Running head: SWOT TECHNOLOGY ANALYSIS, GOALS AND PLANS 1

SWOT Technology Analysis, Goals and Plans

Shakeerah Brodie

University of West Georgia

SWOT Technology Analysis, Goals and Plans 2

SWOT Technology Analysis, Goals and Plans

I am currently a Gifted resource teacher in Clayton County Public School. I work with

students in grades 3-5. I only see each grade level one day per week, therefore my instruction

must be meaningful and impactful. My instruction is usually project based and utilized various

forms of technology. Although technology is an essential component of instruction in my

classroom, readings and peer discussions have caused me to reevaluate how effective it is in

relation to student achievement.

Strengths

One of my greatest strengths is my love for technology. My love for technology has

caused me to be open, curious and eager to learn the most effective ways to incorporate

technology in my instruction. I am always attending PD courses and looking for opportunities to

increase my technology pedagogy. My peers who arent interested in technology, sometimes

struggle with the adoption of innovation in the classroom. Their lack of interest results in

resistance to nontraditional ways of teaching and learning. My admiration for technology

motivates me to consistently seek ways to support innovative methods of teaching and learning.

I am committed to being a 21st century educator, open to the possibilities that technology

presents to education.

Another strength, is my understanding of the role technology plays in education. It is

essential that educators prepare students to compete in a global society. In order to accomplish

this, we must infuse technology into the curriculum. Classrooms should be student centered and

immersed with technology opportunities for students to have authentic learning experiences.

Many educators feel that technology only serves as a tool to aide teachers. They continue to

maintain teacher centered classrooms, with technology serving as an instructional support at best.
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My understanding and dedication to preparing students for 21st century learning experiences,

motivate me to stay informed about the newest innovations in education.

Weakness

One weakness, is my lack of knowledge about technology trends outside of the education

realm. This includes video games, such as mine craft and social media platforms, such as

snapchat and twitter. In an effort to keep students motivated to learn, you should consider

students interest and values when lesson planning. It is not enough to just consider the data to

guide instruction. Integrating personal interest into the students learning will increase student

achievement and the way students view education. Having this weakness limits my

opportunities to make those valuable connections with students using the technology they are

engaged by most.

Another weakness, is my minimal efforts to effectively manage time when students are

engaged in technological experiences. The classroom day and district curriculum is rigidly

structured, leaving little time for extended learning opportunities on one specific task. I often

find that when my students are involved in an assignment that includes technology, they are

more eager to work and explore longer. I find it difficult to regulate time during these instances,

in fear of disrupting positive learning outcomes. My challenge is to incorporate activities across

the curriculum that encourage and promote desired student behavior and results.

Opportunities

Opportunities exist in the way teachers are trained to implement technology. Districts

spend millions of dollars on technology and professional development for teachers to effectively

implement into the classroom. While the opportunities are there for the teachers, the delivery of

the professional development for these new technologies are often ineffective. Teachers often
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need gradual release of information, as opposed to the standard overload of information in one or

two sessions. Teachers need subsequent trainings in order to be truly effective. Scaffolded

training enables educators to be successful, resulting in increased student achievement.

Another opportunity is for educators to become true facilitators of learning using

technology. Technology offers teachers an opportunity to tailor instruction to a students

particular needs and learning style. Individualized learning meets students where they are and

take them where they need to be academically. It also allows students to be more in control of

their learning experience. The immersion of technology into classrooms have opened endless

possibilities for the delivery of instruction. Educators must take advantage of this opportunity.

Embracing technology and implementing it with fidelity will remove the teacher from being the

sage on the stage to the guide on the side.

Threats

The most pertinent threat to technology is when it fails. This is most often seen when

programs fail to load or systems are inadequately prepared to carry the load. Georgia recently

experienced this type of failure with the online assessment, GMAS. Districts were incapable of

supporting the amount of students online, causing testing irregularities and teacher anxiety. The

mishaps caused testing scores to be invalidated across the state. This further fuels skeptics and

resistors to embracing technology. Their argument is that student test scores arent increasing

and pencil and paper never fails.

Goals

My personal technology goals for this coming year is to be more vigilant in my

implementation of technology as a true learning tool. I want to utilize hardware and software to

tailor instruction to the students independent learning goals. While I probably utilize
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technology more often and effectively than most of the teachers in my school, I want to increase

my efforts to have the students take more control over their learning experiences. My students

engage in a plethora of project based learning task, primarily utilizing the computer for research

and word processing skills. I want to move toward advanced level technology practices.

My plan for achieving this goal is to continue taking instructional technology classes and

conversing with peers on technologies they are implementing in their classrooms. I plan to

increase my repertoire of instructional programs that will provide authentic, real world

experiences via technology. One specific implementation I plan to do this year is Seesaw

Learning Journals with my students. It will serve as a gateway to getting my students to

document their learning.