Transcript Final Project

TECHNOLOGY
EVALUATION
Implementing New Technology in an Elementary
School
Technology Problem

Our elementary school (grades K-5, 3 classrooms per grade,
averaging 25 students per class) has been given a $25,000 grant to
be used to implement new technology in the classroom. 50% of the
teachers are digital natives, while the other 50% have limited
experience using technology in the classroom. We (the technology
team) have been tasked by the administration with selecting the
technology and making sure all teachers are up-to-speed with the
new technology. There is a limited budget available for paid staff
development and a limited amount of time teachers can be required
to participate in staff development activities. We are allowed one
staff development day at the beginning of the school year and one
faculty meeting per month for 45 minutes to train the teachers on
how to use the new technology in the classroom.
Technology Problem
What
technology should we buy?
How will we train teachers?
As the Technology Team, we will be
in charge of maintaining the new
technology and keeping it up to
date.
Evaluation Criteria





Cost – does it fit into the $25,000 budget?
Durability
Portability
Effective for lesson planning
Ease of use & implementation
 Easy
to learn how to use?
 Easy to set up/take down/maintain?
Solution: Tablets

What is a tablet?
 Essentially
a computer, but smaller and portable
 Touchscreen device
 Supports “apps” for various interests and needs
 Some things you can do with a tablet:
 Browse
the Internet
 Read ebooks
 Watch videos
Solution: Tablets

Why invest in tablets?
 Cost
effective: Initial price may seem high, but in the
end you’re saving money on textbooks
 Stay current: Tablets allow for up-to-date resources,
while textbooks are often out of date within a couple
years. Also, join the tech age before you fall behind!
 More engaging: Students are raised as digital natives,
respond more to technological education
 Save trees!
Solution: Tablets

Google Nexus 7





Amplify (News Corp)




$199 (125 tablets)
Durable – scratch resistant screen, rubberized back
Long battery life
600,000 apps – many educational
$299 + 2 year subscription to services for $99 (62 tablets)
Designed specifically for schools
Teachers can monitor activity (“eyes on teacher” app)
Apple iPad 2


$399 (62 tablets)
Many of the same features as Nexus 7
Solution: Tablets

Best Choice: Nexus 7
 Cost
effective, more tablets for more students
 Durable – rubber back, scratch resistant screen
 Long battery life  just charge overnight and be
ready for the whole day
 Many free educational apps
 Many online tutorials for how to use the tablet
Solution: Interactive Whiteboards (IWB)

What is an interactive whiteboard?
 “It
is a presentation device that interfaces with a
computer. The computer images are displayed on the
board by a digital projector, where they can be seen
and manipulated. Users can control software both from
the computer and from the board.” (Bell, 2002)
Solution: IWB

Why Invest in Interactive Whiteboards?
 Suitable
for all ages and learning styles (visual, tactile,
special needs)
 Allows for collaborative work
 Engaging lessons and lectures
 Makes the one-computer classroom a workable
instructional model
 Promotes E-learning
 Help students develop skills needed in the 21st Century
Solution: IWB

MimioTeach Interactive System
 $799
 $14,382

Mimio Board ME 77
 $1,066
 $19,188

Mimio Board ME 87
 $1,174
 $21,132
Solution: IWB

Best Option:

MimioTeach Interactive
System

Cost effective

Uses the whiteboards
and projectors we
already have in place
Easy to install and set-up
 Ease of use
 Lightweight and durable
 Portable
 http://www.mimio.com/fl
ash/video_player/mimiot
each.html

Solution: Clickers
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How do clickers work?
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
An instructor is able to ask objective and subjective questions of
each student. The questions come from a computer, and are
displayed for each student to view. Each student can respond with
a remote control device ("clicker"). A transmitter picks up the
student's response and sends it to the computer, which stores the
responses and can provide detailed reports. This system allows
instructors to obtain immediate feedback from each student. The
system keeps a log of every class session, so student records are
always available.
Check out this video! An Elementary Classroom using
clickers! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86JqSQjexoY
Solution: Clickers

Why Invest in Clickers?
 Cost
Effective
 Students are digital natives, yet schools do not have the
technology to keep up with them!
 Clickers increase student and teacher interaction as well
as engagement and motivation.
 Continuous formative assessment
 Allows for students that are more reserved to also have
their voice heard
 Easy to incorporate into daily lesson planning
Solution: Clickers

Best Option:
 Student
Response System
 eInstruction Spark 360
 28 pad class: $1,199
 Total: $21,582
 In addition to response pads, the eInstruction Spark
360 Classpack includes a carrying case, receiver unit,
and software.
 Use extra funds for training
Comparison of Solutions (1-5 Scale)

Cost

Nexus- 4
 Mimio- 4
 Clickers- 5


Nexus- 4
 Mimio- 4
 Clickers- 5

Nexus- 5
 Mimio- 5
 Clickers- 5

Durability

Portability
Nexus- 4
 Mimio- 4
 Clickers- 5

Effective for lesson
planning

Ease of use &
implementation
Nexus- 5
 Mimio- 5
 Clickers- 5

All of the
solutions fit
our criteria –
is there a
way to
incorporate
all three?
Recommendation

18 Mimio Teach Interactive Whiteboard Systems
($14,382)
 One

for each classroom
50 Nexus 7 Tablets ($10,000)
 One
tablet for each teacher (18)
 Rest of the tablets (32)
 Teachers

can sign up to use in their classroom
$600 left for professional development/resources
for technology
Why?



IWB can be beneficial in every classroom at every
grade level
Nexus tablets can interact with IWB
By giving each teacher a Nexus & Mimio, it will be
easier for them to learn how to use the technology
 Can

take tablets home for lesson planning/practice
Clicker apps are available on tablets
Implementation

Week before school begins: staff development day
 General
overview of new tech: basic uses
 Give staff a couple days to get acquainted with tech
 another day to go over questions/concerns/etc.

Follow up training:
 Monthly
faculty meetings
 Atomic Learning
 Technology Team blog: staff can post
questions/answers, request tutoring, etc.
Citations: Tablets
 Bell,
M. (2012). The Technology Purchasing Process:
Caveat Emptor! Internet@Schools. 19(4), 23-25.
 Elliott, P. (2013). The Rise of Tablets as Textbooks.
Huffington Post.
 Chozick, A. (2013). News Corp. Has a Tablet for
Schools. New York Times.
 Reisinger, C. (2012). Google Nexus 7 For Schools. PM
Technology Blog.
 All product information: Apple.com, Amplify.com,
Play.Google.Com
Citations: Interactive Whiteboards
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Mimio Pricing http://www.mimio.com/en-NA/Educatorinfo/EducatorPricing.aspx
Teich, A (2009). “Interactive Whiteboards Enhance
Classroom Instruction and Learning” NEA Member Benefits.
http://www.neamb.com/professional-resources/benefits-ofinteractive-whiteboards.htm#
Bell, MA. (2002) “Why Use an Interactive Whiteboard? A
Baker’s Dozen Reasons.” The Teacher’s Net Gazette
http://teachers.net/gazette/JAN02/mabell.html
TechLearn Briefing, (2010) “Interactive Whiteboards in
Education” Jisc
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/Interactivewhite
boards.pdf
Citations: Clickers
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Li Liu, N. (2009, April 15). How to Effectively Use SRS in
the Elementary Classroom. PowerPoint presented at the
14th Annual Technology, Colleges, and Community
Worldwide Online Conference
Classroom clickers. (2012). Retrieved from
http://www.engaging-technologies.com/classroomclickers.html
Wikipedia. (2012). Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_Response_Systems