Pencasting: Reaching Students with a Flick of the Wrist!
My students need a LiveScribe pen, LiveScribe notepads, and a set of pen refills to use as they, like teachers, work through and describe the problems they're solving.
We've all heard something that we later wish we had written down. Similarly, we've written ourselves notes that we later find have no context. This project works to kill both birds with one stone!
My students are hard-working, over-involved teenagers.
They play in the band, on the basketball team, work at the local grocery store, and are involved in their local youth groups. Our high school has a strong tradition of excellence in athletics and academics; my students achieve at high levels in both. Even as our local budget has been cut, our students continue to do more with less. They come to school with fewer resources, meaning that our teachers are asked to provide more. Many of them come from families with deep roots in agriculture; our community was settled by Mennonite immigrants looking for prime farm land. Many of those without farming roots have moved to the community because of two large manufacturing facilities. We are an increasingly diverse student population, one that continues to excel in the face of adversity.
My Project
As a math and science teacher, working through problems is a foundational activity. Hardly a day goes by without some form of computational work being shown in my class. With this LiveScribe pen, paper, and sharing software, showing work takes on a new meaning. When I prepare a lesson for class, or for students who have been absent, I will be able to show my work AND describe it. When students engage in peer mentoring, they will not only be able to provide the required work, but will be able to give a verbal explanation as well. Because of this amazing feature of the LiveScribe suite, I will be able to vastly improve my ability to communicate with students outside of the classroom. Similarly, I will be able to engage my students as the teachers, requiring them to work through and explain homework assignments throughout the year. This feature is the most exciting part of this package. When students have to explain what they've learned, the value of their learning goes through the roof!
A good teacher is a facilitator of learning, providing opportunities for student growth through experience and self-discovery.
By using this pencasting equipment, I will be able to do just that - to provide students the opportunity to become the teachers. Pencasting will open an exciting window in my classroom, one that will have a positive effect on each of my students and the educational experience they have.
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 Mr. Robb and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
