Date

Summer 2023

ESRP 9000 Professor

Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.

Executive Summary

This strategic research project was designed to analysis and evaluate the need for professional development through establishing workshops using technology tools. The Savannah State University GEAR UP Program is a federally funded pre-college program designed to bridge the gap between low socioeconomic students and college enrollment. GEAR UP is based on a model of providing services to an entire grade cohort, and grantees are required to offer services to all students in the target grade. After an extensive examination of the internal and external factors through the process of a SWOT analysis, it was revealed that the critical issue facing the GEAR UP program was the critical need to implement professional development.

To address this issue, technology integration was selected from four alternative solutions after careful review of literature reviewed to evaluate the impact of each alternative. Increasing the organization technological capacity and establishing workshops with technology tools were the two strategies selected to implement this solution. Utilizing the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix tool (QSPM), establishing workshops with technology tools was selected as the strategy after receiving the highest total attractiveness score (TAS) of 5.01 when rated for its appeal or attractiveness against the internal and external factors.

An action plan was developed and outlined the action steps required to effectively implement this strategy. These steps included (a) presenting a funding proposal to the Savannah State University Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment for technology tools purchasing buy-in, (b) developing a customized curriculum for the workshops with technology tools, (c) connecting with the Savannah State University Information Technology (IT) department to establish a time to set up the technology tools, (d) evaluating the workshop curriculum through a quality assurance (QA) process, and (e) hosting the workshops. The findings from the literature reviewed for this strategic research project provided a strong basis to support establishing workshops with technology tools to increase the professional development capacity for the GEAR UP Program.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Language

English

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