SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

Name: Madison McDuffie

ITEC 7410, Semester:

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
Technology is used every day
Teachers use technology more
Teachers could use IB units to
The lack of planning time is
in every classroom by teachers. than students. There are many incorporate technology and
always a threat to any initiative.
All teachers and students use
instances of Common Core
engage students in higher-order
Google to communicate, to
skill reinforcement through
thinking.
store information, and to make technology as opposed to
products (documents,
concepts.
presentations, spreadsheets,
etc.)
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Teachers are used to using technology everyday through Google applications, but the students need more opportunities for higherorder thinking learning activities. Teachers need sufficient planning time/professional development to plan lessons that provide those
opportunities. Furthermore, teachers can use the foundation of the IB units to help them plan the lessons.
Data Sources:NA

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.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
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 view technology as critical for improving student achievement of the GPS/QCCs? To preparing
tomorrows 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 an unspoken common There is no shared vision for
The communication is mostly
One threat is the lack of
idea that technology should be
technology and the only
amongst the stakeholders is
communication regarding the
used in all classes. Teachers
mention of it in the school
already open so now a
expectation for teacher
work with the media specialist
improvement plan is to create
discussion needs to take place
technology use. There are
and a technology specialist to
personalized digital learning
about a shared vision with the
informal walk-through
incorporate technology in their environments.
appropriate leadership.
evaluations that take place that
classrooms. Parent and student
include technology use, but
input is considered and valued
they were not collaboratively
when making decisions
created. Another threat is that
regarding technology use.
there seems to be more focus
on simply using the technology,
instead of having a purposeful
technology inclusion. Last year
only 82% of the teachers felt
that technology integration was
improving instruction.
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Many informal discussions took place regarding incorporating technology, but those discussions were about hardware and online
tools. There has not been an organized plan to develop an official shared technology vision. Then there is not an official technology
plan that is tied to specific professional development, instructional technology strategies, teaching of technology standards, or the
general school improvement plan. There is only a general note that all contents will integrate technology using personalized digital
learning plans, which does not specify what is actually happening. Based on the ISTE's Lead and Transform Diagnostic Tool results on

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
the last page, the school is at a beginning stage.
Data Sources:
CMS SIP http://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/files/filesystem/CCSD%202014-2015%20School%20Improvement%20Plan%20-%20Clarke
%20Middle%20School.pdf
School Improvement Survey 2014
http://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/files/filesystem/2014%20SI%20Survey%20-%20CMS.pdf

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 no systematic plan
developed because there was
no shared vision created. There
are only teacher requirements
regarding technology such as
having a functioning website.
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Since there is no systematic plan aligned with a shared vision it is difficult to determine if technology use has been effective across the
school. Based on the ISTE's Lead and Transform Diagnostic Tool results on the last page, the school is at a beginning stage.
Data Sources: NA

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
ESSENTIAL CONDITION FOUR: Equitable Access (Specifically address low SES and gender groups)
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
All students have a device
There are still some network
Having a formal shared vision
Many parents were not willing
issued to them at the beginning issues that interfere with device that includes all stakeholders
to pay $25 for a take-home
of the year. The students carry use at school, and still some
allows for community members device. There are also many
devices to all their classes, and students who do not have
and school members to develop parents who are resistant to
keep them in their homeroom
internet access at home. Also,
a plan for more access to
having so much technology
class over night. Tech support
only a small number of students internet outside the home.
infusion.
is available for students in the
are taking devices home. Since
morning if needed and they are everything supplied to students
supplied with loaner laptops if
is internet based, students are
a device needs to be replaced.
not necessarily able to access
In addition to every student
the features at home.
having devices, there are some
computers in the media center,
and several iPad carts.
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Communication is necessary to develop a shared plan so that all stakeholders can have a common understanding of every aspect of the
technology plan down to the infrastructure. The school should collaborate with parents and business partners to improve internet
access outside of school and encourage students to take their device home.
Data Sources: Personal Communications

SWOT Analysis Template 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
There are several teachers in
There is no current
The ILT and the technology
NA
different content areas that can instructional technology
specialist collaborate regularly.
potentially lead others in
specialist. There is an
instructional technology
instructional lead teacher who
strategies. There is a
sometimes collaborates with
technology specialist assigned
the technology specialist for
to the school who introduces
special projects, but the focus is
online tools to teachers
not on integrating technology
interested.
in authentic/meaningful ways.
Summary/Gap Analysis:
The instructional lead and technology specialist could collaborate and receive professional development for instructional technology
to share with the school.
Data Sources: NA

ESSENTIAL CONDITION SIX: Ongoing Professional Learning

ISTE Definition: Technology-related professional learning plans and opportunities with dedicated time to practice and share ideas.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
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
NA
Professional development
There is funding for
There is no clear direction in
outside of literacy is done in
professional development.
relation to technology.
one isolated station (about 20
Professional development is not
minutes) in heterogeneous
always chosen based on
groups. Then teachers are not
teacher/student needs
always able to see how the
assessment.
tools can be used in their
content. Also the tools shared
are not directly related to the
school improvement plan.
Most of the tools are to
increase student engagement or
improve productivity. Many
times professional development
is chosen by the school/district
with little teacher input. There
was a plan in the SIP document
to have professional
development on technology
integration several times
throughout the year for math
teachers but that did not
happen.
Summary/Gap Analysis:

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
A clear direction for technology is needed to specify the technology professional development for teachers. In addition, technology
leaders should work with teachers to determine needs to meet the technology goals before making plans for any learning sessions.
Based on the ISTE's Lead and Transform Diagnostic Tool results on the last page, the school is at a beginning stage.
Data Sources:
CMS SIP http://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/files/filesystem/CCSD%202014-2015%20School%20Improvement%20Plan%20-%20Clarke
%20Middle%20School.pdf

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?
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
Equipment is continuously
NA
NA
NA
operable and reliable. Teachers
recently received new laptops
and new Epson
projector/computers in each
classroom. The media
specialist is available for tech
support and is very responsive
to teacher needs if they request
additional devices. There are
several teachers who are able to
assist with tech support, and
there is a student tech support
group as well.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
Summary/Gap Analysis:
I previously noted technical support as a strength.
Data Sources:

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
NA
Most school members and
The media specialist informally NA
students are not aware of
uses NETS-S and the American
technology standards and so are Association of School Library
not aligned to content standards 21st Century Learner Standards
to help with integration.
to teach digital citizenship.
Technology literacy is not
Then the media specialist could
assessed. There is mention of a help with transitioning the
plan to provide teacher
NETS-S across the school.
professional development on
NETS-S throughout the year,
but this did not happen.
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Part of professional development could be to learn about the technology standard and complete technology content standards
alignment in collaborative content groups.
Data Sources:
School media center site

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
http://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/webpages/shinger/

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?