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:
During the summer of 2015, I analyzed the current mission of my school and district, and worked to develop a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis to be used in the future for my school for the ITEC 7410: Instructional Technology Leadership course. This was created as a part of the Technology Planning Project which also included the Shared Vision and Action/Evaluation Plan. This was an individual class assignment although I did work with school and district personnel to gain information and data that was used to complete the assignment.
The concept of strategic planning requires designing, developing, implementing, communicating, and evaluating in a particular manner, especially when the goal is to infuse technology. As I worked to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats currently effecting my school, I had to keep in mind the ISTE Essential Conditions (ISTE, 2012) to design and develop goals and recommendations. The design and development process required extensive research and conversations with school and district administration to collect the necessary data. To follow-up the analysis process, I worked with the administration and technology specialist to design a plan of implementation for the recommendations made based on the current reality of technology usage within the school. The actual implementation will take some time with some items being more short-term goals while others are long-term goals. To ensure that the implementation of the technology-infused strategic plan is successful, I have begun working with the district and school technology leaders to communicate the goals of the strategic plan to all stakeholders. For all stakeholders to understand the thinking behind the recommendations, it is important to be transparent and open about the current reality, not just the strengths and positives. Moving forward, the ongoing evaluation of the current reality and strategic plan must be focused upon. Evaluation of the existing technology plan for the district was completed in assessing the current reality, but the evaluation process cannot stop there to ensure that we are moving in the right direction for technology-infused instruction.
Through researching the ISTE 14 Essential Conditions (ISTE, 2012), I have learned the key elements that are imperative in creating an effective instructional technology program. The ISTE Lead and Transform Diagnostic Tool helped guide me through the process of realizing the current reality of instructional technology in my school and see the areas where we shine, but also the areas that we are lacking in and need to improve upon. During this experience I was able to work closely with the technology leadership in my district and I feel that I now have a better understanding of what their job entails and was able to provide my thoughts based on current research as to where our next steps should be. Being an effective technology leader begins with proper planning and organization of materials and I feel this SWOT Analysis has equipped me with those skills. To enhance this artifact and make it easier to communicate with all stakeholders, I would like to take the findings and create a presentation that is more user friendly so that everyone understands the depth and complexity of the results of the SWOT.
Most stakeholders in my school have no idea that our school or district currently has a technology plan of vision in place. Through this technology planning project I have been able to not only understand more about being an effective technology leader, but also the thoughts and planning behind what is happening in my school and district in regards to instructional technology. As a result of this experience I have been able to go back to my colleagues in the classroom and help bridge the communication gap that exists currently between the people making the decisions about technology usage and the teachers who are actually implementing it in their classrooms with students. I anticipate that in the future more teachers will be willing to sign up for committees or volunteer to assist when the technology department is looking for information or offering training. Through the relationship and open communication I have created with the Instructional Technology Specialist of the district I hope to be able to continue to serve and offer ideas as we move forward in seeing our Shared Vision and Action Plan come to life over the next several years.
The impact of this SWOT has been felt across the school as teachers and administrators have become more aware of what is actually happening in our school currently. While it did point out the weaknesses and threats that impact technology usage, it also highlighted the strengths and opportunities. This will directly help with professional development to build on these positives as we move forward as a school. The communication has also been increased between the teachers and the technology department. All of these impacts will be assessed as we move forward by the use of technology in the classroom by teachers and students. If teachers are receptive to the professional development and feel comfortable communicating their needs to the technology department, the actual use of technology in the classroom will improve and become more effective, ultimately increasing student achievement.
References
ISTE (2012). Essential conditions: Necessary conditions to effectively leverage technology for learning. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/standards-for-students/nets-for-students-essential-conditions.
During the summer of 2015, I analyzed the current mission of my school and district, and worked to develop a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis to be used in the future for my school for the ITEC 7410: Instructional Technology Leadership course. This was created as a part of the Technology Planning Project which also included the Shared Vision and Action/Evaluation Plan. This was an individual class assignment although I did work with school and district personnel to gain information and data that was used to complete the assignment.
The concept of strategic planning requires designing, developing, implementing, communicating, and evaluating in a particular manner, especially when the goal is to infuse technology. As I worked to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats currently effecting my school, I had to keep in mind the ISTE Essential Conditions (ISTE, 2012) to design and develop goals and recommendations. The design and development process required extensive research and conversations with school and district administration to collect the necessary data. To follow-up the analysis process, I worked with the administration and technology specialist to design a plan of implementation for the recommendations made based on the current reality of technology usage within the school. The actual implementation will take some time with some items being more short-term goals while others are long-term goals. To ensure that the implementation of the technology-infused strategic plan is successful, I have begun working with the district and school technology leaders to communicate the goals of the strategic plan to all stakeholders. For all stakeholders to understand the thinking behind the recommendations, it is important to be transparent and open about the current reality, not just the strengths and positives. Moving forward, the ongoing evaluation of the current reality and strategic plan must be focused upon. Evaluation of the existing technology plan for the district was completed in assessing the current reality, but the evaluation process cannot stop there to ensure that we are moving in the right direction for technology-infused instruction.
Through researching the ISTE 14 Essential Conditions (ISTE, 2012), I have learned the key elements that are imperative in creating an effective instructional technology program. The ISTE Lead and Transform Diagnostic Tool helped guide me through the process of realizing the current reality of instructional technology in my school and see the areas where we shine, but also the areas that we are lacking in and need to improve upon. During this experience I was able to work closely with the technology leadership in my district and I feel that I now have a better understanding of what their job entails and was able to provide my thoughts based on current research as to where our next steps should be. Being an effective technology leader begins with proper planning and organization of materials and I feel this SWOT Analysis has equipped me with those skills. To enhance this artifact and make it easier to communicate with all stakeholders, I would like to take the findings and create a presentation that is more user friendly so that everyone understands the depth and complexity of the results of the SWOT.
Most stakeholders in my school have no idea that our school or district currently has a technology plan of vision in place. Through this technology planning project I have been able to not only understand more about being an effective technology leader, but also the thoughts and planning behind what is happening in my school and district in regards to instructional technology. As a result of this experience I have been able to go back to my colleagues in the classroom and help bridge the communication gap that exists currently between the people making the decisions about technology usage and the teachers who are actually implementing it in their classrooms with students. I anticipate that in the future more teachers will be willing to sign up for committees or volunteer to assist when the technology department is looking for information or offering training. Through the relationship and open communication I have created with the Instructional Technology Specialist of the district I hope to be able to continue to serve and offer ideas as we move forward in seeing our Shared Vision and Action Plan come to life over the next several years.
The impact of this SWOT has been felt across the school as teachers and administrators have become more aware of what is actually happening in our school currently. While it did point out the weaknesses and threats that impact technology usage, it also highlighted the strengths and opportunities. This will directly help with professional development to build on these positives as we move forward as a school. The communication has also been increased between the teachers and the technology department. All of these impacts will be assessed as we move forward by the use of technology in the classroom by teachers and students. If teachers are receptive to the professional development and feel comfortable communicating their needs to the technology department, the actual use of technology in the classroom will improve and become more effective, ultimately increasing student achievement.
References
ISTE (2012). Essential conditions: Necessary conditions to effectively leverage technology for learning. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/standards-for-students/nets-for-students-essential-conditions.