5.1 Needs Assessment
Candidates conduct needs assessments to determine school-wide, faculty, grade-level, and subject area strengths and weaknesses to inform the content and delivery of technology-based professional learning programs. (PSC 5.1/ISTE 4a)
Artifact: Needs Assessment Assignment
Reflection:
The Needs Assessment assignment provides a quick view on part of the job a facilitator of technology sometimes takes when working with teachers. The purpose of this artifact was to work with one teacher in the building by first having him/her complete a survey to help identify the technology needs in the classroom. The artifact helped me find the strengths and weaknesses of my colleague when it comes to technology integration skills. More of the needs and strengths were found by conducting an interview with the participant of the assessment. In this artifact, I got the opportunity to conduct the assessment with a colleague who does not feel comfortable with technology but understands the importance of it in education.
This artifact demonstrates the mastery to standard 5.1 because it showcased my ability to conduct a needs assessment to identify a teacher’s strengths and weaknesses. Administering the surveys provided me with information to inform the content and delivery of specific technology-based professional learning coaching. The first surveys included was the adopter survey which helped identifying the teacher’s adopter category. The second survey was the technology use assessment, which was used to assess the teacher’s level of technology use, level of professional development aligned with technology, and perception of technology. This artifact was completed with an individual teacher, but it can easily be modified to determine the needs of an entire school faculty, grade level, and subject area’s strength and weaknesses.
Prior to the completion of this artifact, I was not familiar with how to conduct a needs assessment. It was interesting creating the surveys for the artifact and getting to learn how to read them to complete the assignment. After the completion of this artifact, I learned that as a technology leader, it is important to complete a needs assessment to determine the strengths and weaknesses to plan for specific professional development opportunities. Understanding the strengths, weaknesses, and what the teacher wants, and needs allows for me to provide catered professional learning. A needs assessment also helps build stronger relationships with teachers in a building too. This can help teachers be more aware of your interest to help them become better in terms of technology integration.
Not completing a needs assessment could lead to ineffective professional learning and resistance from teachers. When this becomes the case, teachers lose opportunities to learn about innovative technology that can limit their teacher and the learning of students. As a technology facilitator, it is very important to conduct a needs assessment or survey teachers on the technology area of teaching to help create professional development. The needs assessment can begin with one teacher or a grade level and can gradually move towards the entire faculty. To improve the quality of this artifact, I would complete the surveys with more teachers or staff members, and I could complete professional learning experiences with a larger group of people.
The work that went into creating this artifact impacts faculty development. Providing teachers with the needed and wanted professional development could also impact student learning. Understanding that data should be used to guide professional development helps technology leaders to provide specific professional learning for all participants. The impact of could be assessed by teacher surveys at the end of professional learning experiences. The impact could also be assessed by conducting “pulse checks” meaning the person that conducted the training comes into the classroom to check on the staff to see if there is anything they may need or would like something to be clarified.
Reflection:
The Needs Assessment assignment provides a quick view on part of the job a facilitator of technology sometimes takes when working with teachers. The purpose of this artifact was to work with one teacher in the building by first having him/her complete a survey to help identify the technology needs in the classroom. The artifact helped me find the strengths and weaknesses of my colleague when it comes to technology integration skills. More of the needs and strengths were found by conducting an interview with the participant of the assessment. In this artifact, I got the opportunity to conduct the assessment with a colleague who does not feel comfortable with technology but understands the importance of it in education.
This artifact demonstrates the mastery to standard 5.1 because it showcased my ability to conduct a needs assessment to identify a teacher’s strengths and weaknesses. Administering the surveys provided me with information to inform the content and delivery of specific technology-based professional learning coaching. The first surveys included was the adopter survey which helped identifying the teacher’s adopter category. The second survey was the technology use assessment, which was used to assess the teacher’s level of technology use, level of professional development aligned with technology, and perception of technology. This artifact was completed with an individual teacher, but it can easily be modified to determine the needs of an entire school faculty, grade level, and subject area’s strength and weaknesses.
Prior to the completion of this artifact, I was not familiar with how to conduct a needs assessment. It was interesting creating the surveys for the artifact and getting to learn how to read them to complete the assignment. After the completion of this artifact, I learned that as a technology leader, it is important to complete a needs assessment to determine the strengths and weaknesses to plan for specific professional development opportunities. Understanding the strengths, weaknesses, and what the teacher wants, and needs allows for me to provide catered professional learning. A needs assessment also helps build stronger relationships with teachers in a building too. This can help teachers be more aware of your interest to help them become better in terms of technology integration.
Not completing a needs assessment could lead to ineffective professional learning and resistance from teachers. When this becomes the case, teachers lose opportunities to learn about innovative technology that can limit their teacher and the learning of students. As a technology facilitator, it is very important to conduct a needs assessment or survey teachers on the technology area of teaching to help create professional development. The needs assessment can begin with one teacher or a grade level and can gradually move towards the entire faculty. To improve the quality of this artifact, I would complete the surveys with more teachers or staff members, and I could complete professional learning experiences with a larger group of people.
The work that went into creating this artifact impacts faculty development. Providing teachers with the needed and wanted professional development could also impact student learning. Understanding that data should be used to guide professional development helps technology leaders to provide specific professional learning for all participants. The impact of could be assessed by teacher surveys at the end of professional learning experiences. The impact could also be assessed by conducting “pulse checks” meaning the person that conducted the training comes into the classroom to check on the staff to see if there is anything they may need or would like something to be clarified.