Discussion Post - ETEC-593
Introduction
This area of my portfolio is a compilation product of important concepts I learned in the Strategic Planning for Technology Integration graduate course (ETEC 593) I took in the Spring of 2022 at Texas A&M University - Commerce. This eportfolio, I created to demonstrate the process of actions necessary to create a strategic plan for integrating technology in traditional teaching and learning classrooms.
In reading the GSES SWOT completed in 2012, one of the first things that I noticed was that the people who participated in the one-day 8-hour session, were collaborating with each other throughout the day with the use of shared files via Google docs and Apple iPads. In addition, they participated in discussion groups throughout the process. This differs from the process that I am going through to accomplish my SWOT as part of my strategic planning technology integration because I am not currently affiliated with a K-12 academic institution in Texas, which Dr. D. prefers for this course format. So, I do not have the privilege of knowledge, experiences, and relationships that these above-mentioned people had in the GSES Technology Strategic Planning session. As a result, this is a challenge for me through this process. Although this challenge is not my preference, it is one that I will overcome.
Another observation that I made initially is that the GSES SWOT was that this process was for a private school whereas my SWOT is for a public school district. Some strengths for the school district that I am working within this course would include the commitment and dedication of faculty and staff for students’ success, openness to learning new things including newer technology, having a full-time employed technology support team ready and available to assist faculty, students, and staff, and access to professional development in technology for faculty and staff. From the GSES SWOT strength word cloud, I observed that the words in bigger print included the more relevant prioritized strengths for GSES.
Some weaknesses that my school district has included a lack of time for necessary training during the workday, different teaching styles of faculty, lack of faculty experience/skills with incorporating technology into teaching pedagogy, and bandwidth issues. The biggest weaknesses I observed in the document word cloud included time, and training, which I noticed had numerous listings of each in the above list from participants.
Some opportunities from my school district include online learning availability, professional development opportunities, collaboration from various outside academic higher educations and businesses, and online textbooks and resources. From the attached discussion file word cloud for opportunities, for me, it was a bit more difficult to observe huge differences in highlighting of priority opportunistic words, but collaboration, resources, eBooks, digital, and parents were of emphasis from above.
Some threats from my school district include lack of adequate funding for optimal learning technology, competition from other school districts, outside distractions easily available such as social media, texting, cyberbullying, and lack of technology resources by families outside of school. From word cloud, cyberbullying and families in larger print were emphasized, and ALL CAPS words LACK and FUNDS, which are also highlighted.
Discussion-3 SWOT Analysis
Reflection
This discussion post was a challenge to me. Although I had heard of and used SWOT analysis in previous academic workplace settings, it was neat to learn from this experience in a true learning environment. Through the process of strategic planning, the SWOT analysis is a tool that is used to look at Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This is done by determined groups of people collaboratively to better understand their organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to then take action and necessary measures to address the above-mentioned for the overall improvements of the organization. I am glad that I was able to explore this method again in a learning environment so that moving forward in my career, I will be better informed and equipped to participate in such strategic planning methods. I look forward to my future endeavors.