Budget Simulation Assignment

ITEC 7132
Christie Edwards Durden
Ebenezer Middle School
Proposed Budget for New Technology Grant

Prioritized List

Ebenezer Middle School has been granted $3,500.00 to purchase new technology. Below is a prioritized list of
items that will be used to support classroom instruction and the school media center program.

1. 6 Overhead Projectors
2. 32 Portable Media Storage Devices
3. 5 Listening Centers
4. 1 Interwrite Personal Response System (PRS)

Discussion of Prioritized List

After discussions with the media specialist and many of the teachers at Ebenezer Middle School, first priority in
this budget proposal must be given to the purchase of 6 overhead projectors. Several teachers are without
overhead projectors because theirs is damaged beyond repair. These were among several of many overheads
that were brought over from Effingham County Middle School when Ebenezer Middle School was first opened.
The media center currently does not have a working overhead projector for use in the media center as all have
been checked out to teachers.

Second priority needs to be given to the purchase of portable media storage devices. Last year Ebenezer went
through a change in the way that students were allowed to access the school server. They used to be able to
save to a teacher’s folder on what is called the “P” drive. Then they could access their work for that teacher
from any computer in the school. They are no longer allowed access to this drive as teachers and other faculty
members save confidential documents that could be accessed by unauthorized individuals. Instead students
are given a user ID and password from their language arts teacher that they must remember and use to save
work to their personal folder. There are many problems with this: students often do not remember their user ID
or password, they sometimes do not receive a user ID or password, this system is sometimes unreliable as
student work is often “lost.” It is my suggestion that portable media storage devices be purchased to save
student work. These devices would be valuable tools for teachers working with the mobile lab or in the new
computer lab. These devices could also be used in the media center to cut down on the amount of print jobs
requested by students.

Another need that was expressed during discussions with teachers was for listening centers. Language Arts
teachers expressed a serious need for these listening centers. Because students are heterogeneously mixed
within each classroom, any particular class can have students with reading levels that range from 3rd grade to
12th grade. Classes often read novels as a class. Having listening centers would enable books of various
reading levels to be read by different groups of students during whole class instruction. Special Education
teachers also expressed a need for listening centers for those students with profound disabilities who are not
able to read on their own. My proposal would be to purchase a center that could remain in the special
education room for daily use. My proposal would also include the purchase of a class set that could be
checked out by teachers on an as needed basis.

Two years ago Effingham County purchased Interwrite systems for all science classrooms in all middle and
high schools. Systems were also purchased for each media center. These systems have proven to be effective
instructional tools as they promote active engagement of students in the learning process. They also give
teachers the ability to immediately access student learning or understanding. Each classroom system included
one Interwrite pad and 1 classroom set of PRS RF commonly called clickers. The media center system did not
include the clickers. Many teachers at Ebenezer Middle school have had much success with these systems.
 Budget Simulation Assignment
ITEC 7132
Christie Edwards Durden
Frequently the clicker portions of these systems are shared with non-science teachers in the school. The only
problem is that this is not a convenient way to do this. Each time the system is borrowed by another teacher,
cables and various other components have to be unconnected and then reconnected to the other teacher’s
computer. In addition, the software must be installed ahead of time to ensure that the clickers will work. It is
often time consuming to get the devices set up. Also many teachers have problems with them because they do
not set them up properly. My proposal is to purchase a set of clickers that can be made portable by setting
them up on one of the laptop carts that the media center already owns.

Priority Item #1
Overhead Projectors

Ebenezer Middle School currently purchases items like overhead projectors from RESA. There is a current
need at EMS for 6 new projectors as several of the projectors in classrooms are broken and not able to be
repaired. The media center has loaned to classroom teachers the two projectors that are supposed to be kept
in the media center for media use. Although it is not required that EMS purchase overhead projectors from
RESA, this has been the custom for many years. RESA does supply many school items at discounted prices,
but I decided to locate other vendors to compare the prices. The model that I selected was the 3M 2000
portable overhead projector. I chose this model because it is compatible with the replacement bulbs that are
currently purchased by the school for existing projectors. It is also a portable model and comes with a carrying
case. This type could be conveniently stored when not in use. Even though they are portable, they are very
bright with 1600 lumens and would be usable in classrooms and the media center. Based upon the information
below I would recommend that the overhead projectors be purchased from RESA. RESA can supply these
items for well below the retail price of other vendors.

Item / Quantity Features Vendor/Price System Contract

Availability
3M 2000 Brightness: 1,600 1. School NO
Portable Lumens Head Type: Outfitters/
Open Lens Type:
Overhead Singlet Lamp Type: $244.99
Projector EVW (82 volts, 250 Free Shipping
Ag watts) Lamp Life: 50 $1469.94 Total
120V/60H / 6 hours Cord Length:
10' Other Info: 2. Skybox USA/
Thermal protection
circuit cuts power to $248.64
the lamp if the $24.86 Shipping
projector exceeds $1516.70 Total
safe operating
temperature 3. First District
Built-in carry handle
Ultra quiet RESA /
convection cooling $179.80
eliminates fan noise Free Shipping
that could distract $1078.80 Total
from your
presentation
Warranty: 1 year
Base Projection
Window: 10 1/2" x
10 1/2" Weight: 14.0
lbs.
 Budget Simulation Assignment
ITEC 7132
Christie Edwards Durden

Priority # 2
Portable Electronic Storage Device

As mentioned above, student access to the server is now restricted and students often do not have their own
folders set up. Therefore many teachers have found a need to save student work on a portable device. Having
portable devices makes it easier for teachers to grade student projects, and they make it easier for classes to
move from the media center to the computer lab or mobile lab without losing work. They also cut down on the
amount of print jobs sent by students to the printer. Half of the quantity purchased would be kept in the new
computer lab for teacher and student use. The other half of the quantity would be kept in the media center for
use with the mobile lab and media center computers. After looking at different brands, the Kingston DTI Flash
Drive was chosen. This brand received over 800 customer reviews at Amazon.com with an average review of
4 and ½ stars. Comments included things like “great value” “easy to use” “fast and no u3 junk” “excellent
capacity”. Based on the pricing and shipping options listed below I would recommend purchasing this item from
EWorldSale.

Item / Quantity Features Vendor/Price System Contract

Availability
Kingston DTI 4 • Designed to 1. Amazon.com / Yes- Vendor
GB USB Hi-Speed USB $12.27 #0000046906
Flash 2.0 Free Shipping
Drive / 18 specifications $392.64 Total Price for
• Pocket-sized comparable 4GB
for easy 2. Tiger Direct / Sony electronic
transportability $19.99 storage device
• Just plug and $6.99 Shipping was $36.61
play into a $646.67 Total
USB port
• Stores cap 3. EWorldSale /
securely on $10.99
end of device $20.16 Shipping
to prevent loss $371.84 Total
of cap
• Five-year
warranty

Priority #3
Listening Center

Most teachers surveyed agree that improving reading skills are a high priority. Teachers of all subjects
commented that strengthening reading skills would help increase student achievement in their class. For low
level readers, being able to hear the text while they were reading would help improve comprehension as well
 Budget Simulation Assignment
ITEC 7132
Christie Edwards Durden
as strengthen reading skills. Therefore listening centers are recommended to help students improve
comprehension and reading skills. After evaluating several options, the Califone Durable Classroom Center
was chosen. It is an expandable unit and, it can be used with any CD or cassette player as well as mp3 players
or iPods. Each set comes with 8 headphones that are durable and easy to clean and keep sanitized. Each set
also comes with a durable carry case for easy and convenient storage. There are units available that come
with CD players or boom boxes, but the media center currently has several of these players on hand that can
be used with these systems. Based on the information gathered from the various vendors, I would suggest
purchasing the listening centers from RESA.
Item / Quantity Features Vendor/Price System Contract
Availability
Durable Classroom 1. Bizchair.com / NO
Califone Center - "Flexible, $121.99
Durable expandable listening
center for classrooms,
Free Shipping
Classroom learning centers and $609.95 Total
Center, training facilities.
1218avp- Includes 8-position 2. Teacher
01 by jack box with volume Storehouse /
Califone / 5 control, eight
monaural headphones
$160.20
and 2001 polyethylene Free Shipping
carry case. $801.00 Total
Polyethylene case is
scratch resistant and 3. First District
shatterproof. Hook up
your media player to
RESA /
one of our non- $89.29
powered Group Free Shipping
Listening Centers for $446.45 Total
groups of four, six and
eight students.
Versatile, portable,
well-designed and
durable."

Priority #4
Interwrite PRS RF

Ebenezer Middle School currently has several laptops with LCD projectors on carts. My proposal is to
purchase a PRS for one of these carts. They could then be checked out on an as needed basis. This
would eliminate that hassles that teachers would have to go through when they borrow these systems
from other teachers. As stated earlier, Effingham County purchased a large number of these systems
a couple of years ago directly from Interwrite. Effingham still has a contract with this company and
additional systems can be purchased for less than the other vendors. My recommendation is to
purchase the new system from this same company.
 Budget Simulation Assignment
ITEC 7132
Christie Edwards Durden

Item / Quantity Features Vendor/Price System

Contract
Availability
 Instantly 1. Camcor.com / Yes –
Interwrite gauge student $1749.98 Interwrite
PRS comprehension
 Encourage
Free Shipping $1600. 00
RF 32 class discussion $1749.98 Total Free
– among all Shipping
Remot students 2. AV
e Class  Give Superstore.com/
Pack / continuous
feedback to
$2050.00
1 provide students $22.95 shipping
an active learning $2072.95 Total
process
 Easily deliver
quizzes and
assessments
electronically
 Take
attendance
 Instantly grade
and record student
results
 Generate
student
assessment reports
 Focus more
time on
teaching...and less
time on
paperwork and
grading
 Budget Simulation Assignment
ITEC 7132
Christie Edwards Durden

Final Budget Proposal

Item Vendor Quantity Total

3M 2000 Portable RESA 6 $1078.80

Overhead Projector
Ag 120V/60H

Kingston DTI 4 GB Amazon 32 $371.84

USB Flash Drive

Califone Durable RESA 4 $446.45

Classroom Center

Interwrite PRS RF 32 Interwrite 1 $1600.00

– Remote Class
Pack

TOTAL 3497.09