About+the+project

Here are the key objectives and goals for the Follow Me Backpack Project. **__ Narrative: __**

** Overview: ** A summary of the project and its purpose, objectives, goals, The **//__Follow Me Backpack__//** is a cutting-edge use of multiple technologies that will immediately enhance education in the classroom, in the community, on a field experience, or just about anywhere.

The Follow Me Backpack Project has been created to let you share your adventures with the world via technology. The Follow Me Backpack Project is open to everyone: teachers, students, families or staff members from Propel Schools. In an effort to foster collaboration amongst unique groups of people, this project supports the use of creative uses of technologies through student/teacher-created projects using technology.

As a growing resource for everyone, the http://followmebackpack.wikispaces.com/ page will act as a user’s guide and a place for ideas, collaboration, and guidance.

** Problem and Need. ** Identify the problem to be addressed and/or the needs to be met by the project.

The problem is that the term technology integration is mostly coined **// __in__ //** the classroom. Why can’t these resources be used everywhere by the students and for the students? Why can’t these resources be shared by teachers throughout a district in a productive and meaningful way?

The purpose of this “backpack” will be to connect teachers to technology when they want to use it in their classroom, during a field trip, or during community events that need to be documented for various educational purposes. The needs stated above will be fulfilled as the project participants increase problem solving methods in various classroom settings.

** Project Goals. ** Describe the project goals and how the project relates to overall school priorities. No matter what age or content area, teachers and students will learn how to communicate with new media in various ways. With the proper planning and implementation of the tools in the “Follow Me Technology Backpack” students and teachers will learn how to engage in modern communication tools, new communication tools, and discuss future communication tools during futuristic conversations. By using various technology tools in given situations, students will begin to determine new ways to learn and new way to solve problems. This process will take time, but with an embedded professional development approach blended with problem-based learning, results will be noticed in due time. By using the various applications on the IPAD, students and teachers will be given various opportunities to collect data in the classroom, in the field, or anywhere where data is to be recorded. Many of the apps will also make use of the instant data uploading which will automatically export data into various spreadsheet applications. Students and teachers will learn how to incorporate this data into meaningful ways through the use of professional development sessions provided by the math, literacy, and science coach. ** Project Design. ** Describe your program objectives, activities, partners, students served and timelines. Explain how the design will enable you to address the problem or need. Identify the project as a new or continuing program.
 * -**__Goal #1 Communication with technology__**- Students must have a range of skills to express themselves not only through paper and pencil, but also audio, video, animation, design software as well as a host of new environments (e-mail, Web sites, message boards, blogs, streaming media, web 2.0 tools, etc.).
 * **__ Goal #2 __****__ Problem Solving: __** Students must have an understanding of how to apply what they know and can do to new situations.
 * **__ Goal #3 Analyze and Interpret Data: __** Students must have the ability to crunch, compare, and choose among the all of data now available.

The objective will be to have an “all-in-one” style approach to teaching with technology. It would almost be a differentiated approach as each tool would be used in the capacity of the teacher/student using it. All teachers/students will be impacted by participating in this project. Teachers/students will have the opportunity to use the Follow Me Backpack for a 2-week time period with additional sign out opportunities as needed.

The backpack, which is solar-powered will allow teachers to take this tool with them on field trips with the issue of running out of charge to any of the devices in the backpack never becoming a problem.

Example implementation ideas:
 * Skyping while at a museum
 * Geocaching while sharing the experience via web blog
 * Digital Storytelling with fast upload and sharing
 * Podcast via Tunetalk mic/ipad
 * Data recording via various IPAD apps

This approach to learning will be entirely new and will break barriers for how mobile technology tools will be used in the future. It will create a culture throughout Propel for more of these backpacks to be created in the future.

** Implementation and results: ** Qualifications for executing proposed project, expected outcomes, how effectiveness will be monitored and evaluated, plan for continuation of project at conclusion of grant.

All teachers and students who register to use the Follow Me Backpack will need to go through a 1-hour intro session on the tools in the backpack. A high school student who has researched each of the tools will be on-hand to answer any additional questions during the usage period. The period will not exceed a 3-week period. The technology coach will co-teach with the teacher during this time to embed these tools into their everyday instruction. This project will be on-going, so as more grants come available, more Follow Me Backpacks will be created, each with a different theme and/or purpose.

Implementation ideas will be available on the http://followmebackpack.wikispaces.com/ page.

Each of the tools will be explained via Skype webinar on the first Tuesday of each month. A partner collaborator will be showcased each month.

Here is a list of the sessions: The following monthly sessions will be presented on the 1st Tuesday of each month. There will be a focus to each session. All sessions will be presented via Skype.
 * November 2-Joe Oliphant-Introduction to Follow Me Backpack **
 * December 7-Traci Blazosky-Web 2.0 tools and the Follow Me Backpack **
 * January 4-Steve Rippe-Follow Me Backpack and Project-Based Learning **
 * February 1-Noah Wolf-The Follow Me Backpack and our 5-year old learners **
 * March 1-Matt Strine-The Follow Me Backpack goes to the PETE and C technology conference. **
 * April 7**SPECIAL The Follow Me Backpack goes to the Pirate Home Opener. GO BUCS!** **

** For a more detailed look at the sessions **, see the http://followmebackpack.wikispaces.com/ page.
 * May 3-Matt Monjan-The Follow Me Backpack and Discovery Education **
 * June 7-GEOCACHING-Can you find the Follow Me Backpack using a GPS? **

** Budget: ** Summarize how the funds will be spent, amount requested, total project cost. __You must itemize expenses and provide an expense total. Include any additional items relevant to your project.__

The Follow Me Backpack will have the following items:
 * New Verizon Galaxy tab with MIFI Mobile hotspot technology
 * GPS unit
 * Logitech HD webcam
 * Belkin tunetalk
 * Accessories for IPAD
 * Solar powered backpack
 * Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W330 14.1 MP Digital Camera

Teachers who make use of this resource will have to be trained by the technology coach as well as past users who will share their experience via the Discussion page on the Follow Me Backpack wikipage.

Check out the http://followmebackpack.wikispaces.com/ page for ideas, professional development opportunities, and to register to bring this to your classroom for an experience that will FOLLOW YOU and your students forever.