Before you decide on what technology and tools to use, you need to have a clear idea of what you want your learners to achieve and how you will measure their progress. Your learning objectives should guide your selection of technology and tools, not the other way around. For example, if your objective is to develop your learners' critical thinking skills, you might use online discussion forums, blogs, or podcasts to facilitate peer feedback and reflection. If your objective is to assess your learners' mastery of a skill or concept, you might use quizzes, surveys, or rubrics to collect and analyze data.
Another factor to consider when selecting and using technology and tools is your context and constraints. This includes your learners' characteristics, needs, and preferences, as well as your own resources, skills, and expectations. For example, if your learners have diverse backgrounds and abilities you might use technology and tools that offer multiple modes of representation, expression, and engagement, such as multimedia, captions, or gamification. If you have limited time, budget, or support, you might use technology and tools that are easy to access, use, and maintain, such as open-source, cloud-based, or mobile-friendly platforms.
Not all technology and tools are created equal. Some might be more reliable, effective, and user-friendly than others. Therefore, you need to evaluate the quality and suitability of the technology and tools you plan to use, based on some criteria and standards. For example, you might use the SAMR model (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) to determine how the technology and tools enhance, transform, or replace your existing curriculum design and assessment practices. You might also use the TPACK framework (Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge) to assess how the technology and tools integrate with your pedagogy and content.
You may also want to evaluate how difficult the new tool is to learn and whether it is worth learning. Every innovation reduces efficiency and effectiveness during implementation—the questions are how much and for how long, compared to the gain. If the learning curve is too steep for the students (or you), they might never use it, or worse, it could interfere with learning. It is a weighing process. You might ask a few of these questions: How much better must the tool be to be worth replacing what you have? How hard is it to use? Does it integrate into your LMS? Is it compatible with mobile devices?
Once you have selected the technology and tools that align with your learning objectives, consider your context and constraints, and evaluate the quality and suitability, you need to plan for their implementation and evaluation. This means that you need to design and deliver your curriculum in a way that maximizes the potential and minimizes the challenges of the technology and tools. For example, you might provide clear instructions, expectations, and support for your learners and yourself on how to use the technology and tools effectively and ethically. You might also monitor and adjust your curriculum based on the feedback and data you collect from the technology and tools.
Seek feedback and improvement on your selection and use of technology and tools. This means that you need to reflect on your own experiences and outcomes, as well as solicit input from your learners and peers. For example, you might use self-assessment, peer review, or surveys to gather feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the technology and tools you used. You might also use analytics, dashboards, or reports to measure the impact and value of the technology and tools on your curriculum design and assessment. Based on the feedback and data, you can then identify areas for improvement and make changes accordingly.