Hour of Code + Happy Hollow = Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

My Students

Can you imagine what iPads, which are easy for us to use and which offer creativity, word processing, virtual field trips, publishing capabilities, and much more could do to enhance our creative thinking and problem solving skills in the increasingly technological world we are growing up in?

Bill Gates stated, "I think it's fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tool we've ever created.

They're tools of communication, they're tools of creativity, and they can be shaped by their user." We have approximately 500 wonderful children in grades K-5 who come from a variety of social and cultural backgrounds. About half of these are in a lower socio-economic class which means that their families do not have the financial means to provide them with technological resources at home. Our school is a tight-knit community of administrators, teachers, staff, families, and children all working together to ensure student success. We are all very concerned about our students' future, and we are striving to meet their needs, focusing on creativity and problem solving skills through technology.

My Project

We will spend the $10,000 Hour of Code prize to purchase iPads, cases, keyboards and headphones. I am requesting 23 iPads, 17 bluetooth keyboards, 23 protective cases, and 23 headphones. We will create a 'Creation Station' cart on wheels containing iPads, keyboards, headphones, and inviting writing/planning supplies, which can be scheduled to visit classrooms during the day. These will be used specifically for activities which will cultivate our students' creativity and problem solving skills--creating movies; writing newspapers, stories, books, or blog post; coding; recording interviews; developing newscast; using problem solving activities; whatever they might envision. After school, we would use the 'Creation Station' with our existing STEM Club. (STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Before school, it would be available for early arrivers to work on projects. Digital literacy is becoming increasingly important. We hope to facilitate learning with technology by providing our students a variety of diverse opportunities using these items.

Our bright students are motivated and are making gains academically, but still lack technological skills as well as the abilities to problem solve and think creatively.

We believe that computers, as Bill Gates stated, "have become the most empowering tool we have ever created." Unfortunately, our students do not have enough access to technology to develop these skills. Technology is essential to their future success, but we need additional equipment, which this project will provide.