TECHNOLOGY MINI-GRANT PROPOSAL

Name of Applicant _______Tracy Castleberry______________________________________

Administrators Name ______Michael Manzella________________________________________
District/School _______Cherokee County/Woodstock High School_______________________
District/School Address __2010 Towne Lake South Dr. Woodstock, Ga. 30114________________
Applicants E-mail _______tracy.castleberry@cherokee.k12.ga.us____________ ______________
Date ___4/18/15_________________ Total Cost of Project: ___$500__________

(up to $500.00)

Title of Project: _________Virtual Lab Software in the Biology Classroom___________________

TITLE
I.

Why is this project important (describe the need)?

This project is important because the use of virtual labs in the science classroom, when
used in conjunction with traditional labs can add a layer of technology and engagement to
the science classroom. Virtual labs allow science students to experience activities that
might not be available for traditional labs due to budget and time constraints. eSchool
news says Fortunately, virtual labs can help higher-education institutions meet the
challenges of space, time, and budget (eSchool News, 2015).
Lab equipment is expensive, and for the teacher to integrate all the different activities
that they want their students to experience, often times, the school would not have the
funds available to purchase the materials. With virtual labs, the purchase of software
would allow the teacher to introduce many new and interesting science topics to their
students.
Virtual labs are also much safer than traditional lab experiences. Caustic chemicals in the
science labs can be dangerous for students to use, and with virtual labs, this concern is
completely erased. Electricity and magnetism traditional labs can cause burns, and with
virtual labs, the students can build the circuits without worrying about injuries.
In biology, virtual labs allow students to see things that they wouldnt be able to see in a
traditional lab due to their small size. For example, cell biology concepts, osmosis,
diffusion; DNA structure and cell organelles are much easier to observe in virtual labs
than in the traditional laboratory.

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Virtual labs are excellent tools for many learning styles. According to Sun, Lin and Lu,
use of virtual labs promotes interest in learning sciences via simulated experiments and
it makes individualized learning/ teaching occur easily among clicks (2005, p. 1421).
Visual learners can see the concepts on the computer and track the steps needed to
complete the activities. Auditory learners will benefit from the narration of the software.
Tactile learners will be able to do the activity by manipulation of the virtual lab
activities.
This project will support Woodstocks goals of becoming a STEM academy by providing
upper level; student centered learning for biology students and will be implemented in
once classroom to start with. If the project is successful, then expansion of the project is
possible.

II.

What would you like to accomplish (describe the unit or lesson and list instructional
objectives)?
Biology: Photosynthesis and Respiration, Mitosis and Meiosis, Osmosis and Diffusion
Students will be able to:
Compare photosynthesis and respiration
Explain how photosynthesis and respiration support life by cycling energy
Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis
Describe the benefits of sexual and asexual reproduction
Georgia Biology Standards: Ga Standards.org
SB1. Students will analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and
functions in living cells.
a. Explain the role of cell organelles for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells,
including the cell membrane, in maintaining homeostasis and cell reproduction.
b. Explain how enzymes function as catalysts.
d. Explain the impact of water on life processes (i.e., osmosis, diffusion).
SB3. Students will derive the relationship between single-celled and multi-celled
organisms and the increasing complexity of systems.
a. Explain the cycling of energy through the processes of photosynthesis and
respiration.
SB2. Students will analyze how biological traits are passed on to successive
generations.
e. Compare the advantages of sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction in
different
situations.

III.

How will you complete the work?

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A. Describe how the instructional objectives will be met.

Students will use the SimBio software to complete virtual lab activities including:
Cell organelles- graphic organizer that outlines function of organelles and how they
relate to proteins
Osmosis and diffusion- Students will complete the lab activity outlining osmosis and
diffusion
Mitosis and meiosis- Students will complete the lab activity comparing mitosis and
meiosis and complete drawings
B. Describe the time involved (project length including amount of time each day/week).
These lab activities will be integrated into the existing biology curriculum. Instead of or
in conjunction with traditional lab activities, the teacher will introduce the software and
lab activities to the students when the topic is covered throughout the school year. The
majority of these experiences will take place second semester, and each activity will take
1-2 55-minute class periods to complete.
C. Describe the people involved (grade level/subject & # of students, teachers and/or staff).
Biology, 9th grade, 120 students, 1 teacher will be involved each school year. The
software can be re-used each year but additional licenses will need to be purchased if the
project is expanded.

D. Describe the materials needed for the project.

Classroom subscription to software and class set of laptop computers (already purchased
and in use). Also, the teacher will need to develop the scoring rubrics, handouts and
other classroom consumables needed.
IV.

What is the timeline for assessing accomplishments and objectives (describe program
evaluation
procedure)?
This project will be implemented over the 2015-2016 school year in one teachers
biology classes. The evaluation procedure will include:
Student test scores on topics covered in the lab simulations
Teacher survey evaluating the lab software, specifically how it covers the state
standards and how easily the students can navigate it and learn from it.
Student surveys evaluating the lab software, specifically usability and
understanding of concepts and comparison with traditional lab activities.

V.

How will the students be assessed (Include how student progress will be assessed and
reported to students, parents, teachers, and others)?
Students will be assessed using:
Test and quiz scores
Scoring rubrics

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 Informal assessments
Socratic questioning techniques
The teacher by will report the results in the following ways:
Reporting the effectiveness of the virtual lab activities in a science department
meeting, including discussion of the data (test and quiz scores).
The classroom teacher will make a screencast of the lab software and report
findings in a video posted on their website for others to see.

VI. What is the proposed budget? Include information on the following:

A. Materials/supplies: Software, classroom subscription $599
B. Equipment: none needed
C. Total Cost of Proposed Project: $599
D. Additional Funding Sources: Science budget

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References:
Expanding STEM education with virtual labs | eSchool News | eSchool News. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20,
2015, from http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/03/15/expanding-stem-education-with-virtual-labs/
GeorgiaStandards.Org - Official Site. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from
https://www.georgiastandards.org/Pages/default.aspx
Sun, K.t., Lin, Y.c. & Yu, C.j. (2008). A Study on Learning Effect among Different Learning Styles
in a Web-Based Lab of Science for Elementary School Students. Computers & Education,
50(4), 1411-1422.

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TECHNOLOGY MINI-GRANT
EVALUATION FORM/Scoring Rubric
Total Points: __________
1.

Impacts a variety of skill levels and/or learning styles or impacts an important target population.
Possible number of points: 40 __________

2. Clearly identifies standards and learning objectives being addressed.

Possible number of points: 40 __________
3. Pedagogically sound, based on research and/or best practices.
Possible number of points: 40 __________
4. Clear plan for assessment of project and goals with examples of implementation methods.
Possible number of points: 40 __________
5. Impacts large number of students and/or can be recycled/reused.
Possible number of points: 40 __________
General Comments:

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Adapted from: The Education Foundation of Oconee County, Inc.

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