Swot Analysis, Goals and Plan
Running head: PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY SWOT ANALYSIS, GOALS AND PLAN
Personal Technology Swot Analysis, Goals and Plan
Program Final Reflection
Cathleen Carpenter
University of West Georgia
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Swot Analysis, Goals and Plan
Abstract
A short paper assessing personal technology strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
(SWOTs). In addition to the SWOT analysis, personal technology goals will be identified,
additional reflections given based on the changes and growth throughout the program, and a
personal technology plan developed for achieving those technology goals over the next five
years.
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Swot Analysis, Goals and Plan
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Personal Technology Swot Analysis, Goals and Plan
Introduction
You have probably never heard of Amit Goffer, founder of Argo Medical Technologies,
a small Israeli high-tech company. He has developed an exoskeleton suit that can help paralyzed
people walk; it is truly amazing. Nevertheless, even though the suit does the walking for you and
gives you a freedom some people like Radi Kaiof, confined to a wheelchair for 20 years, never
thought they'd have again, the technology cannot work without the human's ability to think
(Reuters, 2008). So as technology continues to meander through our educational system without
a planned course, system administrators need to remember that it isn't a magical cure-all and the
retraining, redirecting, and redefining of teacher and student thinking is what will make it
successful; I would like to be a part of that plan, magical or not.
Strengths
The strengths of technology in our schools depend greatly on the people that work there.
My greatest strength is the desire to share and help others, but it is countered by my greatest
weakness of a lack of compassion for those who do not give 100% at their job no matter what
that job is. I truly want to help others be better but they have to want it as well. My goal to be a
lifelong learner, along with a willingness to try new things and make a difference in students'
lives, helps me in my quest to incorporate technology into the classroom. Good organizational
skills along with knowledge of graphic design and photography round out my background of
technology pluses.
As I reflect on the information and strategies I have gained throughout the EdS program,
I have developed a greater understanding of the variety of technology that is available and what
is necessary to use it, as well as teach others its value. My strength has gone more from my
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interest in being a life long learner myself, to trying to stimulate and encourage that in others
through the use of technology. I have taken on a lot of responsibility at my school and been
about to share what I have learned because people know that I have been developing my
background in technology, and they see me as a resource that they haven't had previously.
With the installation of an actual computer lab at our school with a class set of
computers, I have been able to do several workshops to teach teachers how to use various Web
2.0 tools and to make them more comfortable using the computer. Our school went from only my
class using a wiki to now 15 teachers having them up and running. I was invited to participate in
a bilingual conference where I presented a workshop on a variety of techniques to make the
classroom more interactive with and without technology to 286 teachers and professors from
schools and colleges throughout Colombia. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to share
what I have learned to help others to make their classrooms better. What was good was that even
some of the simplest ideas were new to some people -- using audio recording software off the
internet, using and making podcasts, and teacher/school video downloads -- so they felt
immediately that they had something of value that was easy for them to use. Once they were
introduced to a little more in-depth projects --digital storytelling, photo essays, and adding
Web2.0 tools to their pages -- the interest was sparked for additional exploration of these topics.
By having a university program that actually gave me useable and applicable resources to the
classroom, I was able to take what I learned and actually teach it to others so that could benefit as
well. I have always said that the ideas aren't all mine, but only that I know where to find
information and how to use it and I'm willing to take others there as well.
Weaknesses
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As in any relationship, your strengths and weaknesses need to find a balance in order for
you to be successful. As an organized multi-tasker, sometimes I have to remind myself to slow
down to take the time to be sure I am on the right track to avoid frustration. Because I am
satisfied with pushing the "I believe" button on the computer when it comes to how it actually
works, I am not literate at all with programming and codes, an area in which I should have some
basic knowledge; it could help me with the annoyances of changing programs and updates that
don't seem logical.
When reflecting upon areas that need improvement or have shown improvement, I would
have to focus on trying to turn weaknesses into strengths. In the area of "does not like to play
with others" I tried to use a learning group opportunity to grow as a part of a team. It gave me the
chance to practice constructive criticism and patience in situations where the other participants
were not always on the same page or pulling their weight. Those situations help you to think
about what is really important for the assignment and what to let go because it does not bring
anything to the group dynamic, and can be addressed in a different way. It does not matter if I
always see things as black and white because there is room for a little shocking pink and caution
yellow; it is just a matter of getting the paint mixed right. Having course instructors that model
this attitude is really a plus, especially when you can tell they have distinct personalities and
expectations and yet strive to be honest and upfront with the students in a respectful manner.
Opportunity
Opportunities exist in many areas of education and some business fields for a future in
instructional technology. Depending on the size of the school district, each school may allocate
an instructional technology (IT) position, share one, or combine it with the media specialist
position; that is one option I am considering. As a classroom teacher, you can impact your
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students by having an IT background and work at a "grassroots" level to put into place disruptive
innovations; for me, option number two. An article by Mark Prensky on edutopia.com posed a
valid argument in asking, "How many of these new ways will ever be integrated into our
instruction -- or even understood by educators? If we want to move the useful adoption of
technology forward, it is crucial for educators to learn to listen, to observe, to ask, and to try all
the new methods their students have already figured out, and do so regularly (edutopia.com,
2005).
Opportunity will continue to grow as the teaching profession continues to appear
unattractive to educational professionals. According to another article complied by the staff at
Edutopia Magazine, "Half of all new educators abandon the profession within five years, costing
schools an estimated $2.6 billion annually and leaving children in the neediest areas with the
highest number of inexperienced teachers...We ask teachers to perform increasingly challenging
tasks: to teach more complex skills to high and measurable standards, and to ensure that every
child in an incredibly diverse generation learns these skills equally well; the three R's are not
enough anymore"(edutopia.com, 2008).
As each year comes and goes, so does software, .coms, and everything you thought you
knew about computers. As we continued to try to stay abreast of at least a few of the latest trends
in our field of education, opportunity will confront us with new technology challenges daily as
teachers. For me, the opportunities have increased with the knowledge that I have gained through
course instruction and assignments because the more I know, the more valuable I have become to
my employer. Because of that added value, I have been given the chance over the last six months
to attend conferences and teach workshops that have exposed me to others with other ideas I had
not yet tried and opened more doors to future possibilities. I would still ultimately like a position
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as an instructional coach through a media specialist position so that I could help students and
teachers to use technology efficiently and precisely to meet their needs. As I see more and more
of my students not getting the skills they need in actual computer classes, it makes me feel that I
would do a greater service to them by training the classroom teacher and them in turn to start
building a set of technology skills for their work and projects.
I also see a greater need for more online instruction opportunities and ways for kids to
learn and do certain projects from home. I had the opportunity to teach a fellow international
teacher how to set up a wiki for his six classes with discussions, assignments, postings, and labs
by using Skype. He didn't take advantage of learning how to use the technology when he was at
our school last year and ended up at a more advanced school with a four week break for a swineflu breakout where the administration said get your work online or you'll be teaching all summer.
That seemed to light a fire under my friend who remembered where help could be found. I tell
that story to say this: technology can be a friend and amazing tool in education but you have to
work at the relationship and not just look over its shoulder for the test answers in a pinch. I like
the idea and freedom of teaching online classes, but enjoy the interaction with real students as
well. I would like to continue to work on the opportunity of online classes with conference
possibilities with Skype and web cams or other tools so that virtual student groups could have
that classroom feel and personal interaction as part of the class.
Threats
The biggest threat to achieving most of the goals we all have for our lives is probably
time. It isn't that it is really a "threat" in that it possesses any kind of danger, but it is a rigid
entity that only takes, doesn't give back, and may leave you with regrets for what you did with it.
One threat that may appear at this stage of many of our lives is money, or the lack thereof. Most
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goals take money to achieve and you have to decide what you are willing to sacrifice. Albert
Einstein wrote that, "If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things"
(thinkexist.com, 2006). I think he is right; the people and things will benefit more if you are
happy than if you are compliant.
As the end of using all my time and money for another degree draws to an end, I am
looking forward to time to explore other avenues. The biggest threat that comes at the end of any
program of study is the need to always be on top of what's coming down next so that you are
prepared. If you are not in a class or studying, you need to self-regulate yourself to continually
look into something new or to learn a new program. Personally I feel threatened by those
programmers that constantly think that newer is better, case in point, Windows Vista. I hate it
and have to force myself to know how to navigate it because it is on all the new computers. "If it
isn't broke, don't fix it" works for me, but I cannot rely on that adage because technology
marches to a variety of drummers and educators need to be in the band. Can there still be
teachers today that still manage to avoid all technology and still do what they did 10 or 20 years
ago? It is entirely possible and that is a threat to our students' ability to be a part of a global
society. If their only connection to technology and the rest of the world is a Facebook® account
we are letting them down as educators.
Personal Technology Goals and Plan
If I asked my ninth or tenth grade students last year to write a list of their personal
technology goals it would probably include the following: get broadband internet; buy an Ipod
and Wii; subscribe to an on-line gaming network; update my Facebook page; prove to Mrs.
Carpenter that I do know what a podcast and Wiki is. Needless to say, goals and technology
mean different things to each person. This year my 11th and 12th grade students are already so
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much farther ahead because of their own desire to use technology that we are doing digital
stories, using Moviemaker, and hopefully creating electronic portfolios. One senior project is
specifically about updating the school website to be more user friendly, inclusive of all the
subjects, and to have a variety of information accessible to parents and students. For me, the
completion of a specialist degree in IT is just one step further in developing myself as a teacher
and resource person for whatever school I'm at. I would still like to move from the classroom to a
media specialist/IT position in a middle school but continue in the international teaching circuit
if possible. Depending on what country you are in, the technology opportunities can be a lot or a
little but that only makes you rise to the challenge.
In my job, I will continue to strive to be a resource for educators as well as set-up and run
professional development opportunities for teachers in areas of technology that interest them. I
have already worked with my current administration to revamp the standardized testing
implementation and evaluation based on knowledge gained in the research and evaluation
courses, as well as the diffusion of innovations change models. Evaluating the technology plan of
the school with the administration to see where disruptive innovation opportunities exist, and
then setting up strategies to develop those has been something I have been able to apply
immediately with workshops and restructuring the curriculum in the computer classes. Finally, I
will continue to learn more about technology, especially developing on-line classes and seeing
how this technology develops.
The plan for the next five years for me after finishing the instructional technology degree
is to stay abreast of the changes and developments in the school systems will allow for a clearer
picture of where to look for opportunities. After my husband completes his education degree
next summer, we plan to apply to other school districts where there is a higher level of
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technology usage and a desire to continue to advance in that area. I will be looking to promote
my experience with technology and the classroom to find a position that is more of a resource
and support personnel than classroom teacher. Continued education in various aspects of
technology will always be a given for me.
Harrison Central High School in Gulfport, Mississippi, is one model of what
disruptive innovations can do at a school when the buy-in and support is at all levels (Curtis,
2003). It embodies what Clayton Christensen says in chapter five of Disrupting Class, How
Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, in its efforts to develop studentcentric learning using technology. (Christensen, 2008) Their technology director brings it home
when she says that, "We're not playing with toys for the sake of playing with toys. What we're
doing is actually meaningful ... and it's going to make an impact on the people and the population
and the community that we're around."(Curtis, 2003) That is the type of attitude and environment
I would like to be a part of and have directed my goals toward.
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References
Christensen, C. M., Horn, M. B., & Johnson, C. W. (2008). Disrupting class: how disruptive
innovation will change the way the world learns. New York, New York: McGraw Hill.
Curtis, D. (2003, April 1, 2003). A change in attitude: incorporating technology in the classroom
gives curriculum a boost: The creative use of remote controls gives this class a renewed
spirit for learning. Retrieved August 27, 2008, from http://www.edutopia.org/changeattitude
Prensky, M. (2005, December 2005). Adopt and adapt: shaping tech for the classroom: twentyfirst-century schools need twenty-first-century technology. Retrieved August 30, 2008,
from http://www.edutopia.org/adopt-and-adapt
Reuters (2008, August 25, 2008). Exoskeleton suit helps paralyzed people walk - ReWalk helps
paraplegics stand upright, climb stairs. Retrieved August 25, 2008, from
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26391953/%20exoskeleton
thinkexist.com (1999-2006). Albert Einstein quotes. Retrieved August 30, 2008, from
http://thinkexist.com/quotations/goals/