Posted by Heather Chirtea at 02:00:52 PM Mon 05/24/2010
Digital Wish is extremely excited to be a partner in e-Vermont, the Community Broadband Project. Over the coming months we will be working with leaders from participating organizations and exploring fellow 1:1 computing initiatives across the nation. This grant will empower us to bring 1:1 computing to selected classrooms throughout Vermont as a means to strengthen local communities and the state’s economy.
Overall, e-Vermont’s statewide partners will help local groups develop ways to take full advantage of the Internet for job creation, school innovation, providing social services, and increasing civic involvement. Digital Wish will provide essential training so that students, teachers, and parents can use the internet more effectively. With sets of computers that travel from school to home, internet projects and community engagement will flourish. When 21st century tools and teaching practices become an integral part of every day, at school and at home, student engagement, motivation, and participation rise across the curriculum.
In addition, by structuring the implementation of the program on the success of Digital Wish’s pilot schools, we will further refine a replicable model for school technology adoption that can eventually be utilized by schools across the nation.
Community, connection, and classroom learning are keys to a successful future, and effective internet use will create a generation of students who will form the basis of a new knowledge economy.
Digital Wish embraces this opportunity to help prepare students for the 21st century workforce and ensure future economic development. We are looking forward to working in classrooms with students, educators, and administrators, as well as with parents and communities. We will share everything we learn, and all the tools we develop, freely through www.digitalwish.org so that all school statewide and nationwide can benefit. We encourage you to contact us with any questions.
For more information about the towns involved and general info about the e-Vermont project please visit http://www.vtrural.org/
We'll see you in the classroom, Heather Chirtea Founder Digital Wish (802) 375-6721 ext. 202 heather@digitalwish.org
Eric Bird Lead Trainer/Peer Coach Digital Wish (802) 681-8840 eric@digitalwish.org
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 10:56:32 AM Thu 05/06/2010
Written by guest-blogger, Christine Berg
Last spring, after a presentation at a staff meeting about the benefits of service learning in the classroom, I decided to design my own service learning project for my French IV class. I contacted a former French teacher at our school, who is Haitian, about partnering with a school in Haiti. My vision was that we would correspond with them via email and video, and organize a benefit to help them purchase whatever supplies they needed for their school.
I contacted our IT department to find out what video equipment we had available, and they advised me to request the Flip video camera from our librarian. My students and I fell in love with it the first time we used it. It was so easy and fun to use! I immediately decided to use the grant money that I had received for the project from NYSAFLT (the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers) to purchase a Flip video camera for our friends in Haiti. Thus began our correspondence. On January 12th of this year, a massive earthquake hit the exact spot where our partner school was located. We were beside ourselves with worry. We took up a collection at our school and raised $500 for them within a few days. After about a week, we had an email from one of the teachers saying that the school had been destroyed, and the whereabouts of many of the students were unknown. They were going to move their base of operations a few miles out of Port-au-Prince and try to set up a relief center there. We sent them the money we had raised, and set about organizing a benefit where we were able to raise an additional $2800 for them. A few weeks later, we received an email stating that the school was caring for 60 children with the money we had sent. The best part was the attached video (taken with the Flip video camera, which had miraculously survived the quake!) of the children thanking us in French for our support. This was an amazing, life changing experience, and would not have been nearly as meaningful without the Flip video camera.
I have become such a believer in the power of the Flip that I recently convinced our district to purchase one for a student who was selected to study abroad in Russia for a semester through the National Strategic Language Initiative for Youth. She has been sending videos of her experiences in Russia which I have been sharing with my students. These videos have energized my students and have had a tremendously positive impact on students’ interest in language learning and travel. They have opened a window to the world for them.
The Flip video camera is an incredible tool which can bring people and cultures together, which is what language learning is all about.
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 10:26:10 AM Thu 04/22/2010
For nearly 10 years, Bob Wood has spent much of his time outside of the classroom trying to bring new concepts into the classroom. During his summers, Wood travels and studies, conducting interviews and taking notes for his students to analyze and discuss within the scope of history. Recently however, Wood has added the Flip Video Camcorder to his storytelling arsenal.
Written by Digital Wish teacher Bob Wood:
In Senior Current Issues at Oakridge High School in Muskegon, Michigan, we focus on issues of the day. I’ve taught the course since 2000. All things political, international and domestic, natural disasters like Katrina, and this past January the earthquake in Haiti, land in our lap. If the kids feel the urge to get involved - we move. The course also provides us the chance to use Flip cameras for a myriad of assignments. From interviewing local small business owners to “four a year” student video diaries, the Flip serves as a creative tool for class projects. This year Oakridge student efforts for earthquake relief in Haiti and my use of a Flip camera came together quite nicely on a sunny Sunday morning in Selma, Alabama.
The Haiti earthquake moved many high school students around the world to action. An article in the February 5th New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/world/americas/06tuberculosis.html?hpw provided us inspiration. Touched by the story of Pierre-Louis Monfort’s tuberculosis clinic, my students began a passionate effort to aid those struggling to survive in Haiti. We sold t-shirts, secured donations and pledges for a 24-hour fast of solidarity with Haitians in need, and invited local high schools to join us. Our cheerleaders wore Help Heal Haiti T-shirts as uniform tops and our basketball team warmed up in them on Fast Night. The entire Oakridge Community joined in. In the end we raised $3,129, which with contacts gained through the Times article, we were able to wire directly to the streets of Port Au-Prince.
The Flip video camera entered the picture the following week. I was in Selma, Alabama for the Bridge Crossing Jubilee, which takes place annually and pays homage to the foot soldiers of the Civil Rights movement. On Sunday morning prior to the Bridge procession when speeches were being made outside on the steps of Brown Chapel, I explored inside the church. It was quiet and empty except for a handful of people near the back pews having their photo taken with an elegantly dressed man. They asked if I could take the picture. I did…and was introduced to Raymond Joseph, Haitian Ambassador to the United States. I filled Ambassador Joseph in on our fundraiser, that a bunch of kids in a small rural school in West Michigan had fasted for 24 hours and collected over $3,000 for his beleaguered nation, and that we were giving our donations to Mr. Pierre Louis Monfort and his tuberculosis clinic in Port-Au-Prince. Ambassador Joseph too had read the story in the Times. He was touched by our compassion and conveyed through me a generous message of gratitude to all of my students. His only regret was that he could not thank them in person.
Luckily, I always travel with my trusty Flip video camera. I asked Ambassador Joseph if he wouldn’t mind telling them himself. He was pleased to do so…and here it is: http://sharing.theflip.com/session/a0f953fd63ac1c08cfbe18bd2ec258a4/video/11377760
To be able to bring this thank you message from the Ambassador of Haiti back to my students in Muskegon made our mission complete. With the video, my students and my school were able to truly feel the gratitude for all of their hard work to “Help Heal Haiti.”
To follow our entire Help Heal Haiti campaign please go to bhttp://blogs.muskegonisd.org/bwood/
Bob Wood - Oakridge High School Muskegon, Michigan
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 01:02:21 PM Wed 04/07/2010
Written by Jon Ketchum
In less than one month, fifth grade teacher Stacy Yetzer campaigned for $500 in community donation through Digital Wish. To help spread awareness for her classroom campaign, Yetzer worked with students to craft, stamp and mail hand-written letters to local business owners in Kersey, PA.
For nearly a decade at Fox Township Elementary, Yetzer has been committed to teaching students how to take ownership of their knowledge. As the facilitator of the classroom, Yetzer says that she continually strives for an equal balance of student and teacher participation.
“Finding a balance is difficult but I think once you do, it's well worth it for the kids,” Yetzer said. “By showing them that I am willing to work with them and be one of them, they open up and really give me what they're capable of.”
Yetzer often turns to technology to enhance independent student study and peer evaluation. Since receiving an interactive whiteboard, Yetzer says that she has been on a mission to put more technology into her classroom.
“I haven't had my Promethean Board for too long, but hands down this is the best asset we have in our classroom,” Yetzer said. “So I navigated through Digital Wish and read the instructions on how to actually start accumulating money for more technology.”
Soon after, Yetzer decided that she was going to ask her students to participate in a letter writing campaign. When the students realized that their letters could turn into classroom tech, they jumped at the idea.
“We started the campaign as an in-class writing activity,” she said. “We brainstormed ideas around the technology that we wanted and then we wrote rough drafts and edited them before we sent them out.”
Just two weeks after the letters landed in local mailboxes, Yetzer and her students started receiving donations. In total, the 19 letters sent inspired local business to give 4 cash donations and 2 product donations totaling $500 in funding. They raised nearly one donation for every three letters they sent.
“I found that the businesses that donated to us really appreciated the student's attempt and effort in writing letters,” Yetzer said. “I also had several business owners tell me that they appreciated the fact that the students added comments about our classroom and how their money would be used.”
Through the success of her campaign, Yetzer was targeted by her local PTO to speak at the next board meeting. According to Yetzer, Fox Township's PTO is looking to get more teachers involved in Digital Wish. Through the meeting Yetzer is also hoping to introduce the idea of PTO contributions to Digital Wish classroom campaigns at Fox Township Elementary.
“I have volunteered to help get the other teachers in our school on board through Digital Wish because it has worked for me,” she said. “It's a huge help, people truly don't understand the different costs a school has and how much we try to do with what we have."
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 02:13:04 PM Tue 04/06/2010
A guest blog by Digital Wish Teacher, Mary Williams.
Mary Williams has been teaching chemistry to St. Mary High School students for nearly a quarter century. Although Williams has always loved her job, she claims that she has found new classroom vigor through the tech-tools she now uses with her students.
As a guest blogger, Williams tells her classroom story:
I teach chemistry at the secondary level. I have been teaching for over 25 years, and have been re-energized this year by all the technology available to me and my students. Not only does it make learning fun, but more importantly, I believe it makes it more effective. Let me share a few of my experiences with you.
I found out about Digital Wish this fall and they made me aware of the Flip, a small video camera that is extremely easy to use. Since first acquiring this little device, I have had to lend it out to other staff, almost as often as we use it in class. I have had students who usually run the other way when homework is mentioned, come in after school to make a Flip email card about a chemistry demo for the class. Students now ask to do projects involving video. Some students are natural “hams” and I take advantage of this by having them present chemistry ideas to the rest of the class. In the process they learn (when you have to teach you tend to really learn the material), and it helps the other students learn too.
One of the “hot” words in education seems to be Multiple Intelligences or MI. I’m sure many of you have heard of this theory and I see evidence of it everyday in my classroom. So the question becomes- how do you effectively teach to all the different MI’s in one classroom, in one period? I don’t know if anyone has a complete answer to this, but I have found that using multimedia- visual, musical, linguistic, interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences all blend together and seem to help students.
When I assign a project involving a video, such as animoto, (if unfamiliar with animoto, go to their website and check it out: www.animoto/education.com ) the students really, dare I say, enjoy it! Projects that involve a visual, musical and even the limited written element not only reach several of the intelligences, but also allow students to express themselves, to process what they are learning, and often, to see how learning can be fun. Then, when we share the projects in class, we review the content multiple times. Think about it. I assign a 2 minute video on properties of acids and bases, and when we watch each others videos- we may review that concept 10-15 times. They enjoy making these little videos, as well as watching them and it takes relatively little time.
There are several other websites that I find allow me to address students' multiple intelligences, and keep class interesting. One is www.blabberize.com . When you can get a picture of Einstein to tell the students what they should bring to lab- they tend to listen. Or if you can have a student do a first person biography of Antoine Lavosier (Father of Chemistry) and have Lavosier present his biography to you, it adds a little something to the report.
Another interesting site that is a fun way to present material, either by the teacher or for a student presentation, is www.goanimate.com ( link to http://goanimate.com/movie/0z3GjuMDFR2A?utm_source=linkshare&uid=0JzS0pHb8X-E for an example). This creates animations which you can use to present a new concept.
Do all these things replace the problem sets, lectures, review and traditional teaching methods? No, not at all, but they sure do add to them-and I believe enhance the learning process. For the students it’s like coming to class everyday, and instead of listening to one note over and over again, they can listen to the whole musical scale- and maybe pick up a catchy tune they can’t keep out of their head.
The websites I mentioned- and many many more are listed at www.boxoftricks.net Click on the resource tab for an alphabetically listing of many good websites.
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 11:17:59 AM Thu 03/18/2010
Digital Wish has joined forces with one of the country's leading electronics recycling company, Cartridges for Kids (CFK), to offer the Recycle Forward fundraising campaign. Recycle Forward is a program where YOU, the educator, can start your own campaign for your technology wish list items by recycling old electronics and ink cartridges for cash!
Thats right! Just by asking community members and local businesses to move their used electronics out of closets, you will raise money to move the technology you need into the classroom!
Register now: Just login to your Digital Wish account and click on the “Recycle Forward” banner from your “My Account” page. Schools and community members can register for free at www.recycleforwardnow.org.
How does the program work? We provide you with flyers and PR materials for an easy-to-launch campaign to spread the word to community members. Anyone can register for free at www.recyclforwardnow.org. Just print posters, set up a collection box, and circulate flyers to publicize the drop location. Free, pre-paid shipping labels can be printed from the website, and the items ship directly to Cartridges for Kids for processing. All of the money earned from recycling drive will automatically appear in the school’s Digital Wish account.
With the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day approaching on April 22 this is the perfect time to kick-start your campaign!
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 11:54:32 AM Mon 03/08/2010
Published by guest writer and tech specialist, Stacy Bodin
Upon entering Dozier Elementary anyone would instantly see a normal elementary school, however looks can be deceiving. Not evident as you look down the cheerful hallway, is the long road traveled through the last four years in the life of the school.
September 24, 2005 was the date Hurricane Rita hit a neighboring coastal Louisiana parish, sending flooding water in Vermilion Parish. Of the twenty district schools, seven were instantly displaced. One of those schools was Dozier Elementary in Erath, Louisiana.
On October 6, 2005, a long physical journey began for the elementary school as the teachers and students moved the first time. The initial leg of their path began with a platooning system with Cecile Picard @ Maurice Elementary, a campus sixteen miles away. Making a difficult situation feasible for five months, both student bodies worked together to share one school plant by attending long days, three days a week.
With an excited community in tow on March 13th, Dozier Elementary made its second move back to their stripped school for a short lived two month span. Glad to return home, everyone dismissed the bare gray cement floors, empty walls, the absence of classroom doors and ominous feeling in the once “warm” school atmosphere.
With extensive work still needed on the facility, the faculty, staff and student body moved a third time in June of 2006, to FEMA trailers where they remained three years. During that time span, Hurricane Ike brought flood waters back to the community, flooding the three Erath schools once again on September 13, 2008. Fortunately this time, with Dozier still housed in FEMA buildings, the teachers didn’t suffer the loss they experienced with Hurricane Rita. The unoccupied original school plant did flood again.
During the first week of August in 2009, Dozier Elementary educators moved a fourth time to return home to its renovated school. As anyone could imagine, filtering through the halls, were familiar whispers of the famous line Dorothy spoke in the Wizard of Oz, “there’s no place like home!”
With the school in a basic survival mode for four years, the goal now lies with regaining smaller technology items and acquiring new resources and/or tools. With district wide budget cuts coming, the school also hopes to begin replacing older computers with the help of donors or grants.
Though money was donated for damages at the district level, understandably earmarked funds were spent on replacing larger and higher priority technology items for all district schools, but the smaller and personal items were not.
In February, Dozier Elementary decided to move forward using their “Eye on Technology” theme and venturing out with a new idea linking the Digital Wish Foundation. With the spotlight on their website @ http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/dozier, the school launched a “Digital Wish/Technology” campaign in hopes of refreshing their technology program and gaining needed resources. Principal Karla Toups and the tech committee set up a school wide page asking for grade level cameras, accessories, flip cameras and software. Individual teachers also each have personal digital wish accounts with needs listed, in hope that parents, grandparents, and/or businesses would help their classroom needs. Letters were sent home by many classroom teachers to communicate current needs for continuous technology growth.
Educators are seeking instructional software for reading, writing and math which would benefit daily technology centers and intervention programs. With the goal of moving forward through creative technology lessons, many teachers are interested in digital storytelling tools. With the help of the Digital Wish/Technology campaign, it is the faculty’s hope that donors could assist in rebuilding, as well as helping them move in a positive and productive way.
For the teachers, students and faculty members who experienced the flood waters and moving four times in four years, memories of hardship do emerge however, coupled with that struggle, lies triumph, strength, endurance and a strong commitment toward education. Each educator, student and parent who endured the four year journey would quickly admit two things “It has been a long, hard road for the school” and that “there really is no place like home!”
Additional Links in case you need more photos, etc…
You can see Erath Flooding photos Hurricane Rita @
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 04:00:05 PM Wed 03/03/2010
Published by: Jon Ketchum
This school year John Downs, the Technology Facilitator at Jefferson Middle School in Winston-Salem NC is helping to rally his 80 fellow teachers to start their own classroom campaign for technology. With slimming state budgets and a need for new tech-resources within the school, Downs has asked his colleagues to join Digital Wish.
As Jefferson Middle School's first hired Technology Facilitator, Downs holds weekly grade-level and subject-specific tech-tutorials for students and staff. Beginning in 2000, these workshops have helped his school become more proficient in current internet trends such as wikis, google docs and blogs.
"My job is to serve this school in everything technology and I try to offer as much as I can," Downs says.
Although Downs claims that Jefferson Middle School has a high commitment to technology, he also notes that his staff is severely underprivileged when it comes to tangible tech-resources.
"You know in some ways I feel like we are five steps ahead and in others I feel like we are five steps behind," says Downs. "Most of the money that we receive for technology goes to my salary, which I am happy about, but in the same sense it doesn't help us get new technology each year."
To counter the school's need for new tech-tools Downs and Mike McDowell, Jefferson Middle School's Improvement Team Chairman suggested that the faculty take individual measures put technology into their curriculum. To do this McDowell suggested that every teachers should register on Digital Wish to begin a classroom-campaign.
"A lot of the teachers, were pleasantly surprised around Christmas when parents and community members donated to their Digital Wish classroom after we sent a mass email," Downs says. "In the email the teachers insisted that instead of receiving Christmas presents they would prefer a contribution to their classroom wishlist."
With twenty-five Jefferson Middle School teachers now registered on Digital Wish Downs hopes that he will soon be able to educate his staff using new classroom technology. His vision is to one day have a strong enough infrastructure at Jefferson Middle School so that each teacher can have a whiteboard for their classroom. As read in his Digital Wish profile, Downs believes that the best way to educate 21st century students is with 21st century tools.
He writes, "We live in a digital age, and students have become accustomed to learning in digital ways. As teachers we need to have access to the latest technology in order to connect with our digital learners."
To learn more about John Downs' school-wide technology campaign you can visit his profile here.
Posted by Heather Chirtea at 04:13:41 PM Thu 02/25/2010
So many users have taken advantage of the Flip Video Matching Grant, that Digital Wish is now offering the Flip Video Accessory Lab for teachers to safely store their new camcorders. If you already have all the Flip camcorders you need, but lack the accessories, software, and rolling crate, this package provides a great solution for running a school-wide video program.
This Accessory Kit includes:
* 10 Empty Camcorder Slots (fill them with your own Flip camcorders) * 10 Flip Video Tripods * 10 Flip Video USB Cables * 5 AA Quick Charger with 4 Ni-MH Batteries * Tool Factory Movie Maker Software with a 10 User License (Windows only) * 10 Adventures in Technology! Incredible Lesson Book/CD Sets * 1 Hardshell, Waterproof, FAA Approved Carry-on Crate
Posted by Heather Chirtea at 04:02:20 PM Thu 02/25/2010
If your school is using technology acquired through Digital Wish, we would love to hear about it! With our new 'Share your Story' teacher-feature, users can now submit classroom stories to Digital Wish for potential national press coverage.
For most Digital Wish teachers, sharing Flip Videos is a great way to showcase teacher ingenuity. With nearly 20,000 Flip Videos put into classrooms through Digital Wish, now is the time to show the nation what can be done with a Flip! Submitting your story easy. Simply login to your account on Digital Wish and link here:
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 08:44:17 AM Tue 02/09/2010
Published by: Jon Ketchum
Jamie Mullenaux and her class of 4th grade students began their New Year with a resolution to put an Interactive Whiteboard on their classroom wall. In less than one month at Mechanicsville Elementary in Virginia, Mullenaux's students have raised nearly 70% of their targeted goal.
Mullenaux has been teaching fourth grade at Mechanicsville Elementary for nearly four years however this is her first year teaching an 'all-girls' class. According to Mullenaux, her school has been organizing single-sex classrooms since she began in an effort to better understand the achievement gap between genders in the elementary school. In turn Mullenaux has taken her new role as a personal challenge to engage and teach her group of eighteen girls using new technology.
"It is our job to prepare these students for the future," says Mullenaux. "This is especially important for me as an educator of an all-girls classroom because I feel that females aren't currently as prevalent in technology oriented jobs as some males may be."
Staying true to her goal of infusing technology around the calendar, Mullenaux continually booked the media lab so her students could use the school's only tabletop Whiteboard. Although partially broken, her students habitually returned from the lab asking their teacher when they could get a Whiteboard for their own classroom. Just before the Holiday Season, Mullenaux showed her students Digital Wish and asked them brainstorm ideas of how they could fundraise for their class. Soon after the students collectively decided to run a letter writing campaign asking friends and family for contributions towards their Whiteboard.
"It was great because it was also something that we could tie into our persuasive writing curriculum," Mullenaux says. "After I edited each letter, the kids sent them out and they immediately started seeing results."
Although Mullenaux admits that she didn't expect much of a response from the community when the letters first went out, she claims that she was beside herself when checks from local donors began rolling in.
"The first response we received was a check for $500 from one of the student's grandfather who owns a local business," says Mullenaux. "From that point on the kids kept receiving checks and we all began to realize that getting a Whiteboard was very possible through the support of family and friends."
With more checks in the mail Mullenaux and her students are certain that they will be hanging their new Whiteboard on their classroom wall in the near future. When that day arrives Mullenaux claims that the first order of business will be to play Nintendo Wii with her students.
"Honestly, all of my recent Digital Wish success can only be attributed to my girls," Mullenaux says. "Needless to say this experience has definitely surpassed my expectations."
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 02:40:50 PM Fri 01/22/2010
Published by: Jon Ketchum
In early October of 2009 Tim Foley, the Video teacher at Bennington Community Development Center in Southern Vermont challenged his tech-hungry students to a competition where more than just grades were at stake. In conjunction with Digital Wish, Foley asked his students to craft creative Public Service Announcements to help inform American educators about the Flip Video Matching Program administered by Digital Wish. As added incentive, Digital Wish granted two Flip Videos to the winning producers.
Making sure not to stifle the creative license of the students, Digital Wish gave Foley's students a project description with only three major criteria. Each video had to be shorter than 30 seconds; it had to deliver a strong understanding of the Flip Video Matching Program and most importantly; it had to be original.
Within the first week of the assignment, nearly all of Foley's students had crafted individual story-boards and presented them to Digital Wish staff members by video conference. Originality was plentiful as these eager High School students sat in front of the classroom's computer screen presenting early video concepts on scribbled loose-leaf paper. After pitching their ideas each contestant was given direct guidance on how to take their brainchild to the next level.
Consultation continued throughout the next month as Foley's students worked at completing a variety of unique, comical and inspiring commercials to help educate American teachers about the Flip Matching Program. Just before the holiday break, Digital Wish reviewed the final entries and decided on two projects that met all of the project criteria. Producers Austin Bevin, with her comical 'teacher-testimony' and Drew Johnson, with a visual representation of a 'student-testimony' took the crown.
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 10:06:30 AM Tue 01/12/2010
Digital Wish users submit over 20 Flip Video classroom projects for teachers to use with students.
In
an effort to showcase teacher ingenuity in the classroom, Digital Wish
recently held a video contest where we asked our users to show us how
they were using their Flip Videos with students. Teachers responded
with over 20 interesting and comical classroom submissions, ranging
from the well-scripted, student-produced news skits, to stop-action
claymation shorts.
To review some of the creative submissions crafted for the contest click here
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 11:39:39 AM Thu 12/17/2009
Published by: Jon Ketchum
With great advances in educational technology, the traditional “instructor” is quickly morphing into a congenial classroom collaborator. Much like the ‘coach’ of a unified sports team, this technologically savvy teacher triggers student engagement by offering a collaborative learning environment for their class.
Brian Greene is a teacher/leader who considers himself to be the 'coach' of his classroom. At Prairie Crossing Charter School in Illinois, Greene educates his students using what he calls 'unconventional tactics.' Through his many hands-on lesson plans and classroom field trips, Greene claims that he motivates his students to take ownership of their knowledge by trying to have them physically 'experience' it.
"Constructivist learning and the multiple intelligence theory are utilized to allow students to think out of the box and push the envelope in education," Greene says.
Within this atmosphere Greene claims that he is as much a member of his team as any other student, not only does he teach but he learns as well. In an effort to help his students share their growing knowledge and experience, Greene also strives to integrate technology into his classroom. Although his students actively navigate the Web and produce PowerPoint presentations for class projects, Greene hopes to start using webinars and podcasts to collaborate with students and teachers from around the nation. According to Greene, he is always looking for the next best way to engage his students.
"As the principal, staff, students and parents know that there is no challenge I will turn down if it means success for our students," Greene says. "We have so many 'cool' things going on at school; it is sometime hard to explain them all."
Prairie Crossing Charter School also prides themselves on their ability to physically 'think outside of the box' according to Greene. Often times students will paticipate in an outdoor classroom where they tend to the school's garden and individual student food plots. Greene claims that this physical learning environment reaffirms his classroom ideology that students will take ownership over their knowledge when they are personally invested in it.
"Every student is a part of 'Farm to Table,' which teaches our students about sustainability and agriculture," says Greene. "Students in each grade are in charge of planting, cultivating and harvesting a crop that they will turn into a meal for their fellow classmates."
Greene advises that the many teachers who still consider themselves to be ‘instructors’ should try and stimulate their students in new ways. He asks that teachers consider his teaching philosophy posted on Digital Wish, "We must put the power to think, create, develop and challenge into the fingertips of our children."
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 02:33:29 PM Fri 12/04/2009
Published by: Jon Ketchum
In late October, a Digital Wish donor named John Lintner paid homage to his community by gifting needed resources to his children's elementary school. Earlier that month, Lintner approached Marianne Williams, the Principal of Willard Elementary with the intent of making a technology donation to the school. Upon doing so Williams suggested that there was one item that was in high demand among her teachers; it was a Flip video camera.
"We had a vendor come in last year and show us the Flip camera and we were thrilled with it," the principal said. "At that time we cobbled together enough money to buy three or four of them for the building, you know how it is with budgets!"
As soon as Lintner became aware of the school's videos needs, he immediately searched the web and found Digital Wish through Flip's website.
"I was extremely happy to find Digital Wish," Lintner said. "Through the site I was able to contribute more than double the amount of cameras to my children's school."
When Lintner informed Williams about Digital Wish, she immediately told her teachers to register so they could continue fundraising for technology.
"I thought that this would be a perfect organization for my teachers and I to get involved with," Williams said. "Teachers list specifically what they want for their classroom and donors can then view a teacher’s exact needs."
Within a few days of helping her teacher to register on Digital Wish, Lintner had donated 24 Flip Camcorders to William's school.
"When the teachers and students found out that they were going to be receiving flip cameras through John Lintner’s donation they were absolutely beside themselves," Williams said. "Since receiving them they have been in constant use in the classroom."
Through his experience donating, Lintner claimed that one of the largest benefits of giving through Digital Wish was knowing that 100% of his money was going directly towards putting Flip Cameras into Willard Elementary.
"I would recommend Digital Wish to other donors for the same reasons I used the site; it’s convenient, easy, and you know exactly where your money is going."
Although Lintner said that his initial intent to donate to Willard Elementary was sparked by his willingness to pay homage to his local 'community.' Lintner's actions have in turn brought a new sense of school pride among the teachers and students that received his gift.
"Although my intent was to donate to the school," Lintner said. "The true beneficiaries of this donation are of course the teachers and the students."
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 11:05:48 AM Wed 11/04/2009
Published by: Jon Ketchum
Thinking back to the ‘glory days’ of my high school career I can remember four things vividly, my friends, my teachers, my homework and oddly enough, my worn backpack. Although the last nostalgic component may seem a bit out of place, this back-bound essential was my lifesaver. It was the one tool that would allow me to ‘mule’ my many textbooks between classes.
Because of the geographic location of my locker I seldom visited the storage space between classes. Instead, my canvas backpack doubled as a temporary supply stash between multiple periods. However, after just one week of toting my essentials everywhere I went, I dreamt of a technology that would remedy my then need for Bengay muscle relief after a long day at school.
My latent prayers were answered when the introduction of a student laptop, or netbook entered the education market recently. Not only are these ‘bite-sized’ machines easy to handle, they’re also an extremely effective ‘notebook.’ These machines enable students to create, publish and most importantly share class work no matter the curriculum. The sheer functionality of a netbook can foster great ingenuity and collaboration within any classroom.
Affordability is another tremendous feature of these lightweight student aides. For about as much as the typical student would spend in stationary over their 4-year high school career they could purchase a netbook. Teachers also appreciate the affordability of these classroom tools as they offer the perfect platform to engage students when introducing new concepts.
Needless to say, I am ever envious of today’s back-packless students, who can simply hold a magazine-sized think tank against their side.
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 03:50:24 PM Tue 10/27/2009
Published by: Jon Ketchum
Digital Wish will expand its teacher and donor communication through a grant received from the Adele E. Pierce Fund which is managed by The Vermont Community Foundation. The grant will go towards the production of a newsletter that will help inform the Digital Wish community about exciting site activity. These graphical monthlies will highlight Digital Wish news for our 19,000 current users and all future community members.
The award will allow Digital Wish to ‘keep in touch’ in a colorful and professional way. Keep an eye out for our first edition in your mailbox soon!
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 03:12:51 PM Tue 10/20/2009
Published by: Jon Ketchum
If there’s one thing that’s difficult for anyone to encounter when trekking through the swaying trends of technological know-how, it’s a steep learning curve. Whether you are a self-proclaimed “technology native” or “immigrant,” it is seldom easy to ratchet on a new set of training wheels to learn the ‘next’ new system.
There are some organizations however, that purposefully develop new technologies to meet the needs of nearly every ‘adopter.’ In my observation, these companies are successful in their outreach because they do 3 things well; they offer products that have a purpose, products that are user-friendly and most importantly, products that are fun.
There is one company in particular that has mastered the art of ‘reaching out’ to a varied audience. With the release of their inexpensive point and shoot camcorder in 2007, Flip Video single handedly demolished the latent learning curve associated with operating a video camera for its users. Their “plug and play” product was fresh, fun and easy to use, providing certain satisfaction for anyone willing to hold the device in their palm.
User-friendly products such as the Flip Video are especially useful in the education sector because they offer needed ‘clarity’ for both technology immigrants and natives within a collaborative center, the classroom. Consequently, these well-packaged systems fuel many new thoughts and ideas for both learners and teachers furthering a student’s education.
Because the Flip Video is a practical system it is also a practical tool. Often times, a routine lesson plans is given new life when a new technology like the Flip Video is introduced. Instead of handing in a report for only the teacher to read and learn from, students now have the potential to craft projects that an entire class can learn from. In essence, these user-friendly ‘tools’ help inspire new learners, giving them a sense of exploration and ownership over their work.
In retrospect, ‘we’ are a divided group of technology adopters. As such, we should all hope that ‘plug and play’ products will continue to be readily available for our use as new systems come and go. Maybe then we can ditch the training wheels once and for all and rest assure that our learning curves will forever be slight in their inclination.
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 11:45:07 AM Wed 10/14/2009
Digital Wish received a consultancy grant to hire social media professional, Josh Groth in an effort to strengthen connections with users. Through the grant, a detailed media strategy was crafted to help increase Digital Wish’s “digital-footprint” in accordance with Groth’s expertise in the field.
Groth’s 2-month correspondence yielded a systematic ‘new media’ approach, detailing how best to use social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook and You Tube. His “90-day challenge” provided a methodical mix of ways to use social trends to voice a cause.
Groth was connected to Digital Wish through an outreach program for non-profits on www.idealist.org.
You can track Digital Wish’s progress throughout Groth’s 90-day challenge by following us on Twitter, becoming a fan on Facebook or staying tuned to our channel on You Tube.
Posted by Jon Ketchum at 10:55:44 AM Mon 10/05/2009
Published by: Jon Ketchum
Technologically speaking, many of my friends and family are still considered ‘weak swimmers’ when treading through today’s tumultuous “e-ocean.” Even when they are in the knee-deep depths of technological understanding they can barely keep their chin afloat without the help of a well trained “life guard” on duty.
Growing up in the wake of Internet explosion I had a difficult time finding my buoyancy on the “technology-wave” as well. No matter how many times my 3rd grade teacher threw me into the ‘Mario Typing’ shark tank, I rarely came out alive. After all, the Mario that I was most familiar with moved fluidly when coaxed across the screen; mobility was not determined by my ability to accurately spell the words ‘run’ and ‘jump.’
My ideologies however changed after “experiencing” the Northwest Territory through an ever-historic journey of “The Oregon Trail.” Although I suffered continuous bouts of the dreaded typhoid fever and a dismal two-month stretch of starvation due to a lack of bison, I was stimulated in a new way. I was learning.
My days on “the trail” have since expired, however my experience on the cart path brought forth a lasting confidence to explore further and faster. Without them I fear my academics would have suffered greatly. I shutter to think that masterpiece projects like, “The Life of Jerry;” a ‘mockumentary’ film about my college professor who lived with his mother, might never have existed!
Even though skeptics could attribute my new ability to fluidly surf technology’s wave to a seemingly rigorous seventeen-year course-study, I would argue differently. My present ability to navigate the tides of technology is solely reminiscent of simple character trait, curiosity. Through sheer wonder coupled with a bit of trial and error my fear of all that was technology was demolished.
My suggestion for all those people still sunbathing on technology’s beach; ditch the arm-floaties and dive into the ‘e-sea’ headfirst. You may doggy paddle your way back to shore at first, but I’m fairly certain that if you keep testing the waters you will find your buoyancy and so much more.
We don't receive many perks in the field of education and we frequently have to stretch a dollar. The website Digital Wish is
for nonprofit education. You can make a wish here and then the site
will collect money towards your wish. They also sell to educators for
discounted rates.
The latest item is a 2 for 1 digital flip video camera! You have to register and they will confirm you are a teacher before you are allowed to purchase.
Posted by Digital Wish Support at 03:19:58 PM Tue 09/15/2009
Buy one Flip Ultra™ 120-minute camcorder, get another free!
Thanks to the generous support of Flip Video™, Digital Wish™ is proud to offer the ideal tool for integrating video into your classroom. For just $150*, you can get TWO Flip Ultra camcorders for your classroom.
So what’s the catch? Actually, there is no catch. No application. No drawing. No waiting game. Just log in to www.digitalwish.org and click on the 2 for 1 banner or use the link below to access the product page. You can either purchase it directly or add it to your wish list, and tell everyone you know about how they can help make a difference in your classroom.
We at Flip Video and Digital Wish are committed to helping teachers bring video into the classroom and share the great work that happens there. Check it out: http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/product?id=4310
Posted by Polly Davis at 10:58:11 AM Tue 06/09/2009
Do you have any budding artists in your class who are longing to experiment with Adobe Photoshop®? Are you currently struggling with a prehistoric version of Microsoft Office®? We’ve heard your requests, and we’re happy to announce that Digital Wish now carries a host of Adobe and Microsoft products on our site. So go ahead – make a Digital Wish!
To add Adobe or Microsoft products to your wish list, simply go to the Shopping area of the site, search for the product you want, and click “Add to wish list.” Then send your wish list out to friends, family, and community members (tip: you can email your wish list from your profile page). You’d be surprised how excited people are to help, but they’ll never know how unless you tell them!
Posted by Polly Davis at 11:32:09 AM Tue 06/02/2009
Congratulations to the Winners of the Inspired Kids Contest!
It’s that time of year again. With summer break just around the corner, even your most attentive students are staring dreamily out the window. We know that keeping them on task can take all of your energy, which is why we’re even more impressed by all the great submissions we received for our Inspired Kids contest. Congratulations to our grand-prize winner, Barbara Lorson from Hope Elementary School. Her economy-focused lesson plan, “Let’s Make Some Money!” is not only innovative and educational, but also extremely fun. Further congratulations to our runners up, Patrice Clynes, Doedee Trostel-Patton, and Denise Webster, who submitted all-star visual learning ideas. You can check out the grand-prize winning lesson plan here: http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/view_lesson_plans?id=3327
The grand prize winner received a 10-computer license of Kidspiration®, school-wide editions of corresponding lesson plan books, and a 10 megapixel digital camera. Runners up received a single-user license of Kidspiration and lesson plan books. Special thanks to Inspiration Software, Inc. for making this contest possible!
Not a winner? You can still check out Inspiration’s great products, or download a free 30-day trial of Kidspiration, at www.inspiration.com.
Posted by Polly Davis at 10:13:51 AM Tue 05/05/2009
You now have until May 22nd to win big in our Inspired Kids Contest!
Interested in winning a digital camera AND award-winning Kidspiration® software? We thought so. That’s why we’ve decided to extend our Inspired Kids Contest deadline until May 22, 2009, giving you some extra time to get those creative juices flowing. Tell us your fun, inspiring ideas, and win over $1700 in prizes, including a 10-computer license to Kidspiration and an Olympus digital camera! Keep in mind that you’re submitting a plan, so you don’t have to complete the lesson with your kids before you submit. Feel free to contact polly@digitalwish.org with any questions.
Posted by Polly Davis at 12:22:15 PM Fri 04/17/2009
Our Most Exciting Contest Ever…Win Amazing Kidspiration® Software AND a Digital Camera!
There’s nothing like a little spring sunshine to lift the spirits…except perhaps a great new Digital Wish contest! This time we’ve teamed up with Inspiration Software®, Inc., the leader in visual thinking and learning, to give away over $1,700 in prizes. The Inspired Kids Contest asks educators to use Kidspiration software to reflect upon the year’s events as a class. The educator who submits the most inspiring lesson plan will win a 10-computer license of Kidspiration with accompanying school-wide lesson plan books. Three additional winners will each receive a single copy of Kidspiration with lesson plan books. Think it can’t get any better? Think again. Digital Wish is donating a 10 megapixel digital camera to the grand prize pack to enhance your visual learning experience.
Posted by Kendra Ericson at 03:22:31 PM Mon 03/30/2009
New Grants for Podcasting and Photography
Save the date: May 15th! Tool Factory announced the new deadline for their Podcasting Lesson Plan and Student Photo contests today. Submit an original and creative podcasting lesson plan, and you'll be entered to win a Tool Factory Podcasting Site License, 2 Olympus Digital Voice Recorders, 2 Noise Reducing Microphones, and a host of other resources to get your students podcasting! Three educators will win. Summer is right around the corner! Encourage your students to enter their best photos or photographic art projects into Tool Factory's Student Photography Contest to win digital cameras.
Enter Now
Visit http://www.toolfactory.com/olympus to enter, or to see the previous winning entries. Entries into the May contests must be received by May 15, 2009.
Podcasting Winners Announced
Congratulations to the January winners. We applaud them for finding innovative ways to inspire their students:
Jennifer LaGarde, Myrtle Grove Middle School, Wilmington, NC
Rebekah Smith, Astec Charter Middle School, Oklahoma City, OK
Donna Jones, Bonne Ecole Elementary, Slidell, LA
Student Photographers Win Big
Congratulations to the January 2009 winners, Kirsten, Age 16, from Delmar, MD and Rockie, Age 18, from Lubbock, TX. Each won an 8.0 megapixel digital SLR camera with accessories, a Tool Factory program of their choice, and a Digital Camera Basics Book.
Posted by Kendra Ericson at 03:10:39 PM Thu 01/22/2009
If you’re wishing for classroom technology, now is your chance to fundraise your way to success. From now through February 28th, the teacher who raises the most funds for his or her classroom will receive up to $100 in matching funds from Digital Wish and a copy of Tool Factory Workshop V3 (valued at $199.95). Five additional top-fundraising teachers will receive a copy of Tool Factory Workshop V3 (valued at $199.95).
So, where do you begin?
1) Beef up your profile. Use your wish list to tell donors why your classroom needs technology, and how you plan to use it.
2) Spread the word. Print your wish list along with a letter to parents, friends, or the PTA that states how to donate to your class at www.digitalwish.org. Or, simply email your wish list to parents or local community members. Make sure that your community knows that even the smallest donations add up.
3) To get your community involved, have students write letters to local businesses, stating why they need technology to succeed. These letters should also direct potential donors to your profile.
The rules? They’re simple. The teacher who raises the most for his or her classroom on www.digitalwish.org by midnight EST on 02/28/09 wins!
To get a list of other fundraising ideas, check out our fundraising page here:
http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/fundraising?id=8
Just be sure that all donations are made through Digital Wish’s site to ensure that they qualify.
If you have any questions or need any suggestions, please feel free to contact Kendra Ericson at 802-375-6721 or kendra@digitalwish.org.
Posted by Kendra Ericson at 12:05:28 PM Fri 01/16/2009
The competition was fierce, but 26 teachers emerged victorious. Congratulations to the following teachers who, as of today, have a combined total of 5,746 friends on Digital Wish!
Amy London
Trasima Richard
Michelle Moore
Melissa Seilhan
Ronda Thiessen
Carey Babcock
Dona Helmer
Laural Heard
Janet Toto
Karen Etherington
Rhonda Gunnell
Michele Thomas
Misty Savario
Shawn Daley
Andrea Croom
Lori Dupuis
Orlisa Johnson
Lisa Richard
Sally Tatro
Melissa Dalton
Linda Arline
Judith A. Miller
Sheri Edwards
Brenda Hall
Penny Buckalew
Jessica Alred
Grand prize winners received Olympus FE360 digital cameras and runners-up received their choice of Clip Art Station or Elementary Zone Site Licenses.
Not a winner? Don’t worry; Digital Wish will be sponsoring another great contest in February. Check back next week for details.
Posted by Kendra Ericson at 03:44:42 PM Wed 12/10/2008
Getting a digital camera for your classroom this holiday season is as easy as making friends. Simply login to your Digital Wish account at www.digitalwish.org and invite other teachers to join, adding them as friends when they do. The 26 teachers with the most friends on January 1, 2009 will win.
- One grand prize winner will receive an 8 mega pixel Olympus FE360 digital camera with battery and recharger.
- 25 additional teachers will receive either a site license to Elementary Zone or Clip Art Station
Simply login, find other teachers, and select “Add Me as a Friend!” from their profile.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kendra Ericson at kendra@digitalwish.org or 802-375-6721.
Posted by Digital Wish Support at 11:31:08 AM Fri 11/14/2008
Looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season? Instead of wrapping up those musical reindeer socks this year, consider giving your favorite teacher the gift of technology. Use Digital Wish’s class locator to find your local school or teacher, and make a donation that will fund desperately needed classroom technology.
And the best part? Digital Wish matches your donation with an additional 2%-10% in cash back for the school, so 102%-110% of your donation goes directly towards benefiting your favorite classroom teachers and their students. Donations are always tax deductible.
Run a Campaign Get a parent campaign together. If each parent donates just a little, the donations will quickly add up to a meaningful gift, such as a digital camera.
You can…
Make cash donations at any level, large or small.
Purchase holiday gifts directly from a teacher’s wish list. Write a personal note and we’ll ship your gift directly to the school.
Email or print your teacher's wish list from their profile to distribute to other parents, community members, or local companies interested in giving to local schools.
Download a flyer to distribute to parents, the PTA or other community members.
Posted by Heather Chirtea at 11:58:56 AM Fri 10/31/2008
Digital Wish has just hired 2 full-time fundraising staff to pursue donations from Fortune 1,000 companies, for your schools. If you know of any local business that may be interested in donating to your school's technology program, we will be happy to contact them on your behalf. Please send any contact information you may have to Polly Davis, polly@digitalwish.org.
If you haven't updated your profile in a while, please take this opportunity to do so. We're working very hard to increase donor funding for schools on Digital Wish, and great profiles are more likely to win grants. We've substantially expanded the product selection with SMART Boards, projectors, video and more -- so don't forget to update your wish list!
Posted by Heather Chirtea at 01:13:44 PM Fri 09/26/2008
SMART BoardTM interactive whiteboards and SMART products are now available from the shopping area at digitalwish.org. Be sure to update your wish list! When you select SMART products through Digital Wish, you can also choose your favorite local SMART Technologies dealer to install and service the products. Orders for SMART Boards are automatically passed through to local dealers so that schools can get the same great service they are accustomed to receiving.
Posted by Jen Sweeney at 10:44:11 AM Tue 06/03/2008
The Kidspiration® in the Classroom: Math Made Visual lesson plan book supports teachers as they help students develop mathematical concepts, skills, thinking and reasoning. 30 lesson plans are included, aligned to NCTM standards and designed specifically to support K-5 math instruction using Kidspiration 3.
Posted by Jen Sweeney at 10:58:46 AM Wed 05/21/2008
Knowledge Adventure products are now available on Digital Wish! Browse the software curriculum titles to find favorites such as Math and Reading Blaster and the Jump Start Series!
Posted by Jen Sweeney at 10:57:23 AM Wed 05/21/2008
TechSmith products are now available on Digital Wish! Camtasia and SnagIt software is now available under the "Screen Capture" category under Software Tools!
Posted by Jen Sweeney at 10:56:07 AM Wed 05/21/2008
Toon Boom Animation software products are now available on Digital Wish! Toon Boom makes animation software for students from Kindergarten to the highest level of professional software!
Posted by Heather Chirtea at 02:33:47 PM Fri 05/16/2008
We're planning the next round of features and improvements for Digital Wish. Please give us your opinions and help us decide what to develop next!
Take the survey.
Posted by Heather Chirtea at 02:32:08 PM Fri 05/16/2008
Imagine if a parent donated to your school, and their donation was matched by their employer! Talk to your spouse and send flyers home, because Digital Wish can now set up employee matching fund programs for any local business. There are no administrative fees, and Digital Wish will also donate an additional 2%-10% in funding, insuring that 102%-110% of every donation will be allocated directly to technology.
Please send us your local business contacts, and we’ll work with them.
Digital Wish
Contact: Heather Chirtea, heather@digitalwish.org
PO Box 1072, Manchester Center, VT 05255
Phone: (802)375-6721, Fax: (802)375-6860
Posted by Heather Chirtea at 09:48:32 AM Wed 04/30/2008
Hello!
Digital Wish is giving away "End of the School Year" grants to all registered users: A free subscription to Elementary Zone from now until June 30th. Share this service with your school and elementary students!
Click here to activate your free Elementary Zone account.
Your students can even use the site at home! Elementary Zone runs from your browser. If you are running a pop-up blocker, you may have to temporarily disable it when launching the site.
Note: If you are not an elementary school teacher, please be sure to tell your local elementary school to register for Digital Wish and take advantage of this generous offer!
Enjoy the rest of the school year!
The Digital Wish Team
Thats right! Just by asking community members and local businesses to move their used electronics out of closets, you will raise money to move the technology you need into the classroom!
will fund desperately needed classroom technology.
2010
2009
