TFCA intends to implement the following new technology and improvements for our students: a mobile iPad lab, new classroom technology, and improvements to our computer labs. These three projects will be supported through a new fundraising campaign, Funding the Future at TFCA, which is going on now! With the addition of these new tools, TFCA’s students will be better equipped to enter the 21st century workforce and will put us on the cutting edge of classroom technology integration.
Our goal for this fundraiser is to raise $20,000 to fully fund these projects. Students have taken home brochures which explain each project and detail the specific items that we need to purchase in order to make these projects a reality. This will be our only spring fundraiser this year and to celebrate the success of the campaign, our students will have a Field Day at the end of school! We can’t wait to see how our students will be blessed through the financial support of our TFCA family and donors.
Here's what our teachers are saying about these projects:
"A mobile iPad lab would allow teachers to access a different dimension of learning opportunities right in their classrooms. Assessment of learning could be done through creative means such as videos and recordings. Engaging learning opportunities are abundant through the plethora of apps available for iPads. As the Student Services Coordinator and STEP Up teacher I can think of a multitude of ways I would utilize this type of mobile lab." - Ruth Fitz-Gerald, Student Services Coordinator (Read more about how our Student Services program would be impacted by the addition of a mobile iPad lab!)
"I am so thankful for my iPad AND for my ENO board in my classroom, but I am unable to use them together. If I want to use the iPad for a lesson I have to go to another room to use their Apple TV or borrow iPad from other teachers. I like to use my iPad for many different things. We use them to research information, educational games, centers, and apps that enhance the learning process or make it fun. It is difficult to do that with only one iPad in the room, so having access to multiple iPads and/or an Apple TV would be WONDERFUL!!" Lori Anderson, 3rd Grade Teacher
"In my ideal world I would love to have 5 iPads to use during reading groups. This would allow the students to be able to each work on reading and phonics apps during groups and I could monitor their progress. Right now I have one I pass around and we take turns but this allows for dead time and the other children can't see the app at the same time. I don't have an Apple TV so I can't reflect my iPad up for all to see. I would love to have one of those as well. My dream would to hang the Apple TV behind my reading table and they could each have their own iPad and I could assess them as they manipulate the app we are working on. They could record stories orally and we could publish them as a group. There are so many things I could do with a technology reading group area. I have an ENO board and that is excellent as well. I am blessed to have it but it cannot run iPad technology on it, only computer web sites." Dawn Noble, Kindergarten Teacher
"A mobile iPad lab would be an amazing addition to my classroom! 6th graders could work on science and math apps to research,learn, and increase knowledge. The parts of the human body would come to life before our very eyes." Kendra Miller, MS Math & Science Teacher
"I have been a teacher for almost 17 years and each year it gets more difficult to capture the attention and imagination of my first graders. One way to grab them that never fails is to integrate technology into what we are learning. In my classroom we take turns using our 1 classroom iPad each day...not for one moment to I have to make sure the student using the iPad is engaged in our lesson. I can't imagine how much we could accomplish if I had access to a cart with a classroom set of iPads and could put one in each student's hand for some lessons!
I have had an Apple TV box in my classroom since late fall and can not imagine life in the classroom without it! I use it daily to engage students in my lesson. From displaying awesome 3D illustrations of plant parts to simply practicing spelling words with to magnetic letters app it is a great tool to have in my toolbox. I hope through the Funding the Future campaign we can provide this amazing tool to all TFCA classrooms!" Jennifer Cull, 1st Grade Teacher
Learn about the goals for each project and how to donate at FrankfortChristian.org/FundingTheFuture!
