Technology, Leadership & Change S13: Grant Proposal/Beginning of Technology Initiative

Needs Assessment

After my first year of teaching, it has come to my attention that students miss many learning opportunities because they lack the support or resources needed to help with their success. One of the biggest resources in the students’ lives is technology. Kids today are growing up in a paperless world. In order to better retain new material, they need to be given the information in a way that is relatable to them. In my classroom there are ten students facing some type of varying learning disability. After talking with fellow teachers, the conclusion was reached that a classroom set of iPads would be very beneficial for these students

Specific target problems include:

Not turning in assignments
Lack of material comprehension
Staying focused during class

Previous actions taken deal with the target problems

Ability grouping--Students broken up into groups based upon performance.
Modifications such as relocation (sitting next to the teacher), creating a daily planner, and adjusted homework assignments.
Computer lab assignments--Playing educational games to increase knowledge level

The school where I teach has two computer labs, each with twenty-five computers. There are 360 students ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade. It is challenging to schedule a day in the lab since there are very few computers available. Students better understood concepts learned during time in the computer lab. Test scores improved as well as retention of material. Having access to an independent learning device for each of the students would help to more easily deal with individual needs. Daily use of technology will help the students continue to learn new information and overall increase their grades.

One struggle with this class is to reach each of the different learning styles. Having iPads available for these students would help to deal with this issue. Kinesthetic learners would constantly be engaged with applications that deal with different material. Auditory learners would have the opportunity to listen to different videos or presentations. Visual learners would have vivid images to assist learning taking place. In math, iPads would be great to display examples and make real-world connections like building bridges or paying interest when buying cars. It would be beneficial for the student to have access to different applications in order to learn the content.

Goals/ Objectives

Using technology to increase comprehension and memorization of basic mathematics, creating a positive and successful classroom environment.

Provide goals within specific iPad applications.
Allow students to work towards these goals, adjust the learning plan, and determine best course of action for future success.

Help students meet the Common Core Standards in math, by teaching them to think more abstractly and solve word problems.

Provide the students with programs designed to stimulate the creative process.

Develop and enrich technology skills, as defined by the National Educational Technology Standards for Students.

Daily iPad use will allow students to be familiar with technology used in the world around them.
Assist the students with questions regarding iPad use as well as use of the applications/websites.

Use technology to help the students make real-world connections with math concepts.

Find programs related to common scenarios. For example, creating buildings and bridges, determining taxes, and calculating area and perimeter.

Encourage student collaboration to create success and motivation within themselves.

Assign group projects to encourage teamwork.
Create follow-up discussion boards for the students which they can access from their iPads to discuss classroom activities.

To help the students learn responsibility by doing their work on something that is personally theirs

Teach the students iPad care.
Give students a sense of accomplishment by providing them with their own technology system.

Sample Applications/Activities

THINK THROUGH MATH--An online program that takes students through lessons designed around the content standards. Teachers can modify what students learn and create pathways specific for student achievement.
Geometer’s Sketch Pad--Students draw shapes in the program to see relationships and properties.
Sumdog--Games that deal with basic math operations like multiplication and division, percents, and fractions.
Applications such as Mathmeteer, Graphing Calculators, and Tessellations

Table B: Timeline of Implementation

Week 1	Faculty training offered by Apple for proper use of iPads and accessories. Develop lesson plans incorporating iPad use.
Week 2	Distribute Policies, Procedures, and iPads to students and administer some type of pretest on material that will be covered using iPads.
Weeks 3-4	Follow lesson plans and introduce applications to students. Weekly meetings among teachers to determine benefits/ weaknesses of having iPads. Fill out individual reflection forms.
Weeks 5-6	Continue to implement iPads and record results (progress, loss, student behavior)
Weeks 7-8	Student reflection/survey on whether or not iPads are promoting learning.
Weeks 9-11	Adapt learning plan based on student evaluation. Continue full time use of iPads with new plan.
Week 12	Finish up with a reflection between teachers and students and posttest on material covered. Analyze data and list benefits and outcomes for having iPads in the classroom.
PAST WEEK 12	Each teacher chooses how to individually use the iPad in his or her classroom.

Evaluation Plan

Constant reflection and filling out forms that monitor student progress.
Weekly meetings to address any issues that might arise while teaching with iPads.

Using lesson plans to guide instruction and evaluation of iPad usage with the content being taught.
Use of surveys and group collaboration among teachers to discuss the overall benefits of using iPads, adjusting learning plans as necessary.
Provide the students with a survey to get their opinions of using iPads and whether or not it is helpful to them.
Comparing WESTEST scores from previous years to see if there is a gain in understanding of the content presented.

Table A: Cost analysis of implementation of iPads in the classroom

	Individual Price	Total Price
Apple iPad Learning Lab (with 10 iPad 2 16GB Wi-Fi devices)	$6,299.00	$6299.00
Bretford PowerSync Tray for iPad	$999.95	$999.95
4-iPad 2 16GB Wi-Fi - Black (For teachers)	$399.00	$1596.00
14-iPad Smart Case - Polyurethane - Blue	$49.00	$686.00
4-Apple VGA Adapter for each teacher in his or her own room	$29.00	$116.00
	Grand total before training	$9696.95
Apple Professional Development Program (Two Day) Apple Professional Development Workshops are designed for 16 participants and are instructor-led workshops (two consecutive days).		$4,500.00
	Grand total after training	$14,196.95

Summary

The goal is to provide ten students with special learning needs and four instructors with their own iPad for classroom use. To do this, a total of $15,000 is needed. The iPads will help the students better connect classroom concepts to real-world applications. It will teach the students integrity and responsibility. Providing this technology will allow the instructors to more easily reach a variety of learning skills. Having iPads for the instructors will also allow them be exposed to technology use every day. Since we are growing in a technological environment, it is important for kids to be ready to enter the workforce with knowledge of the technology used. Overall, the use of iPads would be beneficial for everyone involved. Thank you for your consideration in funding this enriching opportunity.

References supporting the benefit of iPads in the classroom