Needs+Assessment+(BK)

Needs Assessment:

__Introduction & Background __: Cicero is a suburb located just minutes west of Chicago. It has quite an urban feel to it. Cicero’s population is 109,429 people according to the town’s official website ([|www.thetownofcicero.com]) packed into a mere 5.5 square miles. The average household income in Cicero has been estimated somewhere between $38,044 and $43,505. Cicero is served by School District #99. The school district is comprised of 17 schools serving just over 13,000 students. I work at Goodwin Elementary School (grades K-6) located at the corner of Austin and 26th street. It is one of the oldest buildings in the district. Goodwin’s demographics are 4% Caucasian, 1.4% African American, 93.1% Hispanic, and less than 1% Asian/ Pacific Islander or multi-racial. 45.6% are considered Limited-English Proficient.  __My Students __: This year I am working with third grade students in a self-contained cross categorical classroom. I have eleven students with a variety of abilities and disabilities. Each child enhances my classroom environment in their own special way.  __Technology in the Classroom & School __: My school district is limited in the technologies they will approve for teacher and student use. (While we have the technology available for use, teachers who ask to use it are denied (podcasts, Skype, blogs, teacher websites, etc.). We have two computer labs (one rarely used in the library, and one that the amazingly talented computer teacher uses most periods of the day to teach literacy and technology skills to over 900 students). On each floor, there are a number of ancient TV/VCR carts you may check out. Most do not work. Teachers are lucky to have a working computer and printer in their classroom. The district is updating them and giving pods of 3 computers to teachers who do not already have them. Software on any of the computers is limited. The newer computers might have more than Microsoft Word (i.e. PowerPoint and the whole Office Package).  Last week, after months of waiting, my computer pod was connected to the school network so my students can actually use them for centers and free time. When I need to present information or watch a video clip, I bring in my own personal laptop computer and LCD projector. It is a pain to set up (wires for external speakers, computer, and projector are everywhere). When the class does do projects and assignments we want to capture, I bring in my digital camera and allow the students to take pictures and upload them onto the computer.  __My Plan __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: Going from a school district that had and let us use everything to a district that has nothing was heartbreaking. My students became less engaged in their own learning and are often bored. It is my hope to get the computer pod up and running so that my students will be able to: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">* type and publish their personal stories & writing assignments <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">* build & present to the class projects on PowerPoint <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">* integrate websites into literacy centers