SWOT Analysis

Technology Planning Needs

Assessment

Shannon Evans
 SWOT Analysis for Technology Planning Needs Assessment
What is the current reality in our school?

ESSENTIAL CONDITION ONE: EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTIONAL USES OF

TECHNOLOGY EMBEDDED IN STANDARDS-BASED, STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING
ISTE Definition: Use of information and communication technology (ICT) to facilitate engaging approaches to learning.
Guiding Questions:
 How is technology being used in our school? How frequently is it being used? By whom? For what purposes?
 To what extent is student technology use targeted toward student achievement of the Georgia Learning Standards (GPSs, QCCs)?
 To what extent is student technology use aligned to research-based, best practices that are most likely to support student engagement, deep
understanding of content, and transfer of knowledge? Is day-to-day instruction aligned to research-based best practices? (See Creighton Chapters 5, 7)
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
 Interactive White  Computers and IWB’s  Students in the upper  IWB’s and computers
Boards (IWB’s) in aren’t always used for grades have extra time are sometimes used for
every classroom constructivist learning in the computer lab and drill and videos and are
 Computer lab as part of  Teacher websites aren’t teachers can send in ways used as the
specials rotation always updated in a students to use extra teacher to keep students
 Classroom management timely manner computers for IPass busy
tools such as Class Dojo  Because the computer testing, MyOn reading,  Internet use must be
 Word processing for lab is used for specials Coach online testing managed closely and
planning rotations, the younger and also research, word proper training for
 School Website grades only get to go processing, and teachers and students
 Individual teacher every other week. presentation must be implemented
websites Students go to Science development.  Students aren’t always
 4-5 desktop computers lab one week and the  Websites and blogs can given proper instruction
in each classroom computer lab the next be great tools for home on the effective use of
 Document cameras to week. It’s difficult to to school using the internet or
be used with IWB’s work on projects and communication if computers
 Students use word build on skills when updated in a timely  Teachers don’t want to
they are going to the lab manner and can also be dedicate time to being
processing for writing
so infrequently. used to provide trained on Web 2.0
 Students use internet
resources for research  Not all teachers are important resources for tools and constructivist
properly trained to use students and their teaching learning
 Students use
the IWB’s for purposes parents strategies through
presentation software
other than showing technology, and existing
for projects
videos hardware which
 School is a BYOT
school and some grades  Not all students have threatens the
access to the internet at achievement of
 SWOT Analysis for Technology Planning Needs Assessment
are participating in
flipped classroom
models
 Software is available to
track reading progress
and also task progress
 Student response
systems/clickers are
available for assessment
and engagement
What is the current reality in our school?
home to view the students.
websites of teachers
 In the flipped
classrooms, not all
students have access to
technology to bring to
school and could be at a
disadvantage

Summary/Gap Analysis:
Technology is used frequently in my school but not always in the most efficient manner. Much of the technology has been
provided without the necessary training to go along with it. Training is offered, but many teachers feel like it is a nuisance to attend
extra trainings therefore allowing them to use their technology in basic ways without creating authentic learning for students. Rarely is
technology used to reflect researched based practices and higher order thinking skills. I wasn’t aware that I wasn’t using technology
effectively until beginning this program. I now make sure that I work to use technology to engage students in learning and require
them to use their higher order thinking skills. I don’t believe teachers refuse to use technology this way, I just believe that they aren’t
equipped to use it in this way. However they are reluctant to spend time learning the necessary steps to insure the successful
implementation of authentic technology use into their lesson planning. I am getting the training to be able to do this, but this isn’t
available to most of our other teachers. I believe it’s important to use this knowledge to create an effective technology implementation
plan for my school so that we can move our technology instruction into engaged and authentic learning. For training to be successful,
it needs to be part of scheduled staff meetings or PLC meetings where teachers are in the computer lab and are able to see the tools,
programs, applications, software, and hardware in action and are able to explore while the training is taking place. Just as instruction
in our classroom is most successful when students are active participants in their learning, the same principle applies to adults. As
indicated in the action evaluation plan, teachers will be supported by follow up visits from the Title I Instructional Technology
Specialist to work in the individual classrooms with the teachers to help navigate the technology and answer any questions. The
implementation of technology into planning and instruction will become more natural and less daunting when introduced this way
versus being forced to sit in long meetings with a person just talking and lecturing while requiring excess time and energy.
 SWOT Analysis for Technology Planning Needs Assessment
What is the current reality in our school?

ESSENTIAL CONDITION TWO: Shared Vision

ISTE Definition: Proactive leadership in developing a shared vision for educational technology among school personnel, students, parents, and the community.
Guiding Questions:
 Is there an official vision for technology use in the district/school? Is it aligned to research-best practices? Is it aligned to state and national visions?
Are teachers, administrators, parents, students, and other community members aware of the vision?
 To what extent do teachers, administrators, parents, students, and other community members have a vision for how technology can be used to enhance
student learning? What do they believe about technology and what types of technology uses we should encourage in the future? Are their visions similar
or different? To what extent are their beliefs about these ideal, preferred technology uses in the future aligned to research and best practice?
 To what extent do educators see technology as critical for improving student achievement of the GPS/QCCs? To preparing tomorrow’s workforce? For
motivating digital-age learners?
 What strategies have been deployed to date to create a research-based shared vision?
 What needs to be done to achieve broad-scale adoption of a research-based vision for technology use that is likely to lead to improved student
achievement?
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
 There is a vision for the  Not many are aware of  The shared vision  Technology
district concerning the district’s shared provides a feasible plan implementation
technology vision to help students and throughout the district
 The vision includes best teachers use technology will be uneven and
practices and higher effectively and disjointed if the vision
level thinking skills that authentically. There is a is not clearly stated and
align with the CCGPS district technology made accessible for all
technology standards committee that is stakeholders.
 CCGPS standards dedicated to
incorporate tasks to help implementing the vision
prepare students to be
career and college ready
Summary/Gap Analysis:
“The mission of the Douglas County School System is to provide a quality education for all students in a safe, supportive
environment. The Douglas County School System Technology Department supports the mission by identifying, recommending, and
providing appropriate technology tools that are effectively integrated into the learning environment”. For the vision to be implemented
throughout the district, teachers must be aware of this vision. All teachers, students, parents, and community members are needed to
make the vision successful and help move our technology instruction into 21st Century learning. Teachers must be made aware of this
vision and be willing to actively participate and commit to its successful implementation. Many teachers believe that if they have
students on computers, they are using their IWB’s, and students are using different types of technology, that they are doing what needs
to be done where technology is concerned. Technology must be used to deepen the understanding of our students and allow them to
engage in authentic learning experiences while using higher order thinking skills. 20% of teachers indicated in the survey that their
main use of technology is computer drill and review and students playing learning games on the promethean board while teacher does
 SWOT Analysis for Technology Planning Needs Assessment
What is the current reality in our school?
guided reading or tends to other students. Almost half of the staff seems reluctant to dedicate time to extra training and
implementation because they believe they don’t have enough time to get accomplished everything that is already required of them.
Through effective training of technology instructional strategies, tools, hardware, and software and support during the implementation
of these technologies teachers will be able consolidate teaching tasks and help shift learning from teacher centered to student centered
constructivist learning.

ESSENTIAL CONDITION THREE: Planning for Technology

ISTE Definition: A systematic plan aligned with a shared vision for school effectiveness and student learning through the infusion of ICT and digital learning
resources.
Guiding Questions:
 Is there an adequate plan to guide technology use in your school? (either at the district or school level? Integrated into SIP?)
 What should be done to strengthen planning?

Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

 There is a district wide
technology committee
that works to fulfill the
technology vision for
our students
 Teachers work to
incorporate technology
as much as possible into
planning
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Technology isn’t clearly listed in our SIP and does not reflect the technology vision for the county.
 Technology is not
explicitly listed in the
school SIP
 Technology is widely
available through the
school but little training
has been used for these
devices.
 The technology
committee has one
representative from
each school. The
committee meets
monthly and in the
evening so that parents
and other stake holders
may attend. County
wide emails are sent
with an open invitation
to attend.
 Many are unaware of
the district vision for
technology
 Few teachers want to
take the time to go to
meetings that take place
in the evening
 Technology is not
specifically indicated in
the SIP and can be
overlooked in
instruction because of
it.
 SWOT Analysis for Technology Planning Needs Assessment
What is the current reality in our school?

ESSENTIAL CONDITION FOUR: Equitable Access

ISTE Definition: Robust and reliable access to current and emerging technologies and digital resources
Guiding Questions:
 To what extent do students, teachers, administrators, and parents have access to computers and digital resources necessary to support engaging,
standards-based, student-centered learning?
 To what extent is technology arrange/distributed to maximize access for engaging, standards-based, student-centered learning?
 What tools are needed and why?
 Do students/parents/community need/have beyond school access to support the vision for learning?
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
 Interactive White  Document cameras  The opportunities are  Teachers aren’t
Boards are installed in were placed in endless when a plethora properly trained on the
all classrooms classrooms over fall of technology resources technology available
 Document cameras break with no training are available. Students  Technology can be used
have been placed in or information are able to participate in to replace the teacher
each classroom concerning them authentic learning instead of enriching the
 At least 4 desktop provided for teachers experiences and play an teacher’s instruction
computers are in each  Computers are often active role in their
classroom used for drill and kill learning.
 Computer lab with practice
technology teacher  Student Response
 Clickers/Student Systems are not being
Response Systems are used in every
available for every classroom. Proper
student training has not been
 Administrators have I provided for many
Pads for teacher teachers and they don’t
observations want to be bothered
with setting them up
themselves.
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Students, teachers, and administrators have a plethora of technology resources at their disposal. There are so many opportunities to
use technology and create authentic learning experiences. Unfortunately, technology isn’t being used to its full potential. Teachers and
administrators need to be provided with the training needed to be able to use technology more effectively. State and national standards
must be known and understand so that effective implementation can take place. A school-wide technology committee would be a step
in the right direction to help make sure that teachers are aware of these important standards so they can be made aware of all of the
wonderful resources available to help engage our students in effective technology learning.
 SWOT Analysis for Technology Planning Needs Assessment
What is the current reality in our school?

ESSENTIAL CONDITION FIVE: Skilled Personnel

ISTE Definition: Educators and support staff skilled in the use of ICT appropriate for their job responsibilities.
Guiding Questions:
 To what extent are educators and support staff skilled in the use of technology appropriate for their job responsibilities?
 What do they currently know and are able to do?
 What are knowledge and skills do they need to acquire?

(Note: No need to discuss professional learning here. Discuss knowledge and skills. This is your needs assessment for professional learning. The essential conditions focus on
“personnel,” which includes administrators, staff, technology specialists, and teachers. However, in this limited project, you may be wise to focus primarily or even solely on
teachers; although you may choose to address the proficiency of other educators/staff IF the need is critical. You must include an assessment of teacher proficiencies.
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
 Teachers are skilled in  There aren’t any school  There is a Title I  Few teachers want to
basic technology uses level technology go-to technology specialist take the time needed to
such as Microsoft people. that comes and trains be more proficient in
Office, basic uses of  Teachers aren’t using teachers as needed. She technology
IWB’s and software for technology promote does walk trough’s of  It’s very difficult for
student learning higher order thinking classrooms and students to engage in
skills as much as they provides timely higher order thinking
should feedback on the use of skills while using
technology in the technology when the
classroom and ways to teachers don’t have the
use the technology more training to promote this
effectively type of technology
learning
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Teachers and administrators need to be provided with the training needed to be able to use technology more effectively. State and
national standards must be known and understand so that effective implementation can take place. A school-wide technology
committee would be a step in the right direction to help make sure that teachers are aware of these important standards so they can be
made aware of all of the wonderful resources available to help engage our students in effective technology learning.
 SWOT Analysis for Technology Planning Needs Assessment
What is the current reality in our school?

ESSENTIAL CONDITION SIX: Ongoing Professional Learning

ISTE Definition: Technology-related professional learning plans and opportunities with dedicated time to practice and share ideas.
Guiding Questions:
 What professional learning opportunities are available to educators? Are they well-attended? Why or why not?
 Are the current professional learning opportunities matched to the knowledge and skills educators need to acquire? (see Skilled Personnel)
 Do professional learning opportunities reflect the national standards for professional learning (NSDC)?
 Do educators have both formal and informal opportunities to learn?
 Is technology-related professional learning integrated into all professional learning opportunities or isolated as a separate topic?
 How must professional learning improve/change in order to achieve the shared vision?

Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

 Title I technology  Technology  Opportunities are  Most teachers only take
specialist provides an professional available for technology these trainings in the
array of technology development is only professional learning summer to receive the
professional learning available in the summer based on skill level stipends for attending
opportunities in the and many teachers during the summer the training and not
summer for Title I aren’t available for this necessarily for the best
teachers training. practices for technology
 The professional
development for the
county is only available
for Title I teachers
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Honestly there isn’t a lot of ongoing professional learning going on at a district level. Our principal has invited our Title I
technology specialist to come to some of our team meetings to help us learn important uses of our IWB’s and ways to make effective
flipcharts and implement activities using our student response systems. She also does walk trough’s of classrooms and leaves timely
feedback. If technology isn’t being used to further student learning, she gives examples of how to do achieve that using the technology
she witnessed in the classroom. More technology professional learning must be imbedded into our professional development learning
opportunities at a school level so that the district vision can be implemented. Teachers must be willing to take the time to learn how to
use technology effectively and a school wide plan must be put in place to help achieve this.

ESSENTIAL CONDITION SEVEN: Technical Support

ISTE Definition: Consistent and reliable assistance for maintaining, renewing, and using ICT and digital resources.
Guiding Questions:
 To what extent is available equipment operable and reliable for instruction?
 SWOT Analysis for Technology Planning Needs Assessment
What is the current reality in our school?
 Is there tech assistance available for technical issues when they arise? How responsive is tech support? Are current “down time” averages acceptable?
 Is tech support knowledgeable? What training might they need?
 In addition to break/fix issues, are support staff available to help with instructional issues when teachers try to use technology in the classroom?
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
 There is a technology  Teachers don’t always  Technology support is  Some technology is
help desk through the report their technology available and quick to older and cannot always
intranet that allows issues when they occur respond to technology be fixed and alternatives
teachers to report any and this leaves the issues as they arise are not provided.
technology problems students at a through the technology
they are having disadvantage when they help desk.
 Technology personnel are unable to use
is quick to respond to technology for
technology help desk something they are
requests and follows up learning or working on
with an email detailing  Teachers don't use the
how the problem was technology specialist to
solved or what the next help technology
steps are in solving the instruction
problem
 Technology specialist is
available to come help
and give demonstrations
on proper technology
use
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Several of our desktop computers were replaced last summer but there are many that had not reached their warranty so they were
not replaced. Often the computers are a bit slow. The internet seems to be more unreliable than reliable lately but that is at a county
level and there is little that can be done about that. Our county technology specialist always sends out technology updates for upgrades
and if there is going to be down time. Most of the printers have lasted past their life expectancies and are not being replaced and only
one printer is made available per grade level now. This makes word processing and other uses difficult. The technology team is very
quick to respond to technology help needs. Other than the computers and printers, all of the other technology we have available to us
is new and the technology team is quick to fix something if we have a problem.
 SWOT Analysis for Technology Planning Needs Assessment
What is the current reality in our school?

ESSENTIAL CONDITION EIGHT: Curriculum Framework

ISTE Definition: Content standards and related digital curriculum resources
Guiding Questions:
 To what extent are educators, students, and parents aware of student technology standards? (QCCs/NET-S)
 Are technology standards aligned to content standards to help teachers integrate technology skills into day-to-day instruction and not teach technology
as a separate subject?
 To what extent are there digital curriculum resources available to teachers so that they can integrate technology into the GPS/QCCs as appropriate?
 How is student technology literacy assessed?

Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

 CCGPS requires  Not all teachers are  Teachers and  Without being aware of
students to use higher aware of the national stakeholders are able to the national technology
order thinking skills by technology standards. attend the district standards, teachers
creating research technology committee aren’t using technology
projects and using meetings to share ideas to its full potential to
various technology to and be up to date on the help students achieve
demonstrate mastery of county’s plan for higher order thinking
the curriculum technology and the next through the use of
 NET-S are available for steps that will be taken. technology
teachers to use
technology to reflect
engaged learning and
higher LoTi.
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Teachers must be made aware of the national standards for both teachers and students to be able to use technology to its fullest
capabilities. Web 2.0 tools, presentation software, virtual fieldtrips, Epals, and so many other uses for authentic technology use are at
our fingertips but few teachers are made aware of these. A plan needs to be put in place at a school level to match the district wide
technology plan so that teachers are able to meet the deeper needs of our students and learn ways to help our students meet these
standards. Teachers were given a survey that asked questions about technology proficiency. A small percentage of teachers were
aware of the national ITSE standards. Teachers were aware of increased technology requirements in the CCGPS curriculum but
weren’t aware of their origin. The CCGPS give the outcomes expected but are not as explicit as the ITSE NETS standards. A list of
activities and lesson suggestions would be helpful to accompany each of the NETS-T and NETS-S to help teachers create appropriate
lessons and activities to achieve the standards through constructivist authentic lessons. Creating these activities could be a task of a
technology committee made up of representatives from all grade levels.
 SWOT Analysis for Technology Planning Needs Assessment
What is the current reality in our school?
Appendix:

A teacher survey was given to teachers to answer questions regarding technology. The following questions were asked:

What technologies are you using in your classroom?

What programs are you utilizing on your computers for your students?

Are you using your clickers?

How are you using your Promethean Boards?

Do you feel comfortable using your promethean Board?

Would you be willing to take trainings to help you use technology more effectively?

What are the national standards regarding technology?