Needs Assessment Results Allen Frear Technology Initiative Nicole Schaefer
1. What types of technology are currently available for use in your classroom? All 10 respondents stated they had a Smart Board, Document camera, 3-4 student laptops, their own teacher laptop, and a printer. 2 teachers mentioned they had a listening center with a CD player and four sets of headphones, as well as an amplifier system with a teacher microphone that connects with speakers in the classroom. 1 teacher mentioned a Flip video camera that she has in her classroom. 2. What types of technology are currently available for use in your classroom? Every single respondent stated they used their Smart Board and laptops daily with the kids.
How comfortable are you with using available classroom technology?
How comfortable are your students with using the technology in your classroom?
In what subject area(s) are you most likely to use technology?
How do you think using technology in the classroom will positively impact student achievement? It helps to keep them engaged by being interactive and similar to how they communicate with their peers (It’s) more visual and more interactive for students. (Students can) practice skills needed for success and keeps student interest therefore they are more likely to pay attention and learn. It allows them to practice skills at their own level and pace. It also allows them to learn how to find information and learn how to navigate through a lot of information to find what they need. I think it makes the learning more engaging and interesting when used appropriately. In our world where everything is based mostly on technology, the students are able to relate to, understand, and learn how to effectively use technology inside and outside of school. Engaging to students, ability to use materials at different levels on same topic.
How do you think technology use in the classroom might negatively impact student achievement? Kids don’t really know how to study something and research in a library because they have the world at the palm of their fingers. They tend to believe anything they read and there are so many sites that are do not have good information. They don't have to know how to have conversations anymore because they can type anything and not have to deal with the repercussions of what has been said. A lack of enough resources (ie laptops) make it tough for all students have ample opportunity to access technology. There are not enough classroom laptops. 4 per 30 children :( We also have connection problems when a large amount of students are signing in at one time. It does not allow enough time for research due to so much time being eaten up waiting for connections. Computers on Wheels are great but usually only 1/2 are working and never seem to get fixed until the end of the year so. You also need to sign up for the cows. We need more availability in our classrooms. Sometimes student computers are used as busy work and time fillers and if not monitored students are not on task. I think that students may not take their learning as seriously as they should when using technology. They see it more as a game than a learning tool.
Describe how you think technology integration will effect student engagement. It is a tool to use to keep them engaged as well as entertained They love the opportunity to use technology and it keeps them engaged for longer amounts of time. Computers are a tool they already use and love it. It makes learning more meaningful and fun and you can easily differentiate instruction without everyone else knowing what level you are on. So much more engaging! I think if we use technology on a daily basis in an appropriate and correct way it will make students more engaged. If we show video clips that go along with our lesson it can make the lessons more interesting, especially for the visual learners. This is the trend. Student have the ability learn the needs and apply the skills. I think that by allowing for more technology in the classroom students will be more engaged and excited about the learning that is happening. Better engaged while using it, but can draw lack of engagement from other non technology tasks.
What are some technologies that you would like in your classroom that are currently unavailable? All 10 participants stated they wanted iPads in their classrooms. 4 participants wanted more student laptops because there are not enough. One stated they would like smart responders. One stated they would like a web camera for their Smart Board so that they can use Skype to connect to classrooms in other countries.
Are you willing to attend professional development training to learn a new classroom technology? All respondents stated Yes!