"Build Your Space" Project — Building a Technology-Enhanced Classroom
"Build Your Space" Project — Building a Technology-Enhanced Classroom
Hardware Budget: $35,000
Hardware Budget: $35,000
Purpose:
Purpose:
I plan to build a fully functioning, technology-enhanced 2nd grade classroom. The classroom will utilize hardware that are intentional, inclusive, innovative, and geared toward students’ individual learning styles.
I plan to build a fully functioning, technology-enhanced 2nd grade classroom. The classroom will utilize hardware that are intentional, inclusive, innovative, and geared toward students’ individual learning styles.
Project Narrative:
Project Narrative:
The classroom environment is designed to be both welcoming and innovative; all digital technologies are integrated with the sole purpose of enhancing student learning.
The classroom environment is designed to be both welcoming and innovative; all digital technologies are integrated with the sole purpose of enhancing student learning.
The classroom incorporates assistive technology, such as text-to-speech devices, to support one of its core goals: inclusivity. Similarly, every aspect of the classroom is intended to welcome all types of learners—visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and more. When stepping into the room, you will not see fifteen children sitting in rows, listening to a lecture, completing a never-ending series of worksheets. Instead, you will see students engaging in collaborative, independent, and teacher-led activities that incorporate a variety of technologies.
The classroom incorporates assistive technology, such as text-to-speech devices, to support one of its core goals: inclusivity. Similarly, every aspect of the classroom is intended to welcome all types of learners—visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and more. When stepping into the room, you will not see fifteen children sitting in rows, listening to a lecture, completing a never-ending series of worksheets. Instead, you will see students engaging in collaborative, independent, and teacher-led activities that incorporate a variety of technologies.
In the future, this environment could be scaled up by expanding in size and allowing students to use other devices, such as laptops instead of tablets. With more space, the classroom could also feature more flexible seating options and centers for different technologies. To scale this environment down, one might reduce the number of devices by requiring students to take turns using iPads, instead of having an assigned device for each student.
In the future, this environment could be scaled up by expanding in size and allowing students to use other devices, such as laptops instead of tablets. With more space, the classroom could also feature more flexible seating options and centers for different technologies. To scale this environment down, one might reduce the number of devices by requiring students to take turns using iPads, instead of having an assigned device for each student.
Classroom Software Budget: $10,000
Classroom Software Budget: $10,000
Purpose:
Purpose:
I plan to build a fully functioning, technology-enhanced 2nd grade classroom. The classroom will utilize various forms of software that are intentional, inclusive, innovative, and geared towards students’ individual learning styles.
I plan to build a fully functioning, technology-enhanced 2nd grade classroom. The classroom will utilize various forms of software that are intentional, inclusive, innovative, and geared towards students’ individual learning styles.
Software Rationale:
Software Rationale:
These programs have all been chosen to complement the main goals of my classroom. Most of the software are educational games or applications that make learning engaging and entertaining for my students. If the students are enjoying the activity, they will learn more. When choosing my software, I avoided purchasing large programs like Adobe Creative Cloud because they would not be applicable in my 2nd grade classroom. The most expensive purchase was Microsoft 365 Education, which incorporates other software programs as well. For the rest of my software, I chose many smaller programs that would help integrate technology into my teaching.
These programs have all been chosen to complement the main goals of my classroom. Most of the software are educational games or applications that make learning engaging and entertaining for my students. If the students are enjoying the activity, they will learn more. When choosing my software, I avoided purchasing large programs like Adobe Creative Cloud because they would not be applicable in my 2nd grade classroom. The most expensive purchase was Microsoft 365 Education, which incorporates other software programs as well. For the rest of my software, I chose many smaller programs that would help integrate technology into my teaching.