Discussion Question 1 week 11

SWOT Analysis on Education Technologies

Larry Ratliff Jr

Strayer University

EDU 542

August 19, 2018

Introduction

Technology is very important and each and every entity should aim at ensuring that they integrate technology in their operations. In the past years, most institutions that offer education have attempted to make use of technology (Collins, 2018). There are various technologies that have been invented and already put into use in schools. However, institutions should be very keen to integrate technologies that only make learning easier and not those that distract learning activities. For instance, after the invention of iPads, most schools started using them while learning. Although the technology had its own advantages, there was no any educational benefit gained by its integration.

A chrome book is a kind of a laptop that is a bit different from the other common laptops that are used by individuals. The Chrome book is different from the other laptops because of its operating system. Chrome books use the Google operating system while the other laptops majorly use Microsoft. In the recent times, most institutions have introduced the usage of chrome books in learning activities. Research shows that chrome books have more strength in learning as compared to the weaknesses. Similarly, chrome books have encouraged career development in schools. A student who intends to major in the field of technology will have an easy time in the future (Taylor, 2015).

Study blue also is a major technology in education that is being integrated into institutions of learning. Study blue is basically an app that can be found even in phones. Teachers who use study blue in teaching create flashcards and issue them to students. The students make use of these flash cards so as to review educational material concerning the specific topic. The study blue app is in such a way as a library where students can access all the materials that they want at one point. The app has helped to improve education as it gives students a variety of information to use while carrying out their studies.

Class description

A class of students in the lower grade who majorly used iPads before the introduction of the chrome books will now be able to carry out various activities which were difficult when using the iPads and tablets. When the schools introduce chrome books for use by the students, the junior students will have an easy time in learning since chrome books are easy to use and understand. Similarly, chrome books will reduce the workload that the junior students are subjected to. Therefore, by introducing chrome books in studies the juniors will be able to have an easy time in learning and still attain education goals.

As stated above, study blues are suitable for students who are in the higher grades of education. Study blue is like a library that is majorly used by students who study complex issues. Introduction of study blues in schools of higher learning will enable the students there to have a variety of information to review from in their studies. The app also ensures that the set of educational goals are attained by making all the information accessible to all students. Students are able to access all the information concerning the topic from the comfort of their electronic gadgets. For instance, students who have the app in their phones are able to study even at their homes.

SWOT analysis

SWOT analysis of chrome books in schools

Strengths

1. Chrome books are cheap.

2. Chrome books aid in career preparation

3. Chrome books encourage student interaction

Weaknesses

1. Chrome books have limited storage

2. Chrome books are very slow

Opportunities

1. The growth of the need for using chrome books by all institutions.

2. Preference for using chrome books by students in lower grades

Threats

1. Google chrome books face competition from the other operating systems like Microsoft which have been in use from the past

SWOT analysis of study blue in schools today

Strengths

1. Study blue is easily accessible by students.

2. Study blue is easy to adapt by the students.

3. Study blue contains a variety of information altogether.

Weaknesses

1. The app is not suitable for use by students at all levels of education. It is favorable for the students in higher grades only.

Opportunities

1. The demand for the use of the app has increased greatly especially among students in upper grades.

Threats.

1. The major threat facing study blue is the privacy issue.

Chrome books and study blues have their own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. To begin with, chrome books encourage interaction among students. For examples students of a school in a state like Chicago who uses chrome books are able to communicate and interact with other students who are in a state like Texas. The student interaction is very important in learning as it creates a conducive environment for learning. Interactions also allow for brainstorming of ideas. Students are able to learn more education matters from each other. Therefore, chrome books should be encouraged in schools since they create a conducive environment for the attainment of educational goals (Carney, 2015).

Similarly, study blues are easily accessible by the students. Students who find it difficult to study or to complete assignments can make use of the app so as to get more informed about the specific topic. As stated above the app is just like a school library but in electronic form. As in it is a review tool. For instance, when students in the upper grades are given an assignment on information technology they will refer from the app so as to get information on the topic. Alternatively, the subject teacher can send the students flashcards through the app. Students will make use of the flashcards in answering the questions asked.

However, the technologies have weaknesses too. The major weakness of the chrome book is that it is slow as compared to the other electronic gadgets that are used for learning purposes. The slow speed makes the gadget not favorable for studies. If the gadget was a bit fast in its operations, the teachers could be covering a lot of issues as compared to what they cover currently. Research indicates that the slow speed is as a result of the low storage space that the gadget has. Nevertheless, the gadget is favorable for the juniors who cover just a small portion of activities in a given session or lesson.

Moreover, the study blues are not suitable for all levels of learning. Students in the lower grades will find it hard to study using the study blues. The major reason that makes the study blues not favorable for all students is the use of complex vocabularies. The application majorly uses complex language because it is a review and reference tool in studies. Because the young students are not able to understand the complex vocabularies very few junior schools make use of the app in attaining educational goals (Tucunan, 2018). However, study blues are not completely discouraged from use in the junior schools. For instance, students in junior schools that use the application are able to acquire vocabularies and improve their study skills.

In addition, the two technologies have opportunities that they ought to exploit. The major opportunity that is common among the two technologies is the increased need for integration of the technologies in institutions of learning today. As stated above, almost all institutions of learning today want to make use of the technology. For instance, almost all public schools in Chicago today are making use of chrome books in their schools today. Other schools that haven’t attempted using the technology are on the verge of integrating it into their activities. The same also applies to study blues; the need for the integration of the technology in institutions of higher learning has increased.

Besides, the education technologies also have their own threats that should be studied early enough to avoid future problems. The major threat that is facing the technologies is stiff competition from other technologies. Competition is very common and though it’s a threat it is also an opportunity to outdo the competitors. For instance, before the inception of the chrome books, the desktops were used in schools. The chrome books for preferred then because of their nature of the operation. Thereafter, laptops that are faster have been introduced. These laptops create competition for the chrome books. Similarly, students don’t have to have reference materials but can Google anything that they want in the comfort of their phones.

Hypothetical timeline

In the first month, there is majorly the introduction of the technology to the institution. Introduction majorly entails informing the students and the staff about the technology and how to make use of the technology. In the next two months, the institution evaluates the technology that has already been introduced. The evaluation process entails carrying out extensive research about the technology. The first two steps of the adoption of the technology: the introduction and evaluation of technologies are aimed at increasing awareness about the technology. The fourth and fifth month majorly entails an evaluation of alternatives. In this step, the institution identifies other technologies that serve the same function as the identified technology and select the best technology.

In addition, after evaluating and weighing alternatives the best alternative to the institution is chosen. The chosen technology is then tested in the sixth month. The testing involves actual testing of the technology. For instance, in our case, the junior school may purchase chrome books and issue them to students and teach them how to use them. Similarly, the senior school may make use of study blues in their learning. The institution then compares whether there is any positive impact of using the technology. If there is a positive impact, the institution adopts the technology. Alternatively, if the technology doesn’t ensure the attainment of educational goals it is not adopted.

The seventh month mainly entails the adoption of the educational technology. Adoption is the decision of the institution of learning to make use of the selected technology in their activities. Adoption is done when the technology meets the expected requirements. The very last step of project implementation reviews. Reviews are very necessary for any given project as they show that there is a problem somewhere that needs to be corrected. If the technology has got some issues which if corrected may ensure that educational goals are attained, such issues are corrected in the review stage. The above stages ensure a success in project development and implementation.

Recommendations

For technology to be effective in education, there are some changes that ought to be made in the schools. To begin with, the teachers have to undergo training and seminars on technology issues. The members of staff who will be guiding the students in matters of technology should be well versed with technical matters (Ruggiero, 2015). The basic knowledge is very important since it is the same message that will be passed on to the students. Also, all students should be given equal opportunities to make use of the technologies in school. In the case of private schools, the burden of purchasing the technologies should not be left to the parents but to the institution.

In addition, schools should make use of technologies that can be used by all students regardless of their grades. This will ensure that the school incurs little costs in purchasing the technologies. For example, the school should make use of chrome books instead of study blues. This is because if a school decides to use study blues while learning, the young students will also require a technology that they can use in their level of study. Therefore, a school that has both junior and senior students should purchase chrome books. One that has only the older students should make use of study blues only.

Similarly, schools should employ technologies that ensure educational progress and not just technological progress. Though technological progress is important, in a school setting educational needs outweigh technological needs. For instance, there is no reason for a school buying laptops each and every time because a new version has been introduced. If the new version will not bring any changes in the attainment of educational goals, then there is no need of making use of the technology. Such a school that keeps up with technological changes is concentrating more on technological development and forgetting educational progress which is the main goal of any given school.

It is evident that technologies have their own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Before selecting any given technology for use the elements above should be considered. Failure to considering the elements above, the set goals of the specific organization may not be attained. Although technologies have their own weaknesses, all entities should aim at ensuring that they use technology in carrying out their activities. Application of technologies makes work easier. In a school setting, technology reduced the workload that students have while carrying out their studies. In addition, before the implementation of technology, there should be awareness, evaluation, testing and the final adoption of the technology.

References

Carney, A. (2015). Differentiation in the Classroom Using Chromebooks and Google Applications.

Collins, A., & Halverson, R. (2018). Rethinking education in the age of technology: The digital revolution and schooling in America. Teachers College Press.

Ruggiero, D., & Mong, C. J. (2015). The teacher technology integration experience: Practice and reflection in the classroom. Journal of Information Technology Education, 14.

Taylor, H. (2015). Google’s Chromebooks make up half US classroom devices sold. CNBC.

Tucunan, A., Hampp, P., & Tuerah, I. J. (2018). IMPROVING STUDENTS’VOCABULARY THROUGH FLASHCARDS AT SMP Kr. GMIM LAHAI ROI MALALAYANG. KOMPETENSI Jurnal Ilmiah Bahasa dan Seni, 5(1).