Lights! Cameras! Action! Visual Literacy on the Rise!

My Students

U.S Cellular's motto, "Hello Better" inspired my classroom motto, "Learn Better"! Like U.S. Cellular, my goal is to provide top quality customer service (education); however, the biggest challenge faced is the lack of updated technology to put 21st century tools in the hands of my students!

I am fortunate to teach in an area where students are unsung heroes.

The average student is able to enjoy "being a kid"; however, my students think mostly of survival as the people in their community struggle with social ills associated with poverty, high-crime, gang-infestation, illiteracy and homelessness. Nevertheless, my students beat the odds and attend school to find solace in a nurturing and academic-focused environment. In addition to regular school attendance, my students are high achievers and take pride in their learning. They are well-aware that education can change their living conditions. More than 95% of our students receive free lunch and many parents rely on government "once-a-month stable" income to support their families. Nevertheless, the families as well as the teachers still "DREAM BIG" for our youth! Despite residing in neglected neighborhoods, my students strive to achieve and given the right technical tools, they are able to walk down the pipeline of success!

My Project

We are a newly appointed STEM school; yet, my students are not fully equipped with 21st century tools. I wish to purchase a Go Pro video camera for my classroom so that my students can document their learning. Thus far, we have used my smart phone to record snippets of engaging activities, record brief presentations and academic classroom debates. My battery life usually runs out with the first set of fifth graders (I have 3 classes per day); therefore, not all students are able to experience the joy of watching their knowledge building events. This year, our class theme focuses on "Kindness" and the goal is to have students script and create their own public service announcements to share with the entire school. A high powered camera is needed to captivate the vivaciousness of 75 5th graders! Another use for the camera is to allow students to create their own visual media to input into their presentations giving them the opportunity to gain college and career readiness skills.

Research has shown that the lack of exposure and resources are among the disparities of the achievement gap.

Donating to this project, students walk away from the poverty line towards the pipeline of success through gaining access to 21st century tools and technology. I want to create a "Learn Better" classroom environment in which students not only develop technology skills, but lifelong social skills that will help them to thrive in advanced educational/digital pursuits in the workforce!