Grant Application Essay: Technology Fair

Based on Chapter 7 of Heidi Hayes Jacob's book Curriculum 21, I have decided to create a new project for my students.  The project is based on Jacob's idea of having students create films for a Film Festival.  My project is similar in that it would still be for the 21st century learner and would still challenge students to strive for more real outcomes than grades. However, students would have more options to use their creativity besides just movies.  Students would be able to create movies, podcasts, scratch video games, slideshows (for the more scaffolded learner), or graphic novels via comic life.  Last year I tried to implement this project, but the resources were not available.  For this blog post I am going to write the grant request for the technology required for the project.  The grant I am writing will be through donorschoose.org a great site for all educators and support professionals who are looking for funding.

GRANT WRITING ESSAY
In room 20, students define passion. Through self-directed exploration they gain a hunger for information and a love of learning. Working in groups to solve real-life problems, they are in control of their destiny and I am merely their guide. Students transform into influential members of society.

Jimmy slumps into the classroom.  He walks to the back of and settles into a desk in the back row.  At the beginning of the year, he believes his F's are inevitable.  By fifth grade the labels in education, have instead started to define him (special education, behavior room, etc).  So many times students think that information is only an entity to receive and accept.  But it's not.

In my classroom it can be hard teaching students that through mistakes we learn our best.  That failing means trying again that there is hope for students of all levels and abilities.  The poverty in our school is rampant with 75% of students getting free and reduced lunches.  Students are trying to escape situations of abuse, poverty, chronic illness, and incessant moving/ transferring schools.

That being said, every student with passion and motivation can influence their world.  With your help we can empower students to do so with the ability to think beyond the desk in the back row.

After reading Curriculum 21 by Heidi Hayes Jacobs, I was inspired to create 21st century projects that promoted learning outside of the classroom walls.  I wanted real-life learning that would require creativity, technological fluency, and a love of learning.

I am requesting 5 Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Android Tablets.  The tablets will be used for a community service project where the students in groups of around 4 will choose a real life persuasive essay topic.  Students will then research their topic.  The assessment will be either a podcast, movie, graphic novel, music video, slideshow, or video game.  When the products are finished, we will invite the community to come and see their creations.  Students would need the ability to take video in a portable way and format the video.

The tablets will not only allow students to create technology fair projects, but they will also be used on a daily basis integrating them into math, science, social studies, and language arts stations.

Sure, a donation to my project is going to greatly help my small group instruction, and my students ability to make a technology project, but the donations to this project will be used to provide our generations with technological fluency.  You and I together can give students the ability to take control of their education.  We can encourage students to use their knowledge as power by contributing to their community and eventually the world they live.