Phase I Need Assessment Review

Kelly Meeks Kevin Scheiwe ShaWanda Williams

Table of Contents
Background..3 Needs Assessment Statement......3 Statement of Need....3 Purpose and Scope.......3 Focus........4 Data (types, sources, methods)........4 Target Dates and Timelines.....5 Resources and Budget......6 Potential Users.....6 Evaluation Plan....7 Contingency Clause.....8 Approval Plan......8 Memorandum of Agreement.........9-10

Background: Georgia Southern University offers a variety of educational and technology degrees. These degrees are offered in various settings including on campus, online, and hybrid. With the growing use of technology in the educational field, it has become necessary to provide adequate training and educational programs in this area. Although Georgia Southern offers a large offering of educational programs of varying levels, there is not a doctorate degree in Instructional Technology. Currently there are only two universities within the University System of Georgia that offer a doctorate in instructional technology. These two universities are Georgia State University and Kennesaw State, which are both located in the Atlanta area. Georgia Southern University offers a masters and specialist degree in Instructional Technology.

Needs Assessment Statement: Is there a need for Georgia Southern University to establish a doctorate in Instructional Technology?

Statement of Need: The option of earning a doctorate in Instructional Technology is limited due to the small number of colleges offering this degree through the University System of Georgia. An assessment will be conducted to decide if there is a need for a doctorate in Instructional Technology to be developed at Georgia Southern University. The areas that will be assessed are the student and educator interest in receiving the degree and employer need and interest in having employees obtain this degree. As the push for more training in the area of instructional technology increases, so does the need for highly qualified personnel in this area. A doctorate in Instructional Technology would benefit those looking for employment in the education field specifically in the areas of instructional design, research, management, alternative instructional delivery systems, and consulting.

Purpose/Scope: The needs assessment will be used to explore the need for a doctorate in Instructional Technology at Georgia Southern University. It will be based on the student population needs at Georgia Southern and in the surrounding areas.

Focus: The level 1 focus group will be college students with majors in education who are planning to obtain a doctorate degree. Another group will be educators who plan to pursue a doctorate degree. Students who are currently earning a masters or specialist degree in Instructional Technology will be the focus of the needs assessment. The Level 2 target group will consist of deans, professors, administrators, and superintendents. The Level 3 group will include the college and Board of Regents.

Data: Information to be obtained Doctorate Degrees in Instructional Technology Available through USG Doctorate degrees currently available at Georgia Southern Educators interest a PhD in Instructional Technology Graduate students interest a PhD in Instructional Technology Undergraduate interest a PhD in Instructional Technology College of Education faculty input concerning need and interest Employer need and interest Job Availability Method Database Search Research Survey/Interviews Source University System of Georgia Website Georgia Southern Website Current Educators

Survey/ Interviews Current Graduate Students Survey / Interviews Survey / Interviews Survey/Interviews Survey/Research Current Undergraduate Students College of Education Faculty Principals, Administrators, Superintendents Principals, Administrators, Superintendents

Target Dates and Timelines: Item Research current doctoral programs in Instructional Technology available in Georgia Research the current doctoral programs available at Georgia Southern University Research the current jobs available for individuals with a doctorate Selection of school systems to be used for interview and survey purposes Selection of graduate students to be used for interview and survey purposes Conduct surveys and interviews with educators in the selected school systems Conduct surveys and interviews with selected graduate and undergraduate students Conduct surveys and interviews with administrators and superintendents Compile results of interviews and surveys from educators in the selected school systems Compile results of interviews and surveys from selected graduate and undergraduate students Compile results of interviews and surveys from administrators and superintendents Create a report of the results of the interviews and surveys from all three groups Deliver final report to the Instructional Technology Department at Georgia Southern University Target date for completion October 7, 2013 October 14, 2013 October 18, 2013 October 30, 2013 October 30, 2013 November 29, 2013 November 29, 2013 December 20, 2013 January 13, 2014 January 13, 2014 February 3, 2014 February 28, 2014 March 14, 2014

Resources and Budget:

Equipment: personal computer, printer, copier, telephone for survey and interview purposes. Personal computer with internet access to research current doctoral programs in Instructional Technology available in Georgia and the current doctoral programs available at Georgia Southern University Permission from school systems to interview and survey the systems teachers, superintendents, and administrators. Time for members of the needs assessment committee (NAC) to interview the selected educators, undergraduate and graduate students, administrators, and superintendents. No additional funds have been budgeted for this needs assessment.

Potential Users: The dean and associate deans for the College of Education at Georgia Southern University can use the results of this study to provide guidance in deciding whether to establish a doctorate program in Instructional Technology at Georgia Southern University. Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as current educators, wanting to pursue a doctorate in Instructional Technology would benefit from this study if a doctorate program is created. School systems needing educators holding a doctorate in Instructional Technology will also profit from this study if the program is created. The Board of Regents, President, and members of the SACS commissions will serve as the stakeholders and decision makers of this needs assessment.

Evaluation Plan: During the needs assessment, the Needs Assessment Committee will conduct formative evaluations to monitor the study. The NAC will guarantee that all tasks are being completed on time and effectively. The collected data will be analyzed as collected throughout the needs assessment. The NAC will monitor the nature and level of communication with all stakeholders and key decision makers; Georgia Southern President, Deans, Board of Regents and SACS. The NAC will use the following criteria for the summative evaluation along with constant observation. The NA will be evaluated based upon the following criteria/checklist as completed and discussed by the NAC for each level of focus. The NAC reserves the right to take corrective action if problems arise during the NA.

Item 1 2 3 4 5 1=excellent, 2=Good, 3=Adequate, 4=Poor, 5=Inadequate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Needs Assessment Scope Focus Data Collection Types Data Collection Sources Data Collection Methods Target Dates Met Use of Equipment Use of Consumables Personnel

10 Written Final Report 11 Brief Decision Makers 12 Brief Stakeholders 13 Implementation of Results 14 Follow-Up Actions

Contingency Clause: Data collection types, sources, and methods may be modified based on the analysis of the initial data. Additional assessors and/or personnel may be added if required, as determined by the NAC. Approval Plan: The initial NA approval was granted on October 1, 2013. The phase 1 results will be delivered March 14, 2013. **See Memorandum of Agreement

Memorandum of Agreement Needs Assessment Study Georgia Southern University A needs assessment will be conducted at Georgia Southern University to determine the need of a doctorate program in Instructional Technology. The assessment will be conducted by a needs assessment committee. The obligations of the NAC include: stating the purpose and scope of the problem stating the focus of the NA collection of data analysis of data collected formative and summative evaluation of the NA The Needs Assessment Committee will conduct database searches, research, surveys, and interviews. The subjects will be comprised of current educators, current graduate students, principals, administrators, and superintendents. The obligations of these above mentioned subjects include: participation in surveys and interviews participation in focus groups This memorandum attests to the commitment of Georgia Southern University to support the Needs Assessment and to follow through with the use of its findings.

_________________________________ President Georgia Southern University

________________________________ Dean Georgia Southern University

***See following page for signatures of participants

Memorandum of Agreement Needs Assessment Study Georgia Southern University Georgia Southern Needs Assessment Participants

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