Susan Woods

6.30.15
Technology Proposal for Mackey Elementary

Position Paper
According to the National Science and Math Initiative, Technology is defined as, any
tool that can be used to help promote human learning, including but not limited to
calculators, tablets (such as an iPad), Smart Boards, video cameras, digital cameras, MP3
players, Portable Digital Assistants (PDAs), and, of course, the computer. These are all
innovations that have helped countless people during regular daily activities, but they can also
have a profound impact on classroom learning.
Technology has become as essential part of everyday life in modern day society. It would
do our students an injustice to take away their learning in this area. By using no technology in
the classroom, students will not have the essential tools to enter the world. Most jobs have some
connection to the use of a computer and most careers require a complete understanding of the use
of computers/tablets and their programs. It is pertinent to equip the future leaders of this country
with a healthy understanding of correct and incorrect usage of technology. Imagine a graduating
senior entering the workforce. Expecting them to use basic programs such as Microsoft Excel,
Word and PowerPoint without any training in these programs is unjust. This person would be
sure to fail because they simply did not understand something that was never taught to them. As
educators, we pride ourselves on preparing our students for a bright and healthy future.
This entails teaching them the skills required to succeed in modern adult society. As of
now, most businesses and companies are going paperless. How would this student ever make
sense of their world without ever having learned how to find information in the worldwide web?
A few more examples include creating a resume and submitting it to multiple businesses for
review, and tracking ones earning and spending while paying bills and managing a household.
These things are not done by paper or phone anymore. Each day, more and more everyday tasks
are being converted to electronics in some way.
The National Math and Science Initiative states that there are many benefits to using
technology in the classroom. Four major benefits to technology are; it keeps students engaged
and focused for longer periods of time, students are more excited to learn, it enables students to
learn at their own pace, and it prepares students for the future. With proper etiquette taught to the
teachers and students, the pros greatly outweigh the cons. Access to undesirable sites can be
blocked through internet security as well as the added protection of the teachers supervision at
all times. It is proven that people learn best when taught in a multitude of ways including added
pictures, graphs and charts to expand on the text. Without the use of technology this is
impossible for a teacher to include this aspect of learning into his or her lesson plans.
For further information on this topic, I encourage you to visit www.nms.org In writing the
proposal to keep technology in the classroom, I hope that you have reconsidered the idea of
taking it away. There are many, many positive affects with very few negative ones. Thank you
for your time in reading and considering my proposal to keep technology in the classroom.

www.nms.org The National Math and Science Initiative

Identification of Standards
The Clark County School District is accountable on many levels to provide adequate
education for the students of Nevada. The school district has standards that reflect if a student
exceeds the standard, meets the standard or is below grade level. This is user friendly and
displays in a grid like format for educators, students and parents to interpret. The State of Nevada
also holds standards for all districts to adhere to. These objectives are not written as specifically
as CCSDs standards. I do prefer how they are written and the skills they reflect in mastering
these standards. National Education Technology Standards is also known as ISTE. These are
national standards that reflect both the standard for the teacher as well as the student. The
combination of these standards holds teachers accountable for the material taught and leaves no
room for any child not learning the necessary skills.
I would like to take a look specifically at the 5th grade level in CCSD. In summary, I will
identify some of the main objectives that standards at district, state and national level describe.
At the district level, CCSD expects that a student uses the correct finger placement on the key
board, includes graphics in their work, composes and edits and word processing document and
uses copy, move and rename appropriately when working. These are just a few of the many
details listed in CCSD, but I feel it gives an accurate description of the specific expectation that
the district holds. At the state level, students will be able to process new ideas based on existing
knowledge, contribute to a group production of an original work, discern between facts and
opinions in digital content and propose a solution to an authentic problem using collected data
and digital tools. These afore mentioned skills do not, at the least, encompass the entirety of the
standards that the state of Nevada has set forth. However, they do show the general abilities that
CCSD has interpreted to create a more specific plan for their students. The National Education
Technology Standards are four main concepts that are important for the proper learning of
technology. These standards are: Creativity and Innovation, Communication and Collaboration,
Research and Information Fluency, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making,
Digital Citizenship, Technology Operations and Concepts.
The use of technology in todays classroom is an unfamiliar concept to many. Most adults
were taught in a pencil, paper, lecture style learning environment. Those of us a bit younger grew
up getting to go to the computer lab once a week but at first the introduction of computers into
the learning environment did not change the classroom environment much. In this short time
from the introduction of computers into the classroom until now, the standards of how to teach
and develop curriculum has changed dramatically. When used appropriately, technology in the
classroom is absolutely amazing. Students are now able to interact with the discussions the
teacher is leading without raising their hand or standing up in front of their peers. This is huge
for many students who are shy, bilingual or in some way hesitant to participate. They remain
engaged in the activity and therefor the learning process. Teachers now create activities
surrounding the topics to engage and be active in the students learning. Researching a topic is
one major way that technology has impacted the school environment. Students once went to the

library, looked through encyclopedias, textbooks and scholarly journals to find information about
the topic. Now students access these materials and more all from the computer. It is now
important for students to learn what are and how to find reliable resources that they can trust to
be truth. They now learn how to look up a reliable cite such as the CSN library and then to
differentiate between proven facts and opinions. These skills are new, different and changing the
way in which we teach. Educators are truly setting the students up for success to enter society as
a knowledgeable adult. The more people who enter the workforce like this, impact the success of
the generations to come. The more successful each generation becomes directly impacts our
global standing as a nation. Technology is much more than a classroom issue, rather a global
issue directly impacting the youth of today who are becoming the leaders of tomorrow.
Moving forward, I will be specifically working with ISTE Standard Four: Critical
thinking, problem solving and decision making. Students use critical thinking skills to plan
and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using
appropriate digital tools and resources. The subject will be social studies and the CCSD
Standard 2.0 for fifth grade: Students will use social studies vocabulary and concepts to
engage in inquiry, in research, in analysis and in decision making.

Captain America Presentation

Grade Level: 5th grade
Technology Content Standard Addressed: ISTE Standard Four, Critical thinking, problem
solving and decision making. Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research,
manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools
and resources.
Other Content Standard Addressed: CCSD Standard 2.0 in Social Studies: Students will use
social studies vocabulary and concepts to engage in inquiry, in research, in analysis and in
decision making.
Objective: Students will understand how to research current issues in the world. They will
demonstrate the knowledge of the use of appropriate digital tools and resources. Students will
work cooperatively with their peers making informed decisions from their research and drawing
effective conclusions based on their findings.
Materials needed to facilitate the lesson: Computer, PowerPoint software, access to a search
engine such as Google, notepad and writing utensil and a projector for presenting.
Suggested group size: Two students
Procedures: This project has several steps. Please do not allow students to move to the next step
without your approval of the completion of the previous step.
1. Research: Students will research multiple current events happening around the world.
They are to identify significant problems that have or will cause damage to the world, its
population, crops, animals, economies, the ozone, nature or any other major aspect of the
world as we know it. Students will compile a list of 3 or more happenings they perceive
to be a problem. They will pair up in groups of two and discuss their findings. These pairs
of students will remain working together for the entirety of the project. They will narrow
their now 6 events down to 3 and submit to the teacher with both their names on one
piece of paper. The teacher will circle the one she or he chooses and ensures that no two
groups have the same current event. The teacher will then notify the groups of their topic.
2. Students will begin in depth research on their topic with their partner. They will make
notes of the information they find answering the following questions:
Where does this problem occur?
Has this issue recently become a problem? Or has it been going on for quite sometime?
When did this problem originate?
Has the issue improved or worsened over time?
Does technology help or hinder this problem?
In your opinion, what is the source of this problem?

3.

4.

5.

6.
7.

How can you help?

How can others help?
Develop a solution to the problem addressing all previous questions.
Students will then write and type a report deriving from their notes answering all
questions in stage 2. Proper grammar and punctuation is necessary. Each student will turn
in their own report and will be graded individually. Two copies of the report will be
printed and one will be submitted to the teacher. Students may work together in their
writing or separate. Report must be submitted to the teacher to receive the ok to move on
to stage 4. Reports must be a minimum of one half page single spaced 12 point font times
new roman and no longer than three pages.
Students will create a PowerPoint presentation based on their reports. The requirements
for each PowerPoint are:
Citing two or more references
4-6 slides
4 or more pictures
1 or more hyperlinks
1 or more video and/or sound effect
1 or more PowerPoint effect
Students will outline their findings about this current event and then provide a
hypothetical solution to the problem. Students will be given a presentation date.
On the day of the students presentation, they will provide the teacher with two questions
about their real world issue to be included on the test on a later date. This will be typed or
hand written on a separate sheet of paper.
Students will present their PowerPoint to the class. Both students must speak in front of
the class and expand on at least 2 of the slides. (flashcards are welcome)
Teacher will then provide each student with a confidential evaluation of their peer asking
questions regarding their peers work ethic, cooperation and participation.

Assessment: Students will have a three part grade. This assignment will be a total of 200 points.
The points will be broken down as follows:
50 points = Individual report submitted by each student
50 points =PowerPoint presentation
50 points = work ethic, cooperation and participation as observed by the teacher and evaluated
by your peer
50 points = cumulative test after all presentations have been completed

Captain America Report

Have you ever heard of the Marshall Islands? I hadnt until recently and Id like to
explain to you why they are in great distress. The Marshall Islands are in the Pacific Ocean
somewhere between Hawaii and Australia and they are disappearing. Yes, thats right,

disappearing. Due to the climate change and the world getting warmer, the sea level is rising.
That means that this small island out in the middle of the ocean is slowly being covered up by
water. The ocean has already caused substantial damage by destroying buildings, flooding the
entire island and killing humans and livestock in the process. It is a fact that if the climate rises
just two more degrees that the entire island will be under water. It is anticipated that this will
happen in 20 to 40 years from now. People who live on the Marshall Islands are already
beginning to find other places to reside.
Technology does not play a major role in this world issue. Technology can help humans
track the progress of the environment, but cannot stop the rising tides. The source of this problem
is due to global warming. I can provide aid to this problem by taking steps in my personal life to
protect against global warming. I can also take steps to educate those around me of the negative
effects of global warming.
A solution to this problem would be to significantly slow down the global warming
process. This is a global effort. In the meantime, the people of the Marshall Islands can begin to
develop relationships with their neighboring country, Australia. It would be smart to begin the
integration of Marshall peoples into the Australian Society. They will need substantial help to
learn a new way of life and begin to thrive in a new country.