My students epitomize the American Dream: they come from all walks of life and every zip code in the city of Philadelphia in order to attend our school. Our students consistently rank as one of the most diverse student bodies in the country, and our diversity is just one of the reasons our school is such a special place to learn and work.
In order for any student to succeed, access to technology is critical—particularly in STEM courses.
My students are curious, intelligent, hard-working, and resilient. Irrespective of the talent that walks into my classroom each and every day, unfortunately, I cannot truly offer my students "the best" science experience possible without functioning computers in our classroom owing to the rapidly advancing technology that STEM fields are constantly developing.
Computers in particular open the door for students by allowing them to practice collecting, organizing, and analyzing data using spreadsheets and graphical analysis tools that scientists and clinicians utilize. Computers allow my students to access simulations that help them better visualize complex molecular processes like enzyme catalysis and DNA replication. Aside from the obvious benefits, tools like Google Docs allows lab partners who live across the city to collaborate in real time.
My Project
We use Chromebooks on a regular basis in biology class, though our current set is worse for wear and in need of replacement.
Chromebooks are essential for my students' development of data collection and analysis skills.
Various data probes can be plugged into Chromebooks, allowing students to generate quantitative graphs displaying data such as carbon dioxide production or consumption. Further, the host of tools in Google Drive allows students to communicate results and ideas with each other.
Having access to Chromebooks in class will allow students to be more confident pursuing a STEM major in college, and ultimately, a STEM career if they so choose.
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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 Ms. Bader and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.