5.

1 Needs Assessment
Candidates conduct needs assessment to determine school-wide, faculty, grade-level, and
subject area strengths and weaknesses to inform the content and delivery of technology-
based professional learning problems.
Reflection:
The Teacher Technology Assessment was completed to assess the use of technology by
one teacher using the LoTi and Adopter-Level surveys that developed. This interview
and assessment was done to gain further insight into their thoughts about technology
coaching and affective perceptions of technology. A tour of the teacher!s classroom was
done was to assess the access she had to technology. "nce the data and the tour were
complete a narrative was written about the e#perience.
$tandard %.&, 'eeds Assessment establishes the e#pectations for conducting a needs
assessment 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 artifact demonstrates my ability to conduct a survey that
assesses the technology needs in a classroom and to use two different frameworks to do
so. (y conducting an interview with a teacher, was able to gather their perspective on
technology in the classroom and determine their accessibility to technology. t also gave
me the opportunity to derive my thoughts and ideas on coaching and mentoring. "nce the
survey and interview were complete, then began the process of listing the technology-
training needs that would need to be able to be a successful coach and mentor to the
teacher. "nce all of this was completed and analy)ed a coaching schedule was arranged
and the needs assessment was used to determine the needs in the classroom and guide
the coaching assignment. "n the tour of the classroom, which was the ne#t step,
developed a needs assessment for what and the teacher considered her biggest
technological needs to enhance her students! learning. All of these tools together* the
survey, the interview and the tour provided valuable information for use in putting
together the list to inform the +rincipal of true needs that would advance these students!
knowledge using technology. This then enabled this teacher to obtain the needed
technology that would benefit her and her students the most when teaching and learning
math. (y creating the needs assessment this classroom truly became the picture of
success by simply adding an ,L-" projector to the class so the teacher could have
complete view of her students when working math problems without having her back to
them.
Completing this needs assessment was a very meaningful e#perience for me. .rom this
e#perience, learned how to objectively conduct and analy)e the technology needs of a
teacher and her classroom. This allowed me to take create and conduct a survey along
with an interview when trying to obtain a true picture of what a teacher!s needs are when
trying to better her classroom through technology. "nce the assessment was complete,
then being able to take this and inform administration of the needs and strategies that
would best help and enhance this teacher!s classroom made me feel that even though
mentoring/coaching is a challenge, it is well worth the work when difference are mad and
goals are reached.
This needs assessment really provided me with the confidence need to feel that could
become an effective coach in a school. (y developing the needs assessment and then
using it to put together a plan to aid in the betterment of the classroom was a very
effective tool that every coach or mentor should use. The process from beginning to end
would be beneficial for developing a school or district plan for technology improvement
as well as the classroom. learned that the simplest of assessments can truly pinpoint
needs that will make a difference when done effectively and for the right reasons.