My sixth and eighth graders are full of energy, excited to learn, and naturally inquisitive. They want to be engaged in the lessons, instead of being a passive learner. The days of sitting at a desk listening to a lecture is in the past!
Students need to know why it is important for them to learn the material taught, and when they will use it in real life.
With STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), Problem Based Learning (PBL), and Computer Science (coding) students are engaged, and solving the problems that today's scientists and engineers are also working to solve. My school has over 900 diverse students coming from many different walks of life. Some students are able to afford their own device and bring them from home, but we have a large population where that is not realistic due to financial constraints. I have set my standards high for them knowing that they are the engineers, scientists, health care workers, and innovators of our future. They are our current and future problem solvers and inventors. They are eager to learn, eager to invent, eager to design, and eager to change the world!
My Project
My school is not 1:1 where every student is provided a device. We share 3 computer labs for over 900 students. My biggest challenge with implementing STEAM, Project/Problem Based Learning , and Computer Science (coding) is the lack of expensive technology. Technology is a powerful tool in the 21st century, and Chromebooks provide skills that are necessary to be successful in college and the workforce. Being able to fully utilize technology in our classroom will allow for improved student-centered learning for our diverse student population. The requested Chromebooks will be used by my students to incorporate STEAM, PBL, and Computer Science into my classroom. They will be able to use the Chromebooks with Goggle apps and web based programs to collaborate with other members in their class during projects. Currently, my students have to move to a computer lab to work on projects, which in more of a disruption to the day. In the labs, students are not able to move the computers next to each other making it difficult for them to work together. The Chromebooks will allow me to differentiate the curriculum for each of my students while still incorporating STEAM, PBL, and Computer Science.
By funding this project, you are investing in our future.
With the Chromebooks, the students are learning real life skills of collaboration, teamwork, creating different multimedia presentations, public speaking, problem solving, and realizing they can be the next innovators to change the world. As the teacher, I become more of a facilitator in the classroom. My students are the future engineers, health care workers, innovative inventors, zoologists, programmers, and many other fields of science, technology, and math.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Evans and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
