Module 10: Activity 3: Planning for ICTs in your school

SWOT Analysis

Strengths: Ø  Two educators are presently enrolled in the ICT integration in schools programme at COL Ø  A few other educators have done a bit of training in Information Technology Ø  Fully functioning labs- one for IT, one for EDPM Ø  One fully functioning access centre Ø  Students from 2nd to fifth form have tablets - government grants Ø  All educators have laptops – government grants Ø  Departmental basic training in ICT integration Ø  ICT management team has been established Ø  Access to Hot spots and LAN internet Ø  EMIS system stores all the necessary information for the school’s population Ø  A software report making has been in use for about two years now Ø  School purchased a portable projector at the start of the term Ø  Younger educators are eager to learn how to integrate ICT in their lessons Ø  Drafting of an ICT Policy

Weaknesses: Ø  Lack of interest in the use of ICT by some educators especially the older ones Ø  Not enough time for training sessions for teachers during school hours Ø  No data backup system Ø  Under-use of Education Management Information System (EMIS) Ø  Under-use of individuals who are qualified to aid with the integration of ICT Ø  Internet access not available in all classrooms Ø  Slow internet connectivity Ø  Basic infrastructure for ICT not available in the regular classrooms Ø  Inadequate security Ø  Curriculum does not incorporate ICT Ø  No internet access in the secretary’s and principle’s offices Ø  Only the access centre can be used by other teachers Ø  No system server Ø  Free antivirus software installed on the computers which has failed on a number of occasions Ø  In most subject areas, chalk and talk dominates Ø  School has no ICT Policy

Opportunities: Ø  Professional development sessions onsite and  off-site to introduce the ICT integration Ø  Scholarships to pursue ICT training at OAS during the summer Ø  Free online Intel training sessions Ø  Plans to develop a learning centre in one of the available classrooms Ø  A phased-in approach for ICT integration in the different disciplines Ø  Plans to allow parents access to their children’s academic records online Ø  Plans to start formal ICT integration training in Mathematics, English, IT and Home Economics in February 2014 Ø  Development of school’s  ICT policy

Threats: Ø  Resistance to change Ø  Theft of ICT tools Ø  Not getting upgraded internet Ø  Vandalism Ø  Loss of digital data

Key ICT related themes that recur at our school:

Ø  The need for the installation of basic infrastructure in the classrooms

Ø  ICT integration training for teachers

Ø  The lack of proper security system

Ø  Plan to use EMIS to its fullest potential

Ø  The need to upgrade the internet speed and making it accessible in every room on the school’s plant

About our school’s alignment between the general vision and its ICT-specific vision:

School’s Vision

Our vision is to develop a process of active cooperation and mutual respect among administrators, teachers, students, parents and corporate citizens as we collaborate to create and nurture an educational environment to excellence and dedication to success in all our endeavours.

School’s ICT Vision

Our vision is to create and nurture a 21^st century educational environment, in which there is commitment to excellence and success in all our endeavours.

Alignment between school general vision and  ICT-specific vision

The ICT vision is an extension of the school’s general vision because it includes the idea of incorporating teaching/learning techniques to adequately prepare students for 21st Century learning and production.