Technology to Enhance & Showcase Student Learning

School:: Manatee Middle
Subject:: Language Arts
Teacher:: Sara David
Students Impacted:: 65
Grade:: 7
Date:: August 6, 2016

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Suncoast Credit Union - $1,764.95

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 75

The addition of 5 iPad Minis into my classroom had an even more dramatic impact than I could have anticipated. My students were able to interact with technology and district-approved applications on a 1-to-1 basis or in small groups almost daily. Once I started integrating the iPads into my instruction, I found more ways to use them. The ease of accessibility, combined with the security of them being programmed by the district gave me the comfort level to try new things.

Throughout the year, students utilized the iPads to conduct research, prepare for debates on controversial topics, read current events articles, download ebooks, participate in educational review games like Kahoot and Quizlet and create multimedia presentations including paper slides and iMovies to showcase their learning and mastery of standards. Cambridge students used them to conduct inquiry-based research. Overall, I believe that the benefits to students achieved through on-going engagement with digital tools and resources will be reflected in their FSA scores, where they are asked to perform highly cognitive skills using a digital platform.

Here are just a few examples of student creations using the iPad Minis in my classroom:

- Where the Red Fern Grows Paper Slides Analyzing the Development of Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8TNfsJtJYA

- Call of the Wild Book Trailer Analyzing Conflict: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY7JWZZHKw0

- Tangerine: Part 1 Analzying the Development of Plot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2lHsejmYr4

- Writing Workshop Reflection: The Journey to Becoming Better Writers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xqFyEbX8Mg

grant photo

Students collaborate to create an iMovie

grant photo

Students use the iPad minis to publish an iMovie

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal is to provide students with the tools and technology to enhance and showcase student learning. This will be especially important students accepted into the Cambridge program who will be engaging in student-inquiry and project-based learning opportunities.

What will be done with my students

Students will use technology in an immersive and interactive learning environment. A set of 5 iPads would allow for all students to engage with technology and applications via flexible grouping in the classroom (as a learning center or one per cooperative group) to address the following Language Arts Florida Standards (and many others):
1. Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation (LAFS.7.W.3.7)
2. Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples (LAFS.SL.2.4)
3. Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points. (LAFS.SL.2.5)
4. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text. (LAFS.7.RL.1.2)'

Students will have the ability to conduct inquiry-based research via the web and showcase their learning through applications like iMovie, Tellagami, and StoryBoardThat. As an added benefit, students without BYOD access will have the ability to access digital texts and e-books as well as participate in interactive educational games.

Benefits to my students

Because I teach at a school where the vast majority of students are considered economically needy, the benefits to my students will be two-fold. Since a large number of them do not have access to technology or the internet outside of school, having the iPads on a daily basis will provide a more equitable learning experience. In addition, the devices themselves will allow me to infuse my classroom with digital tools and resources as well as provide opportunities for differentiation and extension to individual students. Overall, the result will be increased engagement and the ability for students to conduct inquiry-based research and showcase their learning.

Budget Narrative

Average cost of iPad Air is $249 each and will allow for digital learning this school year and for years to come. Otterbox cases are $49 and are necessary to protect the donor's investment. There is a $50 fee for each device to be programmed with iPad Air district networking. iMovie applications are $4.99 each and will allow students to create and publish "movie" trailers.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	5 iPad Air devices	$1,245.00
2	5 iPad Air Otterbox cases	$245.00
3	5 iPad Air District Networking Fee	$250.00
4	5 iMovie applications for each device	$24.95
	Total:	$1,764.95

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