SWOT Analysis Template 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
The amount of technology tools that is The lack of consistency and
The school has the opportunity to
There are less technology tools and web
available to the staff and students.
collaboration with research based best expose students to many different types 2.0 tools that are easy for lower
practices.
of technology learning experiences.
elementary students to use. The school
is on a military base that requires a
controlled environment. This can limit
some opportunities.
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Our school is currently being used daily by teachers and students to teach and learn in the classroom. Each classroom has a interactive board, document camera,
at least 4-5 desktop computers, access to portable laptop carts, and computer labs. The school also has an abundance of software available to them. The school
uses technology as a part of the continuous school improvement plan. Day to day instruction is somewhat aligned to research based best practices. It is not
consistent from class to class.

SWOT Analysis Template 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 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
CSI Committee and Education
technologist present at the school

The vision is not completely aligned to

best practices. Teachers do not all work
toward the same technology goals to
improve student achievement.

Knowledgeable educational
technologist that is working to improve
student achievement through the use of
technology.

100% of each grade level does not use

best practices to incorporate technology
into the classroom. Staff does not
collaborate and work together towards
common goals.

Summary/Gap Analysis:
The vision for the district is to Deliver a robust and responsive network infrastructure capable of supporting the convergence of legacy and emergent
technologies that promote the delivery of real-time content to the K-12 school environment we support. To transform the DoDDS-E data and email support
system into a world class enterprise environment supporting the educational mission of DoDDS-Europe.
The vision is shown on the district website. The vision is to bring old and new technologies that promote real-time content to the students. That is partly aligned
with best practices but it is not completely aligned with best practices. Teachers and staff would like to see students be the producers of information and good
evaluators of information so that they can be self-motivated learners. The school has put together a Continuous School Improvement (CSI) committee that meets
and discusses ways to improve the school and student achievement. Technology plays a big role in the goals and strategies that are set. In order to adopt a
research based vision for technology that will lead to improved student achievement the staff will have to learn and research best practices and collaboratively
work together to implement the strategies into all classrooms.
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.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
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

An abundance of technology tools and There is no plan to guide technology

budget.
use.

Opportunities
Staff can be trained to use the
technology that the school has more
effectively.

Threats
Student improvement could be at risk
because there is no guide for technology
use. Teachers may not be using
technology in ways that reflect
researched based best practices.

Summary/Gap Analysis:
There is not an adequate plan to guide technology use at the school or district level. The current school technology plan is a list of the available technology at the
school. A SWOT analysis and more comprehensive technology plan should be created for the school. The plan should also detail how technology should be used
in the school to reflect best practices.

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
Good access to technology tools and
digital resources.

No iPads or other new forms of

technology. No video production
capabilities.

A large budget and a new building

Military influence can cause some
coming soon should allow for new
restrictions that make it difficult to
resources to be purchased and put into incorporate some resources.
use.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
Summary/Gap Analysis:
Staff and parents have easy access to computers and other digital resources. Four to five computers, an interactive board, document camera, and a large amount
of software is accessible to teachers and students to use for student centered learning in each classroom. The students also have access to two large computer labs
which also have an interactive board and document camera. Students and parents can stay connected with what is going on at school through an e-portal which
links to several teacher/classroom websites and each student and teacher have a gaggle account. This will allow students and parents to have access to lessons,
resources, assignments, etc. outside of school. Some other tools that would be useful are iPads, flat screens with cable, a closed circuit, and other technology
tools that would aid students in creating video productions.

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
ET and IT who service the staff and
students.

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

More teachers need to learn how to use Teachers have a chance to learn and
Possible uncooperative teachers who are
some technology.
improve their teaching through training unwilling to learn and change.
for the ET.

Summary/Gap Analysis:
The school has an IT who is able to service equipment and manage servers. The school also has an ET (educational technologist) that is there to aid teachers and
students in the best use of technology in the classroom. The ET also provides training for the teachers in various technology areas. There are several teachers at
the school who are also knowledgeable about different ways to use technology in the classroom. Our ET is extremely knowledgeable and stays current with what
is new in technology education and best practices. Teachers still need to acquire many technology skills such as how to make the most of interactive boards, web
2.0 tools, inquiry based learning, and collaboration.

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
Trainings provided by the ET

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Lack of connection to specific ways to Integrate teaching strategies, best

use it in the classroom.
practices, and lesson ideas into
technology training.

Threats
Unmotivated and intimidated staff.

Summary/Gap Analysis:
There are many in school professional learning opportunities for teachers to attend that are related to technology and/or best practices. The staff is responsive and
attendance is good. The teachers attend because they are receiving college credit from a university for these trainings and they are at the school so it is easy to get
there. The current training are matched with the skills and knowledge that educators need to know. There are classes on creating a website, interactive boards,
web 2.0 tools, and the five traits of writing. There is also an informal session to learn and share information once a week on a different technology topic. The
trainings need to include more strategies for teaching with technology. Teachers need some specific ways to integrate technology into the classroom.

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
An Education technologist is present. IT More digital camera and other digital
is quick and efficient.
devices could be more available.

Because this school has an ET available The old building can pose problems for
all of the time, training is more
the equipment that we have.
accessible.

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
Summary/Gap Analysis:
All of the classroom equipment is operable and reliable for instruction. There is an IT at the school for support with technical issues. The staff is expected to
submit a request for via the internet to the IT he then comes to fix the problem at his earliest convenience. Issues are always resolved very quickly. There are very
few downtimes that occur during school hours. The school is equipped with a education technologist to assist teachers and students with technology in the
classroom. She has an education background and is able to help teachers with the teaching aspect of using technology in the classroom.

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

SWOT Analysis Template for Technology Planning Needs Assessment

What is the current reality in our school?
Technology standards are written in a Educators, parents, and students are not The school is equipped with a
Student technology literacy is not
way that they can be incorporated into aware of the technology standards.
substantial amount of digital curriculum currently assessed, Teachers and
any subject area that is being taught.
and resources that can help teachers
students are not aware of the technology
integrate technology into their lessons. standards, and some teachers are not
using their resources to incorporate
technology into their lessons.
Summary/Gap Analysis:
The technology standards are written in such a way that it is easy to incorporate technology into everyday lessons. Teachers have access to digital curriculum
resources as well as other technology equipment that can make using technology within a lesson easy to do. The teachers and students need to become familiar
with the technology standards in order to begin to use them in conjunction with other standards.