Ken Jones’s Updates

Update 7: California Instructional Video Clearinghouse

The state of California has designed two technological evaluation programs (California Software Clearinghouse and California Instructional Video Clearinghouse) that offer educators evaluations on superior technical resources for their respective students, both in print and online. 

The primary objective is to address the need when students are trying to find technological resources on dynamic topics such as the Earth's debilitating atmospheric weather conditions. 

The California Video Clearinghouse evaluates instructional videos, videodisc, and computer-interactive videodisc programs. The California Software reviews computer software and CD-ROM programs for the students. California curriculum frameworks and the latest research on student learning and curriculum development evaluate new technology programs. To select technology that appropriately delivers the curriculum, they consider the curricular match, instructional design, content, interest, and technical quality. Some of the benefits of the program outline as follows: 

  • To assess curricular match, evaluators look at whether the program supports the instructional concepts, themes, and philosophy embodied in the California curriculum frameworks.
  • For instructional design, they evaluate whether the material and pedagogy are appropriate for the stated grade level, whether the objectives are readily identifiable, and whether the program contains suitable instructional support materials.
  • Evaluators consider whether the content is accurate, current, thorough, relevant for the assigned grade levels, and usable across the curriculum.
  • Evaluators measure interest to determine the material's capacity to promote critical thinking skills and to motivate, engage, and intellectually stimulate students.
  • Finally, they look at technical quality—whether the program has features that help support and communicate its content.

The problems with these programs are that they must be recommended for use in California schools to be capable of demonstrating a rating of "exemplary" or "desirable" on a six-point scale. Another shortcoming of the program is that they must be able to comply with the State Board of Education's Standards for Evaluation of Instructional Materials concerning Social Content. Program assessors have to consider the balance between the roles of men and women, and the representation and contributions from ethnic and cultural groups, older persons, disabled, persons, entrepreneurs, labor, and religion, and other concerns about the environment.