0

University of Puerto Rico at Humacao

English Department








Special Project: Part 1 & 2
Alfonso Casta Martnez High School
Maunabo, Puerto Rico
Cooperating Teacher: Sonia N. Aponte Aponte
Group: 12-2








Luis E. Pabn Martnez
842-07-6105
Practice Teaching
EDPE 4006/4018
Dr. Anbal Muoz Claudio
May 5, 2014
1


Table of Contents


I. Purpose . 2

II. Justification ...... 3

III. Permanence ...... 4

IV. Action Plan ...................... 5

V. Action Plan Table 6

VI. Results .. 7 - 8

VII. Reactions .. 9

VIII. Recommendations .... 10

IX. Appendix .. 11 - 21
2

Purpose

The special project that I chose and preferred to do in the Alfoso Casta Martnez High
School is to convert the regular English classroom into an English Lab. I chose to do this because
I love technology, and I believe that in this era it should be integrated into the class every time it
is possible. Many jobs and tasks in todays world require computers and other forms of
technology in order to work. Students need to be able to work with all kinds of technology, but
mostly computers. My goal as an educator is to facilitate learning, and technology allows me to
do that. Through the use of computers, the students will be motivated to work and they will be
unconsciously improving their vocabulary by searching the web, reading, and writing, but more
importantly, they will enjoy doing it because it takes them out of the traditional class.

As seen in my group profile, some of my students dont have a computer or internet at
home. Providing these students with a technological environment will help them in the future
when they are in the work field or studying at the university. Motivation is also a key objective
in the school right now. Remodeling the classrooms, making them more 21
st
Century, and
integrating the students in this project will get them motivated to come to school, work, and
study. This is not only my project, but theirs as well. Students will be excited with the outcome
and the legacy they will leave behind in their school.

3

Justification

By making the English classroom and English Lab I will be promoting a new type of
classroom, a classroom equipped with the latest technology that is interactive, has different
learning centers, and will motivate the students to do their work. A big part of my learning
philosophy is Carl Rogers Experiential Learning and Krashens Affective Filter Hypothesis. In
Carl Rogers Experiential Learning the learner needs to feel emotionally safe in order for the
learning to take place. They need an environment where they feel that their beliefs and values are
supported. In the Affective Filter Hypothesis, Krashen states that there is a wall or filter that is
influenced by emotional variables that can influence or prevent learning. This means that the
classrooms atmosphere is as important as the lesson itself, which is why we must strive to make
the students feel comfortable and positive in their environment. That being said, this is my
justification for choosing this Special Project. I want the students of the Alfoso Casta Martnez
High School to have a good, safe, technological, and motivating learning environment.

4

Permanence

This project will make the current English Classroom the permanent classroom for that
subject class. This will be accomplished by having English-related motivational quotes inside
and outside of the classroom (murals), and by having computers strictly prepared with English-
related software that the students can use in during the class. The only maintenance needed will
be that of the computers (which Windows takes care of itself), and the re-painting which the
school takes care of (and they can integrate the students to it as well). Everything else will be
made plug and play. Some of the computers will be received through donation, and the paint
and tools for the murals will be obtained through the program Operacin xito who have been
working with Mrs. Aponte and me, and included us in their program for school improvement.

5

Action Plan
The objective of my special project is to transform the English classroom into an English
lab equipped with computers, listening, reading, writing, and printing stations, and murals with
motivational quotes, thus creating a good learning environment with all the tools the teacher and
students need.
The activities that need to be done to accomplish this special project are:
Paint the classroom
Install electric outlets on the tables for ease of access
Add and install wireless router/network for ease of access to the printing station and/or
workgroup.
Paint Educational/Motivational Murals
Obtain and install additional computers (through donation) for the listening stations (any
extra computers go towards the schools use)
Organize computer cabinet/locker with the help of the carpentry students.
Organize the listening, reading, writing, and printing stations.

These activities will be carried out during a specific timeline and completed before May 5
th
. The
special project started on January 31
st
with the painting of the classroom. The classroom was
fully painted by February 21
st
. Organization of the computer cabinet was done in the week of
February 24-28. Contact for the donation of additional computers began in the week of March 3-
7 with a project manager of the IT Department of the USDA. During the week of March 10-14,
measurements and planning will take place in order to install electric outlets on the tables. The
installment of said electric outlets will take place from March 17 April 4. From April 7 to the
18
th
, I will purchase and install a router/network in the classroom for ease of access.
I am currently not working under a budget. I will be working through donations, materials
available in the school, made available by Operacin xito, and with my personal finances.
6

Action Plan Table

Date Activities Purpose Person(s) Involved
January 31-
February 21
Paint the classroom
Improve classroom
environment.
TC
Carpentry Students
Mr. Sugraes
February 24-28
Organization of
computer cabinet and
computer stands
Be able to put the
laptops and chargers
in order, make it
accessible, and build
stands for the
computers.
TC
CT
Carpentry Students
Mr. Sugraes
March 3-7
Contact IT
Department of the
USDA for the
computers donation
Obtain the
information
necessary for the
acquisition of
computers through
donation
TC
USDA IT
Department
March 10-14
Measure and plan for
the electric outlet
installation
Make a plan and take
the measurements on
the tables in order to
be able to get the
right tools and
materials needed to
install electric outlets
on the tables.
TC
CT
Carpentry Students
March 17 April 4
Installation of the
electrical outlets on
the classroom tables
Install electrical
outlets on the tables
for ease of access
(plug and play).
TC
CT
Carpentry Students
April 7 18
Obtain and install a
router/network in the
classroom.
Make the classroom
wireless, give the
computers access to
the printing station
and teacher
workgroup.
TC
CT


7

Results

The purpose of my special project was achieved. The classroom now has the necessary
tools to be a 21
st
Century Classroom. Technology was integrated successfully and has been
running smoothly. Students have been learning how to use the wireless printing station slowly.
They have learned how to switch between networks in the computers in order to have internet
access and/or be able to print their respective works.

With the students and Mrs. Apontes help, we managed to organize the classroom in a
way that we had different stations such as the reading station, writing station, listening station,
and printing station. The tables were linked together thanks to the students of the Carpentry class
(Group 12-2) with small metal sheets and screws. Luis Steven, from the 12-4 group, helped
install the multi-plugs and extensions to each table set in order to have ease of access to
electricity for the laptops. The classroom has been set so that theres less clutter when it comes to
electricity cables and so that each device can take advantage of the wireless system put in place.

In addition my original special project, I managed to obtain 26 computers with monitors,
mice, and keyboards through donation. I took the initiative to contact the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to inquire about equipment for donations. This equipment
was donated to the school, from which I installed 10 computers in Mrs. Apontes classroom for
the listening station, as well as a computer for her desk. The donation had a total inventory value
of $24,682.25. The School Director was very impressed and happy with the donation. She
mentioned that she liked the commitment to go above and beyond of what I had to do for my
8

special project, that even some of the teachers she has in the school havent done something like
that. She said that she liked the initiative I had, and I have to say that I couldnt have done it
without Mrs. Apontes encouragement, advice, and ideas.

Sadly, the work isnt over yet. It is a long-term plan. We are still waiting for the
Department of Education of Puerto Rico to provide us with the necessary software in order to be
able to use the computers in the classroom. I know the equipment is in the right hands and that it
will be put to good use for the benefit of the students.


9

Reaction

By completing this project I was able to promote the use of technology in the classroom.
The students were intrigued about what I was doing and they seemed to like that I was interested
in providing them a better education. The students were motivated in their daily activities
because they usually involved working on a computer, which some of them dont have available
in their homes. Students from other grades showed curiosity and interest when I showed up with
the 26 computers, and some commented about how they were eager to get to 12
th
grade and take
the English class.

The faculty was very happy with the improvements done to the classroom and with the
donation as well. Some of them were eager to find out of some of the computers would be
assigned to them! I had to tell them that the remaining computers were to be assigned by the
school administrators because the donations were mainly for the English classroom. The School
Director was very impressed with my Special Project. She was mostly impressed by the
donations received because no one had done that before in the school. She said that we need
more teachers with the drive to improve the situation in their schools. A lot of the teachers would
rather sit and wait to receive things instead of going out and getting it themselves. Overall,
everyone in the school has reacted in a positive way to my Special Project, especially the
students, who appreciate all of the technology that has been integrated into their classroom.

10

Recommendations

I believe that my Special Project was a success. I achieved more than what I had planned
for. I never thought that I could get such a big donation for the school. This experience has
opened up my eyes and taught me that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. It also
showed me how a lot of teachers today and complacent and dont strive for more. If theres
something that Ive learned about Mrs. Aponte is that you always have to be on the lookout for
anything and everything, that you cant just sit and wait for things to go your way or else you
may stay empty handed. I could have settled for the Special Project as it was, but I strived for
more and managed to get almost $25,000 in donations for the school. Way more than I would
have ever imagined I could have done.

If I could change or add something to my Special Project it would be to incorporate more
the students from the Carpentry group. I would have liked to have them build something
memorable for the classroom, something that went along with my Special Project and gave them
a feeling of accomplishment, their own legacy for the school. Another thing that I would have
liked to do was apply the same concept of the English lab throughout all of the classrooms in the
school. Other than that, I am very happy that my students got involved in my Special Project and
helped me throughout the whole semester. They embraced it and used it as much as they could.

11

Appendix


12



13


Picture #1
Laptop stands that the Carpentry students made for the cabinet.

14


Picture #2
Wireless router that I bought in order to make the classroom wi-fi friendly,
allowing the students connect to the printers wirelessly.

15


Picture #3
Listening station with one of the donated computers.

16


Picture #4
Wireless router connected and working.

17


Picture #5
Printing station working wirelessly.

18


Picture #6
Classroom all set up ready for the students.

19


Picture #7
Part of the remaining 16 computers awaiting distribution at the school
along with the mice, keyboards, and cables.

20


Picture #8
Part of the remaining 16 computers awaiting distribution at the school.

21


Picture #9
One multi-plug per set of three tables which has six electricity outlets for the laptops.
This setup helps eliminates the clutter of cables around the classroom.