W435 Grant Proposal- Intro to Robotics & Coding (Grades K-2)

Maconaquah School Corporation

Bailie McGee
Andrea Kowalewicz

I. Abstract
 A. In Maconaquah School Corporation, there are two elementary schools: Pipe Creek
Elementary and Maconaquah Elementary. Both of these schools are 1:1 with iPad Air 1st
Generation for grades K-2. This means that every K-2 student has their own iPad when
they are in the school to use throughout the year. The teachers are able to implement
technology in their instruction on a daily basis. Something this school corporation is
lacking would be a coding program. A coding program will prepare students for jobs in
the future that dont even exist yet. Each student should be given the opportunity to learn
code and school districts should provide a space that will accommodate this kind of
learning. Because of this, we are asking for this grant in order to fund a Coding Space.
Our vision for the coding space includes having multiple robots in each of the K-2
classrooms in both elementary schools. There are 18 kindergarten through second grade
classrooms in the Maconaquah School Corporation. In every K-2 classroom in the
Maconaquah School Corporation, there will be one sphero in the back corner of the room
or the Coding Space. Sphero is a robot that is compatible with the iPads that the
students have in the classroom. Students will be able to use sphero to help their
knowledge over coding and can be a fun robot for the students to explore with. The rest
of the robots for the Coding Space will be differentiated for 1st and 2nd graders and
then Kindergarten. In the 6 Kindergarten classes, there will be one code-a-pillar and one
bee-bot. So this means, that all 6 Kindergarten classes have a sphero, code-a-pillar, and
bee-bot. These robots can be used to help students learn how to code. In the 12 first and
second grade classrooms, there will be two coding programs: Coding Jam Game and
Coding Awbie Game. Osmo is compatible with the iPads, which the students already
have. The 12 first and second grade classrooms will also have the Dash and Dot-Wonder
Pack. This package includes Building Brick Connectors, Bunny Ears/Tail, Bulldozer
Bar, Tow Hook, Xylophone, and Launcher. Dash and Dot is also compatible with iPads,
which the students already have access to. The last robot that the 12 first and second
grade classrooms will have is cue. Cue has games and challenges that make
programming an interactive and fun experience for students. So in all 12 first and second
grade classrooms, there will be a sphero, two osmo coding packages, dash and dot
wonder pack, and a cue in the back corner of the classroom. The Coding Space will be
an area where students can play with robots and learn about coding. After successful
implementation at Pipe Creek and Maconaquah Elementary School, the coding room will
be expanded to the middle and high schools.

II. Need for Project

A. The main need for this Coding Space is to give students the opportunity to learn about
coding through interactive robots and exploration. Teachers can teach the mechanics
behind coding and give students the opportunity to experiment with the robots. This will
be an excellent way for the students to deepen their understanding of how to code using
interactive robots in an engaging way. Rather than showing the students actual code on a
 computer, which can be overwhelming, the students can use the coding space to see how
coding makes the robots do different things.

a. Why All Students Should Learn How to Code in Elementary School

i. This specific article talks about the importance of teaching coding to
elementary students. The article makes strong points for why teachers
need to teach students how to code. Some of the reasons this article
suggests for teaching children how to code is that it will prepare them for
jobs that dont yet exist. Another strong point this article addresses is how
coding can help students better understand other subjects, like math.
Students will learn problem-solving skills when they code that they could
utilize across various subjects (EnglishHill, 2016).
b. Six reasons for Coding in K-5 Classrooms
i. This article was written by ISTE which is the International Society for
Technology in Education. They list six reasons why it is crucial to teach
elementary students how to code. Coding opens up a new domain of
knowledge that students can use throughout their schooling careers. The
importance of teaching students how to code is discussed thoroughly in
this article (Team ISTE, 2016).
c. Ten Reasons Why we Should Teach Kids to Code
i. This article discusses the ten reasons why elementary students need to
learn coding. I think the reasons listed in this article are extremely valid
and demonstrate why coding is essential for students to understand so they
can apply these skills in their future careers as well as to stimulate
creativity (Gaito, 2016).

III. Goals & Outcomes

Goals:
A. Students will be able to go to the coding space to play and explore with the robots. The
teacher will teach the students about coding and the students will be able to explore those
concepts with the robots in the classroom. The students can use the robots for different
activities in the classroom.
B. Whenever the students have free time during the day, they will be able to go to the coding
space and explore with the robots. The teacher will facilitate and answer any questions
the students may have when working with the robots.
C. The students will have free reign to use the coding space whenever they want to.
Allowing students the freedom and access to these tools will help inspire the students to
explore the robots and what they can do in regards to programming it.

Outcome:
 A. After about one year of implementation of the coding space for the elementary
classrooms, funds will be allocated from school budgets to begin the coding room in the
middle and high schools in the district. The robots used in the middle and high school
will be more advanced than the robots for the elementary students. We can purchases
little bits and lego mindstorms in the middle and high school for higher level coding.
After the coding space has been issued in all the schools of the district, then the teachers
can begin to design curriculum that requires the students to code and use the robots.
Coding will become a normal part of the curriculum and courses that you need in order to
graduate. Coding can also be used in other subject areas. The teachers of this district can
incorporate coding into other subjects to enhance engagement and understanding of both
subjects.

IV. Activities & Timeline

1. January 2018: Order and receive the robots needed for coding space.
2. February 2018: Download all necessary iPad apps for the robots onto the students iPads.
3. March 2018-April 2018: Professional Development for Teachers within the school
4. August 2018: Implementation of Coding Space in K-2 classrooms. Introduce the space
to the students and invite the parents to come to parent night to see this new space.
5. August 2018-Future: Students are able to access the Coding Space whenever they have
free time during the day. They are also able to use the robots for school activities and
projects. The space is a place where students are able to explore and learn new things
through play.

V. Purpose of Project
A. Our goal for this project is to promote computer science in the classroom, especially in
regards to coding. With this project, we hope to create an environment for students that
allows them to practice and explore coding using multiple robots. We hope that the
students see how coding is relevant and used in the real world. Programming is critical
for our students to understand because it will prepare the students for jobs that dont yet
exist.
B. The Coding Space can also provide an opportunity for both teachers and students to
display their knowledge in different subject areas with the use of the iPads and robots.
The Coding Space can help the students develop a deeper understanding of coding as
well as other subjects. Teachers would be able to develop curriculum that requires the
students to use coding with their history, math, science, and english courses. The
students will learn the content material and be able to apply what they have learned using
the robots to make the learning more meaningful. The students will be able to learn both
coding/computer science as well as a content course. The Coding Space allows
students to have a rich educational experience that spans across the rest of their lives.
VI. Partnerships
A. Administrators
a. We will partner with the administrators of the school to schedule and develop
professional development opportunities for the teachers. The administrators will
schedule professional development days, whether this be before or after school,
where teachers will learn how to work with all of the tools and implement them in
their classrooms.
B. Parent Volunteers/PTO
a. We will partner with parent volunteers who are often in the classrooms or are
advocating for the classrooms to help with the organization and care of the tools
in the classroom. If possible, we would like administration to open up
professional development to the PTO as well so they can be a part of the coding
curriculum when helping in the classrooms.
C. Eric Stoff- Maconaquah School Corporation Grant Writer/Public Relations Officer
a. We will partner with Eric Stoff, as he is the school corporations official grant
writer and public relations officer. Because he is skilled and experienced with this
school corporation, he would be of great value in this purchasing process and the
steps after purchasing the technology.

VII. Impact
A. The impact that this program will leave on students and teachers is irreplaceable. This
program will be the initiative Maconaquah School Corporation needs to create a
foundation for computer science for their students. Starting in kindergarten with Bee-bot
and Code-a-pillar, students will learn the basics of coding and algorithms. They will also
have exposure to robotics with Sphero, which is controlled through an iPad app. The first
and second grade classrooms will not only have Sphero, but also Dash & Dot and Ozmo.
The students will no longer just use their iPads occasionally in the classroom, but will
now have another use for the iPads with Sphero, Dash & Dot, and Osmo. It all around
creates a more technologically inclusive environment. Because computer science careers
are increasing more and more each year, it is expected that many of the students who pass
through the school corporation will need a background in computer science in their future
endeavors. This school corporation will be able to prepare their students by introducing
coding and robotics at the early age of kindergarten and continuing this instruction
through at least second grade. This will encourage and motivate students to engage in
computer science in the future, which is often seen as a male dominated field and too
difficult for some students. They will be comfortable and knowledgeable within computer
science and will have an advantage over students in other school corporations who do not
have computer science implemented in the primary schools. The introduction and
implementation of coding and robotics in these K-2 classrooms is also expected to impact
teachers in upper elementary grades as well. It is likely that the impact of computer
 science in the K-2 classrooms will travel to 3-6 grades as well as students gradually
continue through the primary grades. As teachers, we often learn from our students just as
much as our students learn from us. These students will be able to take their knowledge
from this program and use it through other programs, such as Tynker or Code.org, in later
grades with other teachers who are not a part of this first coding and robotics initiative.
Lastly, the robots can be used in other subjects in addition to computer science lessons,
such as reading, writing, and physics, so the impact goes beyond computer science in the
classrooms.

VIII. Evaluation & Assessment of Project

1. Questions for Teachers
a. How have these tools engaged your students in your classroom?
b. Are you able to easily incorporate them into lesson plans?
c. Do students engage with the tools during independent study time or just during
your designated CS lessons?
d. Were the tools easy to learn how to use?
e. What challenges, if any, have you had with the tools?
f. How has your attitude towards teaching computer science changed since the
addition of these tools?
g. Are the tools easy to manage in your classroom?
h. Does having a particular coding space in the classroom help organize all of the
tools?
i. Can you implement the tools into subjects other than computer science?
j. Is it easy to share the tools between students or do you feel like you are lacking
materials during your lessons?
2. Questions for Parent Volunteers/PTO
a. Were the tools easy to learn how to use?
b. Are the tools easy to manage and organize when helping in the classroom?
c. Have you seen an increase in students enthusiasm to learn since the
implementation of these tools?
d. What has your child told you about the tools? Do they enjoy having the robots
and coding in the classroom?
3. Questions for Students
a. What is your favorite tool that has been added to your classroom?
b. Do you like when your teacher uses the robots and coding during school?
c. Are the robots typically easy to use, or do you have a hard time using them?
d. Would you say you have learned a lot since the addition of the tools?
e. Are you more excited to go to school with these robots and tools in your
classroom?
f. What do you like about the tools? What do you dislike?
 g. If you have free time in class, do you prefer the robots and coding over other
options?
h. Do you spend too much time with these tools, just the right amount of time with
the tools, or not enough time with them?
IX. Sustainability
A. Because these tools are not 1:1 with each student and each classroom only has a few of
these tools, there is not much maintenance anticipated. If any maintenance is needed, we
plan to work with the PTO or Eric Stoff, Maconaquah Grant Writer, to manage funds
that are needed to fix any problems. The teachers and staff should be aware of any
updates of robots and iPad apps at all times and will learn this during their professional
development.

X. Budget Narrative
$12,000 (Maximum)
List of Materials:

Sphero: $129.99
- All classrooms: $2,339.82
Osmo per classroom (grades 1 and 2): $166
- 1st and 2nd grade classrooms: $1,992
Dash and Dot- Wonder Pack per classroom (grades 1 and 2): $279.99
- 1st and 2nd grade: $3,359.88
Cue (grades 1 and 2): $199.99
- 1st and 2nd grade: $2,399.88
Code-a-pillar per K classroom: $30.99
- All K classrooms: $185.94
Bee-Bot per K classroom: $89.95
- All K classrooms: $539.70

Total Cost: $10,817.22