Running Header: PROJECT PROPOSAL LECTURER'S NAME STUDENT'S NAME COURSE TITLE DATE OF SUBMISSION 1 Running Header: PROJECT PROPOSAL 1.0 Statement of customer's need. Donald's School for the visually impaired is a community initiative to enhance the education of learners who are visually impaired. The school has been in existence for five years and has experienced tremendous increase in population. Despite having a team of highly qualified teaching personnel, the school lacks the relevant technology that can be of vital significance in the general achievement of learners. Lack of the relevant adaptive technology software therefore impacts on the learners' access to instructional materials. The role of instructional resources in enhancing quality learning is so vital in the teaching learning process, Wales (1975). It is therefore in the light of Wale's assertions that this project is grounded. This project intends to equip Donald's School for the Visual Impaired with the most recent adaptive software as well as training teachers on their use with an aim of enhancing quality instructional process to all learners within the School. Modern adaptive software have the potency to provide visual challenged learners with a presentation of that mimics the real appearance of objects that can be of use in the learning environment. Sayoury (1958) recommends the use of visual aids such as diagrams, models, pictures, and filmstrips that not only enhance the teaching of concepts but also the attentiveness and understanding of learners. Provision of visual enhancing technologies to the visually impaired learners is therefore the only alternative that can be utilized to ensure such learners effectively understand concepts within the teaching-learning environment. This project will hence install such adaptive software as JAWS, screen magnification software known as MAGIC and optical character recognition software known as open Book which helps convert material into documents which blind students can read using screen reading software. 2 Running Header: PROJECT PROPOSAL 2.0 Assumptions The following are the assumptions of this project: Learners across all grades will record a 50% improvement in their literacy levels. The school already has an equipped computer laboratory which will be provided for the implementation of this project. The project will receive adequate support from the School's administration and stakeholders throughout its course. Donald's school will effectively manage the project's sustainability after the project hand over. 3.0 Project Scope The scope of this project is defined as the installation of adaptive software to Donald's School for the benefit of the visually impaired learners within the school. Any project activity that will be carried out will hence be aimed at the achievement of the project goals and achievement; within the confines of the project scope. Definition of project scope helps the project achieve the following project goals and objectives; The scope of this project however does not include mapping student enrolment and enhancing the general image of Donald's school by promoting School-community partnerships. 3.1 Project Goals and Objectives 3 Running Header: PROJECT PROPOSAL To increase literacy performance levels of learners with visual impairment by 60% within a period of 8 months. To enhance full ICT integration in the instructional process of learners with visual impairment within eight month duration 4.0 Deliverables Installed modern adaptive software A trained staff; on the use of the installed adaptive software Students' ability to use modern adaptive software General improvement in learner's literacy levels 5.0 Resources Successful completion of this project will require the following resources: Human resource: Project team, project employees, teaching force Financial resource: USD342, 103 Computer lab Desk top computers Adaptive software Furniture: chairs and tables 4 Running Header: PROJECT PROPOSAL 6.0 Schedule This project will take duration of 8 months, from 10th March 2016 to 29th October 2016 for its successful completion and the following provide a break down program that will guide various project activities: NO RESPONSIBILIT ACTIVITY START DATE FINISH DATE INPUT OUTPUT Y School Hall 1 Conceptualization Project Team th 10 March 2016 th 14 March 2016 A consensus Multipurpose Hall reached on project stationery, idea 5 Running Header: PROJECT PROPOSAL furniture ,refreshment, sanitation, driver, Fuel. Project Team, 2 16th March 2016 Sensitization 16th April 2016 Brochures Brailed Acceptance of the formats projector project idea by the laptop public school and address system community Construction All structures window and doors materials completed and installation and laborers , 4 steel resources acquired resource acquisition windows, 2 steel School principal 3 Burglar proof Project Team 16TH April 2016 11th June 2016 door Laborer, wood , 4 Furnishing and Project Team 11th June 2016 9th July 2016 Electric system chairs wiring flows, tables made Cables , Sockets and chairs 6 Running Header: PROJECT PROPOSAL Blinds. delivered and all put in place. 5 Installation and Project Team 9th July 2016 6th August 2016 Computers cables Networking and software-CDs Full functioning of computers and operative software 6 Training Project Team, 20th Aug 2016 17th Sept 2016 200 learners and stationery 12 teachers refreshment ICT ICT Specialist Computers equipped with personnel (trainer) basic skills on projector laptop 7 Commencement and Project Team, follow-up School Admn. 17th Sept 2016 software use 29th October Resource room Learners able to 2016 continuous access information assessment tests by the help o f Driver fuel JAWS, MAGIC AND Open Book Integration of ICT 7 Running Header: PROJECT PROPOSAL in teaching. 7.0 Price The project will require US$342,103 for its successful completion. US$267303 of this amount will cater for the pricing needs of human resource, relevant equipment including software and furniture, licensing needs as well as all project management and other related costs. The remaining amount of US$74,800 is a quantified value of all donations that will be made to the project to cover for the construction cost of the computer lab as well as part of the furniture that will also be provided by the school 8 Running Header: PROJECT PROPOSAL 8.0 Risks As we start the implementation of the project and throughout its implementation we anticipate the following risks Theft and Robbery-Crime is common in the area and chances of robbery are high. However, we have set a security team from the locals and administrators to watch over. Installation of security alarm and burglar proof windows on the resource room will also be done Vandalism-Intentional destruction of property by learners and subordinate staff e.g. removal of sockets, inserting foreign objects in sockets, mishandling of keyboards and mouse may affect the delivery of the project. To counter that, we have enforced strict frisking before and after accessing the computer lab. Short Circuiting-Incase of power and thereafter the supply is back the voltage might be high; this might spoil the computers by shortcircuiting of the power cables hence spoiling the computers' transformers. Circuit breakers have been installed to mitigate this risk. 9.0 Expected benefits Improved literacy performance The number of learners who are visually impaired and who can easily acquire literacy skills and understanding of concepts will increase by 60% across all grades. Enhanced ICT integration in teaching-learning process 9 Running Header: PROJECT PROPOSAL The project will lay a great foundation towards ICT integration which as a result will enhance effective and productive use of ICT equipment in educating learners with Visual impairment. Increased enrollment of students with visual impairment Donald's school will have relevant equipment that enhances improved access to education for learners with visual impairment in an easier and supportive way and this will attract more learners to the institution in bid to benefit from this service. Increased enrolment will have a significant impact on the total number of individuals who can read and write across the country. Reference Cleden, D. (2011). Bid writing for project managers. Farnham, Surrey: Gower Pub. Kitcher, P. (2011). The ethical project. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. Levy, S. (2006). Design-build project delivery. New York: McGraw-Hill. 10