Mini-Grant Application for School Year 2021-2022

Submitted by: Jennifer Bruno Email: jennifer.bruno@yourcharlotteschools.net Grade Level: 6-8 Subject: Computers / Science / History
Co-Applicant: Email: Grade level: Subject:

School: Punta Gorda Middle School Type: Public Grade Levels:6-8 County:Charlotte

Approx. Enrollment: 1235 Number of teachers:75

School Address:

1001 Education Avenue
Punta Gorda, Florida 33950

Phone: 941-575-5485 Principal:Justina Dionisio Email: justina.dionisio@yourcharlotteschools.net

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Project Title: Let's make it h-APP-en!
Project Dates: January 10th-March 18 Grade Levels:

Focus Area(s) :Technology- Business- Community Service - Social Emotional Learning

Abstract:
Let's make it h-APP-en! is a project that combines business, technology, community service and social emotional learning. In the beginning of the year, my students were asked to think about what kind of project they would like to do as a group. I received many suggestions, and there were so many great ideas, it was hard to choose just one. We took a vote and the winning idea was to come up with community service projects that could be used to help our local community and help people in need. This was a superb idea! My next question was, "How can we use technology and business skills to make this project innovate? They discussed how phones are such a big part of our lives now, so what better way to help people than to make it convenient for people to access and make it easy to help. The overall idea is to have a shark tank type contest where students break out into small groups and develop an idea for a phone APP that people in the community can use for free. The APP must be able to help people in our own community and beyond in some way. Students will need to practice their presentation skills by giving a 2 minute 'pitch' to the judges. Their APP design will need to be developed using design software, drawing tablets and office suite programs. The presentation will be given in a boardroom type setting with the teachers and administrators as judges. Bonus points will be given for any students who come 'dressed for success'. This would help to fund this project and hopefully start a trend of help and service to others.

Proposal:

How is your project innovative?   (25 points)
This project is innovative because it elevates in-person community service projects and can unite people from around the state, country or the world to help out within their own community or to be able to lend a hand in other areas. It not only utilizes APP design software and technology for the development of the application itself, but it also uses technology that prepares students for real world situations such as a business environment, and the need to give back to the community. Students will gain knowledge of technology that will be valuable to their future. I also feel it is innovative because it goes beyond the traditional ways of gathering together to help out in a community. The students are already coming up with ideas of how to help their community members with projects such as: "A place to stay", where people can offer to open their homes to victims of domestic violence, or "Stack a pack", where students can bring in one extra school supply item to their school and fill up backpacks for students in need or "Eggstra", where people can give or share extra items they don't need from their own gardens or farms to the people that live around them to avoid waste. These initiatives may exist in person, but being able to organize community service projects on a larger scale is what makes this innovative. The ability to pick up your phone, press a button and give back to your own community. Oftentimes, people want to help out their communities, but they don't know how. People love convenience. This would provide them the opportunity to make a decision to help their community by simply lifting up their phone and opening an app. There are many apps that exist now that can help you with your mental health and can easily donate money, but there are no apps that show you how to get involved locally, right in your own community, helping your own neighbors, creating and building relationships to build a better neighborhood.

How will it fit into your curriculum (include standards)? (10 points)
As each group is formed, they will be collaborating to come up with their community service project that will be ultimately turned into an APP. (CTE-BUS.68.GENRL.07.02 Demonstrate problem solving skills.) Each group will be creating a business plan, and each group will have responsibilities such as research & development, payroll, marketing, sales and management. Once the APP idea has been approved, the next step would be to create and design the app image, how the app works, and how people access it. The timeline will include approximately 10-15 lessons in total. Upon completion of their business plan and design, it will be time for each group to give their 'pitch' to the boardroom of judges. (CTE-BUS.68.GENRL.05.22 Demonstrate presentation skills, CTE-BUS.68.GENRL.07.30 Make a prepared presentation, CTE-BUS.68.GENRL.07.31 Collaborate and present as a team.) Copies of their business plan and a scoring sheet will be used for teachers to score groups according to the rubric. Each project idea will be thoroughly evaluated based on the following criteria: - Overall concept - Business plan - APP Design - How it helps the community - Pitch presentation We will include a copy of the detailed rubric, samples of student work and photos of the completed design products at the end of our project. (CTE-GEN.68.TECH.02.09 Identify and demonstrate various ways to communicate effectively using internet technology.) Projects will be photographed and included in the final evaluation and included in the post grant review. As students present their 'pitch', they will be graded on their organization, presentation skills and if they 'dressed for success'. (CTE-BUS.68.GENRL.07.06 Compare grooming and dress standards in various workplace environments.) One part of our curriculum that is not listed in a standard is our social emotional learning. We also teach social emotional skills as part of our curriculum and I feel that there will be invaluable life lessons in teamwork, leadership, communication, decision making, public speaking, adaptability, active listening, integrity and empathy. This will help to evolve those skills and apply them in a real world situation.

How will it encourage long-lasting change in your classroom, school or community? (20 points)
The vision for this project is to turn some of the best ideas into real APP platforms that have the potential to change lives and communities forever. The students will have the opportunity to know what it feels like to make a difference in the world. Each student would be proud to be involved in a project that nurtures selflessness and service the way this project does. The social emotional learning that will take place during this project will be just as valuable as the project itself. I hope that it creates a culture of kindness in the school and in our community. In my classroom, I have found that when students with disciplinary issues are given tasks or given the chance to be a teacher helper, they forget about misbehaving and focus on being proud of themselves for doing something good. All students should feel like they can do good things and have a sense of pride. The goal for the students who participate in this project is to influence the incoming students to have the same desire to do community service. Hopefully, this will have a lasting impact on how they interact with their peers, and make them think about the feelings and situations of others around them. I hope they come away having a new found respect for themselves.

How will technology be utilized?  (20 points)
This entire project will be utilizing a variety of technology throughout the various steps. The beginning stages will use collaborative software platforms, and interactive whiteboards. Students will use office suite software to make business documents. Each group's APP design will need to be developed using free design software, drawing tablets and office suite programs. The presentation will be given in a boardroom type setting with the teachers and administrators as judges. The students will also need to use microphones, electronic pointers, printed handouts, a portable tv screen and a computer during the presentation. This technology will allow the students to create an entire non-profit business that will benefit the community for years to come. When the students are able to have the freedom to use this kind of technology, it gives them the ability to really dig deeper into their creative side. The devices we are asking for will be used for the following purposes: presentation screen tv - to present presentations to the judges tv stand - mobile cart to move the screen from classroom to boardroom computer - use during presentation to connect to the tv presentation clicker - to advance slides seamlessly during presentations docking station - to attach multiple wires and usb cords to computer microphones - so students can be heard loud and clear computer drawing tablet - to create and design student apps color printer - to print copies of presentations to give to judges for scoring refill ink - for above

What evidence will you collect to show student gain?   (10 points)
Prior to students starting this project, they will be given an assessment on their knowledge of community service, social emotional learning, presentation skills, business skills and technology, including APP creation. As they go through the process of working together, building a nonprofit business plan, designing an APP and giving their presentation, we will score those documents using strict rubrics so we can check for understanding. After the project is completed, a post assessment and exit ticket will be given to each student. Using the information from the pre-assessment, project rubrics, post assessment and exit ticket, we will have plenty of data to analyze and chart student performance and gain. Students will also need to write a reflective essay on how this project has impacted their lives. Aside from just curriculum growth, I would like to see personal growth as well.

How will participants share your project results with the community?  (15 points)
If our project receives funding, it will be covered by WPGM - Eagle Vision, which is our school TV news station. There will be an entire write up about it in our school newsletter and it will be showcased at one of our faculty meetings. I have already contacted the county newspaper and they are willing to come out and do a news story about the project and how it was funded. I hope this will inspire other schools to incorporate similar projects into their own curriculum and to get involved in their own community, or maybe by picking up their phones and clicking one of our APPS! We would also love to share it with our community partners to share on their social media accounts as well as get permission to create a social media account for this project to track progress as we go.

Budget:

I, Jennifer Bruno, certify that the application is complete and final, AND I verify that I have received permission to apply for these funds from Justina Dionisio,the Principal of Punta Gorda Middle School and any other individuals required by my school district.

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