Technology Evaluation

1. Technology Evaluation Implementing New Technology in an Elementary School

2. Technology Problem • Our elementary school (grades K-5, 3 classrooms per grade, averaging 25 students per class) has been given a $25,000 grant to be used to implement new technology in the classroom. 50% of the teachers are digital natives, while the other 50% have limited experience using technology in the classroom. We (the technology team) have been tasked by the administration with selecting the technology and making sure all teachers are up-to-speed with the new technology. There is a limited budget available for paid staff development and a limited amount of time teachers can be required to participate in staff development activities. We are allowed one staff development day at the beginning of the school year and one faculty meeting per month for 45 minutes to train the teachers on how to use the new technology in the classroom.

3. Technology Problem • What technology should we buy? • How will we train teachers? • As the Technology Team, we will be in charge of maintaining the new technology and keeping it up to date.

4. Evaluation Criteria • Cost – does it fit into the $25,000 budget? • Durability • Portability • Effective for lesson planning • Ease of use & implementation • Easy to learn how to use? • Easy to set up/take down/maintain?

5. Solution: Tablets • What is a tablet? • Essentially a computer, but smaller and portable • Touchscreen device • Supports “apps” for various interests and needs • Some things you can do with a tablet: • Browse the Internet • Read ebooks • Watch videos

6. Solution: Tablets • Why invest in tablets? • Cost effective: Initial price may seem high, but in the end you’re saving money on textbooks • Stay current: Tablets allow for up-to-date resources, while textbooks are often out of date within a couple years. Also, join the tech age before you fall behind! • More engaging: Students are raised as digital natives, respond more to technological education • Save trees!

7. Solution: Tablets • Google Nexus 7 • $199 (125 tablets) • Durable – scratch resistant screen, rubberized back • Long battery life • 600,000 apps – many educational • Amplify (News Corp) • $299 + 2 year subscription to services for $99 (62 tablets) • Designed specifically for schools • Teachers can monitor activity (“eyes on teacher” app) • Apple iPad 2 • $399 (62 tablets) • Many of the same features as Nexus 7

8. Solution: Tablets • Best Choice: Nexus 7 • Cost effective, more tablets for more students • Durable – rubber back, scratch resistant screen • Long battery life  just charge overnight and be ready for the whole day • Many free educational apps • Many online tutorials for how to use the tablet

9. Solution: Interactive Whiteboards (IWB) • What is an interactive whiteboard? • “It is a presentation device that interfaces with a computer. The computer images are displayed on the board by a digital projector, where they can be seen and manipulated. Users can control software both from the computer and from the board.” (Bell, 2002)

10. Solution: IWB • Why Invest in Interactive Whiteboards? • Suitable for all ages and learning styles (visual, tactile, special needs) • Allows for collaborative work • Engaging lessons and lectures • Makes the one-computer classroom a workable instructional model • Promotes E-learning • Help students develop skills needed in the 21st Century

11. Solution: IWB • MimioTeach Interactive System • $799 • $14,382 • MimioBoard ME 77 • $1,066 • $19,188 • Mimio Board ME 87 • $1,174 • $21,132

12. Solution: IWB • Best Option: • MimioTeach Interactive System • Cost effective • Uses the whiteboards and projectors we already have in place • Easy to install and set-up • Ease of use • Lightweight and durable • Portable • http://www.mimio.com/flash/video_player/mimioteach.html

13. Solution: Clickers • How do clickers work? • An instructor is able to ask objective and subjective questions of each student. The questions come from a computer, and are displayed for each student to view. Each student can respond with a remote control device ("clicker"). A transmitter picks up the student's response and sends it to the computer, which stores the responses and can provide detailed reports. This system allows instructors to obtain immediate feedback from each student. The system keeps a log of every class session, so student records are always available.  • Check out this video! An Elementary Classroom using clickers! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86JqSQjexoY

14. Solution: Clickers • Why Invest in Clickers? • Cost Effective • Students are digital natives, yet schools do not have the technology to keep up with them! • Clickers increase student and teacher interaction as well as engagement and motivation. • Continuous formative assessment • Allows for students that are more reserved to also have their voice heard • Easy to incorporate into daily lesson planning

15. Solution: Clickers • Best Option: • Student Response System • eInstruction Spark 360 • 28 pad class: $1,199 • Total: $21,582 • In addition to response pads, the eInstruction Spark 360 Classpack includes a carrying case, receiver unit, and software. • Use extra funds for training

16. Comparison of Solutions (1-5 Scale) • Effective for lesson planning • Nexus- 5 • Mimio- 5 • Clickers- 5 • Ease of use & implementation • Nexus- 5 • Mimio- 5 • Clickers- 5 • Cost • Nexus- 4 • Mimio- 4 • Clickers- 5 • Durability • Nexus- 4 • Mimio- 4 • Clickers- 5 • Portability • Nexus- 4 • Mimio- 4 • Clickers- 5 All of the solutions fit our criteria – is there a way to incorporate all three?

17. Recommendation • 18 Mimio Teach Interactive Whiteboard Systems ($14,382) • One for each classroom • 50 Nexus 7 Tablets ($10,000) • One tablet for each teacher (18) • Rest of the tablets (32) • Teachers can sign up to use in their classroom • $600 left for professional development/resources for technology

18. Why? • IWB can be beneficial in every classroom at every grade level • Nexus tablets can interact with IWB • By giving each teacher a Nexus & Mimio, it will be easier for them to learn how to use the technology • Can take tablets home for lesson planning/practice • Clicker apps are available on tablets

19. Implementation • Week before school begins: staff development day • General overview of new tech: basic uses • Give staff a couple days to get acquainted with tech  another day to go over questions/concerns/etc. • Follow up training: • Monthly faculty meetings • Atomic Learning • Technology Team blog: staff can post questions/answers, request tutoring, etc.

20. Citations: Tablets • Bell, M. (2012). The Technology Purchasing Process: Caveat Emptor! Internet@Schools. 19(4), 23-25. • Elliott, P. (2013). The Rise of Tablets as Textbooks. Huffington Post. • Chozick, A. (2013). News Corp. Has a Tablet for Schools. New York Times. • Reisinger, C. (2012). Google Nexus 7 For Schools. PM Technology Blog. • All product information: Apple.com, Amplify.com, Play.Google.Com

21. Citations: Interactive Whiteboards • Mimio Pricing http://www.mimio.com/en-NA/Educator-info/EducatorPricing.aspx • Teich, A (2009). “Interactive Whiteboards Enhance Classroom Instruction and Learning” NEA Member Benefits. http://www.neamb.com/professional-resources/benefits-of-interactive-whiteboards.htm# • Bell, MA. (2002) “Why Use an Interactive Whiteboard? A Baker’s Dozen Reasons.”The Teacher’s Net Gazette http://teachers.net/gazette/JAN02/mabell.html • TechLearn Briefing, (2010) “Interactive Whiteboards in Education” Jischttp://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/Interactivewhiteboards.pdf

22. Citations: Clickers • Li Liu, N. (2009, April 15). How to Effectively Use SRS in the Elementary Classroom. PowerPoint presented at the 14th Annual Technology, Colleges, and Community Worldwide Online Conference • Classroom clickers. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.engaging-technologies.com/classroom-clickers.html • Wikipedia. (2012). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_Response_Systems