Mini-Grant Application for School Year 2016-2017

Submitted by: Amy Singletary Email: amy.singletary@sdhc.k12.fl.us Grade Level: 6-8 Subject: Science
Co-Applicant:Richard Deardurff Email: richard.deardurff@sdhc.k12.fl.Grade level: 8 Subject: Science

School: Barrington Middle School Type: Public Grade Levels:6-8 County:Hillsborough

Approx. Enrollment: 1400 Number of teachers:40 % of Free and Reduced Lunch:40%

School Address:

5925 Village Center Dr. Lithia, FL 33547

Phone: 813-657-7266 Principal:Amy Rappleyea Email: Amy.Rappleyea@sdhc.k12.fl.us

Project Title: Digital Lab Learning
Project Dates: As soon as-4/16 Grade Levels:

Focus Area(s) :Technology- Interactive Learning- Collaboration - Research Skills

Abstract:
When completing science labs we need a way to avoid road blocks in learning due to student absences, equipment set-up, lab reminders, lab research, paper and equipment costs and ability to complete STEM simulation activities. In order to increase student achievement and engagement and to assist absent students with lab visuals I would like to incorporate the use of tablets into lab based instruction in the science classroom. The tablets have the capability to display interactive PowerPoints, scientific images, simulation activities for labs, take and display pictures and video complete with speakers for sound. The tablets will allow students to understand complex lab set-ups, provide them with photo or video lab hints, allow them the ability to create their own labs or explore concepts deeper by utilizing the digital apps and content and allow students to view labs after they have occurred. This will give those absent students an opportunity to view real digital data and complete a digital experiment make-up without missing too much class time. All students will be able to use real time lab video, data or even images as evidence in their experiment discussions. Students will also be able to refer back to experiments when studying for tests or quizzes. They will even allow teachers the ability to create real life activities, homework assignments and even test questions with pictures and video so that the students can practice analyzing and reworking real experimental data. Students will be able to better their critical thing skills using 21st century tools to solve real life STEM problems. Teachers will have the ability to support STEM activities by providing the technology in everyday classroom activities.

Proposal:
In today's society we are teaching children to multi task and the concept of digital citizenship. Our students are required to know, understand and do a variety of things by the time they leave us. We are expected to have them ready and prepared to participate as a functioning member of society. Unfortunately, many our our public schools lack the funding and technology available to prepare the students for these real world situations. We are consistently pushing our student to be innovative but we are lacking the innovative tools to teach them the skills. The goal of this project is to provide students with STEM related experiences by using a tablet and the features of the tablet in the classroom. Our state standards are requiring students to participate actively in technology based instruction in the science classroom. There has even been an introduction of a new body of knowledge of computer science as a result. This grant would support the following benchmarks: - SC.68.CS-CP.1.2 Select and use data-collection technology (e.g., probes, handheld devices, geographic mapping systems and output from multiple runs of a computer program) to gather, view, organize, analyze, and report results for content-related problems, individually and collaboratively. -SC.68.CS-CP.3.1 Select appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems. Additionally the grant would support the all of science body of knowledge containing benchmarks related to research, identifying problems and solving them with real life skills and evidence which we teach all year round. Making tablet and digital learning a daily activity students will become accustomed to the critical conversations that come with using technology. They will become digital citizens using the devices appropriately ans in ways that can help them solve problems even outside the classroom. Many of them have access to this technology at home but no one to teach them the endless uses of it. As teachers we want to help guide them in the right direction. If we are able to impact our students the hope is that they go home and share with their siblings, parents and beyond to show them what they have learned. Students will have the ability to operate digital online labs, participate in interactive note taking, participate in science simulations and discussions, and of course use the tablets for research and to further their understanding on various topics. To measure project impact we will assess student lab assignments with a 9 point rubric. The rubric measures students' hypotheses, materials, equipment set-up, procedures, data/observations and conclusions complete with evidence citations. I will compare their scores to other science classes without the tablets. I would expect the students learning with the tablets to have better real life connections and evidence and overall higher lab scores as a result. I will also track the attendance of my students on lab days so that I can have students complete the make-up visual labs and compare those scores to students who did not have real time data for make-up labs. Chapter lab assessments will be created on the tablets, used and compared to non-tablet classes to determine if the learning is better with the tablet based instruction in labs and activities. Other teachers in the science department can have access to these devices as well as other teachers at the school. Our hope if to get our students fully integrated to their use so that we can serve as demonstration classrooms for our colleagues. WE want to teach others to teach their students have a better digital footprint. Our school loves to advertise these great things to students and their families through our morning show, parent links, parent nights and our website. There is great opportunity to impact our attached elementary school and local Fishhawk community by word of mouth as well.

Budget:

I, Amy Singletary, certify that the application is complete and final, AND I verify that I have received permission to apply for these funds from Amy Rappleyea,the Principal of Barrington Middle School and any other individuals required by my school district.