This is not magic, but the nightmare my students face when they attempt to use the computers at our school only to find their work is missing, gone, deleted.
I teach 5th grade at a wonderful Title I school in a lower middle class community, where most families qualify for free or reduced lunches. Approximately fifty percent of our students are English language learners who come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
My students are continuously working on research projects, which require using the computer lab for 30 minutes each week. The computer lab consists of 20 computers, and on average 15 are working at any given time. Many different classes use the computers, leaving the hard drive with limited memory. The students also have access to 15 laptops, one afternoon each week. Since there are thirty children in my classroom the students take turns using the computer lab and laptops. Their worst nightmare is to find that their work is missing or deleted. Another obstacle the children face is being prepared to work on their assignments only to find their assigned computer or laptop is not working.
Providing each student with a flash drive will allow him or her to work on any computer in the lab, on the classroom computer, at home, or in the library. The children would be able to work independently on their assignments, further promoting a feeling of success as they publish their reports.
The students would learn what it is to be responsible, as all their work would be on their flash drive, which they would not want to lose. These children will be preparing themselves for their futures as they have the abilities to carry their work with them wherever they need to go, as they continue working on their projects. These children are learning how technology can help them as they continue their education, and work toward their future goals. Thank you for spending time learning about my students.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. D. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.