Martha Meloy

Position: 5th Grade Teacher at ABC Elementary, Cobb County, GA

Table of Contents

A) Problem Statement… …………………………...…………………….………p. 2

B) Educational Plan ………………………………………..……….….…………p. 3

C) Evaluation of Program…………………………………………………………p. 4

D) Budget…………………………………………………………………………p. 5

E) References……………………………………………………………………...p. 6

Abstract

Cobb County School District located in NW Georgia recognizes that technology is

essential for living in the twenty-first century and to prepare their students for this world,
they must embrace technology as the foundation for wholly different way of teaching and
learning. To make this vision a reality 5th grade teacher Mrs. Meloy is requesting an
educational grant in the amount of $9994.99 for her classroom. She will pilot a program
that will serve as a test for ABC Elementary School’s goal of using Netbooks school-
wide to improve student writing and technology skills. Due to budget cuts in Cobb
County, ABC Elementary School hopes to achieve a 1:1 ratio of students using the
compact, affordable Netbook computer. Mrs. Meloy, who has been a teacher for 8 years,
consistently uses technology based learning in her classroom and wishes to see the
tangible benefits of using mini laptop computers with her 5th grade students. By creating
and collaborating with other students using a Wiki, writing and presenting ideas for
authentic, real audiences on the Internet this pilot program will serve as a worthwhile
forum for improving student’s writing abilities, while improving computer skills
simultaneously. Evaluations will be determined by increasing student’s writing scores a
minimum of 1 point using the Georgia State Writing Rubric on ideas, organization, style,

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and conventions. Students must also pass a 5th grade technology assessment with a 90%
or above to ensure technology standards are exceeded using Netbooks.

A) Problem Statement

Due to budget issues and the overwhelming need to make Cobb County’s students

competitive in the technology world we live in changes must be made to the availability

of technology to students. By providing continuous access to computers for each student,

technology skills and writing skills will increase. This pilot program will serve as a

launching point to show school administrators and county leaders the benefits of a 1:1

ratio of computers to students while considering budget constraints by using the small,

powerful Netbook computers. Using Netbooks daily on real, authentic writing activities

such as developing and collaborating on Wikis and publishing worthwhile writing

assignments on our class website and blog for real authentic audiences our technology

and writing skills will blossom. Many Technology Standards and Language Arts

Standards encompass the same ideas such as the following 5th grade standards so

allowing a project that develops both will benefit students greatly.

Fifth Grade Language Arts Standards

ELA5W3 The student uses research and technology to support writing.

ELA5LSV2 The student listens to and views various forms of text and media in order to

gather and share information, persuade others, and express and understand ideas.

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Fifth Grade Technology Standards for Cobb County 2009-2010

T3 Research and Information Fluency - Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate,

and use information. Students: Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and

ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.

NETS for Students

1. Creativity and Innovation

Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative

products and processes using technology.

2. Communication and Collaboration

Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively,

including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of

others.

B) Educational Plan

Mrs. Meloy’s pilot program using Netbooks with every student will begin in January

2010. Mrs. Meloy will attend training at the county level ($150.00) in January 2010.

Hardware including twenty-five Dell Mini 10v Netbooks ($6225.00), one D-Link DI-

724P Wireless Router ($149.99) and twenty-five Timbuk2 Carrying Sleeves ($750.0) will

be scheduled to arrive at the school in January 2010. Class implementation will begin in

February 2010 and continue through the end of the school year until May 2010. A one-

year in home service agreement ($2450) with Dell is also being requested to ensure

technical issues don’t interfere with student learning.

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The 5th grade technology assessment will be given to students in January 2010 to obtain

baseline data of technology skills and a 5th grade writing prompt will be administered

January 2010 and scored on the Georgia State Writing Rubric for baseline data. To

ensure skills are enhanced, students will partake in: Wiki collaboration; emailing others;

discussing topics and writing on our classroom blog site; developing presentations using

the new web 2.0 tool Prezi; publishing writings on our class website; and interacting with

online environments, such as Net Tracker locating information from webpages; data

collection; and using brainstorming sites such as Bubbl.us. By utilizing the handy, small,

powerful Netbook students will have continuous access to the Internet that will enable

Mrs. Meloy to maximize their learning potentials pertaining to writing skills and

technology skills.

C) Evaluation of Program

At the end of the 4-month instructional period using Netbooks to reach curriculum goals

students will be evaluated in May 2010 using the Georgia State Writing Rubric and the

5th grade technology assessment. Scores will be compared to baseline data determined in

January 2010. Students must improve at least one point in each of the four categories of

writing from the Georgia State Writing Rubric including ideas, organization, style, and

conventions using rubric scores ranging from 1 to 5 in each category. On the 5th grade

technology assessment students must obtain a score of 90% or higher. Culminating data

will be used to determine if Netbooks are worthwhile in achieving Technology Standards

and Language Arts Standards for 5th grade students.

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D) Budget

The overall projected budget cost of implementing a 1:1 ratio of students to mini laptop

computers is $9994.99. The budget includes staff development for Mrs. Meloy to ensure

that she understands the components of the Netbooks and how to use them to prevent

wasted class time troubleshooting how to use them correctly. In the budget twenty-five

Dell Netbooks are being requested for each student along with twenty-five carrying cases

to ensure students have access to the technology assignments at home to better

demonstrate that 21st century learning doesn’t stop once students leave school. Even if

students don’t have the capacity to connect to the Internet at home they will be able to

access files to work on at home from their Netbooks. There is also a request for a

wireless router for Internet access in the classroom. Two Power Strips ($270) are

requested to charge up the Netbooks throughout the day as needed. The last request in

the budget is a service agreement with Dell that provides in-school service for the

Netbooks, which will ensure software and hardware issues don’t effect the desired

outcomes of the pilot program.

Requested Items for Purchase Budget Cost

Teacher Training on Netbooks $150.00

from County
25 Dell Mini 10v Netbooks $249.00 x 25 = $6225.00

25 Timbuk2 Carrying Sleeve. Fits $30.00 x 25 = $750.00

up to 10" - Black

D-Link DI-724P Wireless Router $149.99

1 yr In-school Service after remote $98.00 x 25 = $2450

diagnosis + Complete Care 98.00
20 Amp Low Profile Power Strip $135.00 x 2 = $270

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 Total Budget Costs
$9994.99

E) References

Barone, D. & Wright, T. E. (2008). Literacy instruction with digital and media

technologies. The Reading Teacher, 62(4), 292 – 302.

Descy, D. (2009). Netbooks: Small but powerful friends. Tech Trends: Linking Research

and Practice to Improve Learning, 53(2), 9 – 10.

Holcomb, L. B. (2009). Results & lessons learned from 1:1 laptop initiatives: A

collective review. Tech Trends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve

Learning, 53(6), 49 – 55.

Mouza, C. (2008). Learning with laptops: Implementation and outcomes in an urban,

under-privileged school. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 40(4),

447 – 472.