Needs Assessments

EDT 531

School Background:

  • SalinaElementary School (Dearborn Public Schools)
  • Grades 1-3
  • 21 teachers in the entire building

Technology Plan:

After spending some time chasing the technology committee chair, I found out that the building does not have a technology plan. Every classroom in our building has the same technology items: one teacher computer station, an Elmo, television, a projector, sound system, 4 students’ computers connected to the internet, and a Promethean Board.

Technology Planning Committee:

The technology committee consists of the principal, resource teacher as a chairperson, and three teachers one form each grade level. After talking to the technology chair person, he suggested I email the staff with a survey but made it clear that I can not use school hours for it so it had to be before or after school. The technology committee meets once or twice a year to see if we have money to spend for that year but it does not conduct any training they rely on the district’s Professional Developments.

Identification of a Focus Area:

I created a short survey on Google Docs and sent it out, from the teachers who responded 2 can stay after school and chose Promethean Board, one chose Class A but can not do it before or after school, 2 chose Curriculum Crafter but can not do it before or after school too. So, as of now I have 2 teachers interested in Promethean Board training and could stay after school for the training.

See theNeeds Assessment for Technology Integration surveyfollowing this document.

Priorities for Professional Development:

The focus of our district is Curriculum Crafter this year the provided a PD on it and will offer a voluntary one. As we set up school PD’s end of last year none of the surveyed teachers included technology as a choice, which is why I could not offer it during school hours.

Informal Assessments:

The teachers expressed interest to meet at lunch and have a friendly chat (informal assessment) to answer some questions to help me plan the PD. One teacher is new to our building she came from a charter school and she has never used the Promethean Board, and the other teacher only used it to write on in the math journal because someone emailed the building a PD file saved on ActiveInspire. I know I have my work cut out for me but at least the teachers I am providing the professional development are on the same level.

Formal Assessments:

I sent an email to the staff with a link to my survey (below) on Google Docs and since two teachers were interested I decided to interview them informally.

Priorities and interests:

As I reviewed the results of the survey 2 teachers expressed interest in learning how to use Curriculum Crafter, but after I explored the software further I found out that is used only by the teachers and that would have not met the purpose of the professional development, so it was decided to go with their next interest Promethean Board.

Focus Groups for Professional Development:

After sending the survey, six teachers responded with the following:

  • 4 teachers are not available before or after school but expressed interest if I can hold it school hours
  • 2 teachers are available after school

The results of the survey made me decide to offer the professional development after school because that is the time the teachers are available. For the teachers that expressed interest in learning about Curriculum Crafter I promised them I will do it the beginning of next semester.

Technology Competency:

When I asked the teachers on what they wanted to learn in the professional development, they expressed interest in learning very basic usage of the board. I understand one of them is new to our building but the second teacher has been in our building for three years.

Goal of the Professional Development:

The goal of the professional development activity on Promethean Board will be focused on:

  • Basic use to the board especially manipulating geometric figures
  • Setting an accounton Promethean planet and search for lessons
  • Download those lessons and organize them in folders on computer
  • How to Calibrate the Board
  • Custom pick tools from "tool store" to be ready for the students' use

Resources:

1) Technology team Salina Elementary

2) Promethean Planet

Needs Assessment

Colleagues,

As a requirement for one of my classes in my Master’s program, I created a short survey to better understand the teacher’s needs in technology to design a Professional Development. Please take a moment from your busy schedule and complete this short survey. Thank you in advance, Mrs. Darwish

1. If you were offered a professional development which area would you pick?

  • Class A
  • Promethean Board
  • SuccessMaker
  • Studyisland
  • Curriculum Crafter

2. Would you be willing to participate in the professional development you chose in number question number one?

  • yes
  • no

3. If you answered yes in number 2 which time would best work for you?

  • Before school
  • After school

4. To better serve you, please answer the following questions:

  • Have you used the technology you chose above?
  • What do you expect to learn about it in the professional develpments?