GrantProposalforMicrosoftOfficeSkillsDevelopment

Abstract:
Basedupontheresultsofaneedsassessmentsurvey,GraceSnellMiddleSchool,locatedin
GwinnettCounty,Georgia,hasdecidedtoprovidestafftrainingforspecificcomponentsof
MicrosoftOfficeSuite,specificallyonMicrosoftPublisherandMicrosoftExcel,aboutwhich
teachersareunfamiliarfromdailyuse.ByDecember31,2014,eightycertifiedteachersfrom
GraceSnellMiddleSchoolwillhavereceivedfacetofacetrainingonthetwoMicrosoftOffice
Suitecomponentsandwillbeabletounderstandtheusesandfeatureofeachprogram,create
filesonMicrosoftPublisherincludingbrochuresandfliers,createandmanipulatespreadsheets
onMicrosoftExcel,andcreatelessonplanswhichimplementanddemonstratetheuseofand
requirestudentstouseeitherorbothoftheprograms.Teacherswillberequiredtoattendtwo
trainingdays,oneforeachprogram,duringwhichtheywilllearnaboutanddevelopexperience
withbothMicrosoftPublisherandMicrosoftExcel.Teacherswillviewapresentationofthe
featuresoftheprograms,viewandmanipulatesampledocuments,createtheirowndocuments,
andfinallycreatelessonplansimplementingfeaturesoftheprograms.Aftertheinitialtraining
hasbeencompleted,teacherswillhavetheoptiontoattendextratrainingsessionsduringwhich
teacherscanrevisitcoveredinformationorreceivemoreindepthtrainingwithextended
information.Bytheendofthetraining,teacherswillfeelmoreconfidentinusingbothMicrosoft
PublisherandMicrosoftExcel,beabletocreateandmanipulatedocumentsineachprogram,and
beabletodesignlessonswhichimplementtheuseeitherprogram.

Proposal
Part1:DemonstratedNeed
Beforetheendofthe20122013schoolyear,allteachersatGraceSnellMiddleSchool(in
GwinnettCounty,Georgia)participatedinaneedsassessmentsurvey,writtenandadministered
bytheschoolstechnologyteam.Thesurveyspurposewastoassessteacherperceptionsin
regardstotechnologytrainingneedsandwants.Thecomprehensivesurveyaskedteachersto
rateboththeirfamiliarityanddesireforadditionaltrainingforavarietyoftechnologyproducts
commonlyusedinthedistrict,fromproductivitysoftwaretodistrictspecificstaffdevelopment
websitesandthestudentinformationsystem.

TeachersclearlyindicatedinthesurveythattheyneedmoretrainingonMicrosoftExceland
MicrosoftPublisher.Teachersalsoclearlyindicatedthattheypreferinpersontrainingto
alternativestaffdevelopmentmethods,suchasindependentstudyandonlinetraining.Ourplan
addressestheseneedsformoretrainingonExcelandPublisherandwillprovideitinthemanner

mostteacherssaytheyarecomfortablewith.Detailedinformationfromoursurveycanbefound
inAppendixA.

Part2:ProjectGoalsandObjectives
Goal1:MicrosoftPublisher
ByDecember31st,2014,prepareanddeliverinpersonstaffdevelopmentforallcertified
teachersontheuseofMicrosoftPublisherforeducationaluses,usingnationallyaccepted
standards,sothatteacherscanusethistechnologywithstudentscomfortably.

Specific
Thegoaliswrittensimplyandclearlydefineswhatweredoing.
Measurable
Deliverybytheendoftheyearisameasurementforsuccess.
Achievable
Thisgoalcanbeachievedbyplanningtrainingforthefall.
ResultsFocused
ResultisincreasedcomfortwithPublisherleadingtomorestudentuse.
TimeBound
ThegoalhasadeadlineofDecember31st,2014.
Objectives:
1.1:Participantswillbeabletoexplainthepurpose(uses)andbasicfeaturesofMicrosoft
Publisher.
1.2:ParticipantswillbeabletocreatetheirownMicrosoftPublisherfiles(eitherabrochureora
flyer),usingstandardtoolsprovidedintheprogram.
1.3:ParticipantswillbeabletodesignandcreatelessonsrequiringstudentstouseMicrosoft
Publishertocreatedocumentsbasedonconceptsorstandardsaddressedintheclass.

Goal2:MicrosoftExcel
ByDecember31st,2014,prepareanddeliverinpersonstaffdevelopmentforallcertified
teachersontheuseofMicrosoftExcelforeducationaluses,usingnationallyacceptedstandards,
sothatteacherscanmorecomfortablyusethistechnologywithstudents.

Specific
Thegoaliswrittensimplyandclearlydefineswhatweredoing.
Measurable
Deliverybytheendoftheyearisameasurementforsuccess.
Achievable
Thisgoalcanbeachievedbyplanningtrainingforthefall.
ResultsFocused
ResultisincreasedcomfortwithExcelleadingtomorestudentuse.
TimeBound
ThegoalhasadeadlineofDecember31st,2014.
Objectives:
2.1:Participantswillbeabletoexplainthepurpose(uses)andbasicfeaturesofMicrosoftExcel.

2.2:ParticipantswillbeabletocreatetheirownMicrosoftExcelspreadsheetfiles,using
standardtoolsprovidedintheprogram.
2.3:ParticipantswillbeabletodesignandcreatelessonsrequiringstudentstouseMicrosoft
Exceltocreatespreadsheets(oranalyzedataprovidedbytheteacher)basedonconceptsor
standardsaddressedintheclass.

Part3:PlanofOperation
Narrative
Ourplanisbasedaroundfacetofacestaffdevelopmentactivities.Foreachofthetwo
Microsoftproductswearetrainingon,weplanforeachteachertoattendonefulldayofstaff
development.Thiswillprovideanimmersiveexperience,allowingthemtofullyfocuson
learningtheprograms,andwillallowformoreindepthtrainingthanmeetingbeforeschoolor
duringplanningtimewouldallow.Becauseitsunrealistictoexpecttheentireschooltoshut
downfortraining,weplanonmeetingwitheachgradelevelonaseparatedayoverthecourseof
aweek.Wewillspacethetrainingoutoverseveralmonthstominimizethedisruptiontothe
schoolandavoidoverloadingtheteachers.

ProposedoutlinesforeachdayoftheformaltrainingcanbefoundinAppendixB.

Oncetheformaltrainingisconcluded,weplanonofferingseveralYallComesessionsas
followups.Thesesessionsareinformal,dropinopportunities,similartoofficehoursincollege.
Thisallowsteacherswhostillhavequestionsorneedadditionalsupporttoaskquestionsor
receiveadditionalassistance,whileallowingmoreadvancedteacherswhoneedlesssupportto
continueworkingontheirownwiththesoftware.

Becausemanyteachersattheschoolrequesttraininginformationashandouts,files,orother
tangiblematerials,weplanonpurchasingtrainingbooksonbothsoftwareprogramsforeach
teacherparticipatingintheprogram.Thisallowsselfmotivatedteacherstolearnabout
advancedfeaturesthatmaynothavebeencoveredinthetraining,andgivesaresourceteachers
canaccessatanytime.
ScheduleofActivities

Time

Activity

Goal

May2014

Designofinstructiontobedelivered.

All

May2014

Meetwithadministratorstoscheduletrainingdatesforthefall(to
avoidconflictswithotherschoolactivities).

All

June2014

MikeattendsMicrosoftInnovativeEducatortrainingin
Atlantainstructionmaybealteredbasedonnewinformationlearned
there.

All

July2014

Instructionalplansarefinalized,anyneededresources(likehandouts) All
arecreated,booksareordered.

Sep.2014

Distributebooksandannouncefinaltrainingschedule.

All

Sep.2014

Firstroundoftraining:DaylongtrainingonMicrosoftExcel

Oct.2014

Firstroundoftraining:DaylongtrainingonMicrosoftPublisher

Nov.2014

YallComesessionsonMicrosoftExcel,eachweekbeforeschool.

Dec.2014

YallComesessionsonMicrosoftPublisher,eachweekbefore
school.

LateDec.
2014

Completeevaluationprocessandreviewresults.

All

Part4:EvaluationPlan
Ourplanforformalevaluationiscomprisedofthreecomponents.Thefirsttwocomponents
consistofsurveystobeadministeredaftereachofthetwoformaltrainingsessions.These
surveysaredesignedtoassessparticipantslevelofcomfortwithExcelandPublisheraftertheir
trainingoneach.Thesurveyswillalsoidentifyquestionsparticipantsstillhaveaboutthe
products,whichmaybeusefulforfuturetrainingsessions.

InDecember2014,justbeforetheWinterHoliday,afollowupsurveywillbesenttoteachers.
Thiswillassesstheformatofthetrainingitself,aswellasthetrainer,toensurethatparticipants
aresatisfiedwiththeinstructionitself.GraceSnellsMediaSpecialistwillsendoutthesurvey
andreceivetheresults,sothatteachersfeeltheycanbehonest.

Resultsfromallsurveyswillbereviewedattheendoftheinstructionalprogramwithaneye
towardsidentifyingopportunitiestoimproveinstructioninfuturetrainings.Evaluationswill
alsobeanalyzedateachsteptoensuretheprogramsgoalsandobjectivesarebeingmet.

ThesurveystobeusedintheevaluationplanmaybefoundinAppendixC.

Part5:Budget
Thebulkofourbudgetrequestcomesfromtheidentifiedneedtoprovideprofessionalleavetime
forteacherstoattendtwodaylongtrainingsessionsduringtheschoolday.Wealsoplanon
purchasingareferencebookforeachteacher.Thoughwearerequestingexpensesforlunch
duringthetwodaylongtrainingdays,weareawarethatsomefundingagencieswillnotfund
thisrequest.Alternativesincludinghavingtheschoolpayforlunchfortheteachers,orsimply
providingasufficientbreakforteacherstohavelunchontheirown.

Inordertoprovideourteacherswiththemostuptodatetraininginformationavailable,Mike
VigilantisattendingMicrosoftInnovativeEducatortrainingatMicrosoftsAtlantaofficesthis
summer.Ourrequestincludeslodgingforhimfortwodaysatahotelnearthetrainingsite(the
trainingitselfisfree).Thistrainingwillprovideskillsandinformationthatwillberedeliveredto
teachersduringthetrainingsessionsthisfall.

BecausetheschooldistrictprovideslicensesforMicrosoftOfficeproductsforallteachersand
staffmembersbydefault,itisnotnecessarytopurchasetheseprogramsforteachers.

ProfessionalLeave:
Substituteteachers:80teacherstimestwodaysoftrainingat$80/teacher/day
$12,800
Lunch(seeabove):80teacherstimestwodaysoftrainingat$10/teacher/day
$
1,600

TrainingResources:
Book:MicrosoftOfficeProfessional2013StepbyStep
80teachersat$27perteacher
$2,160
Incidentalexpenses(copies,supplies,etc)
$250

TechnologyCoachTraining
2dayslodgingnearMicrosoftsAtlantaofficesforMicrosoftInnovativeEducator
TrainingforMikeVigilant(approximateratebasedoncurrentinformation)
$350

TOTALREQUESTEDBUDGET:
$16,180

References
MargolinJ.,&Buchler,B.(2004).Criticalissue:Usingscientificallybasedresearchtoguide

educationaldecisions.Chicago:NorthCentralRegionalEducationalLaboratories.
Retrievedfromhttp://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/go/go900.htm

Marylandteacherprofessionaldevelopmentplanningguide.(2008,November).Retrievedfrom
http://mdk12.org/share/pdf/MarylandTeacherProfessionalDevelopmentPlanningGuide.pd
f

Winfrey,E.C.(1999).Kirkpatrick'sFourLevelsofEvaluation.InB.Hoffman(Ed.),
EncyclopediaofEducationalTechnology.RetrievedMarch24,2005,from
http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/k4levels/start.htm

Writings.m.a.r.t.goals.(2009).Retrievedfrom
http://www.hr.virginia.edu/uploads/documents/media/Writing_SMART_Goals.pdf

Appendices
AppendixA:NeedsAssessmentSurveyData
Dataforourneedsassessmentcomesfromastaffsurveythatisadministeredjustpriortotheend
ofeachschoolyear.Thesurveywaswrittenbythelocalschoolstechnologyteamandconsists
ofmanysimplequestionsdesignedtoinformandguidestaffdevelopmentplansforthe
followingyear.ThesurveywasadministeredviaGoogleFormsandtheresultsstoredasa
GoogleSheet.Theentiresurveyresultsaremanypages,andsincemanyitemsarebeyondthe
scopeofthisproposal,weareonlyincludingtheitemsfromthesurveythatpertaintothis
proposal,thoughtheentiresurveycanbeprovideduponrequest.

Figure1:ExcelTrainingNeeds

ThisquestionfromthesurveyjustifiesourinclusionofMicrosoftExcelinthestaffdevelopment
plan.49%ofparticipantsexpressedadesirefortrainingonExcelinthenextschoolyear,with

only25%expressinganegativeopinionabouttrainingonthissoftware.Theneedindicatedin
thisquestionisgreaterthantheneedsexpressedinother,similarquestions.

Figure2:PublisherTrainingNeeds

ThisquestionfromthesamesurveyjustifiesourinclusionofMicrosoftPublisherinthestaff
developmentplan.Inthisquestiononly34%ofparticipantsindicatedthattheydidnotwant
trainingonthissoftware,withotherparticipantsindicatinganeutralorpositivedesirefor
trainingonPublisher.Thisstandsoutfromsimilarquestionsandindicatesaneedfortrainingon
thisproduct.Webelievethehighnumberofparticipantsindicatingthattheydefinitelydonot
wanttraining(No!Goaway!)comesfromthefactthatasmallsubsetofteachersalreadyuses
Publisherwithstudentsthesemoreexperiencedteacherscanbeusedtoprovideassistanceto
theirpeersduringthetrainingsessions.

Figure3:ObstaclestoLearningAboutTechnology

Thisquestionfromthesurveyjustifiesourrequestforsubstituteteacherstoprovideleavetime
forteacherstoattendthetrainingsessions.Itshouldnotbesurprisingthattheoverwhelming
majorityofteachersfeltliketimeconstraintskeepthemfromlearningabouttechnology.Many
teachersfeeloverwhelmedbykeepingupwithbasicdutiesandresponsibilities,andfeelthat
staffdevelopmentaboutnonessentialprogramsisaluxurytheysimplydonothavetimefor.

Thismeansthatserious,indepthtrainingshouldincludeprofessionalleavetimeandbe
conductedduringthestandardschoolday.

Figure4:MethodsofTraining/FacetoFaceWorkshops

Thisquestionwaspartofamatrixwheresurveyparticipantsindicatedwhichmethodoftraining
theywouldmostappreciate.Facetofaceworkshopswonbyalandslide,asshownabove.
Teachersappeartoappreciatethevalueofhavinganexpertdeliverinformationinperson,where
theycanworkthroughexamplestogetherandaskquestionsasnecessary.Thisisprimarilywhy
wedecidedtoofferthebulkofthetrainingasworkshops,andissuethereferencebookasa
meansofsupportwheninpersonassistanceisnotavailable.

Figure5:MethodsofTraining/DropIn

ThisquestionfromthesurveyjustifiestheuseofYallComesessionsasfollowupstothe
wholedaytrainings.YallComeisamethodofstaffdevelopmentthatispopularand
commoninthedistrictthisplanisbeingwrittenfor.YallComesessionsareinformal,
unscripted,unplannedsessionsaroundaparticulartheme,whichallowforspontaneousquestions
andcollaboration.TeacherscancometoaYallComesessionandaskanyquestionaboutthe
topicthattheywish.Theymayalsomeetwithotherteachersatthesessionandworktogetheron
thetopic.Duringtheadvertisedtimes,teachersmaycomeandgoastheywishfromthetraining
room.Teachersenjoythiskindofinformaltrainingbecausetheycangetthehelptheyneed

aboutatopictheyalreadyknowsomethingabout,withouthavingtostickaroundforanentire
trainingsessiontheymightnotneed.

AppendixB:TrainingOutlines
Thesearetheproposedoutlinesforthetwostaffdevelopmentsessionsthatareplannedforone
fulldayeach.Thesearedraftsandmaybesubjecttochangependingschooladministration
reviewandapproval,buttheywilllikelystaymostlythesame.

Daylongtraining:MicrosoftExcel
Introduction
Reviewagendaandgoalsoftraining
IntroductiontoMicrosoftExcel
Workbooks,sheets,andbasiceditingfeatures(theribbon).
Addingdataandorganizingthespreadsheet.
Applyingfiltersandsortstomakesenseofdata
ConditionalFormatting
Exercise:Gradebook
Haveteachersexportgradesfromtheirgradebooks
Haveteachersapplyfilters,sorts,andconditionalformatting
Haveteachersreviewspreadsheetforfivethingstheylearnedfromthedataby
organizingitinExcel.
Lunch
Formulas
Writingyourown
UsingExceltoolstocreateformulas
Charts
Creatingbasicchartsbasedonexistingdata
Customizingchartsbasedonspecificneeds
ClassroomUses
Graphingdataexamples
Science:Graphingdata
Math:Usingformulas
Exercise:DesignalessonusingExcel
Questions
Wrapup

DayLongTraining:MicrosoftPublisher
Introduction
Reviewagendaandgoalsoftraining

 IntroductiontoMicrosoftPublisher
Files,templates,andbasicediting(theribbon).
Basicsofdocumentstructure:textboxes,graphics,margins,guidelines,etc.
Exercise:Createasimpleflyer
Createaflyerdiscussingaconceptfromyourcurriculum,usingfeaturesof
Publisher.
Reviewcreatedflyers.
Lunch
Classroomuses
Creatinginstructionalmaterials
LanguageArts:Persuasiveflyers
SocialStudies:Brochuresaboutcountries
Exercise:Creatingbrochuresaboutcountries.
CreateatravelbrochuretoanothercountryusingPublisher.
Reviewcreatedbrochures.
Questions
Wrapup

AppendixC:EvaluationInstruments
MicrosoftExcelSurvey
1. Onascaleof15,with1beingnotatallsatisfiedand5beingextremelysatisfied,
howsatisfiedareyouwithwhatyoulearnedtoday?
2. Onascaleof15,with1beingnotatallcomfortableand5beingextremely
comfortable,pleaserateyourlevelofcomfortusingthesefeaturesthatwere
demonstratedduringthetraining:
a. Workbooksandsheets
b. Basiceditingfeatures(theribbon)
c. Filtersandsorts
d. Conditionalformatting
e. Formulas
f. Charts
3. Onascaleof15,with1beingnotlikelyatalland5beingverylikely,howlikely
areyoutouseMicrosoftExcelwithyourclass?
4. Below,pleaseindicatethepartofthetrainingyoufeltwasmosthelpful.
5. Below,pleaseindicatethepartofthetrainingyoufeltwasleasthelpful.
6. Pleaseaddanyadditionalcommentsyouwouldliketomakethatyoufeelthetraining
designersandinstructorswouldbenefitfromknowingbelow.

MicrosoftPublisherSurvey

1. Onascaleof15,with1beingnotatallsatisfiedand5beingextremelysatisfied,
howsatisfiedareyouwithwhatyoulearnedtoday?
2. Onascaleof15,with1beingnotatallcomfortableand5beingextremely
comfortable,pleaserateyourlevelofcomfortusingthesefeaturesthatwere
demonstratedduringthetraining:
a. Filesandtemplates
b. Basiceditingfeatures(theribbon)
c. Textboxes
d. Graphics
e. Margins
f. Guidelines
3. Onascaleof15,with1beingnotlikelyatalland5beingverylikely,howlikely
areyoutouseMicrosoftPublisherwithyourclass?
4. Below,pleaseindicatethepartofthetrainingyoufeltwasmosthelpful.
5. Below,pleaseindicatethepartofthetrainingyoufeltwasleasthelpful.
6. Pleaseaddanyadditionalcommentsyouwouldliketomakethatyoufeelthetraining
designersandinstructorswouldbenefitfromknowingbelow.

InstructionalDesignandPresentationSurvey
1. Onascaleof15,with1beingstronglydisagreeand5beingstronglyagree,please
respondtothefollowingstatements:
a. ThetrainingsessiononExcelwasagooduseofmytime.
b. ThetrainingsessiononPublisherwasagooduseofmytime.
c. Overall,Ifoundbothtrainingsessionstobevaluable.
d. Thedesignoftheinstructioninthesesessionsmadesensetomeandhelpedme
learn.
e. Thepresentationofinstructioninthesesessionsmadesensetomeandhelpedme
learn.
f. Ienjoyedthetrainingsessions.
g. IfeelcomfortabledesigninglessonsandactivitiesformystudentsusingwhatI
learnedinthetraining.
h. Ihavetheknowledgeandresourcestosupportmeindesigninglessonsusing
MicrosoftExcelandPublisher.
2. Pleaseanswerthefollowinginthetextentryboxesbelow.Pleaseincludeasmuch
informationasyouthinkwouldbehelpfultothedesignersandinstructorsinplanning
futurestaffdevelopment.
a. Pleasegiveexamplesoftwothingsyouenjoyedaboutthistraining.
b. Pleasegiveexamplesofonethingyouwouldchangeaboutthistraining,andhow
youwouldchangeit.

c. DoyouplantouseExcelandPublisherwithyourclasses?Ifso,how?Ifnot,
whynot?
d. Pleasegiveanyotherfeedbackorconstructivecriticismyouthinkwouldbe
helpful.