Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

Matthew Rice
MEDT 8462
Technology Needs Assessment
June 24, 2018

Pertinent Information

I currently teach at Bennett’s Mill Middle School in Fayetteville, GA. We are one of five

middle schools in our district. I have been on staff for three years and am a CTAE Connections

teacher. We serve approximately 1000 students, have 65 Certified Staff members, 3

administrators, 3 counselors, and 1 media specialist. Our student demographics are: 75% African

American, 10% Caucasian, 5% Asian and 10% other/mixed races. As of March, we became a 1:1

school where all students have a Chromebook to learn with. All of the classrooms have

Connected Classroom technology that includes interactive touch panel screens and software to

allow technology- based instruction to take place on a consistent daily basis.

Assessment Process

Having been on staff for three years at BMMS, I have been able to see first-hand what

technology we have and what technology we could add to our building to be even more effective

teachers with additional Instructional Technology. I physically walked my building to take

inventory of the technology we have present. Next, I began to casually poll faculty and staff

members to see what their feelings were about the technology we currently use at BMMS.

Subsequently, I began to brainstorm and analyze what technology would benefit us if we added

additional IT to the building. Last, I created a formal survey that was based upon my

observations and casual conversations with my colleagues to see what they really thought about
Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

the IT we currently utilize at BMMS. Staff were given 10 days to respond to the survey and the

interviews I conducted were pre-arranged, so as not to ambush any of the involved parties and

take focus off of the day-to-day school operations. After the surveys were returned to me, and the

interviews were conducted and transcribed, I began the process of the needs assessment.

Technology Resources at BMMS

At Bennett’s Mill Middle School, we have in inventory 1200 Chromebooks, 100

Promethean touch panel interactive screens, 1 computer lab with 30 student use computers, 1

media center lab with 19 student use computers, 2 CTAE classrooms with 30 student use

computers, 2 special education classrooms with assistive technology for students with

severe/profound physical and intellectual impairments, and Wi-Fi present in all areas of the

building.

Stakeholder Description

I selected five people to participate in my survey and two for the interview component. I

selected 5 teachers that I have a good working relationship with, as well as them knowing I am

enrolled in the Ed.S Degree program at UWG. The teachers I selected have between 10 and 23

years of classroom experience. My administrator has 16 years of classroom and administrative

experience. All participants were female, and the demographics are as follows: Caucasian,

African American and Asian. My rationale for selecting these 5 staff members was due mainly to

the fact that I know they can and do incorporate technology into their classrooms on a consistent

basis.

Major Outcomes
 Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

▶ The ​most significant ​need that I was able to identify after conducting interviews and

surveys was that the staff feels we have adequate instructional technology, but we as a

school need better training and support on how to use and incorporate the technology into

our daily instruction.

▶ The ​second most significant ​need that I was able to deduce from this assignment was the

need for faster/more technology support for technology related issues that may arise, such

as touch panels failing, Chromebooks not working, students not being able to

access/log-in to programs/apps, and teachers not being able to access the LMS that we

utilize at BMMS.

Need Causes Consequences Difficulty to Correct

More training on how Too few staff members Teachers don’t receive proper High Level of Difficulty

to use IT more for adequate and thorough training on to Correct since

consistently in training and the IT. Teachers don’t this is tied into

classroom teaching of new incorporate in class due budget and

instruction IT. One staff to lack of funding for the

member knowledge/understanding Digital Learning

responsible for 6 of IT. Services

schools Department to

hire additional

staff members
 Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

Technology New influx of Long wait times for equipment Medium-High Level to

Support/Repai technology is to repaired or replaced if Correct. Could

r great, but when a the breakdown is possibly utilize

breakdown catastrophic students to help

occurs, support with simple tech

must be in place fixes and repairs.

to fix High Level of Difficulty

breakdowns. to Correct if

additional

Technology

Support

Specialists must

be hired to fix

technology since

this is also tied

into budget and

funding at the

district level.

Needs Explained

The most significant need that has come to light after completing this assignment has

been the need for better/more support for technology repairs/breakdowns and further
Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

training and resources available to teachers to help them utilize the technology better in

their classrooms on a consistent basis. One staff member for five schools simply isn’t

adequate now that there are hundreds of classrooms in Fayette County Schools with

Connected Classroom technology. Lack of training leads to frustration, and the

frustration leads to teachers avoiding using the technology and reverting to the traditional

methods that have been used for generations before this one. However, this generation

can’t and doesn’t relate to “old school” methods of learning. They need to be connected

and engaged to learn. After all, we have the means and resources to really revamp

teaching in a huge way. Why let lack of help be the reason the new technology doesn’t

succeed?

Action Plan (Building Level)

▶ Possible Solutions to the two main problems at Bennett’s Mill Middle School could

include: (not dependent on school board funding)

▶ Training staff and students to assist with technology support in-house

▶ Offer staff members financial incentive to give up planning time to assist with

technology support if interest is there and funding is available also

▶ Offer technologically inclined students the chance to assist with technology needs

in a class that they participate in daily, where they help teachers and students

incorporate technology into class and instruction on a consistent basis.

▶ Offer Staff Development that is tailored to what the teachers need to know/learn

the most for the most meaningful take-away of the technology. Send out surveys

before the training to make sure the most requested topics are covered
Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

▶ Break staff up into groups to maximize the time you do have with training, and

group staff into groups based on level of knowledge of the technology to

cross-train and utilize all possible “tech help” you can have

Action Plan (District Level)

▶ Add staff/personnel to Digital Learning Services Department to increase the number of

available staff to train/assist teachers with the new IT needs. Right now, 5 people isn’t

nearly enough to cover 22 schools with adequate staff and support

▶ Add staff/personnel to the Technology Department to increase the number of staff that

can repair/replace technology as it fails and needs attention to be repaired in a timely

manner

▶ Train teachers to be additional supports in their buildings with some sort of incentive to

do the training/serve as a resource.

▶ Possibly hire outside help (temporary, contracted) at the start of new school years to train

new staff on the technology of the district so all teachers are able to utilize the technology

from the onset.

Appendix

Interview Questions:

▶ What is the most significant challenge about teaching with 21​st​ century classroom

technology?

▶ What is the most significant change you’ve seen since the technology implementation?

▶ What is, if any, the most significant drawback of teaching with 21​st​ century technology?
Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

▶ What initiatives are next on the horizon for the school/district since the system has

completed its 21​st​ century technology upgrade?

▶ Is there any additional technology that you’d like to see implemented that would enhance

instruction and learning further that the school/district doesn’t already have?

▶ What training is in the works for the both students and teachers to fully help them utilize

the technology to its greatest potential?

▶ What system(s) of support will be available for the new technology for the teachers and

students, should a problem/need arise?

▶ How will you monitor the appropriate usage of the new technology?

▶ What technology would you like to have in your classroom/building that you don’t

currently have?

▶ Does the administration, district level, and school level, listen and receive parent, student

and teacher input in regard to technology needs and wants?

Interview Responses:

Q1: ​The most significant challenge is the learning curve associated with the new technology.

The most significant challenge of the new technology was acquiring it and training the staff to

use it.

Q2:

The most significant change I’ve seen since the new tech went in is the way we teach. We no

longer teach with the tech. Many times, we use the tech to do the teaching.
Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

The most significant change I’ve seen is the way that teachers connect with their kids. My

child’s teacher does a live session each night for math homework help questions. It’s a great way

for the students and teachers to connect outside of the classroom.

Q3:

The two main drawbacks I’ve experienced are the lack of training to really use and utilize the

tech to its fullest potential, and that when the tech dies or glitches, it really halts the instruction.

The most significant drawbacks are when the tech goes down and we aren’t able to fix it in

house. The delay for repair can be and is an issue we need to address somehow, be it in house or

at the county level. I also think our teachers get gipped on training. They give them crash course

training and expect overnight success. I see the need for more frequent and more in-depth

training as the teachers discover the need for help with the tech.

Q4:

Now that the county has upgraded the entire system with new technology, we’re going to spend

time refining our skills and practices with the technology. We’ve thrown a lot at our teachers the

past year, so, now we need to help them utilize the tech to their highest levels.

Being in many classrooms, the biggest initiative I see a need for is more training on the

technology. Specific training for grade levels and content areas to really use the tech to teach,

rather than as a supplement to the teaching, when that model is applicable.

Q5:

I personally think that we have plenty of tech in the schools to utilize right now. We just have to

keep up with the trends and advancements to make sure we keep using the tech how it was

intended to be used.
Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

I think we have a wealth of tech for our teachers to use in their classrooms. Now our

responsibility to them and the students we serve, is to keep them up on the latest trends and tips

to keep the tech doing the job we intend it to do.

Q6:

We have staff development planned for our new teachers and hires this coming August, so they

can become familiar with the tech we have and how to use it. For our current staff, we have

additional training to refresh and go in greater depth and detail for instructional purposes.

We are asking for additional trainers to be added or trained, be it from within the district, or

outside the district to serve as support for our teachers in regard to their technology. We are still

ironing out the details that will be finalized by Pre-Planning in late July.

Q7:

We will utilize our current Digital Learning Services Department for teacher support and

training. We will also begin offering online support through tutorials and exercises that will help

teachers gain a better grasp on their classroom tech.

We will use the DLS personnel and several teachers that have been asked to help step in as

additional supports for the technology needs of BMMS. We’re also working on creating a class

for our tech-savvy students to help with simple requests that surround the tech we have here at

BMMS, should someone need simple tech support.

Q8:

To monitor use of the tech, in an appropriate manner, we are now using a software that allows

any teacher or administrator to see a complete history of a child’s Chromebook. When they know

we can watch and are watching, they do tend to act more responsibly.
Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

We have access to Classroom Orchestrator that allows for complete search and activity listing on

each child’s computer. If ever there is a doubt, we can and do go straight for the source and can

easily confirm or deny any allegations that may be presented to admin for inappropriate use of

the technology.

Q9:

Honestly, I feel that I have plenty of technology available for me to utilize to teach with and

from. I’d just like more training to really get to know how to use it best to truly benefit my

students as much as possible.

I think that our teachers have plenty of new tech for them to utilize to teach our students. We just

need to support them through training and quick response when problems arise to ensure the

disruption to the tech learning environment is minimal.

Q10:

We take into advisement the feelings and wishes of the parents as best we can when making

technology decisions that must be implemented county-wide. We asked for input from surveys

and focus groups, and with the response that we received, we felt this technology

integration/upgrade we have just undergone was favorable for all involved stakeholders.

We do take into advisement the feelings of our parents as best we can when making decisions

that affect 20,000 plus students district wide and 1000 students school-wide. While we don’t

always see eye to eye with them all, we certainly do want our parents to have a voice and a

platform to voice any concerns they may have about the way their child is educated at BMMS.

Red—Susan Hall, Lead Technology Staff Member/Lead CTAE Teacher at BMMS

Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

Green—Aimee Gumerson, Assistant Principal/Instructional Lead Teacher at BMMS.

Survey Questions:

▶ Do you feel we have adequate technology in our building?

--Yes (x5)

▶ If you would like to add technology in our building, what would it be?

--Virtual Reality Headsets to allow for us to take our students on virtual fieldtrips

--No other tech needed from the other 4 responses

▶ Do you feel we have adequate training for the technology we have at our school?

--No (x5)

Training is always rushed and scattered and not always about what we need to know. The DLS

staff don’t have time to stop and individually work with 20 teachers in the course of an

hour’s training session. They (staff) aren’t too accessible for us to reach out to for support

at times that align for us to sit down individually.

▶ How could our building technology be improved?

--More stable technology(x5).

--Internet is too unstable and intermittent for usage with our LMS and apps. More training for

Blackboard LMS and other apps and programs we use on a day-to-day basis.

--Touch panels freeze and have issues too often. Need help updating them and making them

more stable for constant use.

Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

▶ Do you feel competent to use the technology in your classroom to teach the students

effectively?

--Yes (x2)

--Somewhat—Got the tech at semester break and feel decent about what I can do with it but

would like additional support on using it more in depth and effectively.

--No(x2)—​we just got the tech two weeks before school was out and got a crash course on how

to use it in two days after school when we’d been fighting to keep kids engaged and on

task, so we didn’t really remember anything that was useful to us and certainly won’t

remember come August when we come back to school. Plus, so of us moved classrooms,

so the tech in each room isn’t quite the same.

▶ Could training to use/utilize the technology be improved? If so, give a suggestion on how

it could be improved?

Yes! (x5)

--More people available to help train us better

--People that don’t talk the whole time in training(trainers) and let us ask questions that we need

answers to.

--Group us according to needs. Put basic with basic, middle of the road with middle of the road

and advanced with advanced. It’s not beneficial when you throw 65 of us in a room to

teach us something when there are all levels of ability in one room. Nothing gets

accomplished.

--Come to our classrooms and help us teach with the technology or show us how the tech can do

the teaching for us.

Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

--Simpler way for us to ask for tech help/more training

▶ If students don’t use their technology appropriately, do you feel that they receive

discipline consequences are fair?

No(x5)

--Students don’t receive appropriate consequences for tech violations because we don’t have

discipline in other aspects of the building. If we can’t get more egregious infractions dealt

with, tech violations certainly don’t get the attention they deserve.

--Admins are too busy doing other things or being out of the building to do anything to help us

out, so, why bother with writing them up for tech infractions?

--Three didn’t respond other than “no”

▶ Do you feel that administration, building level, and district level, listen to needs and

wants of the teachers for using in their classrooms?

Yes (x5)

--The administration has finally listened to us about needing new technology to teach the

students with. When they saw that student engagement and interest in learning increased,

they knew something good had finally happened.

--Yes, it just took too long to get the new technology in our hands

--Somewhat. I don’t know if Chromebooks are the best way to teach my kids, but, I’ll use what

they give me over the nothing I’ve had for years before this.

-Two didn’t respond other than “yes”

▶ If you have questions/concerns about the technology in your classroom, do you get the

support/help that you need?

Technology Needs Assessment of Bennett’s Mill MS

No (x4)

--Too long of a wait for help to fix broken/quirky tech in my classroom

--I’ve had broken speakers in my room for 6 months.

--My screen is slow to respond when I use the touch feature. Need it fixed. Have asked 5 times

for help, but, get very little response.

-- Need help with learning how to use it but need to be trained in a way that makes sense to me.

--

▶ Would the district benefit from additional staff and teachers that are here solely to

support the Instructional Technology that the district requires you to utilize in your

classroom?

Yes! (x5)

--If we are expected to use this technology on a consistent and daily basis, we must have

additional staff to help train and support us when and how we need it!

--Yes. We need 1 person per school for this job, not one for every 5 schools!

--Yes. One person should make this his/her sole job. They’ll never be bored!

--Yes. Provide us will colleagues that can and will help us maximize our ability to teach our kids

with the best practices available via the new tech we’ve received.

--Yes. Got to have more help to navigate the new, uncharted waters we’re in right now!