CMaP: Community Mapping Project June 15, 2012

Availability of Technology in Students Homes

Created by: Bobie Glassett, Bettina Rasmusson, & Molly Kendall 7th grade Language Arts Project Description Students will research the availability of technology in their neighborhood and at individual students homes. Students will also determine if the availability of technology/internet access impacts student achievement. This project will facilitate better school to home communication between teachers and parents via technology resources. Teachers are unsure about the availability of technology that students really have outside of school and limit the assignments that they assign because of the lack of data. By identifying what students have access to, teachers are able to fully utilize learning tools online and students can build PLN/PLC (personal learning networks/communities). In addition, students will analyze and determine if the availability of technology influences student academic achievements and quality of student learning. Community Partner(s) All 7th grade Language Arts teachers at the school. All History/Social Studies/Geography teachers for all grades at the school. Parents and Volunteers to help students during neighborhood mapping activities. Educational Technology Specialists Students will conduct and synthesize research using GPS devices, technology tools, and mapping technology. 7th grade Language Arts Writing Core Curriculum Standard 1

Community Issue or Problem Selected -How project evolved?

Project Objectives Utah Core Standards/Objectives

Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Standard 7

Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing a several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research.

7th grade Math Core Curriculum Standard Identify the constant of proportionality (unit rate) in tables, graphs, equations, diagrams, and verbal descriptions of proportional relationships.

CMaP: Community Mapping Project June 15, 2012 7th grade Social Studies Standard Read and interpret a variety of maps. Essential Question(s) -Spatial Issue How does gathering data using a GPS help people make informed decisions? How does the availability of technology impact student academic achievement? What responsibility does the community have to provide internet access to community members and/or students in low socioeconomic areas? Assessments (rubrics, scoring guides) Evaluate ability to use GPS device, gather data, and use mapping programs. Students research writing ability, research skills, and argumentative writing will also be evaluated. Project Products Students will create a map identifying the types of technology resources that are available in students homes. Students will also synthesize data and analyze the effect of the availability of technology/internet access affects learning and student success.

Project Timeline (include a step by step Procedures)

1. Students will participate in a walking field trip around the neighborhood with GPS devices to identify public access points with internet accessibility (i.e. public libraries, internet cafes, businesses, etc...). Students will then import data into Arcgis and create a map for parents and students to be able to know when and where they can access the internet. 2. All 7th grade Language Arts students with internet access will take the GPS devices to their homes and mark waypoints. 3. The 7th grade students will then administer a survey to the rest of the student body in the school on Google Docs. This survey will identify the technological tools students have available. Sample questions to ask students on Survey: What is your address? Do you have access to the internet at home? Smart phones? E-mail? Twitter? Facebook? Tablets? eReaders? Other devices or accounts? What is your average GPA? On average, how often do you feel like your academic achievement is impacted by the availability of technology? 4. A parent survey will also be sent home (google docs & paper) to parents to determine their perspective on the availability of technology to their students and the impact it has on their childs grades. 5. Teachers will then collect responses and compile data on a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. 6. All Social Studies classes will identify the coordinates of their

CMaP: Community Mapping Project June 15, 2012 home addresses using Google Earth and will submit it to 7th grade Language Arts students to import the data to ArcGIS.com 7. Students will generate maps with data representing the availability of technology in students homes to present to teachers. Teachers will be able to use this data to determine which tools are available for students to use at home to complete assignments. 8. Students will also analyze the data and create graphs to show the quantity of electronic devices available to each students. 9. Students will also create multimedia presentations to demonstrate what they learned, the data they gathered, and the conclusions they were able to draw. 10. Students will write an analysis of their data and determine if there is a connection between availability of technology and student achievement. 11. If needed, students will determine an appropriate way to approach and petition community leaders or business that are potential donors to give students more access to technology and free internet access points. Teachers and district personnel can also use this information to write grants for additional funding as necessary. 12. Everyone that participated will then celebrate their accomplishments and hard work! Resources Needed 1. 2. 3. Students Skills Required Project Team Member Roles GPS units Computers with access to internet (Base Camp Apps, Microsoft Excel, Arcgis accounts) Google Email Accounts/Docs or Drop Box

GPS training, keyboarding, use of programs (Base Camp, Microsoft Excel, Arcgis), graphing, data analysis, argumentative writing Teachers: Instruct students how to gather data Ed Tech Specialists: Help the teacher train students how to use GPS units, computer programs, & websites. Students: Survey classmates & gather data, input data into GPS, computer programs, & websites. Synthesize data and present to all the teachers at the school. Partner(s): Volunteers to help students safely gather data & use technology tools. Principal to oversee & approve projects/provide resources. Presentation: Students will compile data in an easy to use format and present data to the teachers in our school demonstrating the type of technological tools are available in students homes to increase learning and help to complete homework. Celebration: Teachers, students, Ed Techs, and Volunteers will participate in a closing activity where everyone will be able to see their accomplishments and the impact of their hard work.

Celebration/Presentation

CMaP: Community Mapping Project June 15, 2012 Project Evaluation Did students successfully use technological tools available for this project and compile clear & concise data? Did students write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence? Did students conduct a research project to answer the essential questions? Bibliography Plans for Future CMaP Activities N/A Students will repeat this activity at the beginning of each year and compare how the data has changed over the course of the years.