Module 5- Prospetive Grant

Prospective Grant

For

WV Social Studies Teachers Association 

Proposal Summary

Across the state of WV, many teachers associations exist to promote teaching leadership, technology integration, and best practices for teaching subject matter.  However, currently there are no programs or groups to assist the classrooms for teachers in the field of Social Studies.  This grant will help with the creation of an association that will intend to exist as a continuing learning opportunity for teachers across the state of WV. 

Organization Purpose and Ideology 

The WV Social Studies Teachers Association, or WVSSTA, will focus on professional development for teachers who are currently teaching social studies, and will help future teachers become better social studies teachers.  The WVSSTA will strive to provide a constant learning opportunity for existing and future teachers.  The WVSSTA will become 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which will seek to provide additional funding for low income and underrepresented schools.  

West Virginia is a state with rich cultural and natural resources.  West Virginia has historical roots in the colonization of North America, the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, the Civil Rights Movement, and continues to be a place of national importance.  However, despite the cultural and historical significance and the prosperity of some of the most valuable natural resources in the nation, West Virginia continues to deal with poverty, underdevelopment, infrastructure issues, and the crippling “brain drain,” due to the lack of secondary education and need for college educated labor markets. 

The WVSSTA will work fill gaps in many different educational needs areas.  The WVSSTA will work to promote professional development, better learning environments for children in WV, help to move WV forward in the digital age, explore the needs of individual schools, and provide information and resources to teachers to provide for their technology hardware needs.  The WVSSTA will also focus its efforts in promoting the continuing education of the history of WV and Appalachia, and direct the students of WV to work to fix these issues. 

The WVSSTA will primarily work through three pathways: a biannual online newsletter, an online forum, and an annual summer conference.  

Resources

Common Grant Application Resources

http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/cga.html

Possible Grants

http://www.grantsalert.com/grants/state/915/Lockheed-Martin%E2%80%99s-Philanthropic-Giving

http://www.grantsalert.com/grants/federal/893/Investing-in-Innovation-Fund---Development-Grants

http://www.fundforteachers.org/funding-opportunities/grants-history-social-studies.php

http://www.socialstudies.org/resources/tah

http://earlychildhoodschoolgrants.wordpress.com/category/social-studies-grant/

http://ccsd.net/departments/grants-development-administration-department/social-studies

Proboards Message Board Service 

http://www.proboards.com/create-free-forum

Conference Convention Center Prices 

http://beckleyconventioncenter.com/Prices

West Virginia Science Teacher Membership Site 

http://www.wvsta.org/index.php/membership.html

West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics 

http://www.wvctm.com/

Regional Demographic Information of Wyoming County

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54/54109.html

Regional Demographic Information of McDowell County 

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54/54047.html

Demographics for WV

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54000.html

I would greatly appreciate any ideas and input on my grant idea and any other resource that I might have over looked. 

Thanks! 

Module 5 - Adam Hamrick

My grant proposal focus will be on funding my classroom with 15 iPads and a charging/storage cart. There are a great many science laboratories and activities that can be exercised outside of the classroom and on my school's campus. The only problem is that many of the activities require a lot of data collection and probes (which I already have), but I lack the units that use the probes. PASCO is a company that sells science probes and even has an iPad application and adapters that allows the use of their probes on an iPad. I want my students to learn how to collect large amounts of data and analyze it, not just read about it. Such data collection requires digital technology to record (sometimes at a rate of 10-20 datum per second) that a human just cannot keep up with. So, I am proposing to receive funding for the iPads, because they are the most expensive digital tool I want in my classroom and I can buy extra probes and adapters relatively cheap with science levy money. The following is a rough draft (in blue) of my grant proposal and explains my purpose, use, and reasoning behind requesting funding for a project that I estimate will cost about $5,525.00, without tax.

Rough Draft:
     "Technology, as with many aspects of education, is a progressive and essential part of our lives. As technology has moved into our lives from a static hunk of plastic sucking electricity in the corner of the room to lightweight and mobile laptops, cell phones, and tablets, the need for and ease-of-access to knowledge is always at our fingertips. Most schools cannot keep up with the growing demand (and price) of new useful technology and the bits of technology in the public classroom is often outdated or in need of repair/updates. And so, the desktop computers sit collecting dust in the back of the classroom until enough of them are in working order for the students to use them.

     Enter, the iPad. iPads are highly mobile, lightweight, easy to use, modern tablets that are becoming ever more popular and essential in today’s world at work and play. The iPad is wireless and can be used throughout the school and the school grounds, taking the textbook and learning outside the classroom without the burden of books. This generation of digital natives is so enveloped with the wider world that their craving for knowledge cannot be satisfied with only a backpack willed with books. Our students want and need the world at their fingertips and access to knowledge when they need it, which is complicated when their turn at the computer is up. We need to provide these learning opportunities at a moment’s notice and make the most of the little time we have each day with our students.

     iPads can be loaded with textbooks, educational applications, and audiovisual software. For example, after reading about photosynthesis in a digital textbook during a lesson outside the classroom a student can report on what they have learned by creating a video of local flora with commentary they scripted and produced, edit their product, and share this with their peers and the world through video sharing apps, all on the iPad. It is amazing that we live in a time so connected that we can learn from someone from across time and space and communicate with each other across the world at the touch of a button! Who would not embrace and fund these technology experiences for our students?

     By using iPads, we can prepare this generation for the demands of the future and develop a great generation of active world-wide citizens. Our public school systems do not lack the drive to do so, but they do lack the funding to make these learning experiences possible for all students. We teachers, no matter how poorly funded, want to see our students become everything they can and want to be, but without modern technology tools we cannot give this young generation the full benefit of modern education. I am appealing for the funding of fifteen current-generation iPads for use in my classroom and a charging cart to be able to move the iPads into a neighboring classroom for other students to use when available. Our science classroom is also equipped with data collection tools (i.e., pH probes, anemometers, temperature/humidity probe combinations, and electrical current readers) that have the capability to be used with a Pasco data collection application on the iPad, so the students will no longer be restrained to a classroom and can take their experiments to the field!

     The cost of these great learning tools will not be able to be covered by the meager technology funds allotted to my school. These iPads with a charging cart will amount to $5,524.99; each iPad with kit costs $329.00, the cart is $589.99 and will hold 24 iPads for future expansion. Each iPad is equipped with a kit containing a Bluetooth speaker, charger, carrying pouch to protect this investment, cleaning cloth, aux cable, audio splitter, and headphones."

So, I am open to any suggestions, because I honestly want this project to be funded. Any suggestions as to who I should ask for funding? About 1/3 of my students have an IEP or 504 Plan, so I might be eligible for the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals With Disabilities Program grant.

Module 5

For my grant proposal, I have chosen to write a request for Google Chromebooks to be used in middle school reading/language arts classes. I am not a classroom teacher, however I plan to be involved with education and my primary goal is to promote literacy skills through the use of 21st century methods.

During my undergraduate courses, I noticed how sharply students declined in reading/language arts courses during the middle school years. Most students that I interviewed gave me the excuse of "It's boring." Upon attempting a lesson that involved technology use, the students did surprisingly well for loathing reading. They read, analyzed, synthesized, and cited information within the web-based Prezi presentation tool.

Therefore, my goal is to integrate technology into middle school reading/language arts classes through the use of Google Chromebooks. Google Chromebooks are a relatively less expensive version of a laptop because it utilizes cloud storage capabilities. (Students would also have the ability to access work from another computer source.) The Google Chromebook costs roughly $250 per computer, and my goal would be to fund the cost of 25 Chromebooks. The total cost would be approximately $6250. The Chromebooks would be available to the reading/language arts classes to support and integrate technology into their instruction and curriculum.

My targeted contributor would be the IRA Award for Reading and Technology. This is a k-12 grant that awards educators who are making outstanding and innovative contributions to the use of technology in education. The deadline for this award is November 2014.

The goal of my project is to ultimately increase literacy levels at the middle school levels through the use of technology and web-based resources within the classroom. I would like to begin by implementing my project in the first grade of middle school. There would be plenty of teacher workshops and collaboration to teach the proper use of the Chromebooks. After a year of teaching reading/language arts through technology, I would evaluate the students' test scores. It would be my hope that I would be granted more funding to purchase Chromebooks for the subsequent reading/language arts grade levels.

Module 5 Grant- Walesca Marrero

I have chosen to write this grant for this assignment since it is due in April I thought it was a great easy grant to put together. I am really excited about developing a tobacco informational app that people can down load and it will hopefully have good information on prevention reources. This will not be done in one semester but by the end of the grant cycle.

Tobacco Control and Prevention Mini Grant Application

2014-15

Region
Applicant Name		Taylor County Collaborative Family Resource Center
Proposal Name		Building a Healthy and Smoke Free Community
Mailing Address		P O Box 342 / 5 Hospital Plaza
City/State/Zip		Grafton, WV 26354
Contact Person		Walesca Marrero
Telephone		304-265-6838
E-mail		tccfrn@gmail.com

Fiscal Agent

(If different from applicant):______________________________________________________

Mailing Address ____________________________________________________

City/State/Zip: _______________________________________________________

Contact Person:  _____________________________________________________

Telephone: ___________________________________________________________

E-Mail:_______________________________________________________________

Which of the following goals will your mini grant address?

X	1. Prevent tobacco use
X	2. Educate community about the dangers of secondhand smoke
	3. Enforce clean indoor air regulations *

* Only applies to counties with at least smoke-free restaurants and only Health Departments can enforce CIA regulations.

Will you be working with more than one county within your region?

	Yes	Specify counties
X	No

Signature of

Applicant Representative ______ Date: _March 23, 2014___________

Print Name and Title of

Applicant Representative _Walesca Marrero Director____________________________

Describe your mini grant project. 

How will funding be used?

These Funds will be used to develop an aggressive media campaign using tools such as social media networking, the development of an app for the danger on tobacco use, brochures, and local newspaper to create a clear and concise message on the prevention of tobacco use. The message will be, Taylor County will promote a Healthy and Smoke Free Community for children and Families. During the media campaign Taylor County Collaborative FRN will also be hosting several other events with other groups such as PATCH, Taylor County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and our local Health Department. These activities will be done as a collaborative effort to bring information and education to the community.

What is the expected outcome?

Education and resources will be disseminated at Town hall meetings, Taylor County Fair, and county events. Our goal is to really saturate the county consistently and effectively.

 Work Plan:  The work plan will guide your project.  Careful consideration should be given to your goal(s), objectives, and activities.  We suggest keeping the following definitions in mind as you prepare your work plan.

Goal – a broad, long-range outcome you intend to achieve.

Objectives – the key steps needed to meet a specific goal.  Each objective should contain only one expectation that is both specific and measurable and has a clear end date.  Each goal can be supported by one or more objectives.

Activities – the key steps needed to accomplish a specific objective.  Each objective can be supported by one or more activities.

Goal:  Prevent tobacco use and Educate community about the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Objective 1. 

Activity to Complete Objective	Target Date of Completion
Prevent tobacco use by developing a new in county media campaign that will target everyone in Taylor County.	May 2015
Create an app on the dangers on tobacco use to be circulated throughout the county. .	March 2015
Partner with Community members and Organization to develop a newspaper insert targeting over 16000 people that will promote Tobacco Prevention and use during all of October.	August / October 2014
Provide tobacco prevention training and material to local parent, teacher organizations 4 total training one for each quarter.	July 2014 to May 2015

Objective 2. 

Activity to Complete Objective	Target Date of Completion
Use a consultant to train and educate community on second hand smoke by participating in a community health and resource fair.	April 2015
Host a Town Hall on the dangers of second hand smoke.	February 2015
Host training and provide a consultant to come and speak about what is trending with tobacco and second hand smoke.	January  2015

Objective 3. Complete Mini Grant Report Requirements

Activity to Complete Objective	Target Date of Completion
1. Complete and return Mid-Term report to RTPC by 1/15/2014	12/2014
2. Complete and return Final report to RTPC by 5/31/2015	4/2015

Budget Item		Funds Requested from DTP	In-kind Support	Total	WVBPH use only
Personnel
Name/Position	Percent (%) Effort
Program coordinator

 

Materials/Supplies		1500.00
Consultant		1500.00
Other expenses:		1500.00
Total Direct Costs (Sum of Personnel, Materials/Supplies, Consultants and Other Expenses)		4500.00
Administrative Costs (limited to 10% of direct costs)		500.00
TOTAL		5000.00

Budget Justification

Personnel

Materials/Supplies- computer, paper, printer, ink, pens, pencils, hard drive, and for community presentation an easel and easel pads. Lap top and case for presentations, projector and extension cords.

Consultant- stipend for a person to educate the community, teachers and all administrative staff on the dangers of second hand smoke. (Stipend will include travel to each school).

Other expenses- Development of an app, cost of Internet, and social media access.

Administrative costs (limited to 10% of direct costs)- Taylor County Collaborative Family Resource Center will operate as fiscal agent for this grant and this TCCFRN director