Doug Paluch

EDT 648-302

Dpaluch73@yahoo.com

Assignment P1; Needs Assessment

1-30-02

 

To start, my school system began the technology jump around 1999-2000, and has floundered a bit in getting

it off the ground. What I mean by this is that little has been done, aside from equipment to follow up with the integration

of technology at the elementary level. There has been a big push to incorporate technology at the middle school and

high school level. This big push in the upper grades has apparently been easier because the students are more acquainted

with technology to begin with. Most or possibly all of the training in the upper level seems to be the work of our

technology director and his assistant, who just happens to be a social studies teacher with no real technology training

in his background. I hate to quote and article I used in my AR2 assignment, but it is very appropriate. “We are often in

too much of a hurry. We implement a solution, sometimes but not always the correct intervention. But we plan, very

carefully and cautiously, before making most other investments in process changes and in capital and operating

expenditures” (Robert H. Rouda & Mitchell E. Kusy, Jr.)> 

 

The Elementary school program consists of Josten’s learning program which is a reading/ math program. It is

all encompassing, and because of the lack of technology background of most of the teachers little else is done. My

thoughts are that more teachers would be prone to make more use of the technology available to them if they had the

means to understand and use it effectively. Lastly, no formal needs assessment has been produced or implemented

as of yet. That is disconcerting considering that a curriculum is being developed with little or no input from the

teachers. It is all based upon this “one program fits all” Josten’s software.

 

The following is a needs assessment that I believe would benefit the schools system and the teachers. It checks for

experience, strengths and weaknesses of existing staff member’s tech background.  The following needs assessment

is based upon what I think is a very nice and complete piece I found while browsing the Internet. I did not copy it

word for word, but did follow the format, and I used pertinent information. It can be found at the following address:

 

http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdTechGuide/appc-5.html

 

 

Hartford Public Schools Technology Needs Assessment

 

Name_______________________________________

 

School______________________________________

 

Grade_______________________________________

 

District______________________________________

 

"The purpose of the needs assessment is to make short and long term recommendations that will respond to upgrading

 needs and basic skills issues in this workplace. The information gathered from all employees will help project planners

 to develop new, on site programming that will allow people to build on the skills they already have as well as give them

 the opportunity to learn and develop new skills that they can use on and off the job." (Taken from the Madison-Edmonton

Learning Centere).

 

 

Please answer the following on a scale of 1-3

 

1)    Often

2)    Rarely

3)    Never

 

 

Background

 

Have you used any of the Following technologies?

 

  1. IBM- Compatible Computer         ____
  2. VCR                                        ____
  3. DVD/ Laser Disc Player                 ____
  4. Video Camera                           ____
  5. Digital Camera                          ____
  6. LCD Panel Display Projector       ____
  7. Fax Machine                            ____
  8. CD-ROM                                 ____
  9. Modem                                   ____
  10. Scanner                                  ____
  11. Networks                                 ____

 

Staff Experience With Technology

 

Do you use computer technology in your job for the following?

 

  1. Student Information                  ____
  2. School Management                  ____
  3. Word Processing                       ____
  4. Desktop Publishing                   ____
  5. Instruction and Tutorials            ____
  6. Internet Access                         ____
  7. Computer based testing              ____
  8. Email                                     ____

 

Student-Based Technology

 

     Are your students using the following in the classroom?

 

     1. Word Processing                          ____

     2.  Internet Access                           ____

     3.  Problem Solving                         ____

     4.  Computer Aided Learning            ____

     5.   Email                                      ____

 

Professional Development

 

     Please list any training or experience you have gained using technology.

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Implementation is by far the most crucial part of conducting a needs assessment. For the tech savvy, this will be

 an exercise that will bring hope and excitement- incorporating into the curriculum advancements to elevate student learning

to the next level. For the not so tech savvy, this may be a trial of futility. Unfortunately there are still many educators that

think the status quo is just fine. They’ve been teaching the same way for years, and making apparently large jumps to

adjust or change that may seem threatening. Often times school systems (like mine) get a full head of steam without having

the direction and ability to follow. Implementation should be careful and exacting. Administrators should have a clear and

concise plan of action. The big picture has to be thought of instead of having tunnel vision taking it one step at a time, not

sure of the outcome that lies ahead. “A Needs Assessment is a systematic exploration of the way things are and the way

they should be” (Robert H. Rouda & Mitchell E. Kusy, Jr.).

 

For a needs assessment (the first step) to occur and to be effective, it should be assumed that the stakeholders

(teachers) need to make a commitment to school improvement. This can be done by contract, or possibly by a democratic

vote. Without a commitment, teachers could have a chance to balk or drag their feet. A school-wide commitment would

result in making this assessment mandatory.  This must be school-wide plan that includes all key people to show their

support.  The assessment can take place in several different fashions. It can be a written document that would allow

teachers to answer questions at their leisure, or it could take place in the form of an interview. The latter would possibly

cause undue tension to certain people involved, especially if they have little or no experience. There should also be time

constraints as to how long educators are allowed to take in order to eliminate lack of participation, and or extended

non-response times. This small step in a series of larger steps is the building blocks by which administrators will decide

when, how, and where development will take place. It HAS to be taken seriously with full commitment from all.

 

 

Sources:

 

Rouda, and Kusy Jr. Article

 

http://www.alumni.caltech.edu/~rouda/T2_NA.html

 

Needs Assessment I used to assist my own Needs Assessment

 

http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdTechGuide/appc-5.html

 

Purpose statement taken from the Madison Learning Centere

 

 

http://www.ualberta.ca/~jls18/needs.html