Grant Proposal Final

School Name

Earlham Community Schools

Grade Levels Affected

K-12

Principal

Jan Fletcher

Participating Teachers

Shane Wheeler

Mike Rogers

Project Director

Shane Wheeler

Contact Number

515-758-2214 ext # 439

E-mail

[email protected]

Project Outcomes:1. Students will collaboratively create real-world applications for the iPad 2 for use

within the school and for sale on Apple iTunes store.2. Students will learn a new programming language in the

entrepreneurial/programming class that provides new employability and problem solving skills by using new technology.

Narrative:Our initial goal is to create a class that offers entrepreneurial/business skills mixed

with programming skills for the iPad, iTouch, and iPhone to improve student learning by applying real world problem solving to modern day technology.  This would expand the rigor of our technology curriculum. Of 112 students surveyed in the high school, 42 responded that they would be interested in a new entrepreneurial/programming class, indicating a demand for this type of class.

The second goal is to infuse mobile learning devices into the instruction of the class itself, using iPads.  The iPads will act as the test device for the applications designed by the entrepreneurial/programming class, and they will also serve as e-readers, response systems, and web browsers for entire school district.  Professional development will be given to all the teaching staff on how to incorporate the mobile iPad lab into instruction.  A collaborative learning team will be formed around studying the best practice for using mobile technology. This team will meet bi-monthly.

Through this grant we would purchase supplies and equipment to create this new entrepreneurial/programming class and create a mobile iPad lab with 15 units.  The class will require e-textbooks on programming, keyboards for the iPads, Apple iOS Developer support accounts, and a mobile cart station.

Entrepreneurial/ProgrammingWe believe students learn best when high expectations are presented and real world

challenges are faced.  Requiring students to design applications for submission to the Apple iTunes store will provide students with:

o A common computer language and development software skillso Real-world experience designing, testing, and marketing a fully developed

application from beginning to endo Collaborative work within a group to produce a product as a team, while

highlighting the best skills of each group member

The new class will be team taught by the business teacher and me. Students will learn C language, which is one of the most common computer programming languages.  In addition students will create applications for the school district, such as a school district calendar application or simple learning games for elementary students.  Teachers’ opinions will be sought on applications that would best address the learning needs of their students. For the summation of the course, students will be required to have for sale at least one application of his/her own original design. To develop applications for iPads, iPhones, and iPods, the students will be

grouped in teams of three that best balance the skill sets needed to take their products to completion. 

It will be a year long course and will meet during one 43-minute class period a day.  A curriculum will be developed based on the Iowa Core’s 21st Century Skills and the International Society for Technology in Education Standards. The students from the entrepreneurial/programming class will use the iPads to replace traditional textbooks with the enhanced offerings of the e-reader with Internet access and serve as a platform to create original content related to class. The large number of applications provided by the iPads will allow students to make choices, automatically ensuring differentiation. The class will use iPhone Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide by Joe Conway and Aaron Hillegass, and The Business of iPhone App Development: Making and Marketing Apps that Succeed by Dave Wooldridge and Michael Schneider as e-textbooks.   

Mobile Lab and Professional DevelopmentThe iPad lab that the students will use in the class will be available to be checked out

by any teacher in the district with the exception of the entrepreneurial/programming class period.The professional development will take place in bi-monthly collaborative learning

teams called Tech Wednesday, a 30-minute session centered on technology infusion into the classroom.  Teachers will receive training on the potential application for the iPads and how to operate the iPads.  Teachers will study best practices for incorporating technology into their lesson plans.  The goal is to have the mobile iPad lab checked out at least 70% of the time in a school day.

Evaluation Process:The evaluation of this project will be two-fold to make certain that learning has taken

place for both students and teaching staff.  The main goal is to create a classroom environment that exhibits higher order thinking and reflects the new Bloom’s taxonomy as students analyze and create solutions to real world problems.  Students filling out surveys before and after completing the class will evaluate the entrepreneur/programming class.  The questions on the survey will relate to the use of the real world problem solving and the use of technology in the classroom.  Students will have to produce at least one application for the iPad that is free on iTunes and useable at school. Students will also have to produce one iPad application that is for sale on a topic of their design. Data will also be collected in the form of grades based on a curriculum that is geared toward emphasizing the top of the new Bloom’s taxonomy, Iowa Core Curriculum 21st Century skills, and National Educational Technology Standards for Students. Teachers will fill out surveys before and after the school year about using iPads in the classroom. The collaborative learning team, curriculum director, and I will peer observe classrooms were the iPad lab is in use, to ensure best practices are being used. Professional development can address any concern areas from observation. Data will also be collected on how often the mobile lab is checked out by teachers by using Google Calendar for the school year. As teachers become more familiar with the mobile technology, are goal is that by the end of the first year, the iPad lab will be checked out at least 70% of each day.  

The time frame for implementation and evaluation of the program as follows:1. Summer of 2011

a. Purchase equipmentb. Design teacher and student surveysc. Set up labd. Finalize curriculum

2. Fall of 2011a. Administrate and collect surveys on mobile technology for students and teachersb. Begin new Entrepreneurial/programming classc. Begin professional development with bi-monthly meetings

3. Spring of 2012a. Administrate and collect surveys on mobile technology for students and teachersb. Evaluate goals and outcomes of the class and programc. Revise curriculum and program goals for 2012-2013 school yeard. Revise professional development offeringse. Look into expanding technology class offeringsf. Evaluate with the Superintendent about future needs for supplies

4. Fall of 2012a. Administrate and collect surveys on mobile technology for students and teachers

5. Spring of 2013a. Administrate and collect surveys on mobile technology for students and teachersb. Evaluate goals and outcomes of the class and programc. Revise curriculum and program goals for 2013-2014 school yeard. Evaluate with the Superintendent about future needs for supplies

6. Continue cycle of evaluation