Group D MarcoTech Grant

Broad Topic: Virtual Field Trips

Participant: Megan Bowie

Seneca Elementary School

545 Carrollwood Rd, Middle River, MD 21220

Primary Contact: Megan Bowie; mbowie@bcps.org

$6,000 - to pay a Skype representative to provide a professional development for 3

hours
 Summary of Project

Skype is an innovative online program used to connect with people and places all

over the world. I am asking for a $6,000 grant in order to provide the staff at our school

with a three-hour professional development in person by a Skype representative. My

goal is to give teachers at my school the opportunity to learn about and experience

firsthand all that Skype has to offer and give teachers ideas and resources they can use

in the classroom.

Needs Assessment

In order for our students to properly use Skype in the Classroom and become

connected globally, staff members must have the appropriate training to learn how to

use the technology platform. This grant would pay for a Skype representative to visit the

school and present a professional development to the staff in order to train them in the

many components and possibilities of “Skype in the Classroom.” By providing this

professional development, teachers will be able to provide students the opportunities to

use Skype to reach out to other citizens from different backgrounds, cultures, or

specialties. This helps our students meet the ISTE Standard 7a: Students use digital

tools to connect with learners from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, engaging with

them in ways that broaden mutual understanding and learning, (ISTE Standards

website, http://www.iste.org/standards/for-students). Implementing a Skype session will

also improve our students’ speaking and listening skills. It will help meet the Common

Core Standard SL1 CCR: Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of

conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and

expressing their own clearly and persuasively. (Common Core Standards,

http://mdk12.msde.maryland.gov/share/frameworks/CCSC_Speaking_Listening_gr3-

5.pdf).

Goals

My goal is to create global collaborators by reaching out and connecting with

people and places all over the world, that we may typically not be able to connect with.

Based on the needs of teachers in our school, we want to offer a professional

development presented by an “expert” in the field of virtual field trips. This will allow our

teachers to experience and learn about virtual field trips in order to be effective at

planning and implementing them in their own classrooms.

Goal Objective Responsible Date to be Assessment Who Is

Party Completed Responsible
for
Assessment?

Provide a Provide Megan Friday, Given a time frame Teachers will

professional training to staff Bowie August 24, (within the first present their
development to members on 2018 quarter), teachers experiences at
teachers by a virtual field trips will plan and various staff
Skype by an expert implement at least meetings
representative one Skype field trip
in their own
classroom/grade
level

Create global Students will Megan on-going At the end of a Classroom

collaborators gain a global Bowie virtual field trip, teachers
that experience understanding students expand on
through the by experiencing their learning and
world around and connecting are able to show a
them with other deeper
places and understanding of
people around the content. This
the world. could include
students presenting
their knowledge to
others, possibly
even other classes,
or in discussions.
 Personnel

Megan Bowie will be responsible for the proposed grant. She is a fourth year

fourth grade teacher at Seneca Elementary. She is studying for her Master’s degree in

Educational Technology and Leadership through Loyola University. All students in

Seneca in grades 1-5 are equipped with one to one devices, while kindergarten has a

class set split amongst all the classes. This helps to provide personalized learning and

to meet the needs of each of her students. Her goal is to foster communication skills

through the use of Skype in the classroom and to connect students with other cultures,

backgrounds, and field experts.

Budget

Budget Item Cost

Skype Representative to provide a 3-hour $5,000

professional development

Flight Costs $500

Hotel Accommodations (one night) $250

Meal Costs $250

In this grant, we are asking for $6,000. This amount will consist of a 3-hour

professional development presentation and travel expenses. The Skype office is located

in Palo Alto, California and would require the addition expense of a flight, meals, and

one-night stay in a hotel. The remaining budget will be allocated to compensate the

representative for the 3-hour presentation to the staff.