Benjamin Logan Middle School teacher Gretchen Powell’s project has been selected for one of CenturyLink’s 2019-20 Teachers & Technology Grants in the amount of $5,000.
“It is very impressive that Mrs. Powell and her team of collaborators, Melody Wishin, Mary Nehl, and Raechel Noble were able to partner with the CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation on her project titled, ‘Generation On: Making Your Mark On Your Community,’” said Sally Stolly, district curriculum director.
Funding from the grant will empower the Benjamin Logan Middle School sixth grade students to make their mark on their community by being active and empathetic citizens as they connect with the generation of seniors living alone or in long-term care facilities. The students will have the opportunity to help the senior citizens both from a distance and in person.
This grant will be utilized to fund digital writing/drawing tablets and voice recorders.
The voice recorders will be used by the students when interviewing the seniors. With a built-in USB, the recorders can connect to Chromebooks with the “voice to text” feature in Google Docs being used to transcribe the interviews.
Based on the transcripts, the students will discover their senior’s favorite genres. After the students find books they feel match their seniors’ interests and personality, they will record themselves reading.
By listening to the recording, students will be able to practice and strengthen their oral reading prior to meeting with the seniors, where they will read aloud to them.
In addition, the digital writing/drawing tablets will be used by the students and senior citizens as they write and draw about their experiences when they are together. From afar and when meeting with the senior citizens, the students will be able to digitally communicate with the seniors.
“The best part of helping senior citizens is that they connect to books differently,” Mrs. Powell said. “The students will hear perspectives of another generation, helping them to have a greater appreciation for others. In addition, this experience will allow the students to become mentors and develop smooth communication skills.”
The full list of 2019-20 grant winners can be viewed at www.centurylink.com/teachersandtechnology.