Comments on: Being Responsive To User Needs http://www.kassblog.com/2010/07/being-responsive-to-user-needs/ Teaching, Learning, and Technology Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:03:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=401 By: Email Strategies « Kassblog http://www.kassblog.com/2010/07/being-responsive-to-user-needs/comment-page-1/#comment-1177 Email Strategies « Kassblog Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:52:57 +0000 http://www.kassblog.com/?p=871#comment-1177 [...] mentioned yesterday, our most popular technology training this summer is Managing Your Email Inbox. Far from [...] [...] mentioned yesterday, our most popular technology training this summer is Managing Your Email Inbox. Far from [...]

]]> By: admin http://www.kassblog.com/2010/07/being-responsive-to-user-needs/comment-page-1/#comment-1175 admin Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:19:33 +0000 http://www.kassblog.com/?p=871#comment-1175 I appreciate the question, Matt. We do have a challenge to distinguish wants from needs. At our school, email management is definitely a need. We have observed many more comments about email struggles and even a decline in reading effectiveness. More importantly, we trust our colleagues and their self-assessment, especially when the comments come from individuals who are respected for providing sound advice on other topics. How do we ensure that teachers and staff are stretching themselves to try new technologies? The peer showcase is my favorite method, and leadership initiatives and watching external trends also works. I can't say we have it all figured out, but I'm comfortable with this balance. Even when wants trump needs, catering to them builds trust and comfort that may pay off later. I appreciate the question, Matt. We do have a challenge to distinguish wants from needs. At our school, email management is definitely a need. We have observed many more comments about email struggles and even a decline in reading effectiveness. More importantly, we trust our colleagues and their self-assessment, especially when the comments come from individuals who are respected for providing sound advice on other topics.

How do we ensure that teachers and staff are stretching themselves to try new technologies? The peer showcase is my favorite method, and leadership initiatives and watching external trends also works. I can’t say we have it all figured out, but I’m comfortable with this balance.

Even when wants trump needs, catering to them builds trust and comfort that may pay off later.

]]> By: matt montagne http://www.kassblog.com/2010/07/being-responsive-to-user-needs/comment-page-1/#comment-1174 matt montagne Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:45:04 +0000 http://www.kassblog.com/?p=871#comment-1174 I'm wondering if these are user 'needs' or 'wants.' A few years back we surveyed our faculty about the kind of professional development that they wanted and most indicated they were interested in MS Office and Smartboards. Other options included topics like, "developing student writing via networked blogging," "building an interactive learning environment in moodle," and "knowledge building via wikis." I was a bit dismayed that so many people indicated an interest in Office/Smartboards over other topics that clearly had greater potential to positively impact the student learning experience. But I guess it leads to my original question-are these needs or wants...and who decides? I’m wondering if these are user ‘needs’ or ‘wants.’ A few years back we surveyed our faculty about the kind of professional development that they wanted and most indicated they were interested in MS Office and Smartboards. Other options included topics like, “developing student writing via networked blogging,” “building an interactive learning environment in moodle,” and “knowledge building via wikis.” I was a bit dismayed that so many people indicated an interest in Office/Smartboards over other topics that clearly had greater potential to positively impact the student learning experience. But I guess it leads to my original question-are these needs or wants…and who decides?

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