NECC: A Proactive Approach to a Research Agenda for Educational Technology
Several key questions were discussed in this presentation: How should we reshape the educational technology research agenda to be more in line with what Federal funding sources require? How can we bridge the divide between the research community and the practitioners in the field? How can we make research more relevant to teachers?
This was a panel discussion of editors from several educational technology research journals. Each had their own unique contribution to the dialogue. Some points being:
*Most research studies in the area of educational technology are replicating simple questions. We need to ask better questions. The current research questions are too often irrelevant.
*Research questions should focus on implementation methods. What is the contribution of particular technology-based strategies on student achievement, attendance, and drop out rates (NCLB areas)?
*Questions should have relevance to the classroom, not just the researcher.
*We need to develop different metrics. The benefits of technology are not only in the area of test scores. How do we measure other areas? Are we collecting the right ‘stuff’?
*We need to translate this conversation into outcomes, not just focus on the process.
An analogy was made between educational technology and a burning ship. To policymakers, a lack of evidence translates into a lack of effectiveness which then results in a lack of resources. It is up to us where we take this discussion in trying to turn things around in our field.