A novel idea from e-instruction in the US, an online competition that asks students and teachers to collaboration on a nationwide Google Maps mashup by posting their vision of the role of technology in education in 250 words of less to a specially set up website. The incentives mean that I can imagine there'll be no shortage of people submitting their ideas. While this is blatantly an advertising stunt (presumably to publicise the amalgamation of e-instruction and interwrite learning), the simplicity of the task and the use of Google Maps to represent the answers means that it will be interesting to revisit this site in a month's time to read what has been submitted for a sample of the "vox pop" on what teachers say are the benefits of a technology-empowered classroom.
Unfortunately for NZ schools the contest is only available to schools in the US, however an email from the organisers advises me that there will be one opened up to NZ and Australia as well later in the year.
For the full press release follow the link below:
PRESS RELEASE
Students and Teachers Mash It Up in eInstructionTM's "Content Meets Technology" Sweepstakes
Classroom technology leader to give away over $25,000 in interactive technology; asks students and teachers to collaborate on nationwide Google Maps mashup
Denton, TX - April 8, 2008 - Merging content with technology when they joined forces in December, eInstruction™ and the former Interwrite Learning™ today announced "Content Meets Technology", a first-of-its-kind sweepstakes that asks teachers and students to submit, using 250 characters or less, their vision of the role of technology in education. Those thoughts will then post to an interactive Google Map mashup on the eInstruction site. The "mashup" of Google Maps (technology) and the student/teacher collaborations (content) is designed to mirror the merger of eInstruction and Interwrite Learning.
The student/teacher submissions, which will only be required for posting to the map, should highlight classroom achievements made possible by the use of technology or focus on the benefits of a technology-empowered classroom. The work, along with the name of the school, the grade, and the teacher's name, will appear on a Google Map of the world on the sweepstakes' Web site at www.contentmeetstechnology.com.
"The combination of eInstruction and Interwrite Learning helps make teaching and learning fun and interactive in a whole new way," said Lisa O'Masta, Vice President of Marketing for eInstruction. "We're celebrating this merger by asking teachers and students to participate in a groundbreaking, educational exercise that is itself a metaphor for the tremendous possibilities available when great content and great technology come together."
Winners will be awarded an interactive makeover prize package that consists of:
- Interwrite Workspace with ExamView™ reader. The award-winning, easy-to-use software enables educators to create, save and share engaging, interactive lessons with a gallery of digital images and annotation tools that can be used with any application. Workspace provides one-click integration with CPS, eInstruction's popular student response systems.
- Interwrite Board™. Teaching from the front of the classroom has never been this fun before. The Interwrite Board combined with Interwrite Workspace gives you the power to control your computer from the front of the class. Your students will be on their best behavior with the chance to come to the board.
- Interwrite Pad™. Combined with Workspace, the wireless Interwrite Pad is a powerful teaching tool that enables educators to easily control their computer and instructional resources from anywhere in the classroom. Used by over 50,000 teachers worldwide, this dependable, durable pad is a must in every classroom.
- 32-Pad CPS RF Clicker System. Engage every child in class material by creating an interactive learning environment in your classroom. Students who normally remain silent in class can now answer every question without fear of embarrassment. Join the 150,000 teachers who now spend less time grading and more time teaching. CPS simplifies taking attendance, grading tests and quizzes, creating lessons, and generating personalized reports automatically!
- One year subscription to ExamView Learning Series™. A collection of over 9,500 unique high-quality standards-aligned questions that work in conjunction with the ExamView Suite. Over 50 leading publishers also create and distribute ExamView-formatted questions with over 5,000 elementary, middle school, high school, and post-secondary textbooks.
- Epson PowerLite 400W Projector. Ideal for widescreen computers and interactive whiteboards, this 3LCD short-throw projector with WXGA resolution reduces shadows, simplifies installation, and provides 30 percent larger images than standard 4:3 projectors. It can project an 87 inch widescreen (16:10) image from just 3.4 feet away. The 3LCD optical engine, the world's number one projection display technology, provides vibrant color and incredible image quality and unsurpassed reliability.
- Epson Short-throw Projector Wall Mount. This projector wall mount enables quick, efficient and low cost installation of short-throw projectors. It allows presenters to fully utilize an interactive whiteboard (IWB) or screen without creating shadows or having light from the projector shine in their eyes.
- Free installation and online training.
The contest will name one winner from the following three grade level segments: kindergarten through fifth; sixth through eighth; and ninth through twelfth. The sweepstakes is not limited to users of eInstruction or Interwrite Learning products. It is open to all teachers and students in the United States.
To encourage participation in the Google Map mashup, eInstruction will provide those teachers a referral bonus: for each teacher they successfully refer, they will receive an additional chance to win (total chances per teacher are capped at eleven per single entry).
All participants will submit their work by going to www.einstruction.com and clicking the "Content Meets Technology" link. The sweepstakes begins on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 and ends on Thursday, May 13, 2008. Winners will be chosen randomly from each grade category and announced on Monday, May 19, 2008.
The Content Meets Technology Sweepstakes arrives on the heels of Interwrite Learning's 2007 Video Makeover Contest, in which more than 220 classes submitted music parody videos. The success of that contest has prompted eInstruction to schedule the second annual music parody contest; teachers and students can begin submitting their musical collaborations September 9, 2008.
For further information on the sweepstakes and eInstruction, please visit
http://www.einstruction.com. For more information on Interwrite Learning, visit http://www.interwritelearning.com.
