Technology Tools - student outcomes & instructional lens
As someone who recently transitioned from Director of Career Services into the Director of Education role, I’m looking at technology tools through both a student-outcomes lens and an instructional lens. Effectiveness, to me, comes down to whether the tool actually improves learning, engagement, or efficiency — not just whether it’s new or feature-rich.
A useful technology tool should make instruction clearer, save faculty time, or give us better insight into student progress. If it’s complicated, underused, or doesn’t clearly support learning objectives, then its impact is limited no matter how advanced it is. I also think instructor comfort and training play a big role — even the best tools fall flat without proper implementation.
Ultimately, the value of any educational technology shows up in student performance, retention, and confidence in skill development, which would be the real measure of effectiveness in my humble opinion.
