Smart Board Training Grant Proposal

Stephanie Vickers


Team Members:
Jasmine El-Jourbagy
NeAnn Wooten
Teresa Flemming


FRIT 7232 Visionary Leadership in Instructional Technology



Fall 2014
October 27, 2014







Abstract
Bleckley Countys technology vision states Technology Levels the Playing Field for our
students education through simplistic technological services. The mission statement of
Bleckley County states Provide leading edge technology through sustainable technological
creativity, leadership, and know-how for the exclusive purpose of educating our students. In
accordance with the Vision and the Mission Statement, the purchase of SMART Board
interactive whiteboards which will be use in individual classrooms to support and enhance the
learning of all students in the school. Purchase of the SMART Boards will be completed by July
2016 to allow adequate time for delivery and installation for the start of the 2016-2017 school
year.
Training is a key factor in the successful implementation of any new technology. The
School Library Media Specialist and two classroom teachers from each grade level from
Kindergarten through Grade 5 will be trained in use of the SMART Boards during a full-day, on-
site Train the Trainers session provided by SMART Technologies. Teachers attending the on-
site training session will in turn train the remaining teaching staff during a Teacher In-Service
day. Ongoing training is provided in the form of free online interactive orientation sessions (20
30 minute computer and telephone conferences) and downloadable training materials, in
addition to the SMART Boards on-screen Help menu and tutorials. Teachers will also have free
online access to teacher-developed lesson plans correlated the New Jersey Core Curriculum
Standards at the SMART Technology Education website, as well as numerous other reputable
websites such as Scholastic.com and SMART Exchange.











Demonstrated Needs

County: Bleckley County School System
Technology Grant proposal: Smart Board
Bleckley County is a county that has little to few Smart Boards in the classrooms. The interactive
Smart Board is a great way to prepare our students for the future. The interactive Smart Board is
a great way to help create transformative learning environments for today and tomorrow
classrooms as we know it. All students benefit when teachers use multiple instructional formats
beyond the traditional textbook as part of their daily instruction.
Smart boards could be a tool used to help teachers close the achievement gap of students in
grades k-12, especially at risk African American (64%) and Hispanic (33%) students who
demonstrate poor gains in English Language Arts and Mathematics when compared to their
White peers city-wide.

The following are examples of why the Smart Board is an excellent way to empower our
teachers and our students:
The board is set up to meet the needs of various learning styles of the students.
The board works great for whole class discussions and lessons related to science and
math.
The board will help to produce lessons with better pace, a tighter plan and wider appeal.

The Bleckley County School District conducted a survey to inquire teachers interest in the use
of Smart boards in the classroom. The survey was a questionnaire applied in a specific sample
size, a minimum of 150 participants. The survey was conducted over 15 days and the full sample
size was 225 (95 elementary, 75 middle, and 55 high school teachers).

The survey data revealed that elementary teachers would be interested in getting Smart boards
and receiving the appropriate training to successfully implement the technology in the classroom.
Many of the middle school teachers would agree to the new technology, but feel they would not
receive adequate training to successfully implement it. High school teachers were the least
interested in receiving training and implementing Smart boards.
Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: By July 2016 Bleckley County will have trained 100% of elementary certified
teachers in the school district to operate and deliver Smart Board enhanced lessons.
Objective 1: Learn how to use Smart Board software. (notebook, gallery and toolbox)
Goal 2: By August 2016, 100% elementary teachers will deliver Smart Board enhanced
classroom lessons to Bleckley County elementary students.
Objective 1: Install Smart Board and software in classroom and on laptops.
Objective 2: Redesign selected unit lessons that will require interactive Smart Board
Objective 3: Teach students how to manipulate the interactive Smart Board.
Objective 4: Teach selected lessons using the Smart Board.
Goal 3: By December 2016 Bleckley County will have trained 100% of middle certified
teachers in the school district to operate and deliver Smart Board enhanced lessons.
Objective 1: Train instructors on setup and using Software for Smart Boards. (notebook,
gallery, toolbox)
Objective 2: Redesign interactive features based on age group.
Objective 3: Train instructors over how to get student involvement.
Objective 4: Teach mini lesson to group of educators to test effectiveness of lesson.
Goal 4: By December 2016 Bleckley County will have trained 100% of high school certified
teachers in the school district to operate and deliver Smart Board enhanced lessons.
Objective 1: Train instructors on setup and using Software for Smart Boards. (notebook,
gallery, toolbox)
Objective 2: Redesign interactive features based on age group.
Objective 3: Train instructors over how to get student involvement.
Objective 4: Teach mini lesson to group of educators to test effectiveness of lesson.

Plan of Operation

Time Line/Information Activity Description Goal/Objective addressed
8:00 am - 9:30 am Each teacher will be given a
personal Smart Board Users
Guide.

The Professional Learning
Instructor will use this guide
as well as hands on learning
activities to introduce and
assist teachers in becoming
comfortable utilizing the
Smart Board.
Goal 1: By July 2016
Bleckley County will have
trained 100% of elementary
certified teachers in the
school district to operate
and deliver Smart Board
enhanced lessons.
Objective 1: Learn
how to use Smart
Board software.
(notebook, gallery and
toolbox)
9:30 am - 11:00 am Teachers will be grouped by
grade level and subject(s)
taught. Together they will
redesign a unit to incorporate
utilizing the Smart Board.

Once the new lesson plan has
been made, each teacher will
teach the lesson to co-workers
to practice manipulating the
Smart Board.

Teachers will then be able to
teach students how to use the
interactive Smart Board.
Goal 2: By August 2016,
100% elementary teachers
will deliver Smart Board
enhanced classroom lessons
to Bleckley County
elementary students.
Objective 1: Install
Smart Board and
software in classroom
and on laptops.
Objective 2: Redesign
selected unit lessons
that will require
interactive Smart
Board
Objective 3: Teach
students how to
manipulate the
interactive Smart
Board.
Objective 4: Teach
selected lessons using
the Smart Board.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm Teachers will be grouped by
grade level and subject(s)
taught. Together they will
redesign a unit to incorporate
Goal 3: By December 2016
Bleckley County will have
trained 100% of middle
certified teachers in the
utilizing the Smart Board.

Once the new lesson plan has
been made, each teacher will
teach the lesson to co-workers
to practice manipulating the
Smart Board.

Teachers will then be able to
teach students how to use the
interactive Smart Board.
school district to operate
and deliver Smart Board
enhanced lessons.
Objective 1: Train
instructors on setup
and using Software for
Smart Boards.
(notebook, gallery,
toolbox)
Objective 2: Redesign
interactive features
based on age group.
Objective 3: Train
instructors over how
to get student
involvement.
Objective 4: Teach
mini lesson to group
of educators to test
effectiveness of
lesson.
12:00 pm - 1: 00 pm LUNCH BREAK
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Teachers will be grouped by
grade level and subject(s)
taught. Together they will
redesign a unit to incorporate
utilizing the Smart Board.

Once the new lesson plan has
been made, each teacher will
teach the lesson to co-workers
to practice manipulating the
Smart Board.

Teachers will then be able to
teach students how to use the
interactive Smart Board.
Goal 4: By December 2016
Bleckley County will have
trained 100% of high school
certified teachers in the
school district to operate
and deliver Smart Board
enhanced lessons.
Objective 1: Train
instructors on setup
and using Software for
Smart Boards.
(notebook, gallery,
toolbox)
Objective 2: Redesign
interactive features
based on age group.
Objective 3: Train
instructors over how
to get student
involvement.
Objective 4: Teach
mini lesson to group
of educators to test
effectiveness of
lesson.



Evaluation Plan

The teachers will evaluate the effectiveness of the Smart Board technology through both
qualitative and quantitative data.

Quantitatively Qualitatively
Prior to implementation into the classroom:
Teachers will chart the engagement
level of the students
Document homework
Document class work
Document quizzes
Document test scores
Teachers will have students complete a
survey:
On their views of the Smart Board
What they liked.
What they did not like.
Once Smart Board is introduced the
teachers will monitor students progress.
Teachers will complete a survey:
On their views of the Smart Board
What they liked.
What they did not like.

The results of progress monitoring and surveys will be used to determine whether further grants
will be pursued to purchase a SMART Board for each classroom in the district.


Budget Plan

Item
Description
Narrative Unit Cost



Total
Requested
Funds
Total
Matching
Funds
Total
In-Kind
Funds
SMART
Board 680i3
77 with
UF55
projector
with
connecting
cables and
mounting
hardware
Each classroom
will need to be
equipped with a
Smart board to
allow teachers to
enhance students
learning and
deliver lessons.
Notebook 12
software will be
included with
each Smart board
purchase.
$1,499 $23,984
USB Audio
System
In Order for the
Smart Board to
have sound the
USB audio system
must be
purchased.
$299 $4,784
Shipping
costs
This is the price
for the Smart
Board to be
shipped to the
school.
$3,840
Installation
of wall
mounted
units by
school
district
personnel.
In order for the
Smart Boards to
be utilized, they
must be
appropriately
mounted on the
wall.
$150 $900
Internet
access
(included in
annual
Internet access is
not necessarily
needed to operate
the Smart Board,
$600
operating
budget)
but can be used to
to activate certain
features of the
Smart Board used
to create
interactive
lessons.
Initial
librarian/tea
cher training
(funded with
Literacy
grant)
To effectively use
the Smart Boards,
professional staff
will need to
receive the proper
training.
$14,000
Total This is the overall
total cost of each
item.
$1,948 $32,608 $14,000 $1,500


References

Bates, Christi, Hopkins, Amy, Kratcoski, Annette. Using Smart Boards to Enhance Student
Learning. Journal of the Research Center for Educational Technology. 3.2 (2007): 47-49. May
3, 2012.

Briggs, Josh, Daniels, Derrick, Jeror, Tracy, Scherhaufer, Katie. Teachers Perspectives on
Interactive Whiteboards as a Motivational Factor in Upstate NY County. May 3, 2012.

Cogill, Julie. How is the Interactive Whiteboard Being Used in the Primary School and How
Does this Affect Teachers and Teaching? 1-48. May 3, 2012.


Appendix A

Main Survey Results
Question 1: As a teacher, do you think the district should invest in Smart Boards for each
classroom?
Over 89% of elementary teachers think the district should invest in Smart Boards
for the classrooms.

Over 74% of middle grade teachers think the district should invest in Smart
Boards for the classrooms.

Over 61% of high school teachers think the district should invest in Smart Boards
for the classrooms.

Question 2: If Bleckley County purchased Smart Boards, would you utilize it in your
classroom?

Over 90% of elementary teachers would utilize Smart Boards in their classroom.

Over 70% of middle grades teachers would utilize Smart Boards in their
classroom.

Over 40 % of high school teachers would utilize Smart Boards in their classroom.

Question 3: Are you interested in receiving Smart Board training?

Over 90% of elementary teachers are interested in receiving Smart Board training.

Over 80% of middle grades teachers are interested in receiving Smart Board
training.

Over 60% of high school teachers are interested in receiving Smart Board
training.



Appendix B
Students Survey Questions
1. Which way do you prefer to learn in math?
Using the Smart Board
Using counters and the Smart Board
Using counters
2. Which way do you prefer to learn in Reading/Phonics?
Using your book
Using the Smart Board and your book
Using the Smart Board
3. Which way do you prefer to learn in Science?
Using our Science book
Using the Smart Board
Hands on experiments
Appendix C
Teacher Interview Questions
1. How often do you use the Smart Board?
2. How do the majority of your students respond when you use the Smart Board?
3. In what subject do you use the Smart Board most? Why?
4. How many teachers on your grade level (or others) have asked to borrow the Smart
Board this year?
5. Do you feel that the use of the Smart Board benefits the students in your class?
Why or why not?
6. What is the biggest problem (yours or students) with using the Smart Board in your
classroom?
7. Are there any types of students in your room who respond really well to the use of the
Smart Board? Any who dont respond well at all?