The Grant Process:
Step 1. Writing the O.S.P.I. grant. The goals of this grant are:
¥ Students will master state and district prescribed core essential learnings using multimedia technology.
¥ Create an ongoing visual record of students' daily activities and learning processes.
¥ provide all students with an opportunity to showcase their abilities to their parents through videotaped electronic portfolios which do not require sophisticated home equipment nor special skills to operate.
Bethel Junior High School colleagues Steve Parr, a video production and visual arts teacher, David Fairbanks, an English teacher with expertise in technical writing, and Carol Neufeld, the school's resource & technology center director, collaborated in the grant writing. The final application was submitted in May of 1995 and a $24,252 Title VI "15%" grant (Number 53557) was awarded to Bethel Public School District #403 in July of 1995.
Step 2. Eight Bethel Junior High teachers in the areas of Science & Social Studies (Joyce Miller), English (Kevin Kintz), Highly Capable Students (John Rockne), At-Risk Students (Tom Cruver and Theresa Lee-Hodson), Visual Arts (Steve Parr), and Technology (Carol Nuefeld and Bill Melton) worked 175 hours in October and November of 1995 independently and cooperatively to design specific tasks which, within visual parameters, demonstrate student achievement.
Step 3. An electronic portfolio assessment curriculum guide booklet for teachers, parents, and administrators based on a review of literature and the eight trained Bethel Junior High teachers' recommendations was compiled by writing consultant JoAnn Parr. 300 copies were printed by the Bethel Public Schools' district printer for distribution in May of 1996.
Step 4. In December of 1995 and January of 1996, Steve Parr, designed and produced on 3.5 inch floppy disks, a "how-to-create video assessment portfolios" HyperCard stack with examples, diagrams, models, and trouble shooting suggestions to facilitate student/teacher usage of computer and video equipment without the need of a trained technician. 300 copies of this disk were made in June of 1996 for all in-district school buildings and any educational organization or individuals requesting information about the Bethel Junior High video assessment model.
Step 5. Ten Bethel Junior High teachers were trained in January and February of 1996 to use computer and video equipment, the curriculum guide booklet, and the HyperCard stack in order to successfully implement video portfolio assessment into their classrooms and were compensated at $25.00 per hour. Steve Parr videotape recorded the teacher training sessions and produced a Step-by-Step instructional video. For future teacher reference and for subsequent teacher training opportunities, 300 copies of this instructional video were made for all in-district school buildings and any educational organization or individuals requesting information about the Bethel Junior High video assessment model.
Step 6. Each teacher involved in the project kept an observation log from January through May of 1996 to record activities as they developed and progressed. Students involved in electronic portfolio assessments were surveyed for their remarks and suggestions about the continued development and refinement of this alternative assessment project. Parents who had their children participate in the assessment project were also surveyed in June of 1996 for their thoughts and suggestion about the effectiveness of video portfolio assessment. Building administrators were requested, when dealing with students and parents, to log all comments relating to video portfolio assessment assignments or projects.
Step 7. In June of 1996, final district printed copies of the Electronic Portfolio Assessment Curriculum Guide, the HyperCard video production stack, the instructional videotape, and the combined teacher, student, parent, and administrator evaluative report were sent to the following organizations: O.S.P.I. Title VI Office, Washington Education Association, Washington Library Media Association, Northwest Council of Computer Educators, and Bethel School District #403.