Prevent Freshman College Failure with Simple Technology

Funded Mar 9, 2016

As you'll see from the photographs, showing a chrome book "in action" isn't especially difficult, but doing the same for a printer/copier is rather more challenging. Nonetheless, both of these machines have the power to transform my students' ability to brainstorm, plan, research, and write their ten-page argumentative research papers which are required for graduation. In a school where technology is, to put it very kindly, "at a premium," even one extra laptop gives one extra student a chance to work outside of class on an all-important assignment in a smaller, quieter setting.

As for the printer/copier, all you need understand about its value is that our teacher room printers and copier are frequently out of order or "occupied," making printing out that extra copy or, with respect to research, that scholarly article found by student and teacher more challenging than it needs to be. The printer in my room solves that problem!

I have also included some photos of the bulletin board announcing the beginning of the senior research project for the class of 2017. I also photographed a couple of the brainstorming webs, the initial step soon to be followed by chrome book use for research.

Finally, I included a couple of photos of students IN the graduating class of 2017. Although they are not using the chrome book or printer (in fact, in one they are staging the final duel between Macbeth and Macduff in "Macbeth" and in the other celebrating the "kick off" of our AP Literature study of "The Great Gatsby"), I thought the donors might enjoy putting some additional faces to the people using the technology. As those shots make crystal-clear, these are pretty awesome kids, who well deserve every opportunity that will help them succeed!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Pytel