Introduction to the TIM Tools Evaluation Suite

Dr. James Welsh
    FCIT Director
    University of South Florida

TIM Tools is a suite of technology integration evaluation tools including a variety of different data collection instruments, both quantitative and qualitative, designed to inform decision-making and alignment of resources at the classroom, school, and district levels.

James begins with a short review of the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) and then goes on to explain how the TIM Tools Evaluation Suite can help you tell the story of what changes you are seeing in pedagogy as a result of your professional development efforts.

The Technology Uses and Perceptions Survey (TUPS) gives you a broad spectrum of data about how your teachers think about the role of technology in the classroom, how frequently they use specific tools, how comfortable they are, and how well supported they are. One way of using this tool is for pre- and post- data. The TUPS results will also help you to target PD to the teachers. It also gives you data that you can use to match up high-proficiency teachers with low-proficiency teachers in regards to specific pieces of hardware or software.

The TIM-O lesson observation tool gives you data about actual technology implementation in terms of the TIM. One of the benefits of the TIM-O is that it encourages great conversations around technology integration. Rather than conversations about hardware or software, the TIM leads to conversations about the pedagogical dimensions of technology use. This aligns with the underlying concept of the TIM, that it’s not the technology that makes the difference it’s the pedagogy.

The Action Research for Technology Integration (ARTI) tool gives you a way to collect information across the school about teacher-directed inquiry.

James also demonstrates an instance of the TIM Tools and explains the types of reporting that is available after teachers have taken the TUPS.

Coaching and Mentoring Tool (TIM-C) is a tool for supporting and facilitating a coaching or mentoring cycle, interaction, or program. It allows for monitoring the progress of coaching cycles across a school or district regardless of the specific coaching or mentoring model you have implemented.

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