TaShawn+Lyles+Module+4

It is being proposed to implement the Ipad in the classroom. Ipads could be the tools needed to decrease the gap between students graduating with a standard degree, and reaching our target goal of at least 80%. Although the low-end intervention has the benefit of being the most cost effective, there has not been much evidence showing improvement in staff performance with the training and development already being offered by the county. Middle end intervention would have the positive integration of technology, and there are enough computers in the district for all of the students to have access and be engaged, but suitable simple to use software would have to be found, and teacher training would still need to be provided. High-end intervention will take the most initial financial commitment but, with the capabilities, portability, and ease of use of the IPad, cost of replacing outdated books will eventually be greatly reduced in the budget, while providing every student with access to a computer for active engagement. IPad applications are easy to upload, and most of the programs are easy to use. iPad comes standard with options designed to assist people with special needs, including a screen reader, support for playback of closed-captioned content, along with other universal access features. "There’s no additional software to buy or install. These features make iPad easier to use for students who have a vision impairment are deaf or hard of hearing or have a physical or learning disability" (www.apple.com/education/ipad/, 2011). The intervention of IPads is the strongest option for closing the graduation gap. Students will be more motivated to interact with technology, and technology will continue to offer a growing number of Apps modified to meet the needs of user for personal and professional use. Daily use of technology is now a practical life skill to be used beyond graduation allowing Ipads to help with the transition. Apps designed to support students in Special Education have already begun to pop up in educational technology conferences such as ISTE 2010 conference in Denver.
 * Justification for Intervention Strategy **


 * The manager will be in the role of a coach. Since the technology chosen is still so new to the market, the manager will need to work more closely and actively with the project. There will have to be more planning ahead of time concerning the applications which will be the most effective, and backup plans established for technology failures. There will also be a need for lots of feedback in order to adjust the technology as needed to meet the needs of the students.
 * IPad’s will be used allow all the students to have immediate hands on interaction with technology and resources. Each one will be tracked by the serial number through the Destiny system which is currently used to register books to students each school year.
 * Programs already used by the Clayton County School System for creating and documenting data for standardized test such as Acuity and Thinkgate can be use to easily measure progress on benchmark testing leading up to graduation test.
 * The IPad will be the primary source of all student interaction within the classroom and home. Test will sent electronically to the student, all textbooks will be uploaded to each IPad, all tablets will have access to the internet where students will learn to search the web for resources and determine which resources are creditable. Predetermined application will be added to the Ipads prior to the beginning of the process, however those application will be adjusted according to the need as the year developed.
 * As this will initially be a trial run of the IPad, due to the lack of previous data regarding the Ipad in classrooms, a sample set of student will be compared in their senior year of special education, who will have access to Ipads the entire year versus those who do not. They will all take the same benchmark test, developed by the county, and data will be collected related to the academic progress of those with additional technology compared to those without. Specific outcomes to focus on would be; Are there measurable gains in test scores? Was the percentage of students to graduate, with a standard degree higher in the focus group given the IPad than the standard class?