Mini-Grant Application for School Year 2017-2018

Submitted by: Gena Email: genaezzi@gmail.com Grade Level: 1-5 Subject: Art
Co-Applicant: Email: Grade level: Subject:

School: Symmes Elementary Type: Public Grade Levels:K-5 County:Hillsborough

Approx. Enrollment: 600 Number of teachers:50

School Address:

6280 Watson Road
RIVERVIEW, Florida 33578

Phone: 813-740-4182 Principal:Anna Rothenbush Email: AnnaMarie.Rothenbush@sdhc.k12.fl.us

Project Title: iPads for Nearpod
Project Dates: 1/9/2018-5/9/2018 Grade Levels:

Focus Area(s) :Art- Writing- Social Studies - Social Skills

Abstract:
I am proposing to get a class set of iPads for the art room to use for many innovative projects. The first app that I would introduce the students to is called Nearpod. Nearpod is an app that allows students to show their skills as artist through a new medium, critique one another's artwork kindly and anonymously and gives immediate data results for students knowledge and understanding. The second thing I would use the iPads for is for my art club students to learn stop-motion animation as well as some photography skills that they normally would not be exposed to in an everyday art class. I also would like to pre-record my lessons on YouTube with these iPads so that students could work at their own pace, rewind if they don't understand a step, and then I could really focus on enhancing the lesson or helping those struggling instead of constantly just saying the directions over and over. Virtual museum fieldtrips would also be possible with this technology that we currently do not have in the art room. I would also love to have them working with apps like “Drawing Desk” and “Kids Doodle” so that they can begin using a stylus and hopefully start building the next group of excited and motivated graphic designers, architects and animators.

Proposal:

How is your project innovative?   (25 points)
This project is innovative because students normally would not be exposed to any of this artwork without it. I am extremely excited for the Nearpod app so that students could see all of their fellow classmates work, and not just a few that we have time for at the end of class. Art class is only once a week and goes very quickly. Students rarely get to have the proud moment of displaying their creation and talking about it, and with this app, I could have all of the students display and critique each others artwork at once. It would cut down a lot on instructional time also because I would pre-record directions on YouTube so that each student center can watch the video of the project and process today. That would make group instruction more innovative because students could go at their own pace, rewind and not have to ask the same questions continuously. Students have not ever gotten to create a video or any stop-animation and it is something that they are extremely interested in. I think that it would give them a real sense of pride to create a video and then show it to the class and since this is something that they haven't gotten to do before, they could be as creative as they want. Students always get to think outside of the box in art class, however, since many of our supplies are perishable, they are limited to the amount of times that they can practice a drawing or work on those skills. With the iPads, students could practice and erase their projects as many times as they would like without it costing a lot of money. They could move objects around on the screen easier that they've created and see how it would change their composition. It also is innovative because students could share their personal artwork on our local art twitter account whenever they are ready. It is extremely hard for me to display all of the students work except for once at the end of the year art show. This would turn our twitter account into a virtual museum that could be updated daily, which is something that no other school would have in our area.

How will it fit into your curriculum (include standards)? (10 points)
One of my first standards is to have students develop a range of interests in the art-making process to influence personal decision-making (VA.5.C.1.1) and the iPads would allow students to try more artistic processes, rather than just the traditional pencil and paper. Students are enthralled by videos, movie-making, and looking up different artists. Having their own tablet that they could choose which way they wanted to make their art would greatly influence their decisiveness. Another standard in my curriculum is to revise artwork as a necessary part of the creative process to achieve an artistic goal (VA.5.C.2.1). Like I said earlier, it is extremely difficult financially to allow students to constantly redo and revise their artwork since funds are limited. Having the iPads allows the students to revise their artwork as many times as they need to make it to their satisfaction, and this goes hand-in-hand with their decision making abilities as creators. The last standard that really applies to my kiddos is to use the structural elements of art and organizational principles of design when engaged in art criticism (VA.5.C.3.1). Many of my students are shy and unsure about their artwork. A lot of students do not wish to share their artwork because they do not like speaking in front of an audience. With the Nearpod app, this allows all students to share and write about their artwork anonymously, slowly allowing those to grow the courage to be proud of their creations. Also, since they can get positive reinforcement and constructive criticism from their peers through the app, it'll make it a better experience for many students. Students LOVE to share their artwork, but rarely do we have time to see everyone's. Having the iPads for art criticism is a dream of mine that will really help me accomplish this standard for the students.

How will it encourage long-lasting change in your classroom, school or community? (20 points)
This would be incredible for my students to be able to have these experiences. Not only would it change their ideas of what art can be forever but also allow them to see how art can be innovative. This will allow them to be inspired to be designers, architects, animators and so many different career options. The long-lasting change will be in the students mind-set that they can do, create and be anything. It also will help them with their social skills and confidence to show their work. Students want to be able to share, but some of them do not have the confidence to speak in front of their classes. These are the students that need that extra help and this could change that entire mindset that they have. The community also will be elated because parents can go on our Art Twitter account and see their child's creation of that day. It'll be a wonderful thing that students could post their own work to the Twitter account after getting my permission approval of the content. Students also will get a sense of how to be responsible with their social media, and what quality things and ideas that they can post. I think that these iPads would sincerely encourage long-lasting change for each student and as a teacher, that is my main goal in life.

How will technology be utilized?  (20 points)
As said previously, the iPads will be used for several different apps. The main one being Nearpod, but also for videos, photography, stop-motion animation, designing apps, architecture apps, social media postings and anonymous art critiques. I think having a student led classroom is a dream of mine that could be possible if we had this technology. It could be utilized so that students could improve the skills that they wish and that interest them. I also will no longer waste instructional time since I can pre-record all of my lesson plans and students can watch them at their own pace. I think that all of these amazing ideas are possible with this technology in the art room.

What evidence will you collect to show student gain?   (10 points)
The Nearpod app gives you immediate data, pie charts and mini-quizzes at the end of each lesson that I can create. This allows students to take a short pre-examination and then show the growth after the lesson. The evidence is extremely user friendly to read and only appears on the teachers screen. I also will be able to see which students are not understanding the lesson and give them some additional one-on-one instruction and focus. It is very fast data which is perfect for a short classroom time. I like it because Nearpod will make students accountable for the lesson and if there is a question that is frequently missed, I will know exactly what to reteach.

How will participants share your project results with the community?  (15 points)
I really want to create a virtual museum for the student's work so that their parents can see exactly what the students are creating (without always having to save every piece of artwork). Students have an extremely creative process and sometimes, what we see on paper is not the entire thought process that the student went through to make it. By allowing students to create art and then require them to write a short artist statement before it is posted, it gives insight into why they made the choices that they made. The community of parents and teachers also will be able to comment on the artwork and give those kiddos an extra confidence boost. It will be a beautiful thing to showcase artwork weekly and be interactive, rather than just one big end of the year show.

Budget:

I, Gena, certify that the application is complete and final, AND I verify that I have received permission to apply for these funds from Anna Rothenbush,the Principal of Symmes Elementary and any other individuals required by my school district.

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