Section I Project Summary
Wellington High School is committed to providing technology to the students and faculty as it strives to provide new educational applications to help students learn and become successful. Wellington High School is the largest high school, 2,918 students and 214 faculty members, in the third largest school district in Florida, Palm Beach County School system, with 138 schools and 8,000 teachers. The purpose of this project is to allow both students and faculties the opportunity for instruction and to encourage hands on practice with digital photographic technology. This will lead to producing images we will post on our school web site and in other publications.  This project will increase parental and student communication, awareness and interaction with educational and extracurricular activities with the use of a more effective multisensory delivery system.  By allowing our school population access to digital photographic equipment we can promote active learning, critical thinking, cooperative learning and communication skills.

Our mission is to provide the faculty and students with digital photographic equipment that will be checked out through the media center.  We propose to offer training on the care and use of the equipment.  Our students and teachers will utilize this equipment to record classroom projects, productions, sporting events, artwork and all other campus activities.  The training will be available to all those working and attending Wellington High School two days each month.  Student web site producers will post recorded material to the site after the web site administrator has reviewed it.  Our web site is currently providing links to sports, debate, performing arts and literary magazine.  Please visit our site to see our current work. Http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/WellingtonHS/

Section II Needs Statement
We currently have two digital cameras available for checkout through the media center.  This means there is only one camera available for checkout nearly fifteen hundred possible users. This equipment is often booked weeks in advance and most often we cannot fill the needs of our population because of our lack of equipment and conflicting activities.   Lack of proper equipment hinders the endeavor for excellence and often excludes important activities from our web site.  The United States Department of Education (1995) has stated, "We know that successful technology-rich schools generate impressive results for students, including improved achievement; higher test scores; improved student attitude, enthusiasm, and engagement; richer classroom content; and improved student retention and job placement rates. Of the hundreds of studies that show positive benefits from the use of technology, two are worth noting for their comprehensiveness. The first, a U.S. Department of Education-funded study of nine technology-rich schools, concluded that the use of technology resulted in educational gains for all students regardless of age, race, parental income, or other characteristics.  The second, a 10-year study supported by Apple Computer, Inc., concluded that students provided with technology-rich learning environments ‘continued to perform well on standardized tests but were also developing a variety of competencies not usually measured. Students explored and represented information dynamically and in many forms; became socially aware and more confident; communicated effectively about complex processes; became independent learners and self-starters; knew their areas of expertise and shared that expertise spontaneously.'"

The two digital still cameras that were available for check out were checked out by two hundred and seventy-six different users in a period of one hundred and eighty days.  We denied five hundred and ninety requests because of lack of equipment. The activities that were recorded included science fair projects, national debate team winners, homecoming events and students around campus.  The availability of more equipment, both digital still cameras and a digital video camera,  would allow a greater number of the student body to become involved.  It would allow students the opportunity to feel a sense of accomplishment when they see their work posted on the school web site.   The need for this equipment builds upon the work of others who provide the training and maintain the web site. In a survey conducted at our school in 1998, we asked the school population to list what they felt was necessary in our school to provide the best technology for our school.  The population chose from a list of eight possibilities including more computers in the classroom, lap top computers, computer projection units, more software, scanners, light pens, digital still cameras, digital video cameras.  The survey showed that sixty-five percent felt that more digital still cameras were necessary, and seventy-five percent felt that a digital video camera was necessary.  Fifty-five percent felt additional lap top computers should be available.  The additional digital camera equipment would allow students more availability to communicate a sense of pride in their school and in themselves to their peers, their teachers and their parents.  The use of this equipment will help the students become literate in a manner that extends beyond print literacy.  It will help them learn to record information in a way that will effectively express their knowledge and ideas. The existing resources cannot provide enough availability to our large student body.  Although providing technical tools such as digital camera equipment is necessary to achieve our goals for our Wellington High School Improvement Plan and the Palm Beach County District Technology Plan, we are not able to provide enough equipment because it is cost prohibitive.

Section III Goal, Objectives, and Evaluation Measures
Goal: Our goal is to provide more digital photographic equipment and training in our school setting to record images that will be used to efficiently communicate to our school population, their parents and the community by sharing our images on the school web site, school newspapers, and community newspapers.  Images produced school wide and saved on discs will allow the above named media better access to more readily distribute images.
      Objective 1: By May 2001 we will provide training to at least 85% of  all interested day
                         school students and faculty as well as night/community school students. We
                         will administer a concise training unit and learners must pass the training with 90%
                         accuracy before we will allow them use of the equipment.
     Objective 2:  By May 2001 we will provide hands-on use of the equipment to all learners who
                         pass the training unit with 90% accuracy.  The media center will compile data on
                         the number of times the equipment is checked out throughout the year.  We will
                         compile statistics by May 2000.
     Objective 3:  Throughout the year 2000 - 2001 we will use the information gathered to
                         enhance our school web site, school newspaper, school yearbook and community
                         newspaper. The media center will compile statistics from the user who checked
                         out the equipment.  The intended users must complete a paper form.  We will
                         hold paper copy on file in the media center for the 2000-2001 school  year  to
                         compile data. The technology specialist will compile the number of actual images used.
                         The school newspaper advisor, school yearbook advisor and the community
                         newspaper volunteer will review all information before publication inclusion.
                         They all will keep a running tally throughout the year 2000-2001 on the amount of
                         images that were  useful to them and put into publication.
    Objective 4:   This additional digital photographic equipment will also help Community School
                         involvement and will allow for the opportunity to teach a course that will be open
                         to the entire community on the basic use of digital photographic equipment.

Images produced school-wide we will share and save on discs. I will assist in the implementation of the project using digital photographic equipment by providing training to the students and faculty and preparing others to help provide training.  I have a M.S. degree in Instructional Media with a strong background in photography and videography.  I have worked in Palm Beach County Schools for more than ten years, first as a television production teacher and then as a media specialist.  I have provided training using digital photographic equipment for four years in my school and other Palm Beach County Schools.

Local clubs, senior citizen groups, youth groups and church groups will also be able to check out the digital photographic equipment through the media center after a designated person for the group has received training.

All of the objectives listed above are intended to work in conjunction with the technology goals of our school district in addition to our state and national governments. President Clinton and Vice President Gore (1996) announced the Technology Literacy Challenge in the hope that students will become technologically literate in the 21st century.  Our objectives of providing training, hands-on experience and disseminating information on the world wide web coincides with the goals of the Technology Literacy Challenge.  The Department of Education (1995) conducted a forum on the costs and effectiveness of educational technology.  "Through the use of advanced computing and telecommunications technology, learning can also be qualitatively different.  The process of learning in the classroom can become significantly richer as students have access to new and different types of information, can manipulate it on the computer through graphic displays or controlled experiments in ways never before possible, and can communicate their results and conclusions in a variety of media to their teacher, students in the next classroom, or students around the world." "We know now-based on decades of use in schools, on findings of hundreds of research studies, and on the everyday experiences of educators, students, and their families - that, properly used, technology can enhance the achievement of all students, increase families' involvement in their children's schooling, improve teachers' skills and knowledge, and improve school administration and management." Goals 2000 (1994) is a Federal initiative designed to improve learning and teaching providing a national framework for educational reform.  A goal of Goal 2000 is to "increase the use of state-of-the-art technologies to enhance elementary and secondary student learning and staff development."

Evaluation:  The media specialist and the technology specialist will conduct formative evaluations by  analyzing data collected throughout the month at the end of each month, detailing the progress of the program.  Any modification needed to improve check out procedures and use of the equipment will be implemented as required.  We will initially compare the number of images used before we received the additional digital photographic equipment to the number being used after we received the equipment.  Before the implementation of the project, we will survey the media center, and other staff  to get the initial data concerning the number of images used and statistics on the number of times the digital photo equipment was checked out through the media center in the past six months. Our program will be successful if we are able to provide training to at least eighty-five percent of all those interested and hands-on use of the equipment at least once after they have passed their training session.  We will be successful if the images that they share with us from their hands-on experience allows us to communicate more effectively through our school web site, school newspaper and community newspaper by providing valuable images to the public.

At the end of each month the media specialist and the technology specialist will collect data from the media center, school newspaper, school year book advisor, web site administrator, community school director, and community newspaper volunteer to see if we are meeting all of the objectives.  Revision will be prompt.  Adding training course time or limiting the time equipment can be checked out may be necessary.  Only information gathered in a monthly formative evaluation will allow us the information to make those decisions.

A summative evaluation will take place during the first week of May 2001 and will be conducted by the school technology committee, the media specialist and the technology specialist to work out any problems that may have occurred and to develop strategies to build upon the success of the program. The summative evaluation will include a list of  statistics on the number of times the equipment was checked out, the total number of various users, and data on the number of images used to promote our school.

Section IV Project Strategy/Activities
Objective 1: By May 2001 we will provide training to at least 85% of all interested day school  students and faculty as well as night/community school students.  Activity: We will administer a concise training unit and learners must pass the training with 90% accuracy before we will allow them use of the equipment. We will maintain a log containing the names of all those interested in obtaining training on the digital camera equipment.  We will provide training during the lunch hour and after school two days each month.  The media specialist and the technology specialist will teach the training unit on the basic care and use of the equipment.   Evaluation: The students will pass a written test with at least 90% accuracy. They will also ask that the students take a photo, save it on a disc and bring it up on the computer screen using Adobe Photoshop with 100% accuracy. Those students who do not initially pass the written test can return to future training sessions.  When they have completed their training, they will be issued a sticker to be placed on their photo id card that states we approve them to check out the equipment.  The media center will keep a log of all attendees who have passed the training session.
Objective 2 : By May 2001 we will provide hands-on use of the equipment to all learners who  pass the training unit with 90% accuracy. Activity:  All those who express an interest in checking out the equipment and have passed the training session will be assured hands-on  use of the equipment. Evaluation: The media center will keep a log of all attendees who have passed the training session and check off their names as they filled their request for equipment at least once. The technology specialist and the media specialist will check the log of all attendees who have passed the training session and give priority to those who had not yet had a chance to use the equipment.  The equipment will then be given out on a first come, first serve basis. The media center will compile data on the number of times the equipment is checked out throughout the year at the end of each month.
Objective 3 : Throughout the year 2000-2001 we will use the information gathered to enhance  our school web site, school newspaper, school yearbook and community newspaper.  Activity: The media center will ask the intended user their purpose for checking out the equipment by having them fill out a paper form.  The form will also be used when the user returns the equipment.  They will be asked to complete the form thereby explaining what the images were used for and to which forum they were submitted. The media center will compile statistics from the user who checked out the equipment.  We will hold the paper copy on file in the media center for the 2000-2001 school year to compile data. Evaluation: We will compile the data at the end of each month for a formative evaluation.  They will hold all of the paper copies until the first Monday in May to compile the data needed for the summative evaluation.  The technology specialist, media specialist, school newspaper advisor, school yearbook advisor, and community newspaper volunteer will keep a running tally of the images submitted to each area and those images actually published  in each area.  They will submit their findings to the technology specialist and the media specialist at the end of each month.  We will then use their data in our formative evaluation.
 A sample of the paper form is shown below.
    Date of request___/______/________     Date equipment needed___/_____/_______
            Type of Equipment ______________    Purpose for use________________________
            Images will be submitted to ______________________________________________
            Please check one:__ day student__ community school student___ faculty member
            Signature of User_______________________________________________________
Objective 4: This additional digital photographic equipment will also help Community School  involvement and will allow for the opportunity to teach a course that will be open to the entire community on the basic use of digital photographic equipment. Activity:  The Wellington High School Community School will advertise the course Basic Digital Photography.  The course needs at least ten interested people from the community to offer the course during their night school program for enrichment.  They would teach the course in a classroom that has computer equipment and software necessary for displaying the digital images taken throughout the course.  The digital photographic equipment will also increase Community School involvement as Community School students, local clubs, senior citizen groups, youth groups and church groups affiliated with Wellington High School will be allowed to check out equipment after they have passed the initial training course with at least 90% accuracy. Evaluation: The Community School director will keep a running total of the number of students served through the Community School course.  The director will also keep a running total of the number of times the equipment is checked out through the Community School by using the same paper forms as the day school.

Section V Timeline
 AUGUST 2000

•   Notify all students, parents, faculty and the community about the training opportunity and the new digital photographic

  equipment that is available for use after training by posting notices on the school web site, the school newspaper  and
  the community newspaper.
•   Notify all that training will be available twice each month during lunch, after school and in conjunction with the

  Community School course.
•   Gather initial data from the media center, school newspaper advisor, community newspaper volunteer and web site

  administer concerning the use of digital photographic images and use of digital camera equipment prior to the beginning
  of this program.
•   Design a concise digital photography training course.  Included will be a pre-test, Power Point presentation, time for

  hands-on  use and post-test.  The initial training course will be one hour in length.
•   Begin signing up interested students to reserve their place in the first training session.  Each training session will hold up

  to 35 students.

•   Continue to notify all students, parents, faculty and the community about the new digital photographic equipment and

  the training sessions.
•   Begin the first training session on the first Monday of the month.
•   Begin a log of all students who have passed the training session.
•   Begin a log of all paper forms used to check out the equipment.
•   Have the web site administrator, school newspaper advisor, community newspaper volunteer begin a log stating the

  number of  images submitted because of the new equipment and the actual number of images used in their forum.
•   Have the Community School advertise the course, Basic Digital Photography, and begin enrollment.
•   Have the Community School Principal keep a running tally of the number of students who have taken the course and

  the number of people who have checked out the equipment.  They will be using the same paper form as the day school
  for data.
•   Collect data and submit formative evaluation at the end of the month to the principal.

•   Continue to notify all students, parents, faculty and the community about the new digital photographic equipment and

  the training sessions.
•   Administer the  training sessions.
•   Continue to keep a log of all students who have passed the training session.
•   Continue to keep a log of all paper forms used to check out the equipment.
•   Have the web site administrator, school newspaper advisor, community newspaper volunteer continue to keep a log 
    stating the number of images submitted because of the new equipment and the actual number of images used in their 
    forum.
•   Collect data and submit formative evaluation at the end of the month to the principal.

•   Administer the training sessions.
•   Compile all data concerning the number of students who have passed the training session.
•   Compile all data concerning the number of different users who have benefited from the use of the new equipment.
•   Compile the data from the web site administrator, school newspaper advisor and community newspaper volunteer 
    concerning the actual number of images submitted to their forums and the actual number of images published in their 
    forum.
•   Compile information from the paper form to document the other uses of the equipment.
•   Compile data from the Community School to see the number of users helped in the community.
•   Continue to check out the equipment until the closing of school.
•   Compile all information for the summative evaluation.
•   Present the summative evaluation information to the principal and the technology committee for review.
•   Revise the program if necessary.

Section VI Dissemination of Information
Digital video tapes and digital still photographs saved on discs, of the activities and projects used in the various mediums of the school web site, school newspaper, school literary magazine, in-house video productions, community functions and community newspapers will be kept and documented throughout the year providing a pictorial record and paper form statistics detailing how often the equipment was used and for what purpose.  Students and faculty will have a responsibility to contribute throughout the year to this record.  The images representing the progress brought about through the use of this new equipment will be readily available in all of the mediums listed above.

All of the mediums listed above will also feature articles detailing the many new learning opportunities and improvements that the additional equipment has brought to the lives of the students and faculty at Wellington High School.  The grant information will be described in a pamphlet made available at Wellington High School, The Palm Beach County School Board Office and the Educational Media Association of Palm Beach County meetings.  The mass media students will produce an in-house 30 minute television documentary whose main purpose is to give credit to the grant committee who provided the equipment.  The video will contain a short tutorial detailing how to use and care for the equipment. It will also detail the statistical information gathered throughout the year.  To show the success of the grant it will provide a montage of images that were gathered throughout the year as it depicts highlights of the entire school year.  This video will be submitted to the Palm Beach County School District ITV for them to broadcast to all schools in our district.  Copies will be available to all who request it and send a blank tape.  Additionally, television and newspaper coverage will be requested.

Section VII Budget
100 SALARIES
  IN-KIND
200 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
  IN-KIND
300 PURCHASED SERVICES
  NONE
400 SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT
Supplies: (Source: Vendor with best price in August 2001)
  Digital Video Tapes    25 @ $  26.75                              $  668.75
  Discs 10 in pack          25 @ $    4.00                              $  100.00
  Photo Paper                10 @ $  99.99                              $    99.90
500 CAPITAL OUTLAY
Equipment: (Source: Vendor with best price in August 2001)
  Digital Video Camera    2 @ $890.00                              $1780.00
           Sony DCR-TRV103
  Digital Still Camera      10 @ $899.97                              $8997.70
           Kodak DC265 Zoom                                                    ___________
                                                                       Total cost            $11646.35
IN-KIND

  The school will provide ten 486 computers for use, value $4,860.
  The media specialist and technology specialist will provide four hours each week after school for training, incorporating data 
  and photos into the computer for publications, and compiling statistical data for the project.
  The school will provide any other supplies that are necessary including camera batteries, paper, printer cartridges. $4,000.
  The school will provide all software necessary.  (Adobe Photostyler, Digital Video Interface) $900.00

References

U.S. Department of Education (1995). ED Report The Costs and Effectiveness of Educational Technology. {Available: September 30, 1999}.

U. S. Department of Education (1994).  Http://www.firn.edu.doe/bin00010/g2khmpgl.htm Goal 2000. {Available: September 19, 1999}.

U.S. Department of Education (1995).  Http://www.nsba.org/sbot/tooklit/tiol.html How Does Technology Enhance Student Achievemnet?. {Available: September 30, 1999}.

U. S. Department of Education (1996).  Http://www.ed.gov Technology Literacy Challenge {Available: September 29, 1999}.