McVay Elementary School art teacher Katherine Wirthlin applied recently for a grant from the Westerville Education Foundation (WEF). She hoped to obtain funding for a set of tablets for use by students in her art room. She offered a compelling case, writing, “Currently Westerville has started to use the revised Ohio Department of Education Technology Standards. In order to provide more opportunities for students to utilize technology academically, I am trying to incorporate technology and digital art into the elementary art classroom. As such, I am asking for a set of class tablets that will allow my students to begin using for artistic appropriation, research of contemporary artists, acquisition of utilizing technology for the creative process, familiarity with correct usage of technology, and the introduction of digital art.”
She continued, “While general education classrooms have some Chromebook carts, much of the time they are being used by the grade level teachers for the classes that are not in ‘specials.’ Because of this, there are only a few times I can reserve Chromebooks for all my students, leaving me with three outdated personal tablets.”
Dayton Cincinnati Technology Services (DCTS), which has sold hundreds of Chromebooks to Westerville City Schools, stepped forward and offered to fulfill Wirthlin’s grant request by donating 15 Chromebooks, valued at $4,949.85, to her classroom. WEF facilitated the transaction. Wirthlin says the goal is to get students comfortable using different types of technology in a safe and productive manner. “When we made DCTS aware of this opportunity, they were eager to learn more about the project proposal and original grant request,” said Greg Viebranz, Executive Director of Communications & Technology. “Their generous donation helped make one teacher’s vision for her classroom a reality – we truly appreciate their support for this initiative.”