SWOT Analysis Clarkdale Elementary School By: Jennifer .

SWOT AnalysisClarkdale Elementary Schoolby: Jennifer Byrd and Rhonda Gamblin MillerESSENTIAL CONDITION ONE: EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTIONAL USES OFTECHNOLOGY EMBEDDED IN STANDARDS BASED, STUDENT CENTERED LEARNINGISTE Definition: Use of information and communication technology (ICT) to facilitate engaging approaches to learning.Guiding Questions: How is technology being used in our school? How frequently is it being used? By whom? For what purposes? To what extent is student technology use targeted toward student achievement of the Georgia Learning Standards (GPSs, QCCs)? To what extent is student technology use aligned to research based, best practices that are most likely to support student engagement,understanding of content, and transfer of knowledge? Is day to day instruction aligned to research based best practices? (See Creighton Chapters5, 7)Strengths Each classroom isWeaknesses Only 58% of teachers surveyed report thattechnology is used to showevidence of learning morethan 1 time a week with16% reporting thattechnology is used to showevidence of learning lessthan twice a month.58% reported use ofequipped withSmartBoards, LCDprojectors, 4 desktopcomputers, documentcameras, printers that areused throughout the day bystudents and teachers.WIN TVTeacher Laptops that areOpportunities New iPads purchased with TItle 1 money, 2 teachersand the media specialisthave been trained forclassroom useWe are a brand new schoolwith many modern toolsavailable. There are manyopportunities for teachertraining.Threats Teachers already feel overwhelmed without thestress of learning newtechnology.Teachers do not feelequipped to adequatelyintegrate technologyaccording to the teachersurvey.

used throughout the day.2 classrooms with 1:1ipads. One classroomteacher uses her set daily.iPad classroom setiRespond systemWireless internet that isaccessible schoolwide tostudents and teacher.2 wireless laptop carts. Thecarts are shared by K 1 and2nd 5th grades. Teacherssign up to use the carts.The 2nd 5th grade cart is incontinual use.2 computer labsThe Media Center isequipped with desktopcomputers and 2SmartBoards.Teachers use blogs tocommunicate with parentsCES has a school website.School marquee is electronic.TV located in lobby that shows presentations,announcements, andvarious information forparents and students.Students and teachers haveaccess to a plethora ofsoftware via the internet for technology for models andsimulation less than twice amonth.Students do not have access to schooldirectories when at home.The schoolwide iPad set is not setup for student use.Clarkdale ES does not have a technology coach.Although technology being use is student centered, itfalls on the low categoriesof Bloom’s Taxonomy andQuadrant A of Rigor andRelevance.CES has no technologycommittee.

engaged learning.Students have their own directories to save from anylocation.Upper grade level students produce and Star in CNN Clarkdale News Network (alive production of themorning news via closedcircuit).Student achievement ofCommon Core StandardsSummary/Gap Analysis:This year is the first year at the new Clarkdale Elementary School after losing everything in a flood 3 years ago. Unfortunately, technology has not been ahigh priority while we were displaced and at 2 different locations. Now that we are in our brand new, high tech location, there are many opportunities forgrowth. Many teachers are not comfortable integrating technology in the classroom due to their lack of technology usage.ESSENTIAL CONDITION TWO: Shared VisionISTE Definition: Proactive leadership in developing a shared vision for educational technology among school personnel, students, parents, and thecommunity.Guiding Questions: Is there an official vision for technology use in the district/school? Is it aligned to research best practices? Is it aligned to state and national visions?Are teachers, administrators, parents, students, and other community members aware of the vision?

To what extent do teachers, administrators, parents, students, and other community members have a vision for how technology can be used to enhance student learning? What do they believe about technology and what types of technology uses we should encourage in the future? Are theirvisions similar or different? To what extent are their beliefs about these ideal, preferred technology uses in the future aligned to research and bestpractice?To what extent do educators see technology as critical for improving student achievement of the GPS/QCCs? To preparing tomorrow’s workforce? For motivating digital age learners?What strategies have been deployed to date to create a research based shared vision?What needs to be done to achieve broad scaleadoption of a research based vision for technology use that is likely to lead to improved student achievement?Strengths Cobb County School district has a three year technologyplan that covers the district.Although there is not acurrent technology planaligned with the county orstate visions, theadministration desiressuch a plan.Weaknesses Clarkdale does not have a technology plan.CES does not have a technology plan nor istechnology included in theSIP.Most teachers are unaware of a county technology plan.Most teachers are unawareof ISTE standards.Opportunities With a renewed spirit of cooperation because of thenew school, there is greatpotential for increasedtechnology integrationbetween school, home, andcommunity.The administration at CES desires a technology plan.Technology is integrated into the CCS.When forming a technology committee, includeeducators, communityleaders, and parents.Seek funding for technologytraining from Partners in Ed.Threats Because of the income base of the students andtheir families, not allstudents have access to theinternet at home.Only 65% of respondents to the survey indicated thatthey felt technology plays avital role in enhancingstudent learning.Decreased presence ofbusinesses in theClarkdale area due to theeconomy

Summary/Gap Analysis:While our school does not currently have a technology plan and the teachers are under informed of technology standards, our administration seeks growthin this area. A great percentage of our staff is open to more technology integration. CES relies heavily on the county for training and funding; assistance fromPartners in Education would be beneficial.ESSENTIAL CONDITION THREE: Planning for TechnologyISTE Definition: A systematic plan aligned with a shared vision for school effectiveness and student learning through the infusion of ICT and digital learningresources.Guiding Questions: Is there an adequate plan to guide technology use in your school? (either at the district or school level? Integrated into SIP?) What should be done to strengthen planning?Strengths Cobb County has a district wide technology plan.Technology use is encouraged through thesupport of monthly staffmeetings.There are schedules for student use of technologylabs and carts.The Media Specialist isavailable forco planning/teaching inWeaknesses There is no school wide technology plan at CES.There is no technology teacher on campus.There is no technology coach on staff.There is not a technologycommittee.Opportunities Current administration and some teachers are open tothe use of technologyintegrated learning.Quarterly team planning days could be devoted totechnology training.Have teacher mentors thatare comfortable withtechnology integration intheir own classroomssupport staff members whoThreats Teachers are unaware of technology standards.Time and Support even though one staff meetingeach month is devoted totechnology exploration,there are no requirementsto ensure classroomintegration.Teachers are overwhelmedwith the integration ofCommon Core Standards

lessons involvingtechnology.are less comfortable.and overcrowdedclassrooms.Summary/Gap Analysis:Our school is not currently meeting our students’ technology needs. However, our leadership is aware of this and is actively working to bring us into 21stCentury learning. The school would greatly benefit from a technology coach, teacher and committee.ESSENTIAL CONDITION FOUR: Equitable AccessISTE Definition: Robust and reliable access to current and emerging technologies and digital resourcesGuiding Questions: To what extent do students, teachers, administrators, and parents have access to computers and digital resources necessary to support engaging,standards based, student centered learning?To what extent is technology arrange/distributed to maximize access for engaging, standards based, student centered learning?What tools are needed and why?Do students/parents/community need/have beyond school access to support the vision for learning?Strengths Clarkdale ElementarySchool has 2 wireless cartsWeaknesses There is no printer accessfrom the iPads or laptopOpportunities School administration andteachers should allowThreats Necessary funds tomaintain and improve the

with 16 computers each.The school has 1 set of 30iPad for teacher checkout.Two classrooms have 1:1iPad access.Fifth grade has a class setof 24 Kindles.The school has 2 labs withcomputers, SmartBoard, anLCD projector, and aprinter.The media center has 32computers.All PK 5 classrooms have 4new computers.All classrooms have aprinter.The school has LCDprojectors andassistive/adaptive devicesfor projection purposes.The school is networkedand has Internetconnectivity; 100% of ourschool has wirelessconnectivity.Students can save work topersonal directories atschool.Students have onlineaccess to Cobb CountyOnline Resources from theCobb County website athome and school. carts.Kindles are not being used because password cannotbe located.Computer labs are not currently staffed before orafter school.Not all students haveadequate technologyaccess at home. students to BYOD.Hosting a Parent Academy Workshop highlighting theimportance and usage oftechnology in education.Staffing a computer labbefore and after school forstudent and parent access. current level of technologyParent’s lack of support for technology use at home(not putting a priority onfunding home internetaccess).Teachers not using thetechnology that is available.

Summary/Gap Analysis:Clarkdale Elementary School qualifies as a Title I school and receives additional funding from this program. This funding has been used to purchase agreat deal of new technology. However, because of the lack of training and low teacher comfort level, it is not being used to the fullest potential. Additionally,with our demographics, home access to technology is low. Extended technology lab hours would greatly benefit students.ESSENTIAL CONDITION FIVE: Skilled PersonnelISTE Definition: Educators and support staff skilled in the use of ICT appropriate for their job responsibilities.Guiding Questions: To what extent are educators and support staff skilled in the use of technology appropriate for their job responsibilities?What do they currently know and are able to do?What are knowledge and skills do they need to acquire?Strengths All teachers have completed SmartBoardtraining.Our media specialist staysabreast of currenttechnology and is willingand able to assistclassrooms teachers in thisarea.Weaknesses Teachers have not had adequate training on usingtechnology to promotehigher order thinking andhigher Rigor andRelevance.Technology use is mostlylimited to administrativeuses, data collection, andOpportunities Cobb county offers on linetechnology trainingsthrough Blackboard andAtomic Learning.Threats Teachers do not grasp theimportance of technologytraining to improve studentengaged learning.