1.

3 Policies, Procedures, Programs & Funding

Candidates research, recommend, and implement policies, procedures, programs, and funding
strategies to support implementation of the shared vision represented in the school, district, state,
and federal technology plans and guidelines. Funding strategies may include the development,
submission, and evaluation of formal grant proposals. (PSC 1.3/ISTE 1c)

ARTIFACT: Technology Integration Grant Proposal

The Technology Integration Proposal artifact was developed as a potential grant submission for
Donors Choose. Donors Choose is an education-based crowdsourced grant program that aims for
“students in every community [to] have the tools and experiences they need for a great
education” (Our Mission, 2019). The proposal was independently developed for Liberty Point
Elementary (LPES) to support their efforts to improve their literacy scores and provide a
platform for disseminating resources through meaningful and effective technology integration.
The program, Nearpod VR for Innovative Learning Experiences, is based on LPES’ strategic
plan, the SWOT analysis, and shared visions that very developed in previous ITEC coursework.

After considering and researching a variety of crowd sourced funding opportunities through
Best Buy and Home Depot, Donors Choose was determined to be the best option for this grant
proposal. Nearpod VR for Innovative Learning Experiences is a research-based program that
aligns standards-based content areas with opportunities for students to experience digital teacher-
created lessons, virtual reality (VR) headsets, and other premium features within Nearpod’s
resource platform. Providing LPES with these Nearpod VR experiences is recommended to
support their mission of creating an environment for “successful, well-prepared students who
perform at their individual best” (Vision Statement, 2019). This proposal also supports LPES’
School Improvement Plan, as it reflects a need to support teachers with innovative learning
strategies to create personalized learning experiences for students to increase their literacy skills.
The resources provided by the Nearpod platform supports the instructional practices of teachers
by meeting them at their appropriate comfort levels of technology integration. Nearpod VR
features ready-made presentation, VR headsets, and VR lessons. It also allows teachers to build
their own lessons from scratch. Based on observational data provided from the Technology-
Integration Matrix Observation Tool, teachers need support with transformational digital tools
that can adapt to their needs, as well as their students. As LPES’ KSU iTeach instructional
technology coach, I am not based within the environment in a consistent capacity that would
allow me to fully participate in its culture. This proposal was shared with the LPES
administrative team with the intention for them to submit it for their teachers and students. The
administrative team would execute all funding aspects of the proposal, as well. The artifact
would also aid LPES with their implementation of their strategic plan and SWOT goals. Should
this take place, I would be able to support teachers with appropriately implementing the
Nearpod platform and the accompanying virtual reality headsets and devices to integrate within
their instructional practices through our coaching sessions.

Although I was familiar with Donors Choose when I was teaching, this artifact was my first
opportunity to construct a grant proposal. Through completing this artifact, I was able to learn
how aligning the goals and needs of a school can lend itself to making financial decisions that
support teaching and learning. If provided future opportunities, I would like to support Liberty
Point with other grant programs that can provide teachers and students with additional funding to
receive various resources. With this in mind, I would also involve teachers to support me with
the process to ensure the proposals are meaningful for all stakeholders.

As mentioned, while I support the LPES community I am not a staff member there. My scope of
how this grant proposal impacts the school is very limited. However, if the administrative team
proceeded with submitting the proposal student achievement could directly correlate with data
found through subsequent TIM observations. As it was briefly noted, the Technology Integration
Matrix is an observational tool that evaluates the levels of technology integration within
instructional lessons. Teachers who appropriately use Nearpod VR within their lessons would
score within the infusion and transformation categories. These are the highest levels that could
be achieved for each component of learning in the matrix. The components include: active,
collaborative, constructive, authentic, and goal-directed. While I am uncertain as to whether or
not this grant proposal will be implemented, I trust that it will positively affect instructional
practices and student learning.

References
Donor’s Choose, (2018). Retrieved July 15, 2018, from https://www.donorschoose.org/about
Liberty Point Elementary School. (2018). Retrieved from
http://school.fultonschools.org/es/libertypoint/Pages/default.aspx

Nearpod VR, (2018). Retrieved July 15, 2018, from https://nearpod.com/nearpod-vr

Technology Integration Matrix (2018). Retrieved from https://fcit.usf.edu/matrix/