.
SECTIONS Model for Tool Selection
The SECTIONS model is a widely used framework for evaluating educational technologies before selection. It includes eight key criteria: Students, Ease of Use, Costs, Teaching Functions, Interaction, Organisational Issues, Networking,and Security and Privacy.
Reflecting on your equipment safety lesson, you may notice that you have already applied parts of this model when choosing your LMS and communication tool. For example:
- Under Students, you might have considered whether Google Classroom suits your learnersâ digital skills and access.
- Costs may have influenced your decision to use free tools like WhatsApp or Moodle.
- Security and Privacy would involve checking settings to protect student data.
To deepen your understanding, watch the following video:
https://youtu.be/-W79hGvukTs?si=XGUHzHajmPSupPiM&t=391
This video explains each component in more detail.
Here is a quick overview of the SECTIONS criteria:
- Students: Consider learnersâ demographics, technological access, and learning styles.
- Ease of Use: Evaluate how simple and reliable the technology is for both teachers and students.
- Costs: Consider the financial or time-related costs of designing, delivering, and maintaining your lesson using the tool.
- Teaching Functions: Assess the educational advantages and limitations of the tool.
- Interaction: Determine how the tool enables communication between learners and content, instructors, or peers.
- Organisational Issues: Check whether your institution supports the tool and provides the necessary infrastructure.
- Networking: Consider how the tool supports connections with subject experts and broader communities.
- Security and Privacy: Ensure the tool provides a safe and secure space for student data and interactions.
Self-Reflection: Think about your equipment safety lesson. How did your chosen LMS and messaging tool support student engagement? Which SECTIONS criteria, such as Ease of Use or Interaction, were most important in your decision-making?
Post your response here. We look forward to hearing your insights.
In this section, we will explore how to assess whether the digital tools youâve chosen are effectively supporting your teaching. While tool evaluation ideally takes place before implementation, this is a valuable opportunity to reflect on how well your current selections are performing, using your equipment safety lesson as a case study.
With your students now engaging through the LMS and collaborative tools, itâs important to consider whether these technologies are meeting your needs. This section introduces the SECTIONS model to help you evaluate each toolâs relevance, usability, and alignment with your teaching goals. These strategies will not only support reflection on your current choices but also guide future tool selection.
SECTIONS Model for Tool Selection
The SECTIONS model is a widely used framework for evaluating educational technologies before selection. It includes eight key criteria: Students, Ease of Use, Costs, Teaching Functions, Interaction, Organisational Issues, Networking,and Security and Privacy.
Reflecting on your equipment safety lesson, you may notice that you have already applied parts of this model when choosing your LMS and communication tool. For example:
To deepen your understanding, watch the following video:
https://youtu.be/-W79hGvukTs?si=XGUHzHajmPSupPiM&t=391
This video explains each component in more detail.
Here is a quick overview of the SECTIONS criteria:
Self-Reflection: Think about your equipment safety lesson. How did your chosen LMS and messaging tool support student engagement? Which SECTIONS criteria, such as Ease of Use or Interaction, were most important in your decision-making?
Post your response here. We look forward to hearing your insights.
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