Promethean Activclassroom for educators

Promethean launched a U.S.-based blogging competition to celebrate the preview launch of Activsoftware Inspire Edition, the latest in interactive whiteboard software. The competition is open to educators and education professionals who are U.S. residents who use any brand of interactive whiteboard in their classroom. The 1st place winner will receive a complete Activclassroom by Promethean valued at over $8,000.00. Users can download a copy of Activsoftware at www.prometheanplanet.com/activsoftware.

$50,000, four-year scholarships for students

Each year, the Gordon A. Rich Memorial Foundation awards college scholarships worth $50,000 over four years to five students whose parents or guardians work in the financial services industry. Because of the magnitude of lost financial jobs, the Foundation has recently expanded its criteria to encompass students whose parents or guardians have, or had, a career in finance. The GAR scholarships are available to high school seniors who demonstrate high academic achievement, integrity of character, potential leadership and financial need.

$15,000 awarded to technology collaboration teams

The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) is asking collaboration teams to submit proposals for their Technology in the Works 2009 competition. The award competition promotes excellence in short-term, quasi-experimental evaluations studying the impact of learning and assistive technologies (AT) to improve educational outcomes for all students, with a particular focus on students with special needs.

The annual competition calls for “quick turnaround” collaborative research efforts that inform the development of innovative and emerging assistive technologies, tools that provide greater access for students with disabilities. The objective of the competition is to encourage researchers, including graduate students, and developers to work collaboratively to study the effectiveness and feasibility of a particular technology intervention. Letters of intent must be received no later than March 23. Award recipients must secure matching funds of at least $15,000 to be eligible. Funds may be used to support an expansion of an already existing research project.

Scholarships to SMARTer Kids Foundation’s Connections program

The SMARTer Kids£ Foundation of Canada is now accepting applications for the 2009 to 2010 Connections program, a fully funded collaborative learning program for sixth-grade classes from Canada and the United States. Through the Connections program, teachers and students from participating classrooms collaborate on curriculum-based projects with the goal of developing mutual respect and understanding for one another.

Win a hybrid school bus

IC Bus is asking K-12 students to write a 500 word essay describing what makes their school green. Students under age 13 must have a sponsor submit their essay for them. The winning school will receive a hybrid school bus. The writer of the winning essay will receive a $5,000 scholarship and their sponsor could win up to $3,000 for educational materials.

Students can win valuable Adobe software

Adobe is asking high school students to submit stories that describe the world around them through innovative print, web, and video projects with Adobe software. The theme of the competition is The World is Your Stage. Students — ages 14 to 19 — can submit entries in three categories: web design and development, film and video, and graphic and print design. Category winners and finalists will be chosen, as well as the Best-of-Best Winner for the top overall submission.

Three individual category winners will receive Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection software. Three group category winners will receive their choice of Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium, Web Premium, or Production Premium.

More than $240,000 for 10 colleges or universities

HP plans to award approximately 10 grants to public or qualified private colleges or universities. Each grant is valued at more than $240,000 in HP technology, cash, and professional development to support innovations in the following areas:
Leadership Capacity — creating a global network of administrators and key faculty who implement innovative approaches to curriculum, instruction, and the use of technology to enhance undergraduate learning and research;
Digital Learning Environments — using technology to fundamentally redesign the learning experience in ways that lead to increased student engagement and academic success; can include innovations in online learning, virtual worlds, gaming for learning, and simulations;
The Undergraduate Design & Research Experience — making engineering real and relevant by involving engineering undergraduate students in design and research challenges that address real needs in society; can include local and/or global service learning;
Pre-College Outreach — engaging administrators, faculty, and undergraduate students to work with secondary school teachers and students, increasing awareness and interest in high-tech degree programs and careers.

More than $270,000 for 25 school districts

HP plans to award approximately 25 grants to public or qualified private school districts Each grant is valued at more than $270,000 in HP technology, cash, and professional development to support innovations in the following areas:
Leadership Capacity — creating a network of school administrators and key teachers who implement innovative approaches to curriculum, instruction, and the use of technology to enhance math/science learning;
Digital Learning Environments — using technology to fundamentally redesign the learning experience in ways that lead to increased student engagement and academic success; can include innovations in online learning, virtual worlds, gaming for learning, and simulations;
The Secondary Student Design & Research Experience — making math and science real and relevant by involving secondary students in design and research challenges that address real needs in society; can include local and/or global service learning;
High-Tech Career Awareness — engaging administrators, teachers, and students in ways that increase awareness and interest in high-tech college degree programs and careers.

FETC 2009: Instructional Solutions

3DVinci, a producer of three-dimensional design project materials that blend left-brain analytical skills with right-brain creativity, announced the updated version of ModelMetricks, a series of books that use free software to teach K-12 students to visualize, create, and analyze in 3D. ModelMetricks’ products help students learn to do 3D design projects for a variety of [...]

FETC 2009: Computers, Furniture, Infrastructure

Bretford Manufacturing announced that its new RHOMBII line of reconfigurable training tables is now available for order exclusively through Herman Miller North American dealerships and will begin shipping Feb. 1. The RHOMBII tables help educators make the most of their usable space. With optional built-in power adjustment, easy mobility, and the ability to nest tightly [...]