This is our future...

iPads for Northpoint: A Differentiated Learning Experience Using 21st Century Tools

Created by: Kristen Bertschinger, Lorrie Murdy, Lindsay Johnson, Judie Offerdahl, Erin Stalsberg, Alexa Collodora, Nicole Frase, & Krystal Levang

Northpoint Elementary

Total Cost: $17,220

Briefly provide a summary of your project. (Please limit to 2 -3 sentences. This will be used for marketing materials)

We are asking for 30 iPads to provide all students at Northpoint with the opportunity to learn through the use of 21st Century Tools.  With the use of this technology, students will become motivated and engaged in a variety of content areas while providing educators with opportunities to enhance learning by differentiating the instruction to meet the unique needs of each individual learner.

Explain why it is needed:

The iPads will allow teachers to personalize instruction for all students.  The portability of the iPads will allow for learning experiences to take place around the school and community.  The use of this technology tool will support our belief in creating college ready students as they are allowed experiences to be problem solvers and critical thinkers.  Just recently the University of Minnesota purchased iPads for some of its incoming freshman noting the importance of access for all to new, efficient technology tools.  The apple product is giving kids exposure to a new platform for technology.  In addition, research has concluded that students with ASD (Autism) are more focused and successful in their tasks on the iPad because the tool caters to their desire to learn visually.  Also, recent research suggests students in the elementary schools need to be reading a much larger font.  The iPads would allow us to have students reading texts in a more developmentally appropriate font size as the screens are larger and allow for expansion.   We want to make sure kids have the latest experiences with 21st Century tools - especially those that don't have the resources at home, even if it's one or two at a time.  As a school we have a diverse population socioeconomically and we need to level the playing field within our own population.  One way we can do this is by advocating for ALL students.  We have been looking at data and it looks like those that need an additional boost are ELL students and Special Ed.  Utilizing the iPad is one way that the achievement gap can be narrowed. It provides visual and aural learning opportunities for English Language Learners since apps in dual languages can be downloaded and talking dictionaries are available.  We said to ourselves, iTouches are great--but are they enough?  Not if there is something else that can improve student learning.  We selected iPads instead of laptops because we feel the iPads provide a more portable, user-friendly technology tool.  In addition, there is already a large database of inexpensive apps that are student centered and differentiated for independent or small group learning.

Describe the activities that will take place:

For literacy, apps will be downloaded and utilized during small group instruction and independent center work to promote better phonemic awareness, phonics/word recognition, vocabulary and fluency.  For math, apps will be utilized during small group instruction and independent center work to help students learn and practice mathematical targets for addition and subtraction, shape recognition, numeracy, telling time, problem solving, money.  In addition, students will be able to do blogging, access online activities, and create a variety of presentations with new and current programs – something they are not able to do on a iTouch.  

Provide a timetable for project completion:

We are proposing to phase the iPads into the school beginning with 10 iPads this fall, 10 in the winter, and 10 in the spring with the possibility of a renewal for 30+ next school year.  Throughout each phase we would provide staff with an opportunity to learn about the technology and plan for meaningful ways to use it in the classroom.  Each phase would also include the purchasing of new apps and syncing of previously owned apps (through the established NP iTunes account).

What are the anticipated outcomes of the project?

We plan to see an increase in 21^st Century Skills and Fluencies as students will have an increased competency in utilizing current technologies with an increased ability to synthesize information from a variety of multimodal resources, We will make gains towards our school student learning goals as we anticipate growth in student reading fluency scores through the use of the tool and apps, increase in student motivation and engagement (specifically ASD and ELL populations), and students’ college readiness. 

What are the innovative or creative components of the project?

It exposes all students to a 21^st Century tool.  It also allows for a multisensory approach to learning, self-directed and independent learning opportunities, appeals to a variety of intelligences (Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory). Because of the nature of the iPad and its capabilities, the students will have access to a set of miniature computers within the classroom to pull in the outside world and resources that connect with their understanding of the world that they bring to the classroom.

Does this project align with District 16’s Strategic Directions? If so, which one and briefly explain how:

Strategic Directions: District 16 will

● incorporate K-12 world language as an opportunity to develop and enhance students' language acquisition, cultural appreciation, and global awareness ● narrow the teaching and learning gap by engaging students through personalized instruction and providing an immediate and systemic response to school-wide and individual learning needs ● integrate 21st Century Skills and instructional technology in its instruction so that all students develop the knowledge and habits necessary for their future success ● attract, develop, and retain students

Yes, because it...

● narrows the teaching and learning gap by engaging students through personalized instruction and providing an immediate and systemic response to school-wide and individual learning needs

● integrates 21st Century Skills and instructional technology in its instruction so that all students develop the knowledge and habits necessary for their future success

● incorporates cultural appreciation, and global awareness as related apps are downloaded

● provides ELL students an opportunity to develop and enhance language acquisition

How many students will be impacted by this project?

All NP students and staff.  Because of the quantity of iPads we are requesting, each student would have the opportunity to use the tool at a minimum once each week. 

Are there any other potential funding sources? List and describe any funding sources that you have applied for and the current status of the requests. (Include source and amount). Describe the status of the project in the event that one or more of the funding sources does not prove fruitful.

The Northpoint PTO is willing to provide funding for the screen and iPad protectors.  The Northpoint student activities fund will provide for a minimum of $5,000 to contribute toward the cost of the iPads.  With the purchase of our iTouches, parents were very encouraged by our use of technology and donated over $100 in iTunes giftcards for the purchase of apps.  We will continue to utilize this source of funding while looking for parents to contribute to the scale of the project. 

Provide a detailed description of each item to be purchased and a mathematically accurate budget. Provide specific information about costs, which may include materials, equipment, supplies, transportation and other expenses.

30 16 GB WiFi iPads at $479.00 each with educator discount = $14,370

30 iPad silicone covers with screen protectors at $25.00 each  = $750.00
Apple Protection Plan (3 year coverage) for each iPad at $70 each = $2,100

Indicate if there are any student fees for participation in the project and how your project would provide for students with “financial needs”. Include other revenue sources generated by the actual activity (ticket sales, etc.).

There will be no student fees as the technology will be used in the school during the school day.  All students will have access and equal opportunity to this learning tool regardless of socio-economic status.

Can this project be successful if partially funded? What are the consequences if the project is only partially funded by the Panther Foundation (e.g., project will be delayed, cancelled, partially completed, etc.)?

Yes, we can still be successful with a portion of the grant.  However, if just partially funded the students wouldn’t have the same amount of opportunities (due to the number of students at NP compared to the number of iPads accessible to them).  For example, if split amongst grade levels 30 iPads would allow for 7 at each grade level while 20 iPads would allow for 5.  More students would need to share the tool instead of being able to work independently at their own level.

How will you assess the degree to which the specific learning outcomes have been achieved? Describe how this project will be evaluated. How will learners participate in the evaluation? - Teacher? – Others?

We will utilize formative assessments and curriculum targets to update apps for differentiated groups. By the end of the school year when final reading and writing assessments take place and scores of DIBELS assessments can be analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the project, we expect to see an increased growth in reading fluency. We will use informal teacher observation as well to determine if students are actively engaged and motivated.  The other assessment method takes on more of a quantitative measure.  We will look at the growth of reading scores for 'at risk' student' readers before the use of the iPad and compare the growth to the rate of growth for 'at risk' readers after the students have had access to the iPad.    The iPads will also be used as an intervention tool.  Using apps that are specific to student need, we can track their growth and progress throughout the course of an intervention (ex - Using a phonics app that makes word recognition progressively harder based on their success.).