Proposed Budget:

List of Learning Technology and Software/Hardware, Project Supplies and proposed budget.

Changes, Ideas or Deals:

Martha will write in blue.

In looking at this list, I see some things we can change to get more bang for our buck.

Instead of the Tablet P.Cs we could go with something like a SmartAirliner.  These are graphics tablets that cost around $400 and could be used with our current computers.  If we would like to purchase a few more laptops or desktops, we could and those computers would be more accessable for other projects as well.  (We don't have to use these with laptops, we can also use them with desktops.) (You get more bang for your buck with a desktop but the laptops can help our MAP testing situation.)

(I'd be interested in an Interactive Whiteboard, but I don't think that we have the funds to get one of those for everyone and get the other things on the list.  Guess, I will keep looking for other funding.)

After going to a few workshops on using GPSrs in the classroom, it sounds like the best bet would be a more economical GPSr like theEtrex.  We could get those for about $75 a piece.  For the types of projects we might be doing at school, these seem like the most durable and easy to use.

I am speaking with Tim Fahlberg about copies of Camtasia Studio.  He has worked with me in the past with teaching me all about Whiteboard Movies.  He is the guru in this field.  (And he sells Camtasia...:)  Hopefully we can get a good deal.  One question I have is if we could do what we want with just Snagit.  I will check into that.

I have a green screen that works pretty well.  We might be able to use that money in another way.

I don't think that we need the mapping software.  There are a lot of free mapping sites online.

I can't remember why we are purchasing a LCD projector since we all currently have one.

I am not sure that we will need DVD burners.  They should be on all new computers.  I think that we all have a new computer or will have.  I'd rather save the money for more cool tools. 

This is Teresa.  I'll try and consistently write my comments in green and italics so it's easier to track who is talking.  Anyway, we were buying an LCD projector for me since mine was so fuzzy and old.  But with my new computer it works fine.  However I don't have a working document camera (Elmo) and could really use one.  Will Windows Media burn DVD's?  What is the DVD burning program on the computer??  I agree about the mapping, the GPS units etcetera.  Well, not so much as agree as trust you.

The new computers will burn DVDs that is standard.  I am not sure which program is used on your compuer.  I know that I was able to burn from MovieMaker, but I bet there is a dedicated program as well.  If you got a Lumens document camera, you could also use that as a web cam. 

Yahoo! I got in.  I was wondering about an Educator's buy for Camtasia.  A lot of software compnaies offer such deals.  Perhaps your contact could offer something like that.  I am wanting a document camera.  I am wondering if there is room for one of those in a revised budget? This great Martha.  I'll try to remember to write in red.

My contact with Camtasia Studio is Tim Fahlberg.  He just sent me a copy of an e-mail he sent to the folks at TechSmith (the people who make Camtasia).  He is thinking that we might write an article for their newsletter about what we are doing.  Maybe that would mean some free or reduced price site licenses.  We will see. I think that there are lots of little changes we could make to make the grant money work best for our needs.  Purchasing a few doc cameras that could also be used as webcams ( the goosenecks type) and possibly an interactive whiteboard, might be a few ideas.  We will have to play around with the budget on that.  If we could get the district to send us to NCCE, that would give a little more to work with too.  I think that the doc cameras are really doable.  I thought that all of us already had a doc camera?  I am really curious about the interactive whiteboards, but that is a pretty big expense.  

Maybe if we all the 3 who don't have them, got the goose neck doc cameras, we could eliminate the need for the webcams.  Of course the doc. cams cost more, but we could fiddle with something else.  I have an ELMO that I could pass on to one of the teachers (Candice and Bonnie) who wants a doc cam. I'm ok without a new one though if the budget doesn't work.  Funny how all of our conversation so far has been on budget and goodies and not implementation.  Guess we have to start somewhere.