Wiggins Proposal

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TechnologyGrant ProposalFRIT 8132Sarah Wiggins

November, 16, 2009

No Child Left Behind made awareness for creatingdifferentiated classrooms that engage all learners while

assessing them in new and different ways in order to ensurethat every child is making progress in the learning process.The following proposes the use of a technological resourcethat incorporates all of the above into an elementaryclassroom.

Table of ContentsI. Executive SummaryII. Project DescriptionIII. Project AccomplishmentsIV. BudgetV. ReferencesVI. Resources


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Executive Summary

With the current No Child Left behind laws and regulations, teachers at Chestatee Elementary

work vigorously to make sure that all children are meeting standards. Such structures as Early

Intervention Programs, Response to Intervention Programs, and Student Support Teams are in place to

catch any child that is close to falling through the cracks. With such systems as well as Standards Based

Grading, the teachers are often assessing the needs of students through formative and summative

assessments. Students see assessments as boring and time consuming, and the joys of learning are often

stolen.

The current grant will focus on meeting the needs of three of Chestatees biggest problems: 1.)

The need to raise student achievement; 2.) The need for authentic assessment to provide effective and

efficient feedback; and 3.) The need to raise student engagement in order to see a true picture of student

achievement.

Chestatee Elementary is a Kindergarten through 5 th grade public school located in the northern

most section of Forsyth County Georgia. Although Forsyth County is considered a suburb, Chestatee is

actually located in the more rural area of the county. Currently, Chestatee qualifies as a Title 1 school.

The following illustrates the demographics of Chestatee Elementary during the 2008 2009 year.

Total Population 1,157

Racial % 80%white

15%Hispanic

2% Multiracial

1%Black

1%Asian

1%AmericanIndian

Attendance 10% of the student population had 15+ absences throughout the year.

Economically Disadvantaged 37% of total population is economically disadvantaged

Special Education 202 students qualified for special education services

Retention 44 students were retained


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The requested technology would be appropriate in all grade levels, but will be piloted in three 5 th

grade classes. Currently, the classes are departmentalized with one teacher teaching ELA, one teaching

math, and the other teaching science and social studies. The classes are inclusion classes and serve

special ed., EIP, and Title 1 students. The following chart demonstrates the current abilities, and

subgroups existing in the 3 classes.

Population Total Population =82 Girls = 36 Boys = 46

Current AchievementLevels

8% DNMStandardsReading

17% DNMStandardsMath

46%MeetsStandardsReading

54%MeetsStandardsMath

46%ExceedsStandardsReading

29%ExceedsStandardsMath

Special Programs 13 in Special Education 13 in Title 1 services 9 in EIP servicesChestatee regularly meets the standards for Georgia Elementary schools and has only once in 5

years been on the Needs Improvement list. However, every year the faculty and staff work very hard to

attain this goal. The Qwizdom Student Support System alongside the Ready Set Program can provide the

authentic assessment that can be engaging and relevant to the Chestatee student population.

Project Description

Qwizdom is software which incorporates data collection tools along with a handheld remote that

provides students and teachers the ability to have immediate feedback in the midst of an assessment. The

Qwizdom Education website refers to their product as combining response system interactivity,

customized presentation, formative assessment, and online reporting into one complete solution.

Combined with their accompanying Ready Set Program, teachers are provided unique resources that are

tailored to their state standards.

Component Justification

Qwizdom Q2RF16 Remote

System PC

The software and the hand helds are sold together. These items will be used inwhole group instruction as well as small group instruction. During small groupinstruction students will use the handheld to demonstrate knowledge andunderstandings. During whole group instruction, the teachers can combine the


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three sets so that all children can participate in the activity and or assessment.

Grade 5 Ready SetReading

Curriculum

The ELA teacher can utilize the curriculum that is included in the Ready Set program to teach the state standards, and use it during differentiation to target thekey areas that the students are struggling with.

Grade 5 Ready SetMath Curriculum The math teacher can utilize the curriculum included in the program to teach thestate standards, and use it during differentiation to target the key areas that the

students are struggling with

Grade 5 Ready SetScience

Curriculum

The science teacher can utilize the curriculum included in the program to teachthe state standards. Although science is not considered a high stakes test, there aredirect correlations to math achievement as well as understanding of informationalmaterials through science instruction.

Project Accomplishments

The Qwizdom System and Curriculum offers the teacher the opportunity to pre-assess all the

students with immediate results. The results would drive the creation of flexible groupings for

differentiated instruction. During small group instruction, the teacher would use the Ready Set

Curriculum to target the specific skills. For the higher level students, activities include allowing students

to apply Higher Order Thinking Skills. Special services would be able to access the technology as well.

Currently, every child participates in an RTI lesson. Special area teachers use this time to provide

students who are in special education, or who are considered Tier 3 within the RTI Pyramid, the

opportunity for small group specific instruction. During this time period, it is required that the teacher use

progress monitoring tools. The Qwizdom software, curriculum, and handheld devices would be beneficial

to the students and teachers for such feedback.

Through pre-assessment, flexible groupings and engaging tasks, students are focused and driven

to demonstrate their knowledge. These elements are the foundation of the Teaching and Learning Goals;

Leaders and Teachers in Forsyth County Schools are committed to designing learning experiences that

reflect high expectations which result in student engagement. Standards-based classrooms are

accomplished through purposeful design, quality teaching, balanced assessment, and collaboration with


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colleagues and students. The primary goal of the technology department; the effective use of

technology for teaching and learning, is met too.

Project Evaluation

Expected Outcomes Evaluation of Results

Engaging Student Activities A survey will be given to students and teachers toassess their level of engagement, and the teacher observations of such. A pre and post survey will begiven.

More Effective and Efficient Practices A survey will be given to teachers to compare andcontrast the practices before the implementation of the Student Response System and after. A pre and

post survey will be given.

Raised Student Achievement Pre tests and Post tests will provide skill results andCRCT data will be evaluated to see if there is amarked improvement in the students who areinstructed and assessed with the Student ResponseSystem compared to the other three fifth gradeclasses that will not be using the technology.

Budget

Item Description Cost

Personnel Technology Specialists will be used to installsoftware and curriculum support.

No cost will ensue because FCSSemploys highly qualified

personnel to do such tasks.

Equipment All classes are equipped with interactive boards,teacher laptops (PC), and wireless connectivity.

No cost will ensue due to pre-existing equipment.

Software Qwizdom Q2 RF16 Remote SystemPC is packaged to include the software along with the

Student Response Devices. Three packages thatcontain the software to be installed on the teacherslaptop along with 16 hand held devices will be

purchased to be used in and across all 3 test pilotclassrooms. The hand held devices will be used inconjunction with the software that is loaded on theteachers laptop during whole group and smallgroup instruction to provide for opportunities of

Each Q2 RF 16 RemoteSystems = $950.00

X 3 classes = $2,850.00


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differentiated engaging instruction.

Curriculum Ready Set Reading, Math, and Science will all be purchased to be used in each of the three contentrelated classrooms. The curriculum is created tosupport the State Standards. Such lessons will be

used in small differentiated groups to provideauthentic lessons and efficient and effectiveassessments.

3 @ $1,995.00 = $5985.00

Final Cost $8,835.00

Due to the commitment of the Forsyth County Schools Sytem to make every classroom an

engaging technology driven environment the Qwizdom Student Response System and Ready Set

Curriculum fit perfectly with the existing technology within the classroom. The grant money will be used

to help engage learners through effective and efficient lessons and assessments.

References

The success stories are numerous.

South Polk Elementary : Students needs in all levels were met. The challenging questions stir the mindof the gifted child. The average and low achievers benefit from the immediate feedback, so they canrethink their answer.

8th Grade Science Class in TX : 80% of the class passed the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skillscompared to only 60% passing in the control group that did not use the system.

Canyon Lake Middle School : The motivation of my students has increased tremendously. They can nolonger sit in class without participating.

John F. Ryan Elementary, MA 5 th Grade Class : A pre-assessment was given followed by a post test. Half the class used the System and half was considered the control group. There was a 10% growth in thecontrol group and a 15% growth was seen with the tested group who used the Qwizdom system.

It is evident through these success stories that the Qwizdom Response System when used in

conjunction with the Ready Set Curriculum can be very effective in engaging students, raising student

achievement, and providing authentic and relevant assessments.

Resources:

Qwizdom website: http://www.qwizdom.com/education/hardware.php

Forsyth County Schools: http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/forsyth/site/default.asp
http://www.qwizdom.com/education/hardware.phphttp://www.qwizdom.com/education/hardware.phphttp://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/forsyth/site/default.asphttp://www.qwizdom.com/education/hardware.phphttp://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/forsyth/site/default.asp

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