My students need an Apple iPad Air, Samsung 60-Inch 1080p Smart LED TV (2015 Model), and a Cheetah Mounts TV Wall Mount to learn by doing and share their thinking with their peers.
As a Visual and Performance Arts Magnet school, we are focused on integrating the arts into academic instruction in order to give students a well-rounded education. This integration, coupled with academic rigor, prepares our students for the real world. Our diverse school is a learning center for almost 1,000 students, nearly half of which are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Our school provides a variety of enrichment classes, such as robotics, dance, and orchestra that students might not have the opportunity to participate in outside of school.
My students arrive at school daily with creative and engaged minds, eager to ask and answer questions.
They come from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and about half of my students are English Language Learners. This diversity gives their thinking color and variety. They are eager to share with one another, solve both academic and social problems, and learn in a variety of ways. As their teacher, I strive to give them a rich learning environment that engages them as 21st century learners.
My Project
There is a dichotomy in the world of education. Is it best practice for the teacher to be the "sage on the stage" or the "guide on the side"? The sage represents the teacher who knows it all and shares information willingly with students who soak up all they need to learn like sponges. The guide represents the teacher who fosters critical thinking and a learn-by-doing process. He or she sets up the learning environment and students use problem solving to learn with guidance and questioning from the teacher. In my classroom, students work collaboratively in order to make sense of their own learning while I serve as the guide on the side.
Your generous donation for this technology would allow for increased classroom collaboration and student ownership of learning.
Having a classroom iPad connected wirelessly to a TV would allow students to share their thinking with their peers more easily. Students often work with partners to solve daily math problems or respond to literature by citing evidence. When students want to share their work, we either have everyone gather around their desk or only listen to (and not see) what they did. This is cumbersome and does not give students the full opportunity to share their learning. In addition, it can make sharing more difficult for English Language Learners. However, with this technology, students could use the iPad and show their work on the TV with the use of an AppleTV and AirPlay. In addition, students would benefit from access to the ever-increasing number of educational apps and websites that provide more information than static textbooks. Students could easily view maps of local geography, watch videos that show the customs of Native American tribes, and see models that promote mathematical understanding on the TV.
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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. Giorgi and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
