INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROPOSAL

Name of Applicant: Larrece Groover

District/School: Hall County School District

Date: November 24, 2018

Total Cost of Project: $ 399.90

Title of Project: Student Storytelling and Sharing Your Voice

To what organization will you submit this grant application in the future?

Clipper Petroleum Foundation – Grant Application

2019 Grant Application – Deadline October 31, 2019
5317 T L Bower Way
Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542
https://clipperpetroleum.com/foundation

Why is this project important (In 2-3 paragraphs, describe the need for the project and its relevance to
the shared vision for instructional technology)?

The goal for technology in Lula Elementary is to create students who are producers of their
understanding using creativity, collaboration, innovation, and critical thinking. As we have begun
incorporating new programs such as Adobe Spark, Flipgrid, Voicethread, and many other student
recording programs, teachers have found it difficult to create a quality recording. Teachers want to
utilize the programs however they have expressed frustration because students cannot be effectively
monitored and students need to redo their recordings due to the background noise. The programs can
help our teachers and students become the creative, collaborate, and innovative producers we are
striving to develop.
Our goal in Student Storytelling and Sharing Your Voice would be to obtain at least 10
headphones with microphones and noise canceling features. The Logitech headphones have already
been used within a 2nd grade classroom utilizing our chromebook devices and the recordings were great.
The teacher did not have to send the students out so there were not issues about finding a quiet place the
teacher could still monitor. If we want teachers to utilize the programs, we have to make it easy and
accessible so they do not have to struggle to get recordings completed.

What would you like to accomplish (In 2-3 paragraphs, describe the project and list instructional
objectives/project outcomes.)?

The project will address Gifted Strands, ISTE standards, and classroom standards. In each of
these areas students need to focus on developing their communication skills. The headphones will allow

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teachers to integrate recordings into a variety of programs to assess student’s understanding. The use of
technology helps to demonstrate their understanding and meet the different standards. Teachers will be
able to meet the following objectives across grade levels and curriculums.
In the Gifted Strands students need to enhance their communication skills. The students need to
be able to meet the objective of using a variety of strategies to communicate and collaborate with others,
such as verbal, nonverbal, and technological, to reach a common goal or create a product to be shared
with real audiences.
In order to address the ISTE Standards the use of the headphones would help teachers to meet
the student standards of becoming a Knowledge Constructor. The students need to be able to meet the
objective to critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce
creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.
In grade level Speaking and Listening standards, students need to be able to add audio recordings
and visual display to presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or
themes. Each grade level addresses Speaking and Listening standards therefore the headphone will help
teachers continue the progression of communication growth throughout the grade levels.

In what ways is this project an example of exemplary technology integration (In 2-3 paragraphs discuss
your project regarding one or more of the following: LoTi, SAMR, TPACK, TIM, etc.)?

As we try to integrate technology in the classroom, our staff and students already use technology
however it focuses on consuming. The goal for the school focuses on moving towards producing with
technology and the SAMR Model for integrating technology has been a guide for several teachers within
the school. The idea is to move away from a lot of Substituting to more Modifying and Redefining. The
Student Storytelling and Sharing Your Voice would allow our students to move to the M and R. Instead
of a written assignment, our students could utilize multimedia tools to convey their thoughts and
understanding.
The SAMR creates a model for teachers to measure their projects when they are designing their
lessons. As they develop the project they can ask questions about whether they are just Substituting,
Augmenting, Modifying, or Redefining. Obtaining the headphones would allow the staff to create
projects to show more teachers how they can create projects focusing on the highest level of technology
integration so they can focus on something more than Substitution.

How will you complete the work? (Describe how the project will be completed.)

The project will be completed throughout the year with various student projects utilizing the
headphones. Every student will record within the classroom based on a schedule using Adobe Spark and
Flipgrid. The students will record at least once a month in the Gifted Resource classroom. The projects
will be displayed for teachers, students, and parents so all stakeholders can see how they impact the
recordings. By presenting the information to all stakeholders at student showcases, it will create
opportunities to obtain additional funding for more headphones for additional classrooms. The goal will
be to complete projects with all gifted grade levels during the year so any recommendations for
additional devices can be made for schoolwide purchases.

Describe how the instructional objectives/project outcomes will be met (2-3 paragraphs).

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 The instructional objectives will be assessed through rubrics focusing on the specific grade level
or content standards. The students will be assessed on their initial recording as pre-assessment so it can
be the baseline with a post-assessment on their final recording at the conclusion of the school year. The
instruction will include the use of the program, headphones, and proper communication skills. The
grade level instruction will also include the proper use of the English language as well as the ability to
entertain their audience.

Describe the time involved (project length including amount of time each day/week; include a timeline
for planning and implementation). Describe the people involved (grade level/subject & # of students,
teachers and/or staff, other stakeholders). Describe any professional development that you or others will
complete prior to implementing the grant.

The project will be during the 2019-2020 school year. It will concentrate on Gifted Resource
instruction days and times which will cover different segments of a five-day week. It will be
approximate one hour a day each day. The project will involve the Gifted Resource teacher and 40
identified gifted students. Professional development will include instruction on the use of Flipgrid,
Adobe Spark, and Voicethread.

Describe the materials needed for the project (provide links to relevant websites; include a written
description of how the technology/ies will benefit students).

The students will need Chrome books or laptops, headphones, and Launchpoint with access to
Flipgrid, Voicethread, and Adobe Spark. Each unit will address different content standards based on
Gifted units with opportunities to create digital presentations. The digital presentation will provide
assessments through digital recordings such as Flipgrid posing questions about overall understanding. A
presentation through Adobe Spark will allow the students to explain their understanding as they
incorporate their own creativity.

Headphones - https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Headset-H390-Noise
Cancelling/dp/B000UXZQ42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543095705&sr=8-
1&keywords=logitech+headphones

IV. What is the timeline for assessing accomplishments and objectives/project outcomes (In 2-3
paragraphs, describe the program evaluation procedure. Explain how each objective will be measured
and how success will be determined.)?

The timeline for assessing the accomplishment and project outcomes will be throughout the
2019-2020 school year. The instructional objectives will be assessed through rubrics focusing on the
specific grade level or content standards. The students will be assessed on their initial recording as pre-
assessment with the use of a rubric so it can be the baseline. A post-assessment on their final project
recording in the Spring with the use of a rubric at the conclusion of the school year will provide the
ending data. The goal is to see improvement in communication skills, language skills, and technology
skills.
The success of the project will be measured by an increase in usage of the programs involving
student recordings as well as increase in the quality of the recordings. The teacher will keep a tally chart

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of how often the programs are used after obtaining the headphones. The teacher will assess the quality
of the recordings for background noise as well as the ease of monitoring and completing the recordings.
The teacher will be assessed through a survey.

V. How will the students be impacted by the project (In 2-3 paragraphs, include details regarding how
the impact on students will be assessed and reported to students, parents, teachers, and others.)?

The mission of Lula Elementary is to empower students to be lifelong learners and enable them
to achieve their maximum potential in a diverse, ever-changing world. Technology can be a tool and
resource to meet the needs of the teachers and students to adequately prepare them for the future.
Through the use of technology and these Web 2.0 tools, we will increase student production of
understanding through a blended learning environment with differentiated assignments. We will use the
technology to engage our students in authentic, real-world experiences while promoting rigor through
creativity, innovation, collaboration, and critical thinking.
The Web 2.0 tools can help engage students while supporting social interactions in the learning
process. The tools will also enable the students to show their understanding of concepts and develop
critical thinking. The impact of student learning will be assessed through performance rubrics and
displayed for all stakeholders. Presentations will be showcased at parent nights, bulletin boards using
QR codes, and through Canvas our learning management system as well as displayed on the school
website.

VI. What is the proposed budget? Include information on the following:

A. Equipment
a. 10 - Logitech USB Headset H390 with Noise Cancelling Mic $ 39.99

B. Total Cost of Proposed Project $ 399.90

There will be no professional development cost. The headphones will be used within one classroom as a
pilot prior to purchasing them for additional classrooms.

V. List your supporting references.

Lula Elementary School: School Improvement Plan 2018-2019. (2018). Lula, GA: Hall County

Schools.

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 INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROPOSAL
EVALUATION FORM/SCORING RUBRIC

Total Points (out of 300): __________

1. Impacts a variety of skill levels and/or learning styles or impacts an important target population.

Possible number of points: 60 __________

2. Clearly identifies standards and learning objectives/project outcomes being addressed.

Possible number of points: 60 __________

3. Pedagogically sound, based on research and/or best practices.

Possible number of points: 60 __________

4. Clear plan for assessment of project and goals with examples of implementation methods.

Possible number of points: 60 __________

5. Impacts large number of students and/or can be recycled/reused.

Possible number of points: 60 __________

General Comments:

Adapted from: The Education Foundation of Oconee County, Inc.

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