Hello Teachers,

Applications for the Microsoft Partners in Learning 2011 Innovative Education Forum (IEF) are being accepted. 

From the Forum website -

"Get inspired, and share your teaching innovations at the 2011 U.S. Innovative Education Forum (IEF). IEF celebrates you--outstanding educators and schools using technology to positively impact student learning. We’ll recognize projects that incorporate 21st-century technology into the classroom.

You could be selected to attend events in Redmond, Washington, on July 28–29, 2011. Winners there will proceed to the 2011 Worldwide Innovative Education Forum in Washington, D.C., in November.

If your project is chosen, there is no fee to attend, and travel expenses for the events are supported by Microsoft.

Do you and your students have a creative idea on how to solve a real-world problem with technology?  If so, you may be interested in the Inven-Team High School Invention Grants.  Your students' filmmaking skills could be essential to your team's invention. 

"Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams are teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors that receive grants up to $10,000 each to invent technological solutions to real-world problems.

The InvenTeam initiative is designed to excite high school students about invention through science, technology, engineering, and math; empower students to problem solve; and encourage an inventive culture in schools and communities.

The Lemelson-MIT Program created the initiative to inspire a new generation of inventors."

Do you know students who have creative and innovative ideas to use filmmaking as a way to teach literacy? If so, let them know about Youth Service America NEA Youth Leaders for Literacy.

"Youth Leaders for Literacy will award 30 young people from across the U.S. each with $500 grants. Successful projects will be youth-led and address an established literacy need in the applicant's school or community. The projects will launch on NEA’s Read Across America Day on March 2nd and culminate on Global Youth Service Day, April 15-17.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply. Youth ages 5-25 are welcome to apply along with an adult ally (an adult ally is a non-controlling mentor who offers support and guidance in the fulfillment of the service project)."

Looking to fund your creative idea that will engage students and enhance their learning?  The 2011 ING Unsung Heroes program might be a funding source for you.  

"The ING Unsung Heroes program has helped more than a thousand K-12 educators and their schools fund innovative classroom projects through awards totaling more than $3 million.

Do you or does someone you know have a creative, unique educational program that is helping students reach new heights? Or is there a program you’d like to implement, if only you had the proper funding?"

Applications are due April 30, 2011. 

Good luck!

Siemens has announced its We Can Change the World Challenge, "the only national sustainability challenge that empowers students in every grade level to develop and share environmental solutions that just may change the world!"  

The challenge is divided into three categories: elementary school (k-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).  Videos can be used as supplemental material to a team's application.  There are numerous prizes and your students still have time to submit an application.  The application deadline is March 15, 2011.

Good luck!

Lowe's is now accepting applications for its Fall 2010 Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant Program.  The deadline is October 15, 2010, but it will close early if 1500 applications are received before the deadline.  

"Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) has helped more than 1,000 schools across the country create reading gardens, build playgrounds and implement other improvement projects that help strengthen their schools and their communities."  

If your school is a recipient of a Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant, it could be an opportunity for your students to practice their documentary filmmaking skills.  Students could produce a documentary film about the physical and emotional impact of a Lowe's grant on their school and school community.

Are you looking for funding to buy supplies for your classroom?  The 2010-2011 Utah Council of Educators (UTCE) Mini-Grants Program could be a funding source for you.

From the Utah Council of Eduction website -

"The Utah Council of Educators is committed to supporting the efforts of exceptional educators both inside and outside the classroom.  UTCE is pleased to announce its annual Classroom Mini-Grant Program for the 2010-2011 school year.  At the beginning of each school year, up to ten awards worth up to $500 each are presented to outstanding Utah educators.

Mini-Grant funds can be used for a variety of purposes including classroom supplies, materials, books, software, motivational and academic posters, audio-visual equipment, and other types of useful items for your special classroom project.

The application process is simple and brief!"

Good luck!

If you are looking for funding for an innovative education technology program in your school, you may be interested in the HP EdTech Innovators Award.

According the HP EdTech Innovators Award website -  

The HP EdTech Innovators Award:

• Recognizes pioneers in primary, secondary and higher education who use technology in innovative ways inside and outside the classroom
• Supports innovative educators with technology to replicate, advance and share their successes
• Increases awareness of successful programs, supports sharing and encourages adoption of best practices

The EdTech Innovators Award includes:

• A technology grant of approximately $40,000 (USD, HP list price)
• Membership in an educators social network with access to support, training and other resources for sharing ideas and best practices

The EdTech Innovators Award is focused on taking implemented or pilot programs to the next level.  The following are invited to apply:

• Accredited private or public education institutions at any level of formal education (i.e., primary, secondary, tertiary) and
• Nonprofit organizations that foster the use of technology in education
• Institutions and organizations located in eligible countries. For 2010, these are:

Good luck!

In many schools, effective and creative collaboration takes place between librarians/media specialists and other teachers.  If you are part of such a collaboration or know of one you feel should be recognized, check out ISTE’s SIG Media Specialist Technology Innovation Award.

“This annual award sponsored by Linworth Publishing, Inc. and Follett Software Company will be presented to two teams of a school librarian and collaborating teacher who have conducted an exemplary technology program extending beyond the library to meet the needs of classroom students and teachers. The purpose of this award is to identify, promote, and sustain excellence in collaborative and innovative technology-based projects driven by the school library media center in support of curricular and instructional needs in elementary, middle, and high schools.”

Good Luck!

Toshiba American Foundation offers money for project materials for creative and effective math and science projects. This may be a good opportunity to acquire additional resources for a math or science content related filmmaking project.

The following is from the Toshiba America Foundation site.

For Teachers of Grades K-5  

Toshiba America Foundation's mission is to provide teachers with additional funds to support classroom projects. After school and summer projects, and independent study projects are not eligible. The Foundation strongly encourages projects planned and led by individual teachers or teams of teachers for their own classrooms.

Many successful grantees have designed projects that tap into the natural curiosity of their students, enable students to frame their own scientific questions, and incorporate the expertise of community partners.

Any K-5 teacher in a public or private (not-for-profit) school is eligible for a grant to support science or math education up to $1,000 for project materials only. Grade K-5 applications are accepted once a year on October 1st.

For Teachers of Grades 6-12

Wanted: Classroom Innovators! Toshiba America Foundation is currently accepting applications from teachers who are passionate about making science and mathematics more engaging for their students.

Do you teach 6-12 science or math? Do you have a wish list of instructional equipment that will make learning more exciting for your students? If the answer is yes to these questions, Toshiba America Foundation would like to hear from you.

6-12 Grants Grade 6-12 applications for $5,000 or less are accepted on a rolling basis, throughout the calendar year. Grants requests of more than $5,000 are reviewed twice a year. Applications for grants of more than $5,000 are due August 2, 2010.