1.2 Strategic Planning
Candidates facilitate the design, development, implementation, communication, and evaluation of technology-infused strategic plans. (PSC 1.2/ISTE 1b)
Artifact:
SWOT Analysis
Reflection:
I chose the SWOT Analysis as an artifact to demonstrate my ability to facilitate the design, development, implementation, communication and evaluation of a technology-infused strategic plan. The SWOT Analysis was created to evaluate the current reality of the eight essential conditions identified by ISTE within our school. These conditions identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of technology infusion. The results of the eight essential conditions came from analyzing the ISTE Lead & Transform Diagnostic Tool. I completed an assessment to determine which area (beginning, approaching, or meeting) our school fell in for each one of the eight essential conditions.
My ability to facilitate the design and development of a technology-infused strategic plan is represented in this SWOT Analysis. By using the eight essential conditions, I evaluated the current status at my school of our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and I was then able to develop a plan of action. I took the results of the diagnostic tool and used it to evaluate our school improvement plan to determine our strengths and weaknesses using the eight essential conditions. Next, I had to develop and implement a plan to integrate technology in an authentic manner. This plan included professional development for teachers on how to use technology in the classroom and advice on how teachers can obtain new information during PLC’s to communicate with other educators to further their knowledge. This updated plan would also include ISTE’s essential conditions to improve the use of technology overall. The SWOT Analysis indicated that our current plan could be improved to ensuring equitable access. To implement this, Harmony-Leland Elementary could allow access for parent and student use to internet after school hours and teaching of digital literacy. Educators can also partake in grants that will gain more technology devices for the school. It was also suggested that internet access could be provided at a lower rate by the district so these families would have internet access at home. By addressing these weaknesses and threats, I was able to see the opportunities needed to improve the current reality of technology use at our school. Working on this SWOT Analysis has taught me how to evaluate a current school plan and identify what needs improvement and then how to design a new plan to implement with hopes of greater success.
This experience of creating the SWOT Analysis has afforded me the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the process of developing a technology plan. I have learned how to effectively evaluate technology weaknesses within a school caused by lack of technology proficiency or inadequate resources of devices. I also learned how to determine opportunities for technology growth and the importance of developing strategies to eliminate threats that could hinder the progress of successful and effective technology use. To improve the quality of this artifact I would include more stakeholders in the analysis of the school to gain a more detailed and broad perspective of how to help provide more potential strengths and opportunities for our school.
This artifact impacted school improvement by identifying our school’s weaknesses and by helping to develop a plan to facilitate new strategies into a new technology-infused strategic plan in order to impact instruction and student success. By using the SWOT Analysis plan the current school plan can be improved and digital equity can be advocated for low socioeconomic families. The impact of the SWOT can be assessed by reassessing the school using the ISTE Lead & Transform Diagnostic Tool and also through student and faculty surveys of technology use.
Reflection:
I chose the SWOT Analysis as an artifact to demonstrate my ability to facilitate the design, development, implementation, communication and evaluation of a technology-infused strategic plan. The SWOT Analysis was created to evaluate the current reality of the eight essential conditions identified by ISTE within our school. These conditions identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of technology infusion. The results of the eight essential conditions came from analyzing the ISTE Lead & Transform Diagnostic Tool. I completed an assessment to determine which area (beginning, approaching, or meeting) our school fell in for each one of the eight essential conditions.
My ability to facilitate the design and development of a technology-infused strategic plan is represented in this SWOT Analysis. By using the eight essential conditions, I evaluated the current status at my school of our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and I was then able to develop a plan of action. I took the results of the diagnostic tool and used it to evaluate our school improvement plan to determine our strengths and weaknesses using the eight essential conditions. Next, I had to develop and implement a plan to integrate technology in an authentic manner. This plan included professional development for teachers on how to use technology in the classroom and advice on how teachers can obtain new information during PLC’s to communicate with other educators to further their knowledge. This updated plan would also include ISTE’s essential conditions to improve the use of technology overall. The SWOT Analysis indicated that our current plan could be improved to ensuring equitable access. To implement this, Harmony-Leland Elementary could allow access for parent and student use to internet after school hours and teaching of digital literacy. Educators can also partake in grants that will gain more technology devices for the school. It was also suggested that internet access could be provided at a lower rate by the district so these families would have internet access at home. By addressing these weaknesses and threats, I was able to see the opportunities needed to improve the current reality of technology use at our school. Working on this SWOT Analysis has taught me how to evaluate a current school plan and identify what needs improvement and then how to design a new plan to implement with hopes of greater success.
This experience of creating the SWOT Analysis has afforded me the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the process of developing a technology plan. I have learned how to effectively evaluate technology weaknesses within a school caused by lack of technology proficiency or inadequate resources of devices. I also learned how to determine opportunities for technology growth and the importance of developing strategies to eliminate threats that could hinder the progress of successful and effective technology use. To improve the quality of this artifact I would include more stakeholders in the analysis of the school to gain a more detailed and broad perspective of how to help provide more potential strengths and opportunities for our school.
This artifact impacted school improvement by identifying our school’s weaknesses and by helping to develop a plan to facilitate new strategies into a new technology-infused strategic plan in order to impact instruction and student success. By using the SWOT Analysis plan the current school plan can be improved and digital equity can be advocated for low socioeconomic families. The impact of the SWOT can be assessed by reassessing the school using the ISTE Lead & Transform Diagnostic Tool and also through student and faculty surveys of technology use.