1.3 POLICIES, PROCEDURES, PROGRAMMING, AND FUNDING
Candidates research, recommend, and implement policies, procedures, programs and funding strategies to support implementation of the shared vision represented in the school, district, state, and federal technology plans and guidelines. Funding strategies may include the development, submission, and evaluation of formal grant proposals.
The Donors Choose artifact is a document containing screen shots from one of the many donorschoose.org grant proposals I have completed. Donorschoose.org is a website that enables teachers to write grant proposals for different materials they need for their classrooms. I completed this proposal on my own to ask for iPads for my classroom.
This artifact demonstrates mastery of standard 1.3: candidates research, recommend, and implement policies, procedures, programs and funding strategies to support implementation of the shared vision represented in the school, district, state, and federal technology plans and guidelines. Funding strategies may include the development, submission, and evaluation of formal grant proposals. I completed this grant proposal in order to obtain iPads for my classroom. When I wrote this proposal I worked in a very high poverty school, and our access to technology in the classroom was limited. Before writing this proposal I researched the ways in which I could use these tablets in my classroom. I found that I could utilize these tablets in every subject area that I taught, and at the same time I could drastically improve my students understanding of and relationship with technology. By writing this proposal I was striving to ensure that I could help my students become 21st century learners, which is in line with the school, district, state, and federal technology plans. I also had to develop policies and procedures regarding implementing the use of this new technology in my classroom. Before my students were able to use the new iPads they had to sign technology contracts, as did their parents. The rules and consequences surrounding the use of the iPads were discussed on a daily basis when we first began using the new technology. The iPads were used during small group time in reading and math. If the students were caught off task while using them they lost their iPad privileges for at least the rest of the day. The students were also taught the importance of handling the machines carefully.
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By completing this artifact I learned that there are many different ways to obtain the materials I need for my classroom. After realizing that my school did not have enough technology to meet the needs of every student I decided to look into other ways to get my students the technology they needed. Through researching how to do this I found donorschoose.org, and realized that with a little creativity I could get my students' needs met on my own, without waiting for the school to apply for funds. While completing this artifact I also practiced implementing policies and procedures regarding the implementation of new technology. Doing this was good practice for me, as I may one day be in charge of evaluating policies and programs, and securing funds for technology school wide. One thing I would change about this artifact is that I would include statements from some of my students describing what they feel utilizing technology in the classroom does for them.
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The development of this artifact had an impact on my professional development. Writing this proposal led to me writing numerous other proposals to obtain materials for my classroom. I learned that if I'm willing to put in a little extra effort it is very possible to acquire the things I need to better help my students be the best learners they can be. This impact can be measured by observing the positive impacts I continue to have on my students throughout my career.