Project+Statement

With the opportunity to have several iPads donated to their institutions, a collaborative group of adult participants, serving as a technology committee, will create a Wikispace to identify and examine various elements of using iPads within their learning environments. During this project, committee members will identify topics and skills that are best suited for delivery on an iPad and will present this information to a board of company representatives at the end of the week.
 * 1. Briefly describe your proposed project.**

- Participants will collaborate to list the benefits of the iPad within their specific learning environments. - Participants will gain a deeper insight in to the capabilities of the iPad technology. - Participants will engage in authentic problem-based learning assignments where they can connect real-world scenarios to learned concepts. - Participants will gain practical skills while utilizing the iPad in learner developed scenarios.
 * 2. How will you improve learner performance by engaging learners in authentic experiences?**

- Facilitator will collaborate with participants to expand their understanding of using iPad technology; As a committee, participants will share their knowledge of iPad technology usage and functionality with each other. - Participants will be able to share their personal experiences using the technology. - Participants will be the experts on the advantages and disadvantages of the technology. - Participants will utilize their existing technology navigation and operation skills as they gain deeper insight into the iPad. - Participants will complete a collaborative brainstorming assignment which they will highlight the different skills needed to work with the iPad technology. Individually, students will be directed to list their personal knowledge of the iPad including applications they have used or seen used. As a group, students will research and compare notes to create a visual representation of the most valuable applications available. - All participants will identify and post unique resources that learners can reference in the future as it relates to using the iPad technology for learning purposes.
 * 3. How will you facilitate learning through constructivist, collaborative learning experiences?**

- Learning environments will be based on the particular interest of the participants and they will collaborate as a technology committee while working on an authentic learning project. - Participants will be able to see examples of what they need to create. The project materials will follow the universal design model as it includes audio, print, and images. - Reference specific research methods and learning theories that we have used within this project. This will be accomplished by analyzing the need for instruction identifying the target group, choosing the teaching methodology that best meets the learning objectives, and creating the tools and gathering the resources needed for instruction delivery. - Participants will build upon their current understanding of the iPad technology and its usage for learning. - The participants will connect their skills, their current learning environment, and the new technology as they complete the project. - Participants will present the anticipated use of the technology to the donating company.
 * 4. How will you create sound instructional materials and learning environments that are based on solid research and learning theory?**

- During the project, participants will gain insight and develop their own understanding of the technology as they identify ways that the technology can be incorporated in to their schools. They will have the ability to work with the new technology as they complete the project. Due to the participant's involvement in this project, they will be early adopters and will support the use and inclusion of the technology within their institution. - Integrating new technologies in to instruction and creating opportunities within the participant activities to utilize the new technology, i.e. participants will have at least one iPad per group to utilize as they explore its capabilities.
 * 5. How will you facilitate the use of innovations through the diffusion and integration of new technologies and technological experiences for your learners?**

- Facilitator to monitor those who are participating and ensure that members contribute to the project by reviewing the history of the wikispace. - Participants will evaluate the members of the learning group utilizing the rubrics provided by the facilitator. - Facilitator can manage the process in stages by allowing the learning community to turn in assignments as the project develops to make sure that the work is done effectively. - We will facilitate and participate in the initial meeting between the company representatives and the participants by which the project is announced. - We will provide support to the participants as they progress through the project. Management will be accomplished by effective planning so that the best resources are used to accomplish the learning goal and to try and anticipate problems and the corrective actions needed. By monitoring the students and learning environment to ensure the lesson is progressing as needed. By providing guidance and direction to maintain the learning environment and interject or intervene when conditions dictate. - We will participate in the final presentation of the project to the company representatives.
 * 6. How will you most effectively manage this process?**

- Ensure that decisions are based on the principles surrounding commitment to the individual, to society, and to the profession. - Ensure proper citation of sources used within the project. - Ensure proper usage of the technology within the learning environment.
 * 7. What ethical considerations will you make to ensure sound decisions are made?**

- Mindmap (brainstorming) - Skype call - Rubric for the project - Group collaboration - Building references (videos, articles, and studies) - Discussion boards - Create presentation to show to leadership team
 * 8. What processes and resources will you include?**


 * 9. Describe the learning environment and population that will be engaged in your project:**
 * **Audience:** Adult learners, experienced teachers, and electronic technology trainers.
 * **Learner characteristics: grade level, number of students:** Adults, ten.
 * **Anticipated entry-level skills of audience:** Familiarity with portable electronic devices, internet search engines, and computer applications.
 * **School environment:** Public and private school at the adult level.
 * **Support for project by community, parents, or administrators:** Business leaders willing to provide iPads and administrators approving the project and providing logistical support where needed.