5.1 Needs Assessment
Candidates conduct needs assessments to determine school-wide, faculty, grade-level, and subject area strengths and weaknesses to inform the content and delivery of technology-based professional learning programs. (PSC 5.1/ISTE 4a)
Artifact: Individual Teacher Technology Assessment
Reflection:
The artifact that I have decided to use for this standard is the Individual Teacher Technology Assessment. I created the Individual Teacher Technology Assessment during the spring of 2014 in ITEC 7460. The assessment assists teachers in analyzing their technology skills and identifies areas of focus for professional development.
Standard 5.1, Needs Assessment states, “Candidates conduct needs assessments to determine school-wide, faculty, grade-level, and subject area strengths and weaknesses to inform the content and delivery of technology-based professional learning programs.” This standard addresses the fact that the need of a faculty needs to be determined based on a survey or some other type of questionnaire. In the Individual Teacher Technology Assessment, teachers reflect on their technology skills. Administrators or technology coaches use the results of the survey to determine the technology related strengths and weaknesses of the faculty. Based on the results of the assessment, professional development sessions are determined.
From completing the Individual Teacher Technology Assessment, I learned how important it is to be completely honest when reflecting. Sometimes teacher may not be completely honest when completing questionnaires. Some maybe embarrassed to admit the truth about their technology skills. Nonetheless, in order to get an accurate view of the faculty’s skill level, it is important that staff realize the information gathered will not be used punitively. It is only going to be used as a guide to determine the focus of professional development throughout the school year.
The assignment directly impacted professional learning by determining the areas of growth for the faculty and developing professional development sessions around those weaker areas. The impact of the professional development can be assessed by administering a needs assessment at the end of the year. Hopefully, the assessment will identify different needs of growth.
The artifact that I have decided to use for this standard is the Individual Teacher Technology Assessment. I created the Individual Teacher Technology Assessment during the spring of 2014 in ITEC 7460. The assessment assists teachers in analyzing their technology skills and identifies areas of focus for professional development.
Standard 5.1, Needs Assessment states, “Candidates conduct needs assessments to determine school-wide, faculty, grade-level, and subject area strengths and weaknesses to inform the content and delivery of technology-based professional learning programs.” This standard addresses the fact that the need of a faculty needs to be determined based on a survey or some other type of questionnaire. In the Individual Teacher Technology Assessment, teachers reflect on their technology skills. Administrators or technology coaches use the results of the survey to determine the technology related strengths and weaknesses of the faculty. Based on the results of the assessment, professional development sessions are determined.
From completing the Individual Teacher Technology Assessment, I learned how important it is to be completely honest when reflecting. Sometimes teacher may not be completely honest when completing questionnaires. Some maybe embarrassed to admit the truth about their technology skills. Nonetheless, in order to get an accurate view of the faculty’s skill level, it is important that staff realize the information gathered will not be used punitively. It is only going to be used as a guide to determine the focus of professional development throughout the school year.
The assignment directly impacted professional learning by determining the areas of growth for the faculty and developing professional development sessions around those weaker areas. The impact of the professional development can be assessed by administering a needs assessment at the end of the year. Hopefully, the assessment will identify different needs of growth.