SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

Name: Amy Rugg

ITEC 7410, Semester: Summer 2015

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

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
On a daily basis, technology is
being implemented in various
forms according the the
Georgia Performance
Standards. The math
department has implemented
the Teach To One program for
students that volunteer for the
program, that individualizes
instruction for students based
on their learning needs.
Parents receive weekly
communication from teachers
using the Classroom Messenger
tool. Classroom Messenger
combines all of the teachers
notes into one email.
Standards based report cards
are created using e-School. eSchool is an electronic grade
book that allows teachers to tie
assessments to the Georgia
Performance Standards.
On a daily basis, students use
Socrative, Plickers, Kahoot,
Edmodo, USA Test Prep, Plato,
Quizlet, Todays Meet and
internet for research to

Interactive whiteboards are

Teachers need training in
Teachers resisting technology
not available to all teachers,
ActivInspire to create
integration due to a lack of
currently only STEM teachers
research-based, best practices
training opportunities
have the boards. Teachers that
that will support student
available

currently have interactive

learning when teachers and
Students are not receiving
whiteboards are not utilizing
students are using the
equitable opportunities to
them to their full potential.
interactive whiteboards.
experience the curriculum
Technology training
The technology tools
using higher-order thinking
Socrative,
Plickers,
Kahoot,
opportunities for teachers in
(
skills when some members of
Edmodo, Plato, Todays Meet,
how to implement effective
the PLC are resisters and
and
Quizlet)
can
be
used
to
technology for students is not
some are pioneers.
create
higher-level,
readily available.
collaborate learning
Many of the technology tools
environments that engage
such as; Socrative, Plickers,
students in a meaningful way.
Kahoot, Edmodo, USA Test
Technology support can be
Prep, Plato, and Quizlet are
implemented in the
used on a daily basis, are used
Professional Learning
for lower level thinking skills.
Communites (PLCs) within
Technology use is inconsistent
the content areas to provide
between teachers and content
content specific support for
areas on daily basis.
teachers.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
encourage student
achievement.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
Summary/Gap Analysis:
There are several effective ways in which technology is being implemented at the school. Many of these methods could be considered
to be at a lower level of engagement and the school needs to take the next steps to engage students at a higher level. Many teachers use
several of the tools such as, Socrative, Plickers, and Todays Meet that can be used at a variety of levels. These tools can help engage
students at their individual learning levels when combined with an effective lesson. It is important too that all of the members of a PLC
adopt the technology in the same manner. This is not to imply that teachers should loose their autonomy when it comes to teaching in
their rooms. However, when one member of the content area adopts a technology tool that is effective, the students that are not exposed
to the tool are not given equitable access to technology. There are many things at the school that they teachers are doing right, they just
need to keep trying to grow and improve because it will only benefit the students in the long run.
Data Sources: Observation, Personal Communications, Planbook (teacher lesson plans), Shared Vision Survey

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

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
The county vision is aligned
with state and national
visions.
The school vision recognizes
the need for students to be
21st century learners.

The vision recognizes the

need for 21st century learners
but does not outline steps for
follow-through or provide
supporting documents that
contain a plan for
implementation.
Educators see technology as a
critical tool for improving
student achievement levels on
the GPS, but are unsure of
how to go about it.
Inconsistent communication
by the district and
administrators about
expectations for technology
use.
Inconsistent use of technology
that has been adopted by the
school and district.
The school follows a small
number of components of the
technology vision that has
been determined by the
county.

Teachers, administration want

a technology vision but do not
know how to go about
creating one. This allows for a
vision to be created that can
meet the needs of the students
that are currently at the
school.
Teachers, administrators,
parents, students, and other
community members believe
that technology is an
important tool that will
enhance the learning
environment.
GPS aligned professional
development about
technology tools for each
content area.
Real-experiences that should
be integrated into the current
curriculum using available
technology tools.

The school does not currently

have a shared technology
vision.
Technology that is used for
drill and kill can lower
students motivation levels.
Implementation of technology
tools quickly without
exploring the impact that it
has on student learning.
Research-based practices that
are followed are out-of-date
and there is not reinforcement
encouraging change.
Opposition by some teachers
to implement technology into
GPS aligned interventions.
Lack of follow-through by
those that introduce
technology tools to staff
members.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
Summary/Gap Analysis:
The school does not currently have a technology vision statement, but is now looking to implement one to give teachers,
administration, students, parents, and community learners a clear plan of where the school wants to go and how to get there. All of the
stakeholders recognize that technology integration is an important tool that will enhance the way in which students are learning in the
classroom. When a school has a shared vision, this helps administration and teachers to determine whether a technology tool will
benefit student learning goals. This can also help assist teachers in avoiding drill and kill technology tools that do not encourage
higher-level thinking and discourages positive motivation. A vision statement will also assist stakeholders to seek out current researchbased practices and not fall back on the way weve always done it.
Data Sources: Observation, Personal Communications, Shared Vision Survey

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

The county strategic plan is

The school follows a small
aligned with state and national
number of components of the
visions.
technology plan that has been
The strategic plan at the
determined by the county.
school level recognizes the
need for students to be 21st
century learners.

Opportunities

Threats

Teachers, administration want The school does not currently

a technology plan but do not
have a shared technology
know how to go about
plan.
creating one. This allows for a The strategic plan does not
vision to be created that can
identify goals, so there is no
meet the needs of the students
clear direction for the school.
that are currently at the

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
school.

Summary/Gap Analysis:
Currently, there is a strategic plan in place at the district level, but the school does not intentionally follow it. The current school
strategic plan does recognize the need for students to be able to possess 21st century skills, but there is no plan in place to follow
through. If the school does follow the plan it is by happenstance. With all of the other initiatives that are coming from the county along
with the transition to a charter school, a technology plan has been put on the back burner. There is also a lack of understanding by the
administrators and the school on how a technology strategic plan would even be created. Since there is no plan in place, the school has
an opportunity to create on that can give teachers clear goals and perspective when it comes to adopting new technology tools and
hardware.
Data Sources: Observation, Personal Communications, Shared Vision Survey

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

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
Parents have access to realtime grades with access to
Home Access Center (HAC)
Laptops and iPads are
available for overnight
checkout in the Media Center
Laptops and iPads are
available before school and
during lunch for student use
Teachers and Administrators
have access to laptops and
technology tools on a daily
basis.
The school is currently a
BYOT school, this leaves
more school-funded devices
to be available for SES
students.
There is an even number of
male and female students, so
access is equitable for all.

Special Education students

Counselors should make
Students may not have the
that do not require assertive
outside resources known to
proper equipment to
technology and low SES
parents of SES students, i.e.,
download or access
groups do not take advantage
free internet services for low
technology tools that are
of opportunities that would
income families
required in the classroom.
Computer labs could have
allow for them to have
equitable access (checking out
afternoon and early evening
devices for use at home)
hours to accommodate
Parents of SES students are
students and parents that do
unaware of services that may
not have access to technology
be available to them at little or
at home.

no cost.
Training sessions for parents
on how to use technology
tools that are applicable
should be conducted by the
school a few nights a week.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
Summary/Gap Analysis:
A small percentage of the school population is considered SES. This creates a large gap between those who have and those who do
not. It is important that these students are made aware of the some of the opportunities that they have available to them. The school
allows students to check out laptops and iPads overnight and Comcast will provide free internet services to those who qualify. It is
important to note that all students are able to check out these materials overnight, as not to draw attention to SES students. The
counseling department can send information home to students that qualify. It is also important for parents to be aware of the
technology tools that are available for them as well. Many parents are unaware of how to use HAC and oftentimes never access their
students grades the entire time that their student attends the school. If parents were educated on how to use the system, it would save
the teachers a lot of parent phone calls or emails about missing assignments. By also providing hours after school that the computer
lab is open, this would encourage parents and students that do not normally have access at night a place to access the internet.
Data Sources: Observation, Personal Communications, Shared Vision Survey

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

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
Educators and support staff
are fluent in basic computing
skills and programs they use
on a daily basis.

Educators and support staff

can be resistant to new
platforms that are introduced
by the county.
Teachers are unsure about
how to troubleshoot various
technology tools and devices
There is not a technology
coach in the school

Educators have expressed the Outmoded technology will

desire to learn new
become preferred by
technology tools.
educators.
Support system in place that
Teachers are hesitant to use
will assist teachers with
technology tools when there is
troubleshooting issues.
any threat of failure
The technology coach will
assist teachers in learning and
implementing technology
tools.

Summary/Gap Analysis:
Overall, the teachers at the school feel comfortable with basic technology skills that they use on a daily basis. Since technology
platforms such as PD 360 are introduced and then never mentioned again, teachers have become resistant to any new platforms that are
introduced by the district. This has also caused teachers to want to use the platforms that they have been using when they were hired.
However, teachers have expressed the desire to want to learn new technologies as it applies to their content area. For new platforms to
be adopted, it would work better to allow the training to happen within the PLC or grade level. Teachers would be able to see how the
tool works within their content or applies to their specific grade level, which would create less resistance.
Data Sources: Observation, Personal Communications, Shared Vision Survey

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

Large and small group setting Teacher-led professional

Sessions should be offered to Lack of follow-up after the
for professional development
development sessions with no
various learning levels of
session is completed
Additional professional
are offered throughout the
incentive from administration
educators, i.e., beginner and
year.
are poorly attended
advanced
development days are not
Educators have both formal
Sessions are not tailored to
Incentive programs backed by
utilized in a way that is
and informal opportunities to
the meet the learning needs of
administrators to support
effective for educators
learn.
educators, i.e., beginner
teacher-led professional
Additional professional
courses and advanced courses
development sessions
During the additional
development days have been Technology-related
added into the current school
professional learning is
professional development
schedule
isolated as a separate topic
days, instruction can be
when delivered to educators
tailored to meet the needs of
educators that aligns with the
shared vision.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
Summary/Gap Analysis:
In completing the survey, most of the teachers indicated that they wanted more professional development opportunities, but unless
they were required many teachers do not attend optional small group teacher-led professional development. The principal has said that
she fully supports a grass roots type approach to professional development, but she does not provide any incentives for teachers to
attend. This truly should not be something that she has to enforce, however this is sadly the only way that attendance can be increased
at these sessions. Follow-up after a session is over is also a major issue that needs to be addressed within the school.
Data Sources: Observation, Personal Communications, Shared Vision Survey

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

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
There is a wide variety of
The current infrastructure is
Tech support should attend
equipment that is available for
down about 25% of the school
technology training sessions
teachers and students to
year.
that teachers also attend.
Tech support person is not
Tech support should also
access. The equipment is in
good working order and
being replaced after being
attend applicable conferences
properly maintained.
promoted this past school
on technology integration in
Tech assistance is available
year.
the classroom.
Teachers are not given
through an email address.
Tech support responds within
permissions to download
an hour.
updates or applications.
Tech support is
knowledgeable about
hardware and infrastructure

Tech support person at school

level has little to no
knowledge about instructional
tools that teachers use in the
classroom.
There will be no tech support
person in the school building
next year

Summary/Gap Analysis:
Technical support is taking an interesting turn at the school level this upcoming year. The current technical support person was
promoted to the district level and the county has no plans of filling her position at the school level. Since the technical support position
will be run from a central location, the current wait time for support will increase significantly and teachers will be expected to provide
their own technical support for most issues. Another issue with the technical support person, is that they have received little to no
training on popular instructional technology interventions. The current tech support person was seeking out educational opportunities
on her own, but found it difficult to keep up with the ever-changing face of technology. Since the school does not have a technology
coach, it would make the most sense for the tech support person to fill both roles.
Data Sources: Observation, Personal Communications, Shared Vision Survey

ESSENTIAL CONDITION EIGHT: Curriculum Framework

ISTE Definition: Content standards and related digital curriculum resources.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
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

Digital curriculum resources Technology standards and

that align to the GPS are
content standards have not
readily available to teachers.
been unpacked to determine
Student technology literacy is
alignment.
assessed in 8th grade

Opportunities

Threats

Technology tools that align

with the GPS should be
discovered and shared within
the PLC environment
NET-S and GPS standards
should be unpacked and
aligned with one another for
effective use in the classroom

Educators, students and

parents are unaware of NET-S
standards.
Educators fail to integrate
technology that aligns with
NET-S and GPS.

Summary/Gap Analysis:
The district has invested a lot of money into providing digital resources for teachers that align with the GPS standards. However, the
effectiveness of the tools are not examined and are often abandoned after the first year by teachers. There has not been an adoption of
the NET-S standards by the school and therefore the stakeholders are unaware of their existence. It is important that the school adopts
and assists teachers in implementing NET-S with either GPS or Common Core. When this is implemented, it will help give teachers a
goal in which to work towards in an easy to assess manner. Implementation can begin at the content level, where teachers can unpack
both the GPS or Common Core along with NET-S with their PLC.
Data Sources: Observation, Personal Communications, Shared Vision Survey

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?