I work at a special education school servicing emotionally disturbed, learning disabled, and other special education classified students. Our 175 students come from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Over 95% of the student body is eligible for free lunch and over 90% receive public assistance. The school’s ethnicity is as follows: 60% Hispanic, 30% African American, 8% Caucasian, and 2% Asian. These factors come together and place our children at a huge disadvantage, but we are committed to providing them with a rigorous academic and therapeutic program.
My science and math students are very hands-on learners, and love to get involved with projects and presentations that get them up in front of the classroom. My kids have done many assignments with poster board and other visual aids, and they would benefit from being able to use an Interactive Markerboard (commonly known as a "Smart Board") so they can incorporate technology into their presentations. They are currently learning to use PowerPoint so they can develop more sophisticated presentations, and even incorporate video clips, online photographs, charts, and other visual aids into their work.
Research has shown that learners demonstrate increased motivation and enjoy the interaction Smart Board technology offers. It makes the subject material "come alive," and therefore captures the attention of students in a unique manner. I have seen this technology being utilized in other classrooms and schools, and it is truly amazing to see how much the students enjoy learning with the Smart Board.
Most of my students talk about their college plans, and I want them to feel comfortable with different kinds of technology while they are still in high school. Most public schools have Smart Boards in their classrooms, and I don't want my students to miss out on utilizing learning tools that typical "regular education" students have. Thanks for viewing my proposal and considering my kids!
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