Center Elementary School

2114 Dorothy Street

Waycross, Ga 31501
912-287-2366
School Coordinator: Aimee Mancil
Email address: amancil@ware.k12.ga.us
Project Title: 21
st
Century Technology for Everyday Learning in the Special Education Classroom
Project Leader: Aimee Mancil
Grade Levels: Special Education Grades K-5
Number of Students to be served by this project: 50
Subject areas: Reading, Written Communications, Math and Social/Functional Skills
Project Summary: Center Elementary would like transform how special education services are being
delivered by providing personalized instruction using iPad technology as a means to further students
academic progress while collectively contributing to higher overall building wide achievement scores.
Project Description and Goal: Student motivation and engagement are requirements for academic
success. Special education students are mindful of their struggles to keep the pace with grade level
content and they realize their disabilities prevent them from full participation in the mainstream setting
alongside their peers. Technology can be a motivational tool, opening doors to visually stimulating,
innovative, and engaging ways of learning basic concepts. With approximately 75% of Centers special
education population qualifying for free or reduced lunch, these students are less likely to have access
to technologies in their homes. This proposal calls for the use of iPads with existing and evolving
methods of instruction as a means of motivating and engaging struggling learners as they interact with
applications that pique their interest and meet their individual learning styles. This proposal focuses on
building a system designed to effectively implement current and future based research based education
apps. This approach will create an environment that fosters student growth as they develop the
capability and skills necessary to become effective problem solvers, collaborators, and information
consumers in a world where technological competency is essential to becoming a productive citizen in
society. Students will learn to assess their own learning and take ownership for their success and areas
of need as they develop digital portfolios showing their progress towards goals in the areas of reading,
written expression, math, functional/social skills, and collaboration. As students become more vested in
their own learning, they will be able to provide more feedback to special education teachers. A mutually
responsive teacher-student partnership will result in more effective instructional programming and
higher student achievement.
Project Materials Requested:
iPad Minis to serve 50 students ($299 x 50)=$14, 950
50 iPad keyboards ($90 each x 50)= $4,500
Apple TV component ($99 each X 6)= $594
Total: $20,044
Goal Activities and Integration Timeline, including Collaboration with Colleagues
January

First Goal PLC team meeting. Agenda items to include:
Establish future PLC meeting schedule, examine district-
mandated professional development schedule and
determine attendees, and define team member
tasks/roles.
Develop:
Project Fidelity Plan: What data to collect and how to use
it to measure projected outcomes and expectations,
including qualitative assessment of End of the 9 weeks
Post Test, Benchmark testing and CRCT growth at end of
year; identify and contact other qualified professionals
who can help ensure project fidelity.
App Classroom Effectiveness and Feedback Survey and
protocol for teachers.
Technological Literacy Survey and Rubric: To determine
teachers and students existing familiarity, needs, and
wants with iPads.
Materials Care and Management Plan: Includes necessary
paperwork for home use.
Technical Issues Protocol with tech coordinator and
building tech person
Establish parameters for Project Review Report that will
ensure all data, paperwork, and reports are assembled for
periodic review.
Create First Class iPad Integration Workspace for sharing
of ideas, dissemination of information, etc. Add content
to the workspace every month.
Examine online collaborative tools, such as Edmodo. As
the project moves forward, determine how best to
incorporate these tools into daily journaling, writing
assignments, and collaborative learning projects with
other schools, districts, etc.

Goal Progress
Expectation:
Project gets off the
ground as framework
is developed for
project integration
and management,
fidelity assurance,
data collection, and
modes of
dissemination and
collaboration.
February







Literacy
Examine research-based literacy apps using iPad App
Rubric and determine how to integrate them into existing
resource reading curriculum and strategies.
Establish iPad Library Page on iPads, where students can
access iBooks and other digital text for classroom
purposes and their own enjoyment.
Create a student pilot group to explore chosen apps and
provide feedback.
Determine what apps/tools are necessary (such as
Dropbox cloud file storage, etc.) for students to create an
optimal Digital Portfolio in which they are able to take
ownership and share their academic progress and
assessment data (End of the 9 weeks testing, Benchmark
and CRCT) with teachers and parents/guardians.
Begin creation of student assessment Literacy App User
Rubrics that include technology components.
Determine the best use of iPads to monitor student
reading progress using Curriculum-Based Reading
Assessments and Probes.
Develop iPad Literacy Professional Development Plan for
teachers and Reading on the iPad training for students.
Goal Progress
Expectation:
A research-based
methodology is
developing as
frameworks are
completed for reading
instruction
integration, teacher
professional
development, and
student training.
March


Math
Examine research-based math apps using iPad App Rubric
as was done with reading in February.
Establish iPad Math Skills Page, student pilot group, Math
App User Rubrics, iPad Math Professional Development
Plan for teachers, and Math on the iPad training for
students.
Determine the best use of iPads to monitor student math
progress using the Curriculum-Based Math Assessments
and Probes.

Goal Progress
Expectation:
As team members
refine the app
selection process,
they are sharing their
excitement with other
staff.
April

Written Expression and Social/Functional Skills
Examine research-based written expression and
social/functional skills apps in depth using iPad App
Goal Progress
Expectation:
Integration
Rubric, as was done with reading and math.
Establish iPad Research and Writing Project Page, iPad
Social/Functional Skills Page, student pilot groups,
Written Expression and Social/Functional Skills App User
Rubrics, iPad Written Expression and Social/Functional
Skills Professional Development Plans, and Writing on the
iPad and Skills on the iPad training for students.
Determine the best use of iPads to monitor student
progress using Behavior Assessments and Probes.
Administer Technological Literacy Survey and Rubric to
determine teachers and students needs and wants
regarding the use of iPad technology.
Develop comprehensive iPad Integration Professional
Development Plan that includes:
iPad training based on teachers needs and wants.
App exploration and training in all academic areas.
Student training plan, including internet safety and
responsibility.
Protocol training for technical issues and feedback.
Introduction to the First Class iPad Integration
Workspace.
frameworks for all
academic areas are
now complete.
Teacher professional
development and
student training have
also been finalized,
and there is a clear
and enthusiastic
vision of how this
project is going to be
implemented and
what a difference it
will make in the lives
of students.


May-July



Reexamine Project Fidelity Plan and finalize most
effective methodology to best gauge success and
continuation of program.
After fall class schedules are determined, develop an iPad
Classroom Use Schedule, ensuring all building special
education classrooms have access to the iPads on an
equitable basis.
Finalize iPad Integration Professional Development Plan,
including all rubrics, protocols, and any other pertinent
materials.
Work with Principal and/or Special Ed Director to ensure
time is allotted during August workshop week for
professional development.
Check to see that all peripherals are installed and work to
resolve any issues.
Goal Progress
Expectation:
Team members are
busy making final
preparations for
project integration.
August

Lead iPad Integration Professional Development.
Adjust and finalize iPad Classroom Use Schedule.
Set iPad Integration PLC Team Meeting schedule for the
school year; adjust team members and/or roles as
necessary.
Goal Progress
Expectation:
Teachers are trained
on the iPads and
ready to move their
classrooms into the
21
st
century.
September

Implementation
Train our students on how to use the iPads, including
coverage of student internet safety and technology use
policies. Show them the apps they will use in class, guide
them as they set up their Digital Portfolios, let them
explore
Guide students as they take ownership of their education.
Help them understand their IEP goals, and work with
them to set standardized assessment goals. Show them
how to track their progress on these goals using the iPad.
Administer probes.
Collect building-wide special education student
assessment data for later comparison within Project
Fidelity Plan.
Responsiveness Strategies
Ask teachers to complete App Classroom Effectiveness
and Feedback Survey.
At PLC meeting, discuss the survey, student motivation
and participation, and any other concerns of initial
implementation.
Adjust app use or project as necessary, focusing on
original goal.
Goal Progress
Expectation:
Students are trained
on how to use iPads
and apps, create
digital portfolios, and
track their academic
progress. Engaging
technology is now a
way of life in the
Center Elementary
special education
classrooms.




October-
December

Work with teachers to come up with a pilot group of
students who will share their initial Digital Portfolio work
with their parents/guardians at Fall Conferences.
Create work-study group to create iPad CRCT Prep Page
and targeted test prep and intervention schedule.
Responsiveness Strategies
Administer Technological Literacy Survey and Rubric to
Goal Progress
Expectation:
Team members and
staff are working hard
to ensure the project
is staying on track and
producing results.
Refinements are
see how students and teachers are responding to the
project implementation.
Project Review: File report discussing data,
implementation successes and shortcomings, and
adjustments made to project if necessary.
being made where
necessary.
January-March

Administer Benchmarks and probes.
Work with teachers to come up with a pilot group of
students who will share their initial Digital Portfolio work
with their parents/guardians.
Work with teachers and students to ensure effective use
of iPad CRCT Prep Page within targeted test prep and
intervention schedule.
Responsiveness Strategies
Administer Technological Literacy Survey and Rubric to
see how students and teachers are responding to the
project.
Ask teachers to complete App Classroom Effectiveness
and Feedback Survey.
Examine data collected in Project Fidelity Plan and
determine if the project is indeed affecting student
achievement.
Adjust app use or project as necessary, ensuring such
changes are reconciled with original goal.
Goal Progress
Expectation:
Students and teachers
now know their way
around an iPad, and
students are more
engaged in their
learning than ever
before.
April-May


Administer Benchmarks and probes.
Ask teachers to complete a final App Classroom
Effectiveness and Feedback Survey and Technological
Literacy Survey and Rubric.

Final Details:
Project Review: File report discussing qualitative
assessment of End of 9 weeks testing, Benchmark and
CRCT growth or lack thereof, project fidelity, successes
and shortcomings, and adjustments made to project if
necessary.
After all information is synthesized and Project Review is
finalized, develop a plan for sharing the project with other
Goal Accomplished:
The level of
engagement has
changed in Special
Education classrooms.
Individual students
have a vested interest
in their education and
made solid progress
on their goals. Their
hard work
contributed to higher
overall building-wide
achievement scores.
Tech learning is now
schools, districts, etc.
Develop a Project Continuation Plan.

the rule, not the
exception.

Elementary School Special Education iPad Activities Chart
Please note that this is only a sampling of the possible apps that will be used in this project.

App/Activity Description Assessment Essential Learnings
Rocket
Math Free
Play one of 56 different math
missions that are different every
time. Three different difficulty
levels.
Completion of
Missions
Sense, Computation and
Operations (add, subtract,
multiply, divide). Patterns,
functions, and Algebra
(patterns). Spatial sense,
geometry and measurement
(shapes).
Zombie
Math Force
Helps students develop confidence
converting between fractions,
decimals, and percents.
Scores are
provided after
each round of 5
ships. Both
speed and
accuracy are
scored.
Sense, Computation and
Operations; Perform basic
operations of computer and
network use.
Math Force
Delta
Game modes for addition,
subtraction, multiplication and
division included. Problem
difficulty can be adjusted to meet
the needs of the player.
Scores and times
are provided for
each round of ten
to track progress.
Sense, Computation, and
Operations; Understand and use
technology equipment.
Story
Builder
Designed to accomplish the
following: 1. Improve paragraph
formation 2. Improve integration
of ideas 3. Improve higher level of
abstractions by inference.
Rubric Using the writing process,
creates various types of writing;
Produce clear and coherent
writing in which the
development, organization, and
style are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
Writing
Prompt
Provides an endless amount of
writing prompts for all learners.
Has a variety of topics that provide
creative inspiration.
Anecdotal notes Ideas and Content, sentence
fluency, conventions.
Spell It Right Helps you train your ability to
recognize misspelled words.
Scores are
provided for each
level
Edits writing for correct spelling
and clarity.
Shake a
Phrase
The app includes 2,000+ vocabulary
words, parts of speech quizzes, and
story starters.
Quizzes on
vocabulary and
parts of speech
Applies standard English
conventions when writing, word
choice, and ideas and content.
Pages This app is used as a word
processing program. Allows users
to create, edit and share
documents. Pages work with
iCloud.
Rubric Uses correct word processing
skills to present information in
an organized, readable manner;
Use technology to produce and
publish writing and link to and
cite sources as well as to interact
and collaborate with others.
Tap to
Learn-
Grammar
Uses a new approach that of an
interactive book, with easy format
and simple steps to learn and
improve grammar, punctuation,
and its usage or how to write
sentences correctly.
Provides pretest,
proficiency test,
progress charts
and reports
Applies standard English
conventions when writing, word
choice, and ideas and content.
Story Kit Create Electronic storybook; Read,
Edit, Share.
Formative
Assessment
Personal Narrative/Read for
Enjoyment.
See Read
Say
Dolch Sight Words. Saves individual
student's
progress
Identifies and Decodes; Select
and use applications effectively
and productively.
Read
Speedo
Speed Reading Program/forces you
to read faster.
Timed Tests Fluency; Perform basic
operations of computer and
network use.
Read Me
Stories
30 book library to help child
develop great reading habits.
Comprehensive
assessment;
formative
assessment
Attitude/Motivation/ Reads for a
variety of purposes; Use tools for
locating electronic materials
appropriate for their needs.
eBuddies
(Google
Mobile)
Email pen-pal program. Email rubric Use technology, including the
Internet, to produce and publish
writing and present the
relationships between
information and ideas efficiently
as well as to interact and
collaborate with others.
Edmodo Community collaboration. Formative and
summative on
concept-related
postings
Use technology to produce and
publish writing and link to and
cite sources as well as to interact
and collaborate with others.
Chronicle
for IPAD
Electronic journaling. Response rubrics Produce clear and coherent
writing in which the
development, organization, and
style are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
Hidden
Curriculum
Conversation prompts. Individual
objective rubric
Reflect on and adapt to the ever-
changing nature of technology to
solve information needs.

I agree that the grant will be used as stated in the grant proposal application.

Applicant Signature and Date

_____________________________________


Program Directors Signature and Date

______________________________________