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:
The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis was completed to identify current technology strengths and weaknesses in the school and determine potential opportunities and threats for better technology integration. To complete the SWOT analysis, I had to examine the school’s specific strengths and weaknesses and compare this data to the Eight Essential Conditions as identified by ISTE (ISTE, 2012). The Lead and Transform Diagnostic Tool on the ISTE website results for the school also contributed to the ultimate identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of technology use in the school. Because this project was completed during a summer semester, I primarily worked alone with minimal input from the principal when I was able to reach him.
Standard 1.2 examines strategic plans and the ability of the candidate to design, develop, implement, communicate, and evaluate technology-infused strategic plans specifically. To first design and develop the plan, all stakeholders need to be invested in the process. For my specific school, we currently do not have a strategic plan in place that addresses technology in the classroom, the plan only addresses the technology the school plans to acquire. Through this artifact, I was however able to demonstrate my ability to develop and plan the implementation of a strategic plan addressing technology use. The plan was developed by first examining current use of technology and identifying strengths and weaknesses through the SWOT analysis. During the development I also consulted the ISTE Diagnostic Tool to pinpoint the greatest weaknesses to focus on during future implementation.
To implement a plan based on the SWOT analysis, the school would first need to hire an additional technology coach to guide teachers as they begin to integrate more technology. Additional trainings would also have to be offered to provide teachers with additional assistance when necessary. Full implementation would also require communication with all involved stakeholders in the process. The plan and its progress should also be communicated to all staff members during monthly breakfast meetings, to parents through the email blast sent each month, and other members of the community via the school website. Evaluation will be the final step to determine the effectiveness of the strategic plan based on the SWOT analysis artifact presented here. The effectiveness of the strategic plan will be evaluated several ways by examining student achievement, teacher effectiveness, and both parent and teacher satisfaction with the current plan.
Completing the SWOT analysis was an eye-opening experience. I did not realize the lack of a coherent direction of the school in terms of technology integration and was able to find many weaknesses of technology use. Despite this initial realization, I also found many strengths evident in the school which provided ample opportunities for improvement as well. Because of the lack of a technology plan, I was able to develop an authentic and meaningful plan that provides more focus to the school’s stakeholders in terms of technology. To further enhance this artifact, I would like to gather data a second time during the school year and use this data to further guide the development and implementation of a strategic technology-infused plan. Completing this analysis during the summer was quite difficult to gather stakeholder input which is an important component to the overall process.
Completing a technology plan based on the SWOT analysis was essential to improving technology integration at the school. The school has a very thorough strategic plan currently, but technology is only minimally discussed. This artifact provided a detailed analysis of each of the Eight Essential Conditions (ISTE, 2012) and also included the gap analysis for the school’s stakeholders to examine and use to develop a strategic plan that incorporates more technology. Once a new strategic plan is developed, the impact can be assessed in comparison to these new strategic plan goals.
ISTE (2016). Essential conditions: Necessary conditions to effectively leverage technology for learning. Retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/standards/tools-resources/essential-conditions
ISTE (2016). Lead and transform diagnostic tool. Retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/standards/tools-resources/lead-transform/diagnostic-tool
The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis was completed to identify current technology strengths and weaknesses in the school and determine potential opportunities and threats for better technology integration. To complete the SWOT analysis, I had to examine the school’s specific strengths and weaknesses and compare this data to the Eight Essential Conditions as identified by ISTE (ISTE, 2012). The Lead and Transform Diagnostic Tool on the ISTE website results for the school also contributed to the ultimate identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of technology use in the school. Because this project was completed during a summer semester, I primarily worked alone with minimal input from the principal when I was able to reach him.
Standard 1.2 examines strategic plans and the ability of the candidate to design, develop, implement, communicate, and evaluate technology-infused strategic plans specifically. To first design and develop the plan, all stakeholders need to be invested in the process. For my specific school, we currently do not have a strategic plan in place that addresses technology in the classroom, the plan only addresses the technology the school plans to acquire. Through this artifact, I was however able to demonstrate my ability to develop and plan the implementation of a strategic plan addressing technology use. The plan was developed by first examining current use of technology and identifying strengths and weaknesses through the SWOT analysis. During the development I also consulted the ISTE Diagnostic Tool to pinpoint the greatest weaknesses to focus on during future implementation.
To implement a plan based on the SWOT analysis, the school would first need to hire an additional technology coach to guide teachers as they begin to integrate more technology. Additional trainings would also have to be offered to provide teachers with additional assistance when necessary. Full implementation would also require communication with all involved stakeholders in the process. The plan and its progress should also be communicated to all staff members during monthly breakfast meetings, to parents through the email blast sent each month, and other members of the community via the school website. Evaluation will be the final step to determine the effectiveness of the strategic plan based on the SWOT analysis artifact presented here. The effectiveness of the strategic plan will be evaluated several ways by examining student achievement, teacher effectiveness, and both parent and teacher satisfaction with the current plan.
Completing the SWOT analysis was an eye-opening experience. I did not realize the lack of a coherent direction of the school in terms of technology integration and was able to find many weaknesses of technology use. Despite this initial realization, I also found many strengths evident in the school which provided ample opportunities for improvement as well. Because of the lack of a technology plan, I was able to develop an authentic and meaningful plan that provides more focus to the school’s stakeholders in terms of technology. To further enhance this artifact, I would like to gather data a second time during the school year and use this data to further guide the development and implementation of a strategic technology-infused plan. Completing this analysis during the summer was quite difficult to gather stakeholder input which is an important component to the overall process.
Completing a technology plan based on the SWOT analysis was essential to improving technology integration at the school. The school has a very thorough strategic plan currently, but technology is only minimally discussed. This artifact provided a detailed analysis of each of the Eight Essential Conditions (ISTE, 2012) and also included the gap analysis for the school’s stakeholders to examine and use to develop a strategic plan that incorporates more technology. Once a new strategic plan is developed, the impact can be assessed in comparison to these new strategic plan goals.
ISTE (2016). Essential conditions: Necessary conditions to effectively leverage technology for learning. Retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/standards/tools-resources/essential-conditions
ISTE (2016). Lead and transform diagnostic tool. Retrieved from: http://www.iste.org/standards/tools-resources/lead-transform/diagnostic-tool