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The Glendale West Rotary Club would like to work in conjunction with Landmark School to enhance literacy for the 21st Century. Research shows that technology engages boys and poorer children to read for longer. Landmark School is a Title I School District with 95% of students on free and reduced lunch. Arizona State Assessments show that about 35% of 8th graders still read below grade level. Due to poverty, students have limited access to technology and often do not read books. Our goal is to introduce students to reading through tablets to motivate students to read and respond to books through the use of technology. The integration of reading, science or social studies and technology allows students to experience real world skills as part of their educational experience.
We propose to buy 12 tablets for student use, along with e-books to accompany the tablets. This technology will enable students at various reading levels to engage in targeted units of study, centering on social studies and science. Most e-books are priced from $6 to $15. The tablets provide flexibility for use in classroom environment as well for use in learning centers by students individually or in pairs. In addition to the tablets containing the books, students can be exposed to other internet articles, videos, and essays, fostering critical thinking skills, such as comparing and contrasting views, and taking a stand. Finally, technology would be embedded, requiring students to use basic word processing skills and presentation skills, as well as use of newer technology such as blogs and Limo.
Reading and responding through the use of technology has become a critical skill with many assessments now only available via computer - college entrance exams and 3-12 grade state assessments. Promoting literacy and technology is a key to developing future leaders and work force.
Our club plans to work with the Landmark School in the sharing of the practical uses of technology. We have members who currently work at Intel and other businesses were literacy and technology is essential to everyday life. Rotary members could participate in the online literacy discussion with students to bring Rotary values into the discussions, different perspectives and viewpoints to the students while justifying their statements with evidence.
The public will be aware of the Rotary-Sponsored project by a Press Release to the community and social media postings. Rotary members will present the tablets to the students and do an opening lesson. We envision this being a short lesson like we do with students when they receive a dictionary from the Rotary Club. Each tablet will have a Rotary Emblem placed upon it with the Four-way Test to allow students to reflect upon it each time they utilize the tablet.
The Glendale Elementary School District has a technology department that will maintain tablets and e-books access after they have been purchased.
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