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Proposal__ Responses to the questions below will be considered for the purpose of selecting the National Best Buy Teach Award Winners. Please be specific and descriptive in your responses and include the requested attachments. Completed proposals must be received at Best Buy on or before 3/30/08. · Answers should be in Arial 12 point font, with 1.5 spacing and 1” margins. · The entire proposal may be no more than 20 pages. · Please number your answers according to the numbers listed below. · Number each page.**

//__Overview:__ 1. Provide a one page summary of the project or initiative being proposed for the 2008 National Best Buy Teach Award.//

Our goal is to expand on the outcomes identified in Shawnee Mission Northwest English teacher Lindsay Kincaid's $10,000 Best Buy Teach Award application. We would like to replicate her plan to the other high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools in our district. We plan to provide each secondary school with one video camera, web camera, microphone, tripod, mini-pro roller bag, transfer/capture software and hardware, multiple storage devices including CD/DVD and flash drives, and some i-Pods. We would provide similar access to our 35+ elementary schools by purchasing 15 each of the above items, available through check-out from the district staff development department upon completion of the required training.

Training classes would be taught by staff development and teacher mentors, funded by the school district. Teachers would have the opportunity to learn to use the equipment supplied by Best Buy, discuss educational applications, and develop a lesson plan to utilize the equipment. Elementary teachers would be able to check out the equipment upon completion of the class and secondary schools would have them on site.

This initiative would also allow us to expand our staff development courses so staff could log in from any internet access point to take part in valuable staff development. This would reduce the amount of time teachers are out of the classroom, yet increase the amount of staff development opportunities. Staff could download podcasts, view streamed videos, participate in live webcasts, etc. This increased teacher learning would also unltimately impact student learning.

//2. Is this a new or existing project or initiative?//

Our district has taught several classes on MovieMaker, PhotoStory, Podcasting, Digital Storytelling, Videoconferencing, and many other visual literacy and collaborative technologies in the past. District teachers are exploring video creation, videoconferencing, and podcasting in their classrooms but are limited due to inadequate funding to purchase the needed equipment. This proposal would facilitate production expansion by coordinating the hardware, software, training, and support, enhancing success for teachers and students. Furthermore, specific areas within each curricular area will be identified so as to focus the projects on targeted content which make it easier for teachers and students to find relevancy.

=This is where we need to get some input from some teachers. If they could describe some of classroom applications - poetry, drama, music concerts, world language classes....=

//3. If it’s a new project, what is innovative for your district about this project?// This project would allow students and staff to share original presentations, view labs or lectures in absentia, attend virtual field trips, and particpate in more and different staff development offerings, all via remote access. This technology is valuable in today's classroom as well as tomorrow's workplace. Students need to be well versed in this technology and feel comfortable with the application of it. The project would inspire students to be creative and demonstrate knowledge through hands-on applications and in real time. Teachers can also have access to trainings by video recording, viewing them at more convenient times, and also use the equipment to support colleagues by providing an avenue for communication and collaboration thereby allowing for authenitc feedback and suggestions on common issues.

__Population Served:__ //4. How many schools and students would the proposed project/initiative impact?// 28,201 - all students in all settings and enhance nearly 50 schools' teachnology infrastructure.

//5. Does this project or initiative impact a specific student population? Please explain.// Certainly students enrolled in secondary classes in media production and journalism would benefit from having increased access to the equipment. However the equipment would be available to all teachers and students in every building so the possibilites are endless.

__Implementation:__ //6. Describe how using interactive technology will enhance student engagement or an active learning environment//.

There have been several recent articles and research that documents the many benefits of creating and using digital video in the classroom with students. More than perhaps any other technology tool, video has the ability to change the teaching and learning process because it allows the content to be created and viewed differently.

Students are able to think creatively and develop innovative video projects that allow them to construct their own knowledge of the material. This level of s tudent engagement typically leads to deeper learning and better retention of the content being studied. In addition, students develop life-long skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making because they are responsible for conducting the appropriate research for their project and managing the multitude of tasks and deadlines associated with bringing a project from start to finish.

F urthermore, students are able to distribute their video creations through new, and increasingly accessible and easy to use, technologies such as videoconferencing and podcasting to communicate their ideas and collaborate with their peers. This is important because since the finished product is authentic and created for a real audience this leads to improved effort and quality on the part of students as they know others besides their teacher will see their work. Finally, students will learn to become good digital citizens as they practice legal and ethical behavior related to copyright, fair use, and intellectual property and as they learn the concepts and operations of video related technology for their future work lives.

//7. Will students think this project is fun? Why?//

Of course, and highly educational too. In today's increasingly information rich society where learning can take place anytime, anywhere and in a variety of formats, learning is naturally fun and with the rapid pace of change life-long learning is a requirement for future success. In addition, with the advent of Web 2.0 tools, which make publishing to the web easy and seamless, everyone wants to contribute and have their voice heard. Students want to apply their existing knowledge and express themselves in creative ways. The ability to collaborate with peers on a video project and also communicate information via a videoconference or podcast can be extremely self-motivating to students especially if it is based on a real-world context. Much has been written lately about how schools, classrooms, and teachers need to change in order to meet the needs of today's students.

//8. Please describe additional expenses your district will incur if granted this award to implement the proposed project. How do you plan to cover these additional expenses?//

__Goals:__ //9. State whether this is a single initiative or multiple projects, and specify the desired outcomes for each component//. This is a single initiative with almost limitless impacts. Video is rapidly emerging as this generation's communication vehicle. Every curricula requires the transmission of infomation in a format readily accepted and understood by the viewer/listener.

//10. Please describe the expected outcomes from this project. Are the outcomes based on the state academic standards? Do you expect this project to help meet and exceed technology standards, other academic standards or other non-academic goals?//

Students would demonstrate creative thinking while constructing knowledge and developing innovative products and processes using technology. Students would use digital media and virtual environments to communicate and work collaboratively to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. In addition, teachers would use the technology to facilitate learning experiences that advance student creativity and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. They could plan and design authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating these contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes students need for workplace success in the future. Teachers would also benefit because the technology would improve their work processes and productivity while changing professional practice.

This project would help meet and exceed technology standards for teachers and students.

//11. How will this project or initiative help meet student learning needs that are currently unmet in your district?//

__Measurement:__ //12. How will you measure success?//

The most obvious way we can measure success is by the number of videos posted, video conference sessions scheduled, and podcasts listened to or downloaded. However the greater impact will be witnessed by the increase in student engagement as evidenced by improved student learning.