McPherson

Elementary School Library Computer Lab Proposal

Haywood 1

I certify that:

This paper/project/exam is entirely my own work.

I have not quoted the words of any other person from a printed source or a website without
indicating what has been quoted and providing an appropriate citation.
I have not submitted this paper / project to satisfy the requirements of any other course.

Signature:

Breanna Haywood

Date

5/29/2011

McPherson Elementary School

Library Computer Lab

Grant Proposal






Breanna Haywood
INFO 520
Drexel University
Spring Quarter 2011

McPherson Elementary School Library Computer Lab Proposal

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I. Executive Summary

The McPherson Elementary School Library, a Title I school, wishes to become

a proper school library media center by acquiring a computer lab. In doing so, the
library will be able to integrate technology into the library curriculum, as well as
provide digital access to its student population. This project is significant to the
student population because only a mere 15% of the students have a computer at
home and only 13% have Internet connections available. By providing a computer
lab at McPherson Elementary, students will be able to learn 21st Century technology
skills such as using search engines, word processing software, and the librarys
online public access catalog (OPAC) to find materials within the library.

II. Setting

Community

McPherson Elementary School is located in Napa, California. The citys
population is approximately 75,000 persons, with 26.8% of residents claiming
Hispanic of Latino origin (U.S. Census, 2009). Many of the Latino residents work in
Napas main agricultural industry, which is grape-growing and winemaking.
School, Library, and Patrons

The school accommodates grades Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade, and
the student body currently numbers 679. Demographically, the student population
is comprised of is 97% Latino and 82% native Spanish speakers. In addition, 89% of
McPherson students qualify as low-income and receive free or reduced lunch. The
library at McPherson has 9,000 items available for checkout in both English and
Spanish. The average copyright date of books in the library is 1995. Each classroom

McPherson Elementary School Library Computer Lab Proposal

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visits the library once per week for a 45-minute period. During the visit students
receive a library lesson and checkout materials.
The McPherson Elementary school library has three goals. The first is to
share the love and benefits of reading. The second is to provide a collection of
credible, unbiased materials and resources for every reader regardless of difficulty,
format, or subject. The third is to provide support to the classroom curriculum and
teachers at McPherson by providing materials and resources.
Staff
The entire staff at McPherson is made up of 55 talented and respected
individuals. There are 23 credentialed classroom teachers, 3 administrators, 2 on-
site counselors, 1 credentialed librarian, and 24 classified staff members (nurses,
maintenance, clerical, instructional aides, and support staff). A full-time credentialed
librarian and one library clerk staff the schools library.

III. Statement of Need

The McPherson Elementary School and library share the Napa Valley Unified
School Districts mission to instill 21st Century Skills in our students. The mission of
NVUSDs 21st Century Learning Initiative are as follows: Instruction must enable
students to take ownership of their own learning, use technology to enhance
learning, and ensure that student are active participants and ENGAGED in
personalized educational experiences (NVUSD, 2011). Currently, McPherson has
met two of the goals as stated in the above mission statement. However, we are
insufficient in technology, which makes it nearly impossible to fulfill the second goal
of integrating technology to enhance learning. By acquiring a computer lab, students

McPherson Elementary School Library Computer Lab Proposal

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would be able to learn properly use technology and master this aspect of 21st
Century learning.
It is extremely important to have a computer lab at McPherson because the
vast majority of students are victims of the Digital Divide. According to the American
Library Association (ALA), the Digital Divide can be defined as differences due to
geography, race, economic status, gender, and physical ability that affect access to
information via the Internet and other technologies, as well as effecting the skills
and knowledge needed for digital access (ALA, 2001). A survey taken at McPherson
revealed that only 15% of children have a computer at home, and only 13% have a
computer with an Internet connection. Meaning three-fourths of McPherson
students are Information Have-Nots that are on the wrong side of the Digital
Divide. Without access to Internet at home, it is even more important to create a
computer lab at school that lets these students bridge the divide.

IV. Proposed Program

The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do
what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets
people learn things they didn't think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is
all about potential. The technology, the software, it doesn't do anything -- it enables
people do things they didn't think they could do (Ballmer, 2005).

Project Goals

The McPherson Elementary School library would like to acquire a computer
to create a true school library media center. This proposed computer lab would
serve many purposes and McPherson and would benefit every student, as all
students will have access to the lab. During class visits, which occur weekly for a 45-
minute period, each student will use the computers for two different reasons. At the

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beginning of the class period students will each be accessing their own computer,
while the credentialed school librarian will give instruction to the students via the
teacher workstation and eBeam, an educational interactive whiteboard product.
Instruction will differ depending on grade and teacher/classroom needs. Examples
of various instructional lessons may include navigating search engines, creating
bibliographies, using Microsoft Office programs to complete school assignments, etc.
After the lesson students will use the computers to access the librarys OPAC to
research and locate books to checkout for free-reading or academic reasons.
In addition to the class visits students will also be able to access the
computer lab before and after school. In the library students will be able to sign-up
for a time slot for a computer workstation to use for school-related purposes.
Students can also access and use the all-in-one printers to print, scan, or copy
documents.
Materials Needed

In order to make the proposed computer lab into a reality, several materials will
be needed.

30 student desktop computers

1 teacher desktop workstation
1 eBeam Edge interactive whiteboard
1 Hitachi LCD projector
Microsoft Office 2011 software licenses
3 printers

Planning and Implementation Schedule
Year
Timeframe
1
June 2011
July 2011

Action
Order al equipment and
software for computer lab
Install and configure
computer lab equipment

McPherson Elementary School Library Computer Lab Proposal

August 2011
August 2011
2

September 2011
All year

All year

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Provide professional
development training in
the lab
Establish computer lab
procedures/Curriculum
Open computer lab
Provide additional
professional training
based on needs
assessment
Provide maintenance on
computers as needed

V. Methods of Evaluation

Program Objective
Provide digital access to students
that support the classroom
curriculum and teach them to
effectively use the computer,
Internet, and other software
programs.
Provide support to classroom
teachers
Determine why students access the
computer and/or Internet at
school


VI. Proposed Budget

How this will be measured

Student survey- Self-administered
to measure the students
technological growth as well as the
gain constructive feedback.
Faculty/Staff surveys and/or
interview
Librarian will keep a log detailing
the computer and Internet use of
students in the computer lab.

Timeframe
Year 1

Equipment

Unit Cost

iMac 21.5 inch desktop

$1399.00
2.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM -
2x2GB
1TB Serial ATA Drive
AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512MB
GDDR5
Apple Magic Mouse
Apple Wireless Keyboard

Unit
Qty.
31

Total
$43,369.00

McPherson Elementary School Library Computer Lab Proposal

Year 2

(English) & User's Guide

eBeam Edge for Education
$1049.95
receiver: 7.9" x 1.6" x 0.4"
stylus: 5.65" in length x 0.6"
diameter at grip
cable: 15' USB, with eBeam
connector
3-year warranty
Hitachi LCD Projector
$659.99
CP-X2511
Brightness 2,700 ANSI lumens
Weight 8.2 lbs.
Resolution - Video 540 TV lines
Resolution - RGB 1024 Dots X
768 Lines
Dimensions 12.5" x 3.9" x 11.3"
(W x H x D)
Contrast ratio 2000:1
Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 $149.95
Three full licenses
Complete versions of Word,
Excel, PowerPoint
Store files online for shared
access and editing
Epson WorkForce 630
$149.95
Wireless All-In-One Printer
Rapid print speed of 15 ISO
ppm (black)*
Individual ink cartridges
30-page Auto Document
Feeder
250-sheet paper tray means
you reload paper less
Wireless printing with built-in
Easy Epson Wi-Fi
1 year warranty
Chairs and tables
No Cost
To be purchased and donated by
the McPherson PTC
Professional Development
No Cost
(Provided by Faculty and
Administration)
Professional Development
No Cost
(Provided by Faculty and
Administration)

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$1049.95

$659.99

11

$1649.45

$449.85

n/a

$0

n/a

$0

n/a

$0

McPherson Elementary School Library Computer Lab Proposal

Total funds
requested

Maintainence
(Provided by NVUSD
Technology Department)

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No Cost

n/a

$0

$47,178.24

VII. Conclusion

Thank you for considering this request for a computer lab by the McPherson

Elementary School library. By funding this program the students at our school will
benefit in numerous ways. The first benefit is that students will have access to
computers and the Internet when at school. The second benefit is that the computer
lab will help teachers integrate technology into the curriculum. The third benefit is
that our students will bridge the digital divide and learn skills and tools to navigate
computers and other technologies.

VIII. References

American Library Association. (2001, September 17). What is the Digital Divide?
Retrieved May 25, 2011 from
http://archive.ala.org/oitp/digitaldivide/what.html

Ballmer, S. (2005, February 17). Steve Ballmer: AACIS Unlimited Potential Grant
Announcement. Retrieved May 25, 2011 from
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/steve/2005/02-17aacis.mspx

Napa Valley Unified School District. (2011). 21st Centruy Teaching and Learning.
Retrieved May 23, 2011 from http://www.nvusd.k12.ca.us/21stcenturypage

U.S. Census Bureau. (2009, July 8). State & county QuickFacts: Napa (city), California.
Retrieved May 22, 2011, from
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0650258.html