60 Chromebooks in 60 Days: Increasing Access to Technology at WLPS

Verified Non-Profit

Verified Non-Profit

The Description

The students at Whitmore Lake Public Schools are fiercely curious, passionate about learning and undoubtedly engaged in technology-based learning. They are innovators, collaborators and problem solvers.  However, our students and staff are looking to embrace more technology in their classrooms.

Technology-based tools like apps, e-books, virtual tutoring, websites, and more allow our students to learn at their own pace, personalizing their education. How? These tools adjust to a student’s learning style to best meet her or his unique learning needs. They also offer consistent guidance for students since teachers can continuously check the status of projects and allow immediate access to instructor feedback. You can imagine the benefit of a teacher pointing a student in a new direction three days before a project is due, versus after the deadline, moving the learning process along not only quicker, but more efficiently. We’ve seen this first hand in our new technology-based curriculum History Alive! (read more about it on our WLPS blog).

The importance of access to technology goes beyond knowing how to type and use a mouse. Technology helps today’s students develop skills like critical thinking, independent research, collaboration and more--all of which are important in preparing our students for future careers. So we ask, will you help us provide our students with the tools they need to prepare for their future?

With the current computer and tablet inventory in WLPS, the near 900 district-wide students are unable to employ technology to the fullest potential in their education. Additionally, the district is nearing the loss of approximately 80 laptops that are approaching the end of their usefulness. With your support to add 60 Chromebooks district-wide, you would significantly increase our students’ access to technology.

 

To help you understand further how important technology is in the education of our students, throughout December and January we will be sharing 60+ Ways these 60 Chromebooks will enrich the educational experience at WLPS. We could easily list 1000 ways, but below we’ve listed 10 to get the conversation started:

1: Individualized SAT practice online through the College Board partnership with Khan Academy.

Students will have access to:

  • official full-length practice tests, plus study and test taking tips

  • diagnostic quizzes to pinpoint areas for practice

  • interactive practice, including thousands of practice questions, video lessons, and hints

  • instant feedback to monitor progress

2. Communication beyond the classroom.

Students will communicate with experts, elected representatives or students in different parts of the country and world.

3. Multi-genre digital research projects.

Students will learn to research in a way that would prepare them for college and career, using online resources and supports that are now available to all students with access to technology.

4. Enhanced art instruction.

With access to technology, students can attend virtual field trips to the Smithsonian Museums without leaving their room.

5. Increased access to the educational programs and apps.

Elementary-aged students would have access to the following programs:

6. Publish writing samples from student writing portfolios on blogs and other digital publications.

7. Enhanced music instruction.

Setting the Chromebooks in stations, students can rotate through listening stations, music theory stations and a station to reinforce concepts covered in class, to explore music in a different way.

8. Enhanced foreign language instruction.

Students can use online learning platforms like Moodle or Edmodo to promote conversational skills in Spanish.

9. Increased exposure to technology in early Elementary.

With increased access to technology, early Elementary students will be able to become more familiar with existing technology, developing motor skills and preparing them to use them as learning tools as they continue their education.

10. Real-time feedback and collaboration.

Using Google Apps for Education on Chromebooks, students can work together in real-time, just like in college and in their future careers.

 

In addition to giving, there are a variety of ways you can help us reach our goal!

  1. Spread the Word: We are only 1,000 social shares away from improving our schools. According to Pledgecents, on average one Facebook share = $11 raised. Help us spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and more!

  2. Donation Matching: If you are interested in helping us reach our goal faster, we are compiling a list of community partners (individuals, businesses, organizations) willing to match individual donations. You can pledge to match for a day, a week, however long you’d like or for a certain amount! You name it, and we can make it happen! Simply contact us at Tom.DeKeyser@wlps.net.

 

We want to recognize you for your generosity-

– DONATE up to $100, RECEIVE a personal thank you card from a WLPS student and recognition in our weekly social media shout out.

– DONATE up to $500, RECEIVE a personal thank you from a WLPS student, Superintendent Tom DeKeyser, or a WLPS teacher, and personalized shout out on our social media.

– DONATE up to $1,000, RECEIVE a personal thank you from a WLPS student, Superintendent Tom DeKeyser, and a Board of Education member; personal social media shout out; special invitation, and recognition at the WLHS Snowcoming Game on February 5, 2016.

-MATCH DONATIONS, and RECEIVE a personal thank you from a WLPS student, Superintendent Tom DeKeyser, and a Board of Education member; personal social media shout out; special invitation, and recognition at the WLHS Snowcoming Game on February 5, 2016.

 

Where Your Donation Goes

$159 = 1 Chromebook

  • $9,540 = 60 Chromebooks

$24.90 = 1 Google Admin Console

  • $1,494 = 60 Google Admin Consoles

Chromebooks purchased from InaComp TSG in Southfield, Michigan

Target helped us get started with a $1,000 donation, but we still need to raise $11,000 in order to provide 60 new Chromebooks and the managing software to WLPS students.

Back Up Plan

In case we do not meet our $11,000 goal, the funds raised will be used to purchase as many Chromebooks and corresponding Google Admin Consoles that the funds allow to increase access to technology to WLPS students.

Fundraiser Updates (4)

Last Day: Let's Finish Strong

December 15, 2015

We are about $8 away from reaching our goal for 90 Chromebooks! Thank you again to all the investors over the past 14 days. We were approached last night from a local business owned and operated by a WLHS graduate, to help us finish our last day strong with a $200 match. Ann Arbor Remodeling, LLC. (http://www.annarborremodelingllc.com/) will be matching dollar for dollar up to $200 from now until midnight tonight. Share our social media posts and invite your friends and family to help us finish this project as strong as we started just two weeks ago! 

The first 60 Chromebooks have been ordered and delivered, and tomorrow we look forward to ordering 30+ more! 

90+ Chromebooks in 14 days. Trojan pride at its finest. 

10 more Chromebooks to go!

December 9, 2015

Hi WLPS Investors! As of today, you all have invested enough to purchase 80 Chromebooks for our students. We have about $1,700 to go to secure all 90! I wanted to share that brief update and also share the video our students put together thanking those who donated the first day to help us raise enough for $14,000 in less than 24 hours, in case you haven't seen that yet. https://youtu.be/zrRDM8HX_wc

Thank you again for helping us to spread the word, and inviting your family, friends and local businesses to join you in investing in our students. 

Updated End Date

December 4, 2015

Hi WLPS Investors!

When we originally set out for the 60 in 60 challenge, we put in a little buffer in case we needed to do a final push to reach our goal. Since we reached our initial 60 goal in one day, we updated our end date to January 29, exactly 60 days from where we started. Just wanted to update you all on the change, and thank you for your continued support as we work towards 90 Chromebooks in 60 days! 

Keep on Keeping on

December 2, 2015

Our first day of the campaign was successful to say the least! A GIANT thank you to everyone who donated to help us secure the prize money from PledgeCents which was a game-changer to be certain and helped us reach our goal in ONE day!

Many of you are reaching out to find out what is next? We are close to meeting the necessary money to buy an additional 30 Chromebooks that we will continue to keep the campaign alive through December and January.  We do plan on purchasing the 60 computers immediately, though.  We want them in classrooms as soon as possible.

So if you haven't donated yet and want to support the cause, there is still time and continue sharing to secure another 30 pieces of technology for our students! 

#TrojanPride

 

 

Comments (8)

Tom DeKeyser December 14, 2015

Thank you to the following investors who sent in checks: Glen and June Ewald, Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie, Robert and Nancy Kick, Laura and William Baldwin, Scott and Tammy Menzel, Anne Iaquinto, B & G Tax Service (Heather Hatfield-Clear), and A-List Hair Design (Lisa McCully)

Secret Santa December 14, 2015

Technically yours,
Santa. HO HO HO

Regena Oliverio December 7, 2015

In loving memory of Jennifer Harriman

Terry Bond-Manville December 4, 2015

Of course Ill invest in these students!!! One day I may have them as a student at EMU--who knows?!?

Tom DeKeyser December 2, 2015

Thanks again PledgeCents for the generous competitions. You helped make this a Giving Tuesday to remember!

PledgeCents Team December 1, 2015

Once again, congratulations on an incredible day! We can't wait to see updates!

Jen Taylor December 1, 2015

A huge thank you to everyone who invested in our students! #TrojanPride

PledgeCents Team December 1, 2015

Congratulations from the PledgeCents Team on winning 1st place in our PledgeCents Style #GivingTuesday!

Leave a Comment

About the Creator

I am a high school principal and superintendent for Whitmore Lake Public Schools, where every day is a great day to be a Trojan. #TrojanPride

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