This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
I teach U.S. History (with an honors section) Civics, Economics, and Digital Journalism. I work in an underfunded urban school with very limited technology resources.
How are we preparing our students for the 21st century? How can our students compete with countries like China and India who have more honor students than we have students total? We must harness the power of the network. Our students can learn exponentially and not only achieve the basic goal of meeting state standards but they can succeed in a much more important way: they can create content, connect and collaborate, analyze, critique, and discuss. All of this is going on right now in a content-rich arena far removed from the hallowed halls of the school house. The internet has revolutionized access to information. Our students are growing up in an age where the information they receive outside of school is more relevant than that which they are forced to learn by rote using worksheets and standardized tests inside school.
I want to introduce my students to the many possibilities offered by harnessing social networking tools (collectively known as Web 2.0) and the read/write web. I want them to see that the power of connecting and collaborating with their peers doesn't have to be limited to MySpace and socializing. It can be about learning. Our school's resources are limited (we don't even have a library) but with a few laptop computers in my classroom I can connect my students to a world rich in information and tools for learning. The best part of all these tools available on the internet? They're 100% free.
I know this, because they are what I use to learn. My own professional development happens outside of meetings and school workshops. I blog and connect with educators all around the world. It has empowered me. It has changed the way I learn. It can do the same for my students. Your help will ensure my students have the technological resources to harness these web based tools. Help me pilot this concept in my classroom and I will champion this learning strategy for our entire school, our entire network, and beyond. Any successes will be available for all to see. My students will be able to reach out and thank you beyond just sending pictures and thank you notes. You will be able to see them interact with the world on their own blogs and forums.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Mr. Hess and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
