Running head: LEARNING NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Learning Needs Assessment and Survey Results

Lisa Cantwell

Grand Canyon University

TEC-544

December 12, 2018

LEARNING NEEDS ASSESSMENT 2

Survey

1. What is your skill and comfort level with the following technology? *
1 = Not comfortable 5 = Very comfortable
1 2 3 4 5
Google
() () () () ()
Classroom
Google Docs () () () () ()
Google Forms ( ) () () () ()
Google Slides ( ) () () () ()
Sharing Google
() () () () ()
Docs
Displaying
online content ( ) () () () ()
to students
Using digital
() () () () ()
Wonders
Assigning
() () () () ()
digital Wonders
Using
Chromebooks ( ) () () () ()
in classroom
2. Preferences on professional development topics? *
I'm not interested I'm mildly interested I'm very interested
Google Classroom ( ) () ()
Google Docs () () ()
Google Forms () () ()
Google Slides () () ()
Sharing Google
() () ()
Docs
Displaying online
() () ()
content
Using digital
() () ()
Wonders
Assigning Digital () () ()
LEARNING NEEDS ASSESSMENT 3

I'm not interested I'm mildly interested I'm very interested

Wonders
Using Chromebooks ( ) () ()
Creating a word
() () ()
document
3. A technology topic you would like to learn more about? *
4. What format would you like to learn this information? *
o [ ] Professional development staff meeting

o [ ] Planning time
o [ ] Small group
o [ ] 1:1 setting
5. When do you prefer meeting? *
o [ ] Morning staff meeting

o [ ] Thursday after school planning time

o [ ] Before school
o [ ] After school
6. Recent professional development experience?
7. Recent professional development outcome? *
1 2 3 4 5

( ( ( (
Didn't learn much ( ) Learned a lot
) ) ) )
8. How did the most recent professional development improve your teaching or skill? *
9. How does your professional development improve student learning?
10. Any technology tool you would like to implement in the classroom but will need further
professional development?

Summary of Results

The results from the survey were gathered from eleven colleagues who participated in the

survey. From the results, the skill and comfort level varied by technology tool. Teachers were

very comfortable with using Chromebooks in the classroom, four teachers were very comfortable

while 7 were in the mid-range for comfort level. Teachers were also very comfortable and
LEARNING NEEDS ASSESSMENT 4

skillful with Google docs. Three teachers were very comfortable while five teachers were at the

mid-range for comfort and skill level. There were two teachers who were at the lower range for

comfort level but knew a little about it. Teachers’ results showed that there was a lower comfort

or skill level with Google Forms, Google slides, displaying online content to students, using

digital Wonders, and assigning digital Wonders. The most need was assigning digital Wonders

content to students with the lowest level of comfort being at six who were not comfortable using

this technology.

The results for teachers’ preferences for professional development topics showed that

teachers were interested in assigning digital Wonders content and using Chromebooks in the

classroom. Teachers did not show an interest in creating a Word document, using Google docs

and sharing Google docs. This may be that teachers are already familiar with these document

tools.

When asked, teachers shared a variety of topics they would be interested in learning

about. Three teachers wanted more information on our reading program Wonders and how to

post the Wonders content in Google Classroom. Another need showed that many teachers were

interested in Google Classroom, with five teachers sharing a need for more information. When

asked what format teachers would like to receive professional development, over half responded

that they would like to meet in small group with 54.5% saying this is their preference. The next

preference was a professional development during the allocated staff meeting time with 36.4%

saying this was their preference. After reviewing the information for when teachers would prefer

meeting, four teachers chose morning staff meeting and four teachers chose before school as

their choice. From the results the preference is to have the meeting in the morning.
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Most teachers had their latest professional development experience in our ST Math

program with over half saying it was their most recent professional development. Most stated

they learned a great deal of information, with two teachers saying they learned a lot and six

teachers saying they learned information from the professional development. Only a few said

they did not learn anything from their most recent training.

From the responses for how professional development improved their teaching, the

survey showed that teachers felt empowered. Responses ranged from being able to support their

students’ needs, learning how to access resources to plan lessons, and being able to use the math

program as a teaching tool rather than just as a math game. One takeaway was that the teacher

was able to understand the technology to be able to explain the new technology to the students.

The responses for how their training improved student learning showed that the majority

of teachers stated they apply what they learn in their teaching. They also felt with this important

information, they are more prepared to teach their students. One response said it all: “the more I

know, the better I am able to teach my students”. The results showed that with teachers

understanding the information, they feel they can be better teachers.

When asking teachers what they would like to implement in the classroom but would

need further professional development, a few teachers replied that they would like to learn more

about Google Forms and another replied Google Slides. Another teacher would like to be able to

share information and videos to their students using their computer and projector.

After reviewing the survey, the results gave me an insight into the needs of my

colleagues. It allowed me to also see the varying levels of comfort for the teachers who

participated in the survey. A short-term technology goal that could be created for the staff would
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be to show teachers how to use Google Classroom to assign content. The goal would be for

teachers to explore and add an assignment to Google Classroom for students to access.

Creating the survey and using the data from the survey has allowed me to understand the

needs of the teachers at my school site. By understanding their preferences and asking questions

to determine their ability level, I can work together with them to implement a plan of action to

further their technology understanding. This has also shown that teachers are at varied levels of

ability and without a needs assessment to determine their goals, the professional development

will not be effective. This is a useful tool for any professional development session. By

determining this information, I can be a more effective coach.