Internet Research for TechQuest Project
CEP 812
Lial Miller
29 July 2009
The idea of a “Smart Cart” is something that has stuck with me from my days at The University of Michigan-Flint. Each classroom had this cart that was fully laden with all sorts of gadgets that helped make the instructor’s job easier. If they wanted to display a 3-D object, they just placed it under a video camera and its image was blown up for the whole class to see. Movies were shown and lectures accessorized with PowerPoint presentations, all from the same lectern. I chose to emulate this idea and try to simplify my life as a traveling art teacher.
I started my internet research at http://www.avsmartcart.com/index.html because they sell the whole assembly. I tried to call them a few times for prices, but the best I could do was get an answering machine. I’m kind of old-school and believe in talking to people, not machines. They finally called back and we discussed his products and I told him of my desires for a “Smart Cart” (which were more than his company offered). He offered to assemble a cart with the pieces I needed, providing I supply him with them if they were over-and-above what he sold. I reminded him that this was just in the Grant writing stage and he said that the offer would still stand if and when the time came.
Since I wanted to emulate The University of Michigan-Flint’s “Smart Cart,” I went straight to the source. I arrived at the Technological Center and was directed to the head technician. He listened to my questions/needs/desires and offered to send me an e-mail with the information on the parts Michigan uses. I was pleasantly surprised that it would be that easy to get the information. He e-mailed me the next day as he had promised and I went to work looking up the parts he described. I also found Michigan’s information at http://www.umflint.edu/its/services/mcs/smartcart.htm after he sent it directly. Other schools/institutions I have found that use “Smart Cart” technology are:
· Ohio University Southern - http://www.southern.ohiou.edu/pages/faculty-staff/technology/technology-faq.html
· Temple University - http://www.temple.edu/cs/cts/for_credit_courses.htm
· Burlington County College - http://staff.bcc.edu/ETC/karts1.htm
· Delta State University - http://www.deltastate.edu/pages/1822.asp
· The University of Alaska Anchorage - http://www.matsu.alaska.edu/campusResources/computerServices/smartCarts.htm
My research was narrowed down by loosely following The University of Michigan-Flint’s checklist. It gave me the direction of parts I needed to look up, but not exclusively. I also took a piece of technology from my two CEP812 SIG partners, Ashleigh Gray and Steve Lott. Ashleigh is going after a Grant for a SMARTBOARD, and Steve is trying to get a Grant for an “I-Clicker” student response system. Between the three sources, I could mentally see what I would want on my “Smart Cart.”
As for the implementation portion of this project, I would first have to wait to see if I received the Grant to purchase the parts for my “Smart Cart.” If/when the monies come through, I would have to spend time re-researching the best prices for each component. I have never been afraid to request a discount when it comes to purchasing anything for my classroom, or school. If I could save a few dollars here and there, I could buy a couple extra items to be put with the “Smart Cart.” Digital cameras or an audio system would also be welcomed components. Last, I would need a school technician to help me assemble all of the parts and keep them protected. Ventilation and anchoring of pieces would be very important in helping them stay in working order. It would be up to anybody who uses the “Smart Cart” to help keep it nice after that.
The actual search for a Grant source willing to take on such an elaborate project was pretty hard. I started out by following Mr. Matteo’s Grants compilation posted on his Delicious page. I went through each tag, but found dead-end after dead-end. After spending hours getting nowhere, I finally started performing a yahoo search for “Educational Technology Grants.” I started off with the National Endowment of the Arts and finally found my source, The RGK Foundation at http://rgkfoundation.org/public/guidelines. I went through the motions of filling out RGK’s Electronic Letter of Interest on behalf of the class, but cannot submit it, because I do not have a school to base my Grant on. If I am recalled to Lansing, I have about 90 percent of the project ready. If I get another school to work for, I can re-file the information.