5+Specific+Student+Population

//5. Does this project or initiative impact a specific student population? Please explain.//

"Economically disadvantaged students..use the computer for remediation and basic skills...while more affluent students...learn to tell computers what to do." __Towards Digital Equity__ by Gwen Solomon and Nancy Allen

Currently much of our technology is used as remediation for the disadvantaged, while our more advantaged students are working on digital projects at home, accessing wireless connections via their personal laptops, and podcasting on social networks. This project will initally have the greatest impact on student who are economically disadvantaged and do not have access to digital cameras and video camcorders. In an effort to reach the students most in need, Title I schools will be the first recipients of the granted equipment at the elementary level. In recent years, the number of economically disadvantaged students in the district has soared to 19.2%. Of our 35 elementary schools, next year 10 will be Title I schools. These students have had little acces to, but would benefit the most from, technology which would increase their skill sets.

Shawnee Mission School District's ELL population continues to grow at 6.21%. The ELL programs will see some of the greatest improvements after the implementation of the technology. Non-native English speakers benefit greatly from creating and accessing videos. Repetition is the key to learning new words and phrases, and the video camcorder will revolutionize the teaching of the language. By creating and accessing podcasts, students will hone their language skills and be able to continue their practice and study outside of the ELL classroom.

ORIGINAL MATERIAL

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. I don't think this is accurate: media production and journalism classes already have numerous Macs and editing equipment at their disposal.

Certainly students enrolled in secondary classes in media production and journalism would benefit from having increased access to video production equipment. However the equipment would also be available to all teachers and students in every building so the possibilites are endless. See note below