grant proposal - weebly

1

Grant Proposal

SMART Board Professional Development

Rebecca Erwin

Rachael McGaha Kameron Williams

2

Abstract

Walker Park Elementary School is located in the city of Monroe in Walton County,

Georgia. The Walton County School District is currently working on an E-SMART initiative

supported by ELOST funds. The initiative issued iPads to all middle and high school teachers in

January 2013, and then to all high school students in August 2013 and to middle school students

in 2014. Each staff member at Walker Park Elementary was assigned an iPad in January 2013,

with the intention of utilizing it to advance student learning and technology in the classroom.

Furthermore, all classrooms are outfitted with mounted classroom projectors and electronic

SMART Boards, including the media center. Additionally, ten sets of classroom response

systems are available for checkout and shared usage, and all staff members are set up with a

Weebly website which they are expected to personalize and maintain. A needs analysis indicated

that of all the mentioned technology above, the staff felt that SMART Board training was most

needed. The goal of Walker Park Elementary School is to provide professional learning

activities on SMART Board technology to school administrators and instructional staff using

both onsite training and online training. Achieving this goal will support administration in

strengthening and modeling technological leadership and will assist instructional staff in

becoming 21st century, highly-skilled educators. After the professional learning, the

administration will be able to evaluate and promote the use of SMART Board technology and the

instructional staff will be able to incorporate SMART Board technology into their lessons on a

regular basis.

Proposal

Walker Park Elementary School conducted an analysis to determine the need for

3

professional development in the area of technology. The analysis determined if there was a need

for professional development in the area of technology, and, if so, then in which of the following

is the need the greatest: iPad, SMART board, student response clickers, or web site design.

Currently Walker Park Elementary School has multiple forms of technology. Each

teacher has been issued an iPad and a SMART board is mounted in every classroom. Ten sets of

classroom response systems are available for checkout and shared usage. Also, each teacher is

set up with a Weebly website which they are expected to personalize and maintain. However,

there is a concern that teachers and administrators have not been properly trained through

professional development in using the new technologies they have been given.

A survey was created (Appendix A) to determine which technologies teachers feel they

need the most training in. The two target groups determined were administrators and teachers.

The survey was sent to each teacher at Walker Park Elementary School and interviews were held

with administrators. Data from teacher surveys indicated that 55% of teachers feel they need

training with the SMART board. Also, 52.50% of teachers felt that the training they have

previously received regarding technology has been “fair”, and 22.50% felt it has been

“poor”(Appendix B). The administrative staff was interviewed and added that they received roll-

out training from the district, but very minimal follow-up training was offered. Both the principal

and vice-principal expressed a desire to learn more about the SMART Board technology, and felt

they had little working knowledge of the hardware or related Notebook software. Both noted

that online learning or summer training would be preferable, as their schedules are already fully

exhausted during the school year. Data results indicate that teachers and administrators need

more effective training with the use of SMART Board technology due to insufficient initial

4

training.

Technology has grown exponentially in the past decade and has become a vital part of

education. In order to support the effective use of technology in the classroom, Georgia adopted

the National Educational Standards for Students and Teachers in 2011. To demonstrate a

dedication to make technology an integral part of the curriculum, Georgia has aligned GPS tasks

to the National Education Standards in hopes to increase student achievement through

technology.

Technology and its use in education shows no signs of slowing down, and the need for

effective training through Professional Development for administration and teachers is evident.

It seems logical that in order for any type of instructional technology integration initiative to be

effective within a school, then the leadership must not only embrace the vision for it, but also be

skilled and knowledgeable in regard to its use in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the

technology within the classroom. Teachers must also embrace the vision for it, and be trained to

use it effectively as a means to increase student achievement within the classroom.

Based on the data collected, Walker Park Elementary has the use of SMART Boards

available in every classroom, but the teachers have not been adequately trained to use them

effectively to increase student achievement, nor have the administrators been trained adequately

to evaluate the effectiveness of their use within the classrooms. Therefore, Walker Park

Elementary School is in need of additional training through Professional Development in order

to make the integration of SMART Boards a successful initiative.

5

Goals and objectives

Goal 1: By January 1, 2015, Walker Park Elementary School will provide training on SMART

Board technology to school administrators using both onsite training and online learning in order

to support administration in strengthening and modeling technological leadership to WPES staff.

Objective 1: Administrative staff will receive 6 hours of SMART Board training to be

provided at the school.

Strategy 1.1: Administrative staff will attend 4 hours of introductory training with

a SMART Board trainer during the May 19, 2014, Professional Learning day.

Strategy 1.2: Administrative staff will attend an additional two hours of follow-up

training with a SMART Board trainer during the August 8, 2014, Professional

Learning day.

Objective 2: Administrative staff will complete one SMART Board online training

module.

Strategy 3.1: Administration will complete the SMART Administrator course

offered through the Course Park eLearning platform.

Objective 3: Administrative staff will utilize the SMART Board during at least two staff

meetings per quarter.

Goal 2: By January 1, 2015, Walker Park Elementary School instructional staff will be fully

trained on SMART Board technology using both onsite training and online learning in order to

become 21st century, highly-skilled educators.

Objective 1: Instructional staff will receive nine hours of SMART Board training to be

6

provided at the school.

Strategy 1.1: Instructional staff will attend six hours of introductory training with

a SMART Board trainer during the May 19, 2014, Professional Learning day.

Strategy 1.2: Instructional staff will attend an additional three hours of follow-up

training during the August 8, 2013, Professional Learning day.

Objective 2: Training attendees will develop a lesson plan demonstrating teacher and

student use of the SMART Board.

Strategy 2.1: Teachers will present their completed lessons to PLC groups.

Strategy 2.2: Examples of exemplary lessons will be chosen by each PLC group

and will be saved and posted to the shared drive.

Objective 3: Training attendees will complete one SMART Board online training module.

Strategy 3.1: Teachers will have the option of completing the online training

module on their own or with a PLC group.

Goal 3: By June 1, 2015, Walker Park Elementary School instructional staff will incorporate

SMART Board technology into their lessons on a regular basis.

Objective 1: Trained instructional staff will demonstrate effective use of SMART Board

technology in the classroom.

Strategy 1.1: Teachers will provide copies of at least one lesson per month, which

include the use of a SMART Board by teachers and/or students.

7

Plan of Operation

The SMART Board Professional Development is scheduled to take place over two days,

May 19, 2014 and August 8, 2014 (Appendix C). Training will take place at Walker Park

Elementary School and will be lead by a certified SMART Board trainer and two training

assistants. Whole group training will be held in the media center and collaborative groups will

utilize individual classrooms. Additional eLearning tasks will be assigned on the first day of

training and should be completed no later than August 7, 2014. The Professional Development

utilizes a pre-post design in order to plan for effective and appropriate training. “A pre-post

design examines a particular variable at two points in time: before and after an intervention.”

(Margolin) Staff members will be asked to complete a pre-survey (Appendix F) prior to the

training and a post-survey (Appendix G) following the conclusion of the training. The pre-survey

will aid in the design of training materials that address the implied instructional needs of

attendees. The post-survey will help the instructional designers determine the value of the

training that takes place.

The first day of SMART Board Professional Development will begin with a thorough

overview of SMART Board hardware and Notebook software. Both administrators and

instructional staff will attend two and a half hours of training to be held in the media center.

Attendees will learn basic usage skills as well as be introduced to the SMART Exchange, an

online resource of downloadable lessons and templates. Following a break for lunch,

instructional staff will be given a collaborative assignment involving two separate tasks. Firstly,

grade-level teams will complete an interactive Notebook file, which will give them hands-on

experience with available tools. Secondly, teams will be asked to create a new mini-lesson or

8

download and customize a lesson from the SMART Exchange. While teams work in classrooms

under the supervision of training assistants, the certified SMART Board trainer will meet with

administration for one and a half hours of instruction focused on technological leadership. Topics

will include supporting staff member’s use of technology in the classroom and utilizing the

SMART Board during staff meetings and for other administrative tasks. Instructional staff will

later reconvene in the media center with the certified trainer, at which point they will share their

collaborative group experiences and lessons. The day will conclude with the assignment of a

perception survey.

Day two of SMART Board Professional Development will begin with three hours of

follow-up training for instructional staff. Training will start with a shared discussion of attendees’

eLearning experiences, followed by a Q&A session. Next, a brief review of SMART Board

basics will be covered and the certified trainer will then share a personalized back to school

activity with attendees. Additional topics will include using the SMART Board as a classroom

management tool and utilizing the SMART Notebook Lesson Activity Toolkit to enhance

instruction. Instructional staff training will conclude with a think, pair, share activity and the

assignment of the post-survey. Administrative follow-up training will take place in the afternoon

for two hours. The certified trainer will first discuss the administration’s perceptions of the

SMART Administration course and answer any questions. A brief review of SMART Board

basics will then be provided. Next, the administrative team will be asked to create a SMART

Notebook file to be used at the school’s first staff meeting. Administrative training will conclude

with a brainstorming session about ways in which the team can utilize the SMART Board for

non-instructional purposes throughout the school year and the assignment of the post-survey.

9

Evaluation Plan

The goal of Walker Park Elementary School is to provide training on SMART Board

technology to school administrators and instructional staff using both onsite training and online

training to support administration in strengthening and modeling technological leadership and to

assist instructional staff in becoming 21st century, highly-skilled educators. After the

professional learning, the administration will be able to evaluate and promote the use of SMART

Board technology and the instructional staff will be able to incorporate SMART Board

technology into their lessons on a regular basis. The following evaluation plan is explained in

table form as well (Appendix D).

In order to learn and perform desired goals, the learners will need to gain the perception

and understanding that using the knowledge, skills, and resources acquired from the SMART

Board professional learning will increase student achievement and motivation. A perception

survey (Appendix E) will be given during the professional learning to provide a glimpse of the

learner’s attitude and motivational level toward the training to assess if the learners are motivated

to learn and perform and to assess if the learner’s find the professional learning relevant.

The learners will need to acquire knowledge, skills, and resources in order to achieve the

professional learning goals. In order to assess the extent that the learners have advanced in skills,

knowledge and attitude in regards to using the SMART Board technology, a pre self-assessment

survey (Appendix F) will be administered before the training begins and a post self-assessment

(Appendix G) will be administered after the training. The administration staff was interviewed

prior to the training and will be given a follow up survey when professional learning is

completed (Appendix H).

10 Walker Park Elementary School’s goal is to incorporate SMART Board technology into

their lessons on a regular basis. Trained instructional staff will demonstrate effective use of

SMART Board technology in the classroom, and will provide copies of at least one lesson per

month, which include the use of a SMART Board technology. Performance evaluations

conducted by administrators and lesson plans will assess if learners acquired the needed skills

and/or use the resources they were given through SMART Board professional learning, and will

determine if learners transferred the skills to the classroom.

To assure improved quality and use of skills and resources acquired during the SMART

Board professional learning, a sequenced training will be held at the beginning of the school year

in August along with ongoing coaching throughout the school year. The ongoing coaching will

be a collaborative effort taking place during staff meetings. The instructional staff will take turns

sharing a snapshot of effective teaching strategies and new resources discovered using the

SMART Board technology. This will also allow Walker Park Elementary School’s

administration and instructional staff the opportunity to observe the impact and results of the

SMART Board professional learning.

Budget

Total funding requested is $5026.77. See Appendix I for complete line item information.

A. Professional Development Total: $3098.00

Funding is requested for the cost of a certified SMART trainer and two assistants who

provide onsite training for two full sessions for all certified faculty including two administrators.

The cost of the training per day is $1500 for a total of $3000.

In addition, two administrators will take an online SMART Administrator course. This

11 course helps administrators learn how to effectively incorporate exciting technology, like

SMART Boards into the everyday operations of their school. The cost of the course per attendee

is $49 for a total of $98.

B. Supplies and Materials Total: $1599.92

During the training, all attendees will receive training materials. The cost for the

materials is $15 per attendee. The total cost for 48 attendees is $1440.00.

Flash drives will be provided for each grade level team, including one flash drive for

Specials teachers, in order to save SMART Board lessons and any other electronic materials. The

total cost of eight flash drives at $19.99 each is $159.92.

Other costs

The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will provide snacks and drinks for attendees.

Online resources needed during training and follow up training for teachers such as online

training courses and/or webinars are free resources available to anyone who has registered on the

SMART Exchange website (exchange.smarttech.com).

12 References

Georgia Department of Education, (2013). Net-s performance tasks. Retrieved from

website:https://www.georgiastandards.org/standards/Pages/NETS-S-Performance-

Tasks.aspx

Margolin J., & Buchler, B. (2004). Critical issue: Using scientifically based

research to guide educational decisions. Chicago: North Central Regional Educational

Laboratories. Available at:

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/go/go900.htm

NC Department of Health and Human Services, (2014). State Contract Forms. Retrieved March

22, 2014, from http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/contracts/docs/

Red Clay Consolidated School District (2014). Delaware 21st Century Wireless Infrastructure

Consortium. Retrieved March 19, 2014, from http://www.redclay.k12.de.us/jc/index.html

Winfrey, E.C. (1999). Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Evaluation. In B. Hoffman (Ed.),

Encyclopedia of Educational Technology. Retrieved March 24, 2005, from

http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/k4levels/start.htm

13

Appendix A

14

Appendix B

15

Appendix C

May 19, 2014 Agenda *Pre-Survey (Appendix C.) (To be completed by staff no later than May 12, 2014)

*Post-survey (Appendix D) (To be completed by staff in November 2014) *Attendees: A: Administrative Staff/ I: Instructional Staff

Time Attendees Activity Goal/Objective

8:30 a.m. A/I SMART Board activating strategy/mini sample lesson Goal 1/ Objective 1 Goal 2/ Objective 1

8:45 a.m. A/I Introduction: Discuss goals and objectives of the SMART Board professional development. Review ISTE standards for teachers and students.

9:00 a.m. A/I SMART Board Basics: Introduce the basic functions and tools of the SMART Board.

Goal 1/ Objective 1 Goal 2/ Objective 1

9:30 a.m. A/I Notebook Software: Creating a lesson for the SMART Board using Notebook software. Introduce software capabilities. Focus on embedding pictures, links, and videos, layering, and the Lesson Activity Toolkit.


10:30 a.m. A/I Using the SMART Exchange: Searching for, downloading, and customizing a lesson template


11:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

Lunch Break

12:30 p.m. I Introduce collaborative group task: Groups will first work on an interactive Notebook file which includes multiple tasks in which they will practice skills covered earlier in the day. Next, they will either create a new mini-lesson or work from a lesson template downloaded from SMART Exchange. Both files will be saved to the jumpdrive when completed.

Goal 2/ Objectives 1 & 2

12:45 p.m. I Divide into grade-level teams: Collaborative teams will be dismissed to work on their task in designated classrooms. Classrooms will be set

Goal 2/ Objective 2

16 up on the same hall so that training assistants can easily assist and monitor trainees. Notebook files will be open and ready for collaborative groups.

1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.

I Groups work collaboratively on Notebook tasks under the supervision of training assistants.

Goal 2/ Objective 2

1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.

A Focus on Administration: The SMART Board trainer will meet with the administrative staff for training specific to technological leadership.

Goal 1/ Objective 1

1:00 p.m. A Discuss the questions: What do I look for in a SMART classroom? How can I support my staff in the SMART Board initiative?


1:30 p.m. A Using the SMART Board during staff meetings and for other administrative tasks

Goal 1/ Objective 3

2:15 p.m. A Assign and discuss SMART Administrator course (to be completed no later than August 7, 2014).

Goal 1/ Objective 2

2:30 p.m. I Reconvene in the media center to briefly present grade level SMART Board lessons.


3:45 p.m. I Assign and discuss SMART Board eLearning task (to be completed no later than August 7, 2014).

Goal 2/ Objective 3

3:45 p.m. I Q & A and Perception Survey

August 8, 2013 Agenda

Time Attendees Activity Goal/Objective

8:30 a.m I SMART Board activating strategy/mini sample lesson: Jeopardy SMART Board review game


8:45 a.m I Introduction: Present day’s agenda

8:50 a.m. I Review and discuss trainees’ experiences with eLearning tasks. Take questions and comments.

Goal 2/ Objective 3

9:15 a.m. I Briefly review SMART Board basics Goal 2/ Objective 1

9:30 a.m. I Creating a SMART Board lesson: Welcome students Goal 1/ Objective 1

17 back with a personalized and interactive SMART Board activity. The trainer will walk attendees through a lesson template that can be personalized for their own use. The file will then be saved to previously used jump drives or emailed to attendees.

Goal 2/ Objective 1

10:00 a.m. I Using the SMART Board as a classroom management tool

Goal 3/ Objective 1

10:30 a.m. How to use the SMART Notebook Lesson Activity Toolkit to engage students and enhance learning in the classroom: Trainer will walk attendees through multiple interactive activities that can be used to enhance instruction.

Goal 3/ Objective 1

11:00 a.m. I Think, Pair, Share: Groups brainstorm and share ways in which they feel they can now use the SMART Board in their classrooms.

Goal 3/ Objective 1

11:20 a.m. I Final remarks; Assign Post-Survey (Appendix D.) (To be completed by staff no later than 4:00 p.m. on August 8, 2014)

11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

Lunch Break

1:00 p.m. A Review and discuss SMART Administrator course Goal 1/ Objectives 1 & 2

1:30 p.m. A Review Board basics Goal 1/ Objective 1

1:45 p.m A Create a SMART Board presentation for the first staff meeting of the school year: With minimal assistance, the Principal and Vice-Principal will work together on this task.

Goal 1/ Objective 3

2:45 p.m. A Brainstorm ideas the administrative team can further utilize the SMART Board for non-instructional purposes throughout the school year.

Goal 1/ Objective 3

2:55 p.m. A Final Remarks

18

Appendix D

Evaluation Plan

Evaluation Goal Information Required

Schedule Method for Collecting

Information

Analysis Procedures

Walker Park Elementary School will provide training on SMART Board technology to school administrators

using both onsite training and online learning in

order to support administration in strengthening and

modeling technological leadership to WPES staff

The perception and

understanding that using the knowledge, skills, and resources

acquired from the SMART

Board professional learning will

increase student achievement

and motivation

The extent that the learners

have advanced in skills,

knowledge and attitude in

regards to using the SMART

Board technology

May 19, 2014 at end of

professional learning

Interviews completed prior to May 12, 2014

Post survey completed November

2014

Perception Survey completed by administration

Interviews with administration and

post surveys

Will provide a glimpse of the

learner’s attitude and motivational level toward the

training to assess if the learners are motivated to

learn and perform and to

assess if the learner’s find

the professional learning relevant

Will assess the extent that the learners have advanced in

skills, knowledge and

attitude in regards to using

the SMART Board

technology

Walker Park Elementary School instructional staff will be fully trained on

SMART Board technology using both

onsite training and online learning in order to

become 21st century, highly-skilled educators.

The perception and

understanding that using the knowledge, skills, and resources

acquired from the SMART

Board

May 19th at end of professional

learning

Perception Survey completed by

instructional staff

Will provide a glimpse of the

learner’s attitude and motivational level toward the

training to assess if the learners are motivated to

learn and

19

professional learning will

increase student achievement

and motivation

The extent that the learners

have advanced in skills,

knowledge and attitude in

regards to using the SMART

Board technology

Pre-surveys completed prior

to May 12, 2014

Post survey completed November

2014

Pre and post surveys completed by

instructional staff

perform and to assess if the

learner’s find the professional learning relevant

Will assess the extent that the learners have advanced in

skills, knowledge and

attitude in regards to using

the SMART Board

technology

Walker Park Elementary School instructional staff will incorporate SMART

Board technology into their lessons on a regular

basis.

Demonstrated effective use of SMART Board technology in the classroom,

copies of at least one lesson

per month, which include

the use of a SMART Board

technology

Improved

quality and use of skills and

resources acquired during

the SMART Board

professional learning

August 2014 through May

2015

August 2013 through May

2014

Performance evaluations

conducted by administrators

Monthly lesson plans

Collaborative sharing during staff meetings

Will assess if learners

acquired the needed skills and/or use the resources they

were given through

SMART Board professional learning, and

will determine if learners

transferred the skills to the classroom

Will assess the

impact and results of the

SMART Board professional

learning

20

Appendix E

Professional Development Perception Survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8KR57RW

21

Appendix F

Professional Development Pre Survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9YCC39X

22

Appendix G

Professional Development Post Survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9WJJPBR

23

Appendix H

Administrator Post Survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8297FFY

24

Appendix I

Budget

Budget Item Amount Sub-Total

a Professional Development

SMART Board Trainer and Assistants (2) @ $1500 per day

$3000.00

SMART School Administrator course: 2 administrators @ $49 each.

$98.00

Total Professional Development expenses $3098.00

b Supplies and Materials

SMART Board training materials: 48 attendees @ $15 each for two sessions.

$1440.00

16GB Flash drive for each grade level team: 8 flash drives @ $19.99 each

$159.92

Total Supplies and Materials expenses $1599.92

Total Expenses $4697.92

Overhead Costs @7% $328.85

Total Request $5026.77

grant proposal - weebly

Documents