Conducting an in-depth analysis of your technology needs–whether it be for the classroom, the whole school, or for the district-is part of a larger program evaluation effort. Historically, implementing technology for technology’s sake without regard for how the use of the technology will be integrated with the curriculum has failed.
The lesson learned from past technology implementation efforts is that a technology needs assessment is more effective when the analysis is based on curricular goals and available resources.
Available resources includes not only existing hardware and software, but also the capacity to acquire funds for infrastructure building, to provide on-going professional development programs for the teachers who will be using the technology in their classrooms, and to inform the administration about educational uses for technology that support systemic reform.
A needs assessment may occur at various levels of the organizational structure. The planning committee should decide, based on their goals and resources, the extent to which the technology will be infused into the daily operation of the classroom or school. Technology plans typically categorize technology implementation needs into two broad categories: administrative technology needs and instructional technology needs.