You are asked to prepare a proposal for a Classrooms for the Future grant to provide laptop computers for each student in every high school Math, Science, Social Studies and English class. Your district administration wants this grant so that it doesn't have to purchase new computers with its own money and so that the district will appear to be progressive and competent. The administration sees this as a technology project rather than an education project. The state grant, however, requires that you develop clear educational goals, a reasonable implementation plan, and an effective evaluation plan for the project. In three-to-five paragraphs describe:
1. The educational goals of the project, how they were chosen and why they are important.
2. An implementation plan of how the teachers will be trained and how the laptops will be phased into the classrooms over months or years.
3. An evaluation plan that includes both formative and summative evaluation of the project to determine how well it has met its educational goals (with an appropriate rubric, if possible).
Response: The educational goals of the project: Goal of the classroom for the future falls into two categories: Educational and Technological. In terms of educational impact, how technology enhance teaching and learning.process.
1. First we have to understand the unique needs of high school students and understand the positive impact of these technologies. In today’s society every student need 21 century skills- the interaction, collaboration skill, higher order thinking skill, technology skill and leadership skill. Laptops for every students can provide that skills, so that they can attend in collaborative group project, hands on activities to grasp science concept and mathematical concept, video making, podcast making for language class, visual representation for social studies and science class.
2. It develops sustainable learning when students can connect their study with real world scenario.
3. It can improve their overall academic standard.
Implementation plan: If it is a 3 year plan, then planning will be set in this way- First year for 12 grade, 2nd year for 11 th grade and last year for 9th and 10th grade students. Laptops are only one device, but it needs so many supports or accessories like instructional software, its applications, network infrastructure, ongoing and significant Professional development, classroom management, security. Therefore,Implementation includes Infrastructure planning, PD, Help desk support, maintenance.
Laptop means wireless connectivity and mobility, building infrastructure, staffing, ongoing funding for implementation. All stakeholders must involve in the implementation. An customizable computing environment must have that connects students, teachers, staff and parents.
Professional development for teachers is necessary . During summer time of the first year, an workshop can be arranged for most interested teachers . In the same time of the following years PD can be arranged for other teachers. Online PD can be arranged for some interested teachers who own a personal computer with high speed Internet connection. Through ongoing mentoring and workshops professional development will be effective. During school hours, during off periods ongoing training can be arranged for a short while.
Evaluation: The study will help to determine what impacts computers are having upon learning and will document how and when laptops are being used.
Formative assessment : It means ongoing assessment throughout the years. During implementation stage, students and teachers can fill up a form of self evaluation periodically. Comparison of periodical class test , students’ grade also show an impact of technology in education.
Summative assessment: It means at the end of the implementation, overall student’ impact on technology. Standardized tests reveal mostly students’ achievement or development by applying technology in their education. We can also evaluate technological impact on learning through classroom activities as well as the study of data collection from the questionnaire and interviews, students’ records and product records.
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2 comments:
Jhumur, I liked how you included bringing students into a 21st century environment which includes providing students with real world authentic learning. I also liked how you discussed the networking infrastructure and professional development in your implementation summary. Finally, I also liked your evaluation, specifically formative and summative assessments; I probably liked them because they are pretty much the same as mine.
I think you started at a great place - "understanding the unique needs of high school students." The technology sometime takes on a life of its own, but the reality is that it's just another resource that has to be used in a way that enhances student learning. Student needs must come first, and whatever helps should be included and whatever doesn't help should be eliminated. The professional development would be interesting - trying to get people to take on new tasks can be tricky, especially those who are set in there ways. But I like the way you make available a number of different options for training.
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