My students need 2 laptop computers to research environmental conditions surrounding plant growth in our indoor terrarium. Our old laptops cannot play online simulations.
Our students need to be ready to compete in the 21st century. They need the technology to help them keep up. The two laptops requested will help us access the information online that will inform students of the environmental conditions required to successfully grow plants in our terrarium.
My students come from a culturally diverse background, and many do not have access to the Internet at home.
School is their only exposure to modern technology, and so I feel I have to give them every opportunity to use this technology. Our school community is from all over the world and we speak many languages. Our international population looks to education to help the children succeed and public school is the key to upward mobility. No one disputes the role of technology and the need to acquire effective research skills. The challenge lies in our ability to find the funds to bring top quality technology to our children to level the playing field. Disney's planet challenge in support of environmental stewardship offers a powerful opportunity to give these students the knowledge they need to be competitive.
My Project
We have laptops that can no longer run the newer software or plugins necessary to play the videos that provide the environmental information they require. The time has come to upgrade but the financial challenge of purchasing two up to date laptops has met with roadblocks. The two computers I have chosen are powerful and quite reasonable for what they can do. Disney has thrown down the gauntlet and we would like to meet the challenge of teaching and learning about plants, how they grow under various conditions, and how some of those conditions can be controlled to yield the best results. The students will be able to do research for their school projects. These computers will allow them to find information online by accessing multiple sources in a variety of formats. They will also learn the importance of choosing websites most appropriate for their needs.
As a cluster teacher, I teach close to 600 students in our school which is not uncommon within the City of New York.
Time is at a premium so having the right tools to maximize their time i my room is critical. We are implementing Core Curriculum that has increased academic rigor that that requires us to provide the finest technology possible. We hope this can be achieved by bringing in two laptops that can access environmental science sites and thus meet Disney's challenge.
Half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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