Focused on 21^st century learning, Pine Valley Elementary students have been engaged in online learning through the use of student laptop carts and iPads.  Our student population has grown substantially over the past few years, greatly increasing our need for technology.  Serving now over 600 students at a Title One school, the staff at Pine Valley makes a conscious effort to increase students’ access to learning through technology to ensure our students are prepared to keep up with an ever-changing, technology driven society.

I am trying to fund five iPads to help furnish a new school iPad cart to increase student access to technology.  Our school focuses on making global connections to expand our students’ world views.  We host an annual school-wide 24 hour Skype-a-thon in which students connect with other students all over the world by Skyping, blogging, tweeting and recording on the world map what they are learning through these sessions.  We have used iPads to Skype and tweet with students while an author introduced her new book, answering questions from classrooms around the world. Our upper grades continually “flip the classroom”, having students engage in online learning so that classroom time can be spent on discussion, experiments, and project-based learning including creating their own academic video games and virtual science labs.   

The use of this technology is not limited to these school-wide events.  Each grade level at our school uses different programs as part of whole-group, small-group, and for one-on-one interventions to meet all student’s needs.  In fourth grade, iPads are used with students to tweet, blog, and connect with other classrooms. There are also a wide variety of apps that are used to supplement instruction. Students practice their math facts, read books, and do research on the iPads. Students use digital manipulatives on the iPads to help make sense of difficult math concepts. iPads allow the students the opportunity to see and learn new things that aren't afforded to them otherwise. With only one cart of 30 iPads and 600+ students, it is difficult to ensure equitable student access to technology. 

I am trying to raise $2,130 to help provide my school with 5 additional student iPads.  Each iPad is $379. The total amount reflects the cost of 5 iPads and the fees that apply.

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