My middle school students are constantly pushing the envelop of what they can do with the technology we have available. At this point we need mobile devices to increase our productivity and expand our understanding of the world around us.
Our rural school is located in a timber community that prides itself on its history and connection to the environment.
Many of my students would like to grow up and work in this industry. They are excited to learn when the context is their local community and it's products.
My Project
The forestry club in our district maintains a small plot of land to grow and harvest trees. Students are encouraged to explore the forest area and gather data about the ecosystem. In our class, groups choose a topic area related to the forest, collect data, and report the results of their survey to the class. We are requesting a tablet to take to the field. This will allow us to record photos, video, data, and use inquiry tools to research each topic. We are also requesting 5 headsets to use when reporting. The project culminates with a presentation explaining the question studied, the process of finding the answer, and the result. The kids use PowerPoint or an online presentation application to share their work. They would like to add a little personality to their presentations by creating a voice-over narration to explain their project.
This tablet will increase motivation and reduce busy work for the kids, while they learn to collect, interpret and make decisions based on their data.
It will also reduce errors in data collection and help the kids focus on the major goals of the project.
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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 Ms. Latz and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.