Navigate Education works with Christian Schools to provide them with annual IT Sentiment Reviews. This forms a critical piece of feedback for senior executive as they make decisions regarding the use of digital technologies in the school. Large technology investments have been made by schools over the past decade, yet schools are often unsure how effective that investment has been to improve teaching and learning outcomes, or what to do next in their journey.
An IT Sentiment Review is comprised of different parts, each important to develop a clear understanding of the current use and implementation of digital technologies.
The IT Sentiment Survey is the cornerstone of the review. Staff complete a carefully curated survey which has been in use across various Christian Schools for the last 5 years. While the survey is updated as necessary (for example, to include video conferencing feedback as a response to Covid enforced remote learning) the core survey has remained the same which allows internal trends to be monitored over time, as well as providing the ability to benchmark individual schools against an average of other schools to complete the survey.
Schools who wish to understand their use of digital technologies more deeply than a survey alone can explain choose to complete a full IT Sentiment Review. Here, the survey is complemented by interviews with key staff and focus groups representing a wide cross section of teachers and non-teaching staff. Again, these sessions must be carefully curated to allow balanced feedback from participants. Our teaching experience allows us to do this in such a way that allows all voices to be heard with equal weight.
Quantitative data received from the survey can then be validated against the quantitative data collected to develop an overall picture of the sentiment towards IT and digital technologies in the school.
And why would I need one?
Schools can expect to find significant benefit through understanding better how digital technologies are used and applied in their environment. Some specific elements include:
- How staff feel about particular technologies in use
- The effectiveness of the IT team in the delivery of support and training
- Suitability of current IT staffing levels and capabilities
- The preparedness of teachers to use technology operationally, and also to transform learning outcomes in the classroom (digital pedagogy)
- Depth of understanding of a bible-based approach to digital technology
- Device (and device management) suitability for both students and teachers
- Identification of roadblocks to the effective use of digital technology
- The effectiveness of any strategic planning
- Any communication barriers which may exist between IT / Executive Leadership / Teaching staff (with respect to digital technology)
Having a more complete understanding of these things and the way that digital technologies are used and applied in your school can provide much needed clarity and understanding around the effectiveness of IT investment and implementation. If you would like to understand how an IT Sentiment Review might be applied in your school, or would like to understand more about the process – please contact Navigate Education today.