The CoronaVirus pandemic has changed a lot for our school. We are forced to move our student-to-student teaching to an online platform using zoom. We are no longer able to have the same kinds of interactions that we normally have when we are in the classroom. My students and I are missing the personal interaction. Kids are missing out on the dedicated school time schedule and routines that they are used to. Currently all students are working from home and the access that each one has is unpredictable.
My students are trying their best to cope with the changes in their environment and work with me given the limited resources and unique challenges we are all facing during distance learning.
Using an aged laptop and my own personal mobile phone, we meet twice a week and I try to deliver lessons to them followed by assignments and weekly quizzes. At the end of each week my students have a chance to go over the work with me and get all their questions answered. I hold tutoring sessions for individuals who are struggling.
My Project
We have been given the challenge of delivering our curriculum online without the same student-to-student interaction that we are all used to. This requires both teachers and students to have the right technology that can provide access and a smooth transition and learning experience.
Currently, I have been working with an old school laptop that is at least 7 years old and running on very old software (Windows 7).
This poses a great challenge because it cannot run the proper programs needed to communicate with my students. The internet capabilities lead me to necessitate the use of my mobile wifi. Zoom does not run smoothly and I do not have any recording devices that I can use to share my lessons online.
This new iPad that I am requesting will be used to connect with my students and give them access to my curriculum online as well as give me the ability to access newer software for smoother delivery. The iPad has an enhanced camera and microphone so that I can record my lessons. I can record and write out solutions digitally so that students can see my own writing as if I were at my own whiteboard. (much better than Paint software). Many of my students are not able to attend my zoom lessons, so this would enable them to have access to my materials 24/7. Students need to see step by step work when I'm doing complicated work, so these recordings will be much better for them than printed out notes. Just having a faster computer with more capabilities will help with all aspects of online teaching and learning.
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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 Dr. Yen and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.