My students need an LCD Writing Tablet as an alternative for paper when needed. It is a reusable writing surface, instantly erasable, that would eliminate paper waste.
With the new Common Core Curriculum, our goal is to prepare our students for the 21st Century, paired with available technology. Classrooms generate a lot of paper waste. I also want my students to be mindful of the environment, and do their share of conserving our resources.
Our school is nestled in a quiet neighborhood and serves about 400 students in the area.
I have a diverse group of 2nd graders of different nationalities, socio-economic backgrounds, and family dynamics. My class has an equal number of boys and girls of different learning styles. Just like any typical child, my students are motivated by technology, and activities where they can manipulate and create to express their individuality. Most students of this age love to express their creative side by doodling and drawing, which unfortunately leads to paper waste. Their developing fine motor skills and spacial recognition tend to produce large letter formations and wasted space that consumes a lot of paper. Some also doodle on their assignments and submit messy work.
My Project
The LCD Writing Tablet is a reusable writing surface and is instantly erasable. It is a good alternative to paper and pen, and whiteboard and dry erase marker use. Using whiteboards and dry erase markers in class can be hard to manage, with students tempted to sniff and use the markers inappropriately. The strong odor of the markers also tend to linger on in the classroom and causes other problems, such as headaches. Students will be using the tablet in all curricular areas. They will use it when doing handwriting practice instead of the whiteboard. For math, they can use it to do calculations instead of scratch paper. They can use it to jot down notes and ideas when working in a group. Each student can write down their answers to questions and hold up their boards to show me, making every student actively participate in class. They can also use the tablet to occupy themselves when they are done early with their assignment, allowing them to be creative without defacing their work.
This project will help move my class towards the 21st Century learning expectations.
It is an age-appropriate technology that is affordable and accessible to all my 2nd grade students. It will encourage more student engagement in the classroom and will help eliminate paper waste which helps our environment. It has a variety of uses, takes less space, and is more manageable than it's traditional counterparts. My students and I would love it!
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