2008 Grant Proposal Details

SMART Board   Life Skills Network

Total: $1765

Description:  The Life Skills Network would like to purchase a SMART board to be used throughout our program. We hope to one day have a SMART board in every classroom, but realize that showing the effectiveness of this tool must be done first. Currently we occupy three classrooms in Sheldon High School and three apartments near the school.

Why is this important?  Students in the Life Skills respond well to the use of technology in the classroom and when combining effective well-planned instruction with a multiple modalities of presenting lessons, students are more likely to effectively learn new information and retain new concepts. When looking forward to post school outcomes for students with mild to severe disabilities it becomes clear that being exposed to technology can make a positive impact and make a major difference in student learning. Our program has had very little access to technology over the past 25 years, we are currently seeing a great deal of support from District 4j, but are still behind other departments in this area. I have had the privilege of seeing the effectiveness of using SMART boards in the general education classroom; I am excited to see what we can do here with this tool. Our program works with students on the Autism spectrum, these students are highly visual learners that seem to really respond well to using technology. When collaborating with other teachers who work with students with autism I am told that SMART boards are a necessity in the classroom.

Who will be served?  Our Program: We are a district-wide regional learning center for students aged 14-21 with developmental disabilities. Our program currently serves 90+ students and consists of three components: School Based Component Students ages 14-18 attend the school-based portion of LSN. They are enrolled at Sheldon High School and take classes both within LSN and in the general education curriculum, based on their interests and degree of independence. Instructional activities may include: •Math •Language Arts •Foods (meal planning, shopping & cooking) •Mobility (city bus) •Work skills •Healthy Teens (social skills, health & nutrition) •PEG (personal enrichment group electives) •Advisor meetings Additional supervision may be required for: •Big Group •Pool •Lunch •Bus drop-off/pick-up •Individual students Community Living Program Students ages 18-21 attend the Community Living Program (CLP) of LSN. They generally attend half the day in an apartment setting (in the Fountain Villa Apartments) and half the day in a community work setting. In this way, the “real world” is their classroom as they continue their journey to maximum independence. Instructional activities may include: •Meal planning, shopping •Nutrition and cooking •Budgeting •Mobility (city bus) •Social skills seminars oAnger management oHealthy relationships oCommunication skills •Apartment care and management •Advocate meetings Additional supervision may be required for: •Community outings •Travel within apartment complex •Lunch •Bus drop-off/pick-up •Individual students Community Work Component CLP students and high school seniors (second semester only) participate in community work sites for half the instructional day. Based on their level of independence, they may work in small groups with a job trainer, or at independent sites. Instructional activities may include: •Work skills •Social skills •Communication skills •Site-specific job skills Additional supervision may be required for: •Bus drop-off/pick-up •Individual students

How will this be evaluated?  The SMART boards impact will be determined by using pre/post assessment every nine weeks, daily student progress and teachers weekly professional reflections. As a teaching team we will meet after each of the 7 teachers have used the SMART board and determine how we feel our lessons were impacted.

Does this build on existing programs?  This proposal will greatly enhance the current technological improvements to our program. We are scheduled to receive a COW(computers on wheels), digital projector, airliner and a document camera. With a SMART board we will be greatly transforming our program and the educational experience of the students we serve.

Budget:  SB-680 (Smart Board) = $1199.00 FS-70 (Stand) = $349.00 Freight = $87.00 - Installation = $130.00

Proposal #:  63