Technology makeover contest opens
NEC Display Solutions of America will award a total of $100,000 in NEC products through a series of new contests. Registrants in its Star Student (education), Business Advantage (small and medium-sized businesses), Medical+ (health care), and Cinema Advantage (theater) programs are eligible to win $25,000 for their respective facilities. Besides registering in the NEC marketing program for which it qualifies, each participating organization must complete a registration form and upload a two- to three-minute video detailing why its classroom, office, lobby, or theater needs a technology makeover. The deadline for photos and video entries is February 28, 2011.
New doc-cam grant
Samsung Techwin America’s Electronic Imaging Division announced its new “Digital Preparedness” Grant Program, in which it offers 50 SAMCAM 860 document cameras to U.S. teachers based on need and quality of response. Any teacher in a United States school is eligible to apply, and applications should be submitted on or before April 30, 2011. Visit www.samsunggrants.com to enter.
Robotics competition kicks off
Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am joined inventor Dean Kamen at the 2011 FIRST Robotics Season kickoff, January 8, at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester.
Inventor Dean Kamen and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas launched the FIRST Robotics Competition 20th anniversary season with a January kickoff of a new robotics game called LOGO MOTION before a crowd of 600 people at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, hometown and headquarters of FIRST. In the FRC LOGO MOTION robotics game, two alliances of three teams will compete on a 27-by-54-foot field with poles, attempting to earn points by hanging as many triangular, circular, and square logo pieces as possible. Read more at www.usfirst.org.
School libraries catalog achievements for chance at $100,000
The new Follett Challenge looks for the best innovations in school libraries. The judges, all of whom are library and education professionals, will be looking for schools that do the most outstanding jobs of applying technology, content, and creativity in ways that engage students and foster literacy and critical thinking. Six winning libraries will be rewarded with the cash equivalent of products and services from Follett. Applications for the Follett Challenge will be available February 1 for all private and public K–12 schools. Submissions are due June 1. For more information, visit www.follettchallenge.com.
Win a Wireless Lab Sweepstakes
CDW-G and Discovery Education opened the ninth annual Win a Wireless Lab Sweepstakes on January 3; it runs through May 6. The sweepstakes will provide a $50,000 21st-century classroom to three lucky grand-prize winners. Each classroom includes 20 notebook or tablet computers, an interactive whiteboard, student response devices, a projector, and a document camera. For more information, visit www.discoveryeducation.com/cdwg.
