Take a LoTi Quiz
LoTi (Levels of Technology Implementation) is a framework that helps teachers to know where they stand with the use of technology in the classroom. Answer the following 2 questions to get a ballpark idea of what level you may have reached on the LoTi scale. Come on! This is just for your information—no one’s keeping score.
- You are planning to use technology in your next unit. Which one of the following are you more likely to include in your plan?
A. When my students have finished their work in class, they can use a computer to play educational games, practice their skills on a site I have bookmarked, or complete technology station activities. They may also use a computer write a report or answer questions about what we've just read.
B. My students will use a safe search engine to research an African country. They will work in groups of 3 focusing on culture, entertainment, and geography of the country. Next they will create a PowerPoint presentation with three or four slides telling the pros and cons of travel to that country based on the findings of the group.
C. Many families will be keeping their summer vacations within the state due to the rising costs of fuel. To help out, students will create a travel brochure for families who plan to “Travel Texas” including: a guide for selecting the cheapest ways of traveling, recommended lodging based on information collected from various travel sites, and a listing of the best destination sites based on criteria established by the students.
2. You are more likely to think of the “teacher PC” in your classroom as which of the following?
A. A machine facing away from students mainly for your own use for the input of grades, taking attendance, and reading e-mail. Sometimes students may use it to go to bookmarked sites on the web to find additional information on a subject in class or to play an educational game.
B. A machine accessible to students in the room to work on teacher-assigned tasks including web-based tools or tools such as Inspiration or Kidspiration for concept maps, Excel for spreadsheets, PowerPoint for presentations, etc.
C. A machine not necessarily located on the teacher’s desk and accessible to students as-needed so that they can use applications and tools to complete assigned tasks and to create products of their own design.
If you chose answer A for both questions, you are probably on level 2 (Awareness) of the LoTi framework. Level 2 represents a primarily teacher-centered use of technology and emphasizes an information giving model of teaching.
If you chose answer B for both questions, you could be on level 3 (Exploration) of the LoTi framework. Level 3 still represents a teacher-centered use of technology, but in this case, the emphasis is on higher-order thinking, and it focuses on both the content and process.
If you chose answer C for both questions, you may have reached level 4 (Integration) of the LoTi framework. Level 4 is the first level that represents student-centered use of technology, focuses application of learning to the real world, and embeds complex thinking strategies into authentic tasks.
The LoTi framework actually progresses from level 0 to level 6. It is arguably more difficult to determine a LoTi level in classrooms with very young students, but here a teacher may choose to focus on the degree of teacher-centeredness in technology integration or the order of student thinking skills as a determining factor. Is it important that each teacher knows her exact level of interaction on this continuum? Probably not, but what is important is that we work toward integrating technology into the curriculum to help transform traditional teaching and learning into meaningful, engaging learning experiences that promote student achievement and acquisition of 21st century skills. (from RRISD Instructional Technology Mission Statement) Does all of this fall on the shoulders of one teacher? Of course not, but we can all do our part to prepare students and grow alongside them.
Look for more easy to understand information about the LoTi framework here. If you’d like to have help in reaching for a new level of technology integration in your classroom as you plan, give me a call. Be sure to also watch my blogs for ideas and new tools available for you and your students!