Task+5-+Student+Needs+Assessment

Task 5- Student Needs Assessment

I conducted a needs assessment survey to assess student usage of technology in three different teacher’s classes. The students that participated were in fourth or fifth grade. There were a total of 23 students that completed the survey for me. I used Survey Monkey to create and administer my survey to the students. As a result of losing my job a few weeks ago I was not able to administer the survey to the students myself so I sent the link to the three teachers that I am working with and asked them to have 5-10 students from their class take a couple minutes to fill out my survey. Although every student did not fill out the survey I think the information that I gathered accurately represents the majority of each class . My survey consisted of 7 questions, 4 multiple choice and 3 short answer questions. The questions focused on the use of technology in the classroom, including: frequency of use, comfort level, type of technology used and what kind of technology they would like to use. To see a copy of my needs assessment survey that the students completed, click on the following link: [|Student Survey] The link takes you to a previewed version of my survey, you are not able to complete the survey from this link.

After my survey was completed I found a wide range of results among the students that participated. Out of the 23 students, 39% are in 4th grade and 60% are in 5th grade. When students were asked how comfortable they are with technology, about 52% said they are very comfortable, about 43% said they are somewhat comfortable and only 1 student, 4%, said they are not at all comfortable with using technology. I think the comfort level with technology is a direct result of how often these students use technology in the classroom. The results from the question about frequency of using the computer/internet in school showed that about 43% used technology a few days a week, while 17% use it every day, 39% use it one day a week and no one said they do not use technology at all while at school. The last multiple choice question referred to the CPS Clickers. The results showed that 100% of the students that participated have used the clickers in their class.

The short answer questions required students to list some technology they use in school and at home, as well as listing some technology activities that they would like to do in their class. Some of the technology that is used in the 4th and 5th grade classes include: type to learn, logo path, Microsoft Office, math games, Clickers, Pixie, FASST Math, United Streaming and Kidpix. All of activities listed allow students to become actively involved in their learning. Some of these programs students can do on their own like Type to Learn and FASST Math, while other programs like Microsoft Office help to enhance different activities that are done in the classroom. The technology that is used outside of school by most of these students includes TV, laptop/computers, video games and I-Pods. Although these may not be educational they show that students are still using some of the 21st century technology outside of school.

The last question that was asked in my survey was what kind of technology activities would you like to do in your classroom. This question allowed me to see what the students are interested and will be very helpful when making my recommendations. Some of the technology activities that the students said they would be interested in doing are making a power point/brochure, more clicker activities, use podcasts or pixie, or make a website. All of these ideas could be very beneficial in the classroom and would enhance the learning that is done in the classroom.