1

Grant Proposal

SMART Board Professional Development


Rebecca Erwin
Rachael McGaha
Kameron Williams





























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Abstract
Walker Park Elementary School is located in the city of Monroe in Walton County,
Georgia. The Walton County School District is currently working on an E-SMART initiative
supported by ELOST funds. The initiative issued iPads to all middle and high school teachers in
January 2013, and then to all high school students in August 2013 and to middle school students
in 2014. Each staff member at Walker Park Elementary was assigned an iPad in January 2013,
with the intention of utilizing it to advance student learning and technology in the classroom.
Furthermore, all classrooms are outfitted with mounted classroom projectors and electronic
SMART Boards, including the media center. Additionally, ten sets of classroom response
systems are available for checkout and shared usage, and all staff members are set up with a
Weebly website which they are expected to personalize and maintain. A needs analysis indicated
that of all the mentioned technology above, the staff felt that SMART Board training was most
needed. The goal of Walker Park Elementary School is to provide professional learning
activities on SMART Board technology to school administrators and instructional staff using
both onsite training and online training. Achieving this goal will support administration in
strengthening and modeling technological leadership and will assist instructional staff in
becoming 21st century, highly-skilled educators. After the professional learning, the
administration will be able to evaluate and promote the use of SMART Board technology and the
instructional staff will be able to incorporate SMART Board technology into their lessons on a
regular basis.
Proposal
Walker Park Elementary School conducted an analysis to determine the need for



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professional development in the area of technology. The analysis determined if there was a need
for professional development in the area of technology, and, if so, then in which of the following
is the need the greatest: iPad, SMART board, student response clickers, or web site design.
Currently Walker Park Elementary School has multiple forms of technology. Each
teacher has been issued an iPad and a SMART board is mounted in every classroom. Ten sets of
classroom response systems are available for checkout and shared usage. Also, each teacher is
set up with a Weebly website which they are expected to personalize and maintain. However,
there is a concern that teachers and administrators have not been properly trained through
professional development in using the new technologies they have been given.
A survey was created (Appendix A) to determine which technologies teachers feel they
need the most training in. The two target groups determined were administrators and teachers.
The survey was sent to each teacher at Walker Park Elementary School and interviews were held
with administrators. Data from teacher surveys indicated that 55% of teachers feel they need
training with the SMART board. Also, 52.50% of teachers felt that the training they have
previously received regarding technology has been fair, and 22.50% felt it has been
poor(Appendix B). The administrative staff was interviewed and added that they received roll-
out training from the district, but very minimal follow-up training was offered. Both the principal
and vice-principal expressed a desire to learn more about the SMART Board technology, and felt
they had little working knowledge of the hardware or related Notebook software. Both noted
that online learning or summer training would be preferable, as their schedules are already fully
exhausted during the school year. Data results indicate that teachers and administrators need
more effective training with the use of SMART Board technology due to insufficient initial



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training.
Technology has grown exponentially in the past decade and has become a vital part of
education. In order to support the effective use of technology in the classroom, Georgia adopted
the National Educational Standards for Students and Teachers in 2011. To demonstrate a
dedication to make technology an integral part of the curriculum, Georgia has aligned GPS tasks
to the National Education Standards in hopes to increase student achievement through
technology.
Technology and its use in education shows no signs of slowing down, and the need for
effective training through Professional Development for administration and teachers is evident.
It seems logical that in order for any type of instructional technology integration initiative to be
effective within a school, then the leadership must not only embrace the vision for it, but also be
skilled and knowledgeable in regard to its use in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the
technology within the classroom. Teachers must also embrace the vision for it, and be trained to
use it effectively as a means to increase student achievement within the classroom.
Based on the data collected, Walker Park Elementary has the use of SMART Boards
available in every classroom, but the teachers have not been adequately trained to use them
effectively to increase student achievement, nor have the administrators been trained adequately
to evaluate the effectiveness of their use within the classrooms. Therefore, Walker Park
Elementary School is in need of additional training through Professional Development in order
to make the integration of SMART Boards a successful initiative.





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Goals and objectives
Goal 1: By January 1, 2015, Walker Park Elementary School will provide training on SMART
Board technology to school administrators using both onsite training and online learning in order
to support administration in strengthening and modeling technological leadership to WPES staff.
Objective 1: Administrative staff will receive 6 hours of SMART Board training to be
provided at the school.
Strategy 1.1: Administrative staff will attend 4 hours of introductory training with
a SMART Board trainer during the May 19, 2014, Professional Learning day.
Strategy 1.2: Administrative staff will attend an additional two hours of follow-up
training with a SMART Board trainer during the August 8, 2014, Professional
Learning day.
Objective 2: Administrative staff will complete one SMART Board online training
module.
Strategy 3.1: Administration will complete the SMART Administrator course
offered through the Course Park eLearning platform.
Objective 3: Administrative staff will utilize the SMART Board during at least two staff
meetings per quarter.
Goal 2: By January 1, 2015, Walker Park Elementary School instructional staff will be fully
trained on SMART Board technology using both onsite training and online learning in order to
become 21st century, highly-skilled educators.
Objective 1: Instructional staff will receive nine hours of SMART Board training to be



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provided at the school.
Strategy 1.1: Instructional staff will attend six hours of introductory training with
a SMART Board trainer during the May 19, 2014, Professional Learning day.
Strategy 1.2: Instructional staff will attend an additional three hours of follow-up
training during the August 8, 2013, Professional Learning day.
Objective 2: Training attendees will develop a lesson plan demonstrating teacher and
student use of the SMART Board.
Strategy 2.1: Teachers will present their completed lessons to PLC groups.
Strategy 2.2: Examples of exemplary lessons will be chosen by each PLC group
and will be saved and posted to the shared drive.
Objective 3: Training attendees will complete one SMART Board online training module.
Strategy 3.1: Teachers will have the option of completing the online training
module on their own or with a PLC group.
Goal 3: By June 1, 2015, Walker Park Elementary School instructional staff will incorporate
SMART Board technology into their lessons on a regular basis.
Objective 1: Trained instructional staff will demonstrate effective use of SMART Board
technology in the classroom.
Strategy 1.1: Teachers will provide copies of at least one lesson per month, which
include the use of a SMART Board by teachers and/or students.





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Plan of Operation
The SMART Board Professional Development is scheduled to take place over two days,
May 19, 2014 and August 8, 2014 (Appendix C). Training will take place at Walker Park
Elementary School and will be lead by a certified SMART Board trainer and two training
assistants. Whole group training will be held in the media center and collaborative groups will
utilize individual classrooms. Additional eLearning tasks will be assigned on the first day of
training and should be completed no later than August 7, 2014. The Professional Development
utilizes a pre-post design in order to plan for effective and appropriate training. A pre-post
design examines a particular variable at two points in time: before and after an intervention.
(Margolin) Staff members will be asked to complete a pre-survey (Appendix F) prior to the
training and a post-survey (Appendix G) following the conclusion of the training. The pre-survey
will aid in the design of training materials that address the implied instructional needs of
attendees. The post-survey will help the instructional designers determine the value of the
training that takes place.
The first day of SMART Board Professional Development will begin with a thorough
overview of SMART Board hardware and Notebook software. Both administrators and
instructional staff will attend two and a half hours of training to be held in the media center.
Attendees will learn basic usage skills as well as be introduced to the SMART Exchange, an
online resource of downloadable lessons and templates. Following a break for lunch,
instructional staff will be given a collaborative assignment involving two separate tasks. Firstly,
grade-level teams will complete an interactive Notebook file, which will give them hands-on
experience with available tools. Secondly, teams will be asked to create a new mini-lesson or



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download and customize a lesson from the SMART Exchange. While teams work in classrooms
under the supervision of training assistants, the certified SMART Board trainer will meet with
administration for one and a half hours of instruction focused on technological leadership. Topics
will include supporting staff members use of technology in the classroom and utilizing the
SMART Board during staff meetings and for other administrative tasks. Instructional staff will
later reconvene in the media center with the certified trainer, at which point they will share their
collaborative group experiences and lessons. The day will conclude with the assignment of a
perception survey.
Day two of SMART Board Professional Development will begin with three hours of
follow-up training for instructional staff. Training will start with a shared discussion of attendees
eLearning experiences, followed by a Q&A session. Next, a brief review of SMART Board
basics will be covered and the certified trainer will then share a personalized back to school
activity with attendees. Additional topics will include using the SMART Board as a classroom
management tool and utilizing the SMART Notebook Lesson Activity Toolkit to enhance
instruction. Instructional staff training will conclude with a think, pair, share activity and the
assignment of the post-survey. Administrative follow-up training will take place in the afternoon
for two hours. The certified trainer will first discuss the administrations perceptions of the
SMART Administration course and answer any questions. A brief review of SMART Board
basics will then be provided. Next, the administrative team will be asked to create a SMART
Notebook file to be used at the schools first staff meeting. Administrative training will conclude
with a brainstorming session about ways in which the team can utilize the SMART Board for
non-instructional purposes throughout the school year and the assignment of the post-survey.



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Evaluation Plan
The goal of Walker Park Elementary School is to provide training on SMART Board
technology to school administrators and instructional staff using both onsite training and online
training to support administration in strengthening and modeling technological leadership and to
assist instructional staff in becoming 21st century, highly-skilled educators. After the
professional learning, the administration will be able to evaluate and promote the use of SMART
Board technology and the instructional staff will be able to incorporate SMART Board
technology into their lessons on a regular basis. The following evaluation plan is explained in
table form as well (Appendix D).
In order to learn and perform desired goals, the learners will need to gain the perception
and understanding that using the knowledge, skills, and resources acquired from the SMART
Board professional learning will increase student achievement and motivation. A perception
survey (Appendix E) will be given during the professional learning to provide a glimpse of the
learners attitude and motivational level toward the training to assess if the learners are motivated
to learn and perform and to assess if the learners find the professional learning relevant.
The learners will need to acquire knowledge, skills, and resources in order to achieve the
professional learning goals. In order to assess the extent that the learners have advanced in skills,
knowledge and attitude in regards to using the SMART Board technology, a pre self-assessment
survey (Appendix F) will be administered before the training begins and a post self-assessment
(Appendix G) will be administered after the training. The administration staff was interviewed
prior to the training and will be given a follow up survey when professional learning is
completed (Appendix H).



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Walker Park Elementary Schools goal is to incorporate SMART Board technology into
their lessons on a regular basis. Trained instructional staff will demonstrate effective use of
SMART Board technology in the classroom, and will provide copies of at least one lesson per
month, which include the use of a SMART Board technology. Performance evaluations
conducted by administrators and lesson plans will assess if learners acquired the needed skills
and/or use the resources they were given through SMART Board professional learning, and will
determine if learners transferred the skills to the classroom.
To assure improved quality and use of skills and resources acquired during the SMART
Board professional learning, a sequenced training will be held at the beginning of the school year
in August along with ongoing coaching throughout the school year. The ongoing coaching will
be a collaborative effort taking place during staff meetings. The instructional staff will take turns
sharing a snapshot of effective teaching strategies and new resources discovered using the
SMART Board technology. This will also allow Walker Park Elementary Schools
administration and instructional staff the opportunity to observe the impact and results of the
SMART Board professional learning.
Budget
Total funding requested is $5026.77. See Appendix I for complete line item information.
A. Professional Development Total: $3098.00
Funding is requested for the cost of a certified SMART trainer and two assistants who
provide onsite training for two full sessions for all certified faculty including two administrators.
The cost of the training per day is $1500 for a total of $3000.
In addition, two administrators will take an online SMART Administrator course. This



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course helps administrators learn how to effectively incorporate exciting technology, like
SMART Boards into the everyday operations of their school. The cost of the course per attendee
is $49 for a total of $98.
B. Supplies and Materials Total: $1599.92
During the training, all attendees will receive training materials. The cost for the
materials is $15 per attendee. The total cost for 48 attendees is $1440.00.
Flash drives will be provided for each grade level team, including one flash drive for
Specials teachers, in order to save SMART Board lessons and any other electronic materials. The
total cost of eight flash drives at $19.99 each is $159.92.
Other costs
The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will provide snacks and drinks for attendees.
Online resources needed during training and follow up training for teachers such as online
training courses and/or webinars are free resources available to anyone who has registered on the
SMART Exchange website (exchange.smarttech.com).












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References
Georgia Department of Education, (2013). Net-s performance tasks. Retrieved from
website:https://www.georgiastandards.org/standards/Pages/NETS-S-Performance-
Tasks.aspx
Margolin J., & Buchler, B. (2004). Critical issue: Using scientifically based
research to guide educational decisions. Chicago: North Central Regional Educational
Laboratories. Available at:
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/go/go900.htm
NC Department of Health and Human Services, (2014). State Contract Forms. Retrieved March
22, 2014, from http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/contracts/docs/
Red Clay Consolidated School District (2014). Delaware 21st Century Wireless Infrastructure
Consortium. Retrieved March 19, 2014, from http://www.redclay.k12.de.us/jc/index.html
Winfrey, E.C. (1999). Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Evaluation. In B. Hoffman (Ed.),
Encyclopedia of Educational Technology. Retrieved March 24, 2005, from
http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/k4levels/start.htm












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Appendix A













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Appendix B

















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Appendix C

May 19, 2014 Agenda
*Pre-Survey (Appendix C.) (To be completed by staff no later than May 12, 2014)
*Post-survey (Appendix D) (To be completed by staff in November 2014)
*Attendees: A: Administrative Staff/ I: Instructional Staff
Time
Attendees
Activity Goal/Objective
8:30 a.m.
A/I SMART Board activating strategy/mini sample lesson
Goal 1/ Objective 1
Goal 2/ Objective 1
8:45 a.m.
A/I Introduction: Discuss goals and objectives of the
SMART Board professional development. Review
ISTE standards for teachers and students.

9:00 a.m.
A/I
SMART Board Basics: Introduce the basic functions
and tools of the SMART Board.
Goal 1/ Objective 1
Goal 2/ Objective 1
9:30 a.m.
A/I
Notebook Software: Creating a lesson for the SMART
Board using Notebook software. Introduce software
capabilities. Focus on embedding pictures, links, and
videos, layering, and the Lesson Activity Toolkit.
Goal 1/ Objective 1
Goal 2/ Objective 1
10:30 a.m.
A/I
Using the SMART Exchange: Searching for,
downloading, and customizing a lesson template
Goal 1/ Objective 1
Goal 2/ Objective 1
11:00 a.m.-
12:30 p.m.

Lunch Break
12:30 p.m. I Introduce collaborative group task: Groups will first
work on an interactive Notebook file which includes
multiple tasks in which they will practice skills
covered earlier in the day. Next, they will either create
a new mini-lesson or work from a lesson template
downloaded from SMART Exchange. Both files will
be saved to the jumpdrive when completed.
Goal 2/ Objectives 1 & 2

12:45 p.m.
I Divide into grade-level teams:
Collaborative teams will be dismissed to work on their
task in designated classrooms. Classrooms will be set
Goal 2/ Objective 2



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up on the same hall so that training assistants can
easily assist and monitor trainees. Notebook files will
be open and ready for collaborative groups.
1:00 p.m.-
2:30 p.m.
I Groups work collaboratively on Notebook tasks under
the supervision of training assistants.
Goal 2/ Objective 2
1:00 p.m.-
2:30 p.m.
A Focus on Administration: The SMART Board trainer
will meet with the administrative staff for training
specific to technological leadership.
Goal 1/ Objective 1
1:00 p.m. A Discuss the questions: What do I look for in a SMART
classroom? How can I support my staff in the SMART
Board initiative?
Goal 1/ Objectives 1 & 3
1:30 p.m. A Using the SMART Board during staff meetings and for
other administrative tasks
Goal 1/ Objective 3
2:15 p.m. A Assign and discuss SMART Administrator course (to
be completed no later than August 7, 2014).
Goal 1/ Objective 2
2:30 p.m. I Reconvene in the media center to briefly present grade
level SMART Board lessons.
Goal 2/ Objectives 1 & 2

3:45 p.m. I Assign and discuss SMART Board eLearning task (to
be completed no later than August 7, 2014).
Goal 2/ Objective 3
3:45 p.m. I Q & A and Perception Survey

August 8, 2013 Agenda
Time
Attendees
Activity Goal/Objective
8:30 a.m
I SMART Board activating strategy/mini sample lesson:
Jeopardy SMART Board review game
Goal 1/ Objective 1
Goal 2/ Objective 1
8:45 a.m I Introduction: Present days agenda
8:50 a.m. I Review and discuss trainees experiences with
eLearning tasks. Take questions and comments.
Goal 2/ Objective 3
9:15 a.m. I Briefly review SMART Board basics Goal 2/ Objective 1
9:30 a.m. I Creating a SMART Board lesson: Welcome students Goal 1/ Objective 1



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back with a personalized and interactive SMART
Board activity. The trainer will walk attendees through
a lesson template that can be personalized for their own
use. The file will then be saved to previously used
jump drives or emailed to attendees.
Goal 2/ Objective 1
10:00 a.m. I Using the SMART Board as a classroom management
tool
Goal 3/ Objective 1
10:30 a.m. How to use the SMART Notebook Lesson Activity
Toolkit to engage students and enhance learning in the
classroom: Trainer will walk attendees through
multiple interactive activities that can be used to
enhance instruction.
Goal 3/ Objective 1
11:00 a.m. I Think, Pair, Share: Groups brainstorm and share ways
in which they feel they can now use the SMART Board
in their classrooms.
Goal 3/ Objective 1
11:20 a.m. I Final remarks; Assign Post-Survey (Appendix D.) (To
be completed by staff no later than 4:00 p.m. on August
8, 2014)

11:30 a.m.-
1:00 p.m.
Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. A Review and discuss SMART Administrator course Goal 1/ Objectives 1 & 2
1:30 p.m. A Review Board basics Goal 1/ Objective 1
1:45 p.m A Create a SMART Board presentation for the first staff
meeting of the school year: With minimal assistance,
the Principal and Vice-Principal will work together on
this task.
Goal 1/ Objective 3
2:45 p.m. A Brainstorm ideas the administrative team can further
utilize the SMART Board for non-instructional
purposes throughout the school year.
Goal 1/ Objective 3
2:55 p.m. A Final Remarks







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Appendix D

Evaluation Plan
Evaluation Goal Information
Required
Schedule Method for
Collecting
Information
Analysis
Procedures
Walker Park Elementary
School will provide
training on SMART
Board technology to
school administrators
using both onsite training
and online learning in
order to support
administration in
strengthening and
modeling technological
leadership to WPES staff
The perception
and
understanding
that using the
knowledge,
skills, and
resources
acquired from
the SMART
Board
professional
learning will
increase student
achievement
and motivation

The extent that
the learners
have advanced
in skills,
knowledge and
attitude in
regards to using
the SMART
Board
technology
May 19, 2014
at end of
professional
learning








Interviews
completed prior
to May 12,
2014

Post survey
completed
November
2014
Perception Survey
completed by
administration









Interviews with
administration and
post surveys
Will provide a
glimpse of the
learners attitude
and motivational
level toward the
training to
assess if the
learners are
motivated to
learn and
perform and to
assess if the
learners find
the professional
learning relevant


Will assess the
extent that the
learners have
advanced in
skills,
knowledge and
attitude in
regards to using
the SMART
Board
technology
Walker Park Elementary
School instructional staff
will be fully trained on
SMART Board
technology using both
onsite training and online
learning in order to
become 21st century,
highly-skilled educators.
The perception
and
understanding
that using the
knowledge,
skills, and
resources
acquired from
the SMART
Board
May 19
th
at end
of professional
learning




Perception Survey
completed by
instructional staff




Will provide a
glimpse of the
learners attitude
and motivational
level toward the
training to
assess if the
learners are
motivated to
learn and



19



professional
learning will
increase student
achievement
and motivation


The extent that
the learners
have advanced
in skills,
knowledge and
attitude in
regards to using
the SMART
Board
technology







Pre-surveys
completed prior
to May 12,
2014

Post survey
completed
November
2014






Pre and post surveys
completed by
instructional staff


perform and to
assess if the
learners find
the professional
learning relevant



Will assess the
extent that the
learners have
advanced in
skills,
knowledge and
attitude in
regards to using
the SMART
Board
technology
Walker Park Elementary
School instructional staff
will incorporate SMART
Board technology into
their lessons on a regular
basis.


Demonstrated
effective use of
SMART Board
technology in
the classroom,
copies of at
least one lesson
per month,
which include
the use of a
SMART Board
technology




Improved
quality and use
of skills and
resources
acquired during
the SMART
Board
professional
learning
August 2014
through May
2015










August 2013
through May
2014
Performance
evaluations
conducted by
administrators

Monthly lesson plans








Collaborative sharing
during staff meetings
Will assess if
learners
acquired the
needed skills
and/or use the
resources they
were given
through
SMART Board
professional
learning, and
will determine if
learners
transferred the
skills to the
classroom



Will assess the
impact and
results of the
SMART Board
professional
learning




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Appendix E

Professional Development Perception Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8KR57RW




















21


Appendix F

Professional Development Pre Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9YCC39X










22


Appendix G

Professional Development Post Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9WJJPBR














23

Appendix H


Administrator Post Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8297FFY










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Appendix I

Budget



Budget Item Amount Sub-Total
a Professional Development
SMART Board Trainer and Assistants (2) @
$1500 per day
$3000.00
SMART School Administrator course: 2
administrators @ $49 each.
$98.00
Total Professional Development expenses $3098.00
b Supplies and Materials
SMART Board training materials: 48
attendees @ $15 each for two sessions.
$1440.00
16GB Flash drive for each grade level team:
8 flash drives @ $19.99 each
$159.92
Total Supplies and Materials expenses $1599.92
Total Expenses $4697.92
Overhead Costs @7% $328.85
Total Request $5026.77