How YOU can get involved in PTA fundraising!

         Welcome Parents!  Thank you for stopping by to read about a very important issue in the life of your son or daughter!  Our Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is trying to raise money to get more computers and technology in the classrooms of your children.  I would like to take this opportunity to strongly encourage you to help out with this endeavor in any way possible.  In a world that is ever dependent on technology, it is imperative that your children learn to function in that world.  As teachers and staff we believe increased technology in the classroom will facilitate that!
       
        With the tremendous growth in not only the technological world, but childrens' ability to operate such technology, there are some legitimate concerns that may arise as a parent.  You may be thinking:

• Will their be content restrictions on what my child can see on the web?
• Will my child's academic education suffer from increased technology?
• My child spends too much time playing computer games.  Will this be regulated?
• Will my child be able to visit facebook or myspace while at school?

As educators we have your children's education at the forefront of our minds. As teachers and parents, we are personally aware of these concerns and have strict policies regulating how technology is used in the classroom. There are simple content settings on every computer that restrict inappropriate web sites, games, or social networking websites from being visited on the web. There are also international standards that have been set by the International Society for Technology in Education (ITSE). These standards are implemented in every classroom and can be reviewed at the following link: NETS Standards for Students (2007)

Why does my child need technology?

         We also firmly believe that your child's future success in this world, both in their future education and career, depends on his or her ability to use and understand technology. Through our fundraising and further integration of technology in the classroom we will make this possible! 

         There are two general learning models that will affect how your children utilize technology in the classroom.  In the Directed Instructional Model there is a focus on individual work and students are taught a skill set from the teacher, that serves as a pre-requisite for the next set of skills.  In the Constructivist Instructional Model, group work is a focus and big picture educational goals such as critical thinking and problem solving are the focus. (Roblyer and Doering, 2010) [A Comparison of Directed and Constructivist Models] Within these models are more specific learning theories.

• Directed Learning
• Behaviorism
• Learning is a result of stimuli, and a persons response to that stimuli within their environment. 
• Teacher focuses on specific objectives and reinforces positive responses to learning objectives and stimuli. (Deshler and Kiely, 1995)
• (Learning Theories - See Behaviorist)
• Constructivist Learning
• Cognitive Development
• Instructor serves to create a productive learning environment
• Tools and feedback from teacher are provided to allow students to structure their own knowledge. (Deshler and Kiely, 1995)
• (Learning Theories - See Cognitive)

Possible Activities Made Possible by Funding

Here are two potential projects we would be able to conduct if we are successful in our fundraising and acquisition of new technological materials for our classroom:

1.)  Marketing Project: Utilizing the cognitive development learning theory outlined above, students will be provided with a set of instructions and then allowed to problem solve and plan their own product.  Students will be challenged to construct a response to this potentially real world scenario.  They would learn to perform essential tasks on Adobe Illustrator, an essential software program in the graphic design industry.   

• Students create a hypothetical product with a name, marketing plan, and vision.
• Students calculate possible costs of manufacturing through internet research
• Using Microsoft Excel, keep track of possible profits after taking costs into account
• Construct an ad using Adobe Illustrator

2.)  Graphing Project:  Using a computer graphing program with a computer to overhead projector interface, students will be given several parabola equations and see how manipulating various numbers in the equations affects the graph.  Students will learn the shape and properties of a parabolic graph utilizing the credible behaviorism theory of learning.  They will be given repeated stimuli (equations) and given the opportunity to respond (what happens to the graph?). 

• Students will be given several equations for parabolas
• Students will graph several equations
• After repeatedly graphing equations, students will attempt to predict the shape of graphs based on the equation.
• Students will have the opportunity to change specific numbers in one given equation, and visually see how graph is affected via computer graphing program.

How to get involved...
       
          Your children have the opportunity to advance their education through the use of cutting edge computers and technology.  We strongly believe that by applying credible and proven learning strategies to technology in our classrooms, our students' education will benefit greatly.  If you feel compelled to help financially, or in any other way please contact me at mireland@technology.edu. Feel free to post responses or ask questions!  I will do my best to promptly respond or provide any further information. On behalf of myself and the PTA I thank you in advance for your help!







References

Deshler, J.D., Kiely, E. (1995). Facilitating Adult Learning Sourcebook. Ithaca, NY: Cornell 
        Instructional Media Service.

Roblyer, M. D. & Doering, A. H. (2010). Integrating educational technology into
         teaching (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.






DISCLAIMER: This blog is an assignment for an educational technology course at National University. It is not a real fundraising blog.