Now that chalkboards are obsolete and technology is constantly evolving, we want to expose our students to new technology so they will be prepared to accept new technology as they grow.
We are a high poverty urban school in upstate New York.
We have a range of diversity in our first grade class of 26 students. Our students differ in race, language, and academic ability. Our class includes students who receive special education, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Counseling, and Speech & Language Services. Our students are very hands- on. They enjoy learning new things and are very excited about school and genuinely want to do well.
My Project
Imagine a group of child authors diligently working on their newest book. A child has done something really special that you want to share with the rest of the class. You need to stop the class, gather them where they can all see and then share. If you had a document reader, it would be a minimal interruption and everyone could easily see the example. Students in our class that are visual learners will be able to see things much clearer, and our hands-on learners will be able to actively engage during lessons that require manipulatives. During read-alouds, we will no longer have students complaining that they can't see the pictures, we could instantly turn a read-aloud into a big book. A document reader would also allow us to use original documents and this would allow us to "go green" by reducing copy and transparency costs. We currently have a Elmo compatible projector and use it to keep students engaged during whole group instruction and would like to add to our current technology.
In addition to helping students focus, reducing paper and plastic usage, and creating a time and space for teachable moments, the document camera becomes exposure to technology they may never see.
We work in a district that struggles with providing current technology to the elementary schools. Our students already have fewer experiences and exposure to new technologies than their suburban counterparts. This will allow us to level the playing field in our attempt to close the achievement gap.
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