1. Technology Upgrade Proposal 2015
Brian McClain
AP and Academic Biology Teacher – Thomas Jefferson

2. The Proposal:

3. The Request:
To purchase a classroom set of 2- in-1Windows 8.1 based devices for the use in my AP Biology and Academic Biology classroom as well as the AP Physics classrooms.
To purchase a charging cart for storage of the devices.

4. Why we need this upgrade:
The computers that are currently available are not fast enough or reliable enough to meet the technological needs of today.
The current computers do not support an App marketplace
iOS devices such as iPads do not support Flash based content.
Need a device that can have installed software (Vernier Probeware)
The need for compatibility with the network printing capabilities

5. What will we be able to do with the new technology?
Currently my AP Biology students have paid subscriptions to MasteringBiology.com
This is the premier software for reinforcing biological concepts and is used widely at the collegiate level
This software required Flash and Shockwave support
With more reliable devices the software can support a “flipped classroom model”

6. Masteringbiology.com

7. The MasteringBiology classroom

10. Socrative - Increases student engagement
Can be used for review games, case studies, class pooling and general classroom discussions

11. Nearpod

12. Probes for the science classrooms
Utilizing the existing probes and expanding for Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Environmental Science

13. Current Inventory of Vernier Interfaces that can be put to use for science labs:
9 Labpro Interfaces with several probes that can be used in a biology, chemistry, physics or environmental science laboratory
12 AP Physics Mechanics labs can be supported with the current inventory of hardware if we have a set of computers that can handle the demands of the software.

14. Current Uses: MasteringBiology.com
Socrative and Nearpod based case studies
Utilization of NCBI Bioinfomatics databases to complete BLAST analysis
Modeling of Biological Theorems and utilizing the model to analyze changing conditions
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (Changes in Allele Frequency and population genetics)
Biotechnology Simulations
Polymerase Chain Reactions
Gel electrophoresis and RFLP analysis
Genetics Simulations – Virtual Fly Lab, Transformation Lab
Ecological Modeling Labs – Population dynamics
Evolutionary Modeling Labs

15. Proposed Device:
Dell Inspiron Series 2-in-1 Laptop

16. The 2-in-1 Device

17. The Quote:

18. Thank you for your time.