Needs+Assessment+and+Identification+of+Focus+Area

graphic from: [] __Needs Assessment and Identification of Focus Area__

In order to identify my focus area I created a survey of ten questions, which I distributed to the staff at a professional development session and via email. These questions focused on the awareness of the teacher about the schools/district technology plan, the hardware and instruction currently available to staff and students and also the need for further professional development for staff and instruction for the students. In order to receive the most honest and accurate results, this survey was conducted anonymously and required no personal information. Below I have included a copy of the questions asked on the survey. The survey overwhelmingly identified the lack of student computers in the classroom as a need. While most teachers were complimentary about the accessibility for the staff, most were concerned that the students only had access to computers once or twice a week through the rotation of the computers on wheels (COWS). They felt there was a need for student computers that were permanently set up and accessible in each classroom on a daily basis that could be used to support classroom instruction and differentiate for their students. Some of the best information I received from the surveys were in the "comments" section and they are not reported here as they are very diverse and specific. However, both in the survey results and as indicated through the comments, the teachers felt that laptops are a valuable tool in the classroom and should be available to students throughout the day, every day.

1. Does your school have a technology plan in place? _Yes _No _I don't know Comments:

2. Are you aware of the plan, what it says, and what it means? _Yes _No _I don't know Comments:

3. Do your students have access to technology on a daily basis? If so what types? _Yes <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_No <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Comments:

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">4. How many of your students have access to the internet at home? <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_All <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_Most <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_Some <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_I don't know <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Comments:

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">5. Do your students receive specific instruction focused on the technologies available to them? <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_Yes <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_No <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_I don't know <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Comments:

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">6. Do you think that permanent laptops in each classroom for student use would improve student achievement? <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_Yes <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_No <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_I don't know <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Comments:

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12.5pt;">7. Would you like to see specific technology instruction made available to you and your students?

<span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_Yes <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_No <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_I don't know <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Comments:

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">8. Are you concerned about your student's safety on the internet either at school or home? <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_Yes <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_No <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_Maybe <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_I don't know <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Comments



<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">9. Does your school offer any types of assistive technology for students with special needs? <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_Yes <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_No <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_Maybe <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_I don't know <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Comments:

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">10. What professional development in the area of technology do you feel you would benefit most from? (check all that apply) <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Digital Access <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 132%;">_Assistive Technology <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_Internet Safety <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_ Laptop Integration in the Classroom <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Comments:

<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Links: <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Initiatives to Address Needs <span style="color: #008000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Table of Contents