Ballard SWOT Analysis

SWOT ANALYSIS

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

ALLISON BALLARD
Issues in Instructional Technology
Ballard Personal SWOT Analysis

Personal Technology SWOT Analysis, Goals and Plan

I am currently employed as a sixth grade language arts teacher in Fulton County Schools.

My primary job duties are to demonstrate knowledge of content and pedagogy, demonstrate

knowledge of resources, design coherent instruction, design student assessment, use assessments

in instruction, as well as provide innovative technological resources that adhere to 21st century

learners. My secondary duties are to encourage the use of technological resources and tools to

my colleagues. I enjoy being able to do this. This allows for teachers, who are willing to learn to

receive innovative tools to incorporate within their learning environments.

Strengths

One of my greatest strengths in education is being able to lead others and persuade others

at times to be innovative. My bachelor’s degree is in Middle Grades Education and my master’s

degree is in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Charter School Leadership. My

undergraduate coursework included Introduction to Teaching, Literacy in Teaching, Technical

Writing, and Introduction to Technology in Education. These classes only introduced me and

developed my understanding on pedagogy, and instruction. In Introduction to Technology in

Education I learned basic tools that would help me in the classroom such as PowerPoint,

Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Word. This basic introduction to these tools did not contribute to

proficiency. My graduate coursework included courses that prepared me for leadership. During

this time I took courses such as Educational Law and Instructional Technology for Leaders. This

knowledge allowed me to grasp a deeper understanding of how to use these tools. Not only did I

grasp a deeper understanding of how to use these tools but I was able to grasp an understanding

of how a leader would use these very basic type tools.

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Ballard Personal SWOT Analysis

One of the things that I believe and have accepted is the fact that technology constantly

changes. Therefore, there are always updates cause one to have constant reinforcements. One of

my strengths is the fact that I have had the opportunity to teach sixth, seventh and eighth grade

language arts and social studies. I have had the opportunity to have a deep understanding of the

content material as it relates to the various subjects. I have also had the opportunity to write

curriculum as well as various forms of assessments for the two subjects that I have had the

pleasure of teaching. This exposure has allowed for me to be a facilitator in various areas as it

relates to the development of my colleagues.

My development as it relates to technology is ongoing. This is due to the fact that

technology always changes. In my classroom we practice having 20% of instruction on paper

and the remaining 80% of instruction utilizing some sort of technology. The innovative

technology techniques we utilize in my classroom are SeeSaw, Edmodo, Class Dojo, KahootIt,

and a host of other tools. Seesaw is a composition of student driven portfolios allowing students

to capture learning with photos and videos of physical work, or by adding digital creations.

Edmodo is a website that takes the ideas of a social network and refines them and makes it

appropriate for classroom use. Class Dojo is a behavioral management tool, this is a positive

classroom management tool. KahootIt is a game-based learning tool that makes learning fun. I

utilize SeeSaw to have an electronic database that keeps record of student progress and standards

mastery electronically. Parents are also able to join in on the fun to track and monitor students’

progress as their student matriculates throughout the school year. I utilize Edmodo sometimes as

a flipped model and often times as a blended model for our classroom. When utilizing Edmodo

as a flipped model I upload valuable information prior to teaching this information and I require

that the students have summarized this information the night before learning the information so

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Ballard Personal SWOT Analysis

that they are able to have engaging conversations about the subject prior to formally receiving

the lesson. When utilizing Edmono as a blended model I will place activities on Edmodo for

students to complete while in class. I utilize Class Dojo to inform parents of positive behaviors

or negative behaviors that take place in the classroom. For example I may send a positive note to

a parent, or I may send a reminder to a parent about a particular due date. KahootIt is a tool that I

use as a form of an informal assessment. The students are allowed to complete the assessment on

KahootIt using a smartphone, tablet or computer. KahootIt even gathers data so that I am aware

of reinforcement measures that need to be taken if any.

Due to the fact that I utilize these tools throughout my classroom I am able to assist

teachers who may think that they are novice as it relates to technology and new tools. I am able

to answer questions as it relates to the functionality of different functions. Teachers who think

that they are novice are able to learn this innovation and infuse these ideas into their own

learning environments. I have been able to suggest and persuade these educators to try something

new. However, these teachers must be able to try something new and innovative and accept the

fact that we are teaching digitally inclined students who are ready for this type of learning

environment.

Weaknesses

One of my greatest weaknesses is the failure to reach all teachers and persuade them to

make a technological shift. Some teachers are afraid to use the already “ready” technology inside

their classrooms. Due to the fact that they are afraid this will prohibit them from being able to

use appropriate technology inside of the classroom. If there is no administrative “buy-in”

requiring teachers to use technology in the classroom it is a loss cause. Implementing technology

can be frightening on many levels. This may be a result of teachers fearing that they could lose

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Ballard Personal SWOT Analysis

control. Low self-efficacy could be a personal weakness. I think that professional development is

a skill needed to address certain skills because I don’t profess to know everything as it relates to

technology. Certain teachers are comfortable with instructional strategies that match what they

did and how they learned growing up. Technological tools could always seem strange to

someone who may not be comfortable using technology.

I also have weaknesses in the area of technological research. There is solid research

regarding some tech-integrated strategies I mentioned earlier. However, Larry Cuban is correct

when he states that computers have been oversold and underused. This is because teachers may

have computers in their classrooms and be unaware of how to utilize them. Infrastructure

management as well as limited IT support are all weaknesses that I endure each day.

I have attempted to overcome these technical barriers. I have to admit that I do run out of

patience for those teachers who use barriers are stopping signs instead of using barriers as

stepping stones. I would like to be able to teach all of the teachers in the school various useful

technological components to assist them inside of their learning environments. Because I am

unable to “get” to everybody I send emails packed with information and directions. Sending

emails with loads of information is a weakness as well as a bad trait because most teachers do

not read the emails and as a result valuable information gets placed in the junk folder.

Opportunity

Opportunities are endless as it relates to technology. The internet, including online

reference services, can be assumed to have virtually all the background information needed for

my students. Most students will willingly and actively engage and search for it. Combining

innovative ways and developing hybrid practices are an opportunity for students to develop

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technology expertise and gain content information and strategies that will help students to

explore the disciple I teach. Technology supplies tools for learning, but the students are in a

dynamic process that results in actual learning.

Threats

There are various threats to achieving technology at the school level. Budget constraints

causes schools to have limited technological resources. Malicious software, inappropriate

content, and viruses also all serve as threats to a technological society. Budget constraints impact

the amount of technological resources that are made available for purchase. Malicious software

or malware is a series of viruses that is used to gather information, and disrupts computer

operation. Malware types can be categorized as follows: viruses, worms, Trojans, and backdoors

seek to infect and spread themselves to create more havoc. Adware and spyware seek to embed

themselves to watch what the user does and act upon that data. Root kits seek to give full access

of your machine to the attacker to do what they want. Inappropriate content inappropriate content

includes information or images that upset your child, material that’s directed at adults, inaccurate

information or information that might lead or tempt your child into unlawful or dangerous

behaviour.

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Ballard Personal SWOT Analysis

References

Bransford, J., Brown, A., & Cocking, R. (1999). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience and
school. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Brookhart, S. M. (2007). Feedback that fits. Educational Leadership, 65(4), 54–59.
Kane, Sharon (2002) Literacy & learning in the content areas