1. PROPOSAL TO CREATE A MOBILE COMPUTER LAB AT DH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Prepared for Unit 4 Board of Education
By Fiona B. Griswold
December 10, 2009
REQUESTED ACTION:
The Board of Education for the Unit 4 School District should immediately approve the purchase of the laptop computers,
peripherals and cart and commit the additional resources (as described below) necessary to create a mobile computer
lab at DH Elementary School under the direction of the Library Media Specialist for the use of the school’s instructional
staff and students.
NEEDS STATEMENT:
DH needs this mobile computer lab for the following reasons:
 DH did not make AYP for reading in 2009 for Black students and economically-disadvantaged students, two
groups that are less likely to have access to the Internet or a computer outside the school.
 Research has shown positive correlations between appropriate use of instructional technology and increased
student achievement in various subject areas and with at-risk populations.
 DH has no computer lab or existing set of computers in any classroom sufficient in number to support full class
instruction using technology, though two-thirds of elementary schools in Unit 4 do have such a facility.
 The lack of a lab is hampering the ability of instructional staff to incorporate technology into the curriculum to
help students meet national and state standards for technology knowledge and use.
 There is no space available at DH that could be converted into a suitably-sized computer lab, and funds for
renovation or construction are unlikely to be available for a number of years.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Successful completion of this project will accomplish the following results:
 Creation, at DH Elementary, of a fully functional mobile computer lab of 25 student laptops (sufficient to provide
the largest classroom with one laptop per child, if required) which will be connected to the Internet via a
wireless school network.
 Lab use will be overseen by the Library Media Specialist (LMS), who will provide training in its use to all staff
and students; create a oversee a scheduling system for the lab and provide additional workshops/training as
required. When not in use, the lab will be housed in the Library Media Center.
 The LMS will also use the lab to teach information literacy (including Internet safety, online search strategies
and more) to students during their weekly library time.
 Provide equal access to technology to DH students and staff; help meet the goals for students outlined in
NETS and AASL’s Standards for the 21st Century Learner and the forthcoming Unit 4 technology curriculum;
and give staff additional instructional tools to improve student motivation and achievement.
LOGISTICS:
Material Requirements Staff Requirements
 25 student laptops (wireless network card and  Technology Staff Member: assist with initial
district-approved software) lab set up, ongoing maintenance and
 1 instructional laptop (also w/ wireless network card troubleshooting
and software)  Library Media Specialist: oversee day-to-day
 1 digital projector for use with instructional laptop use of lab, provide training, manage
 25 mice (USB connector) scheduling and provide low-level tech support
 1 wireless mouse and maintenance.
 1 30-unit mobile laptop cart for storage and charging  Library Clerk: help manage lab schedule of
 Wireless Router(s) if not already installed in school use
Material Cost Estimate: $22,000-28,000 Personnel Cost Estimate: No additional cost
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2. Proposed Timeline:
Stage Activities Dates
Stage I: -Collect information data about use of computer- COMPLETE
Research based instruction in elementary grades;
-Identify national and state standards related to as of 11/24/2009
technology;
-Contact other schools that have undertaken similar
projects for input/feedback
Stage II: -Meet with various stakeholders in project including COMPLETE
Consensus Building & staff, administrators, technology staff, parents and
Formal Planning students to discuss, informally when possible, wishes as of 12/8/2009
and concerns related to computer lab;
-Create formal plan outlining proposed actions, costs,
funding sources, expected outcomes, evaluation and
timeline for presentation to Board of Education
Stage III: -Receive approval to proceed; NOW
Action -Create and distribute requests for bids for necessary
equipment; 12/11/2009 to 8/1/2010
-Identify and apply for funding to support cost of lab Target date for full lab
creation; functionality: August 20,
-Purchase and set up mobile lab; 2010
-Conduct training of staff and students in lab use and
care;
-Make lab available for reserve by staff.
Stage IV: -Track use of lab; solicit feedback on equipment, May 1, 2010 - indefinite
Follow-up & Evaluation suitability of lab, wishes for new software &
equipment; (begin once equipment
-Work to create formal research protocol to determine is purchased and set
lab’s effect (if any) on student academic achievement up, continuous
and knowledge of technology evaluation)
SELECTED RESOURCES:
Unit 4 School District. (2008). Great Schools, Together: Unit 4 Long Range Strategic Plan. Retrieved December 2, 2009
from http://www.champaignschools.org/strategicPlan2009.pdf.
District’s long-range planning document that identifies the inequities that exist between schools within Unit 4 and
specifies goals related to technology curriculum development.
Unit 4 School District. (2009). Technology Integration Plan. Retrieved December 8, 2009, from
http://www.champaignschools.org//Tech/tip032609.pdf.
District’s plan to integrate technology that identifies shortcomings at the elementary levels in available facilities and in
teacher participation in activities leading to technology incorporation.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2007). NETS for Students. Retrieved December 8, 2009, from
http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/2007Standards/NETS_for_Students_2007_Sta
ndards.pdf
The primary standards document addressing technology use in education for the United States and other countries.
Kemker, K., Barron, A., & Harmes, J. (2007). Laptop computers in the elementary classroom: Authentic instruction with
at-risk students. Educational Media International, 44(4), 305-321.
One of a number of research articles reporting findings of studies of computer use with at-risk students.
Knezek, G. & Christensen, R. (2008). Effect of technology-based programs on first- and second-grade reading
achievement. Computers in the Schools, 24(3), 23-41.
One of a number of research articles reporting findings of studies of computer instruction’s affect on achievement in
subject areas.
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