By Heather Chirtea

Executive Director, Digital Wish

We are all feeling the crunch of declining school funding. Technology budgets, which are often viewed as expendable, can take a big hit. In order to secure funding for technology it is necessary to provide a compelling argument to decision makers, explaining why technology is critical to education. You will be hard pressed to find a conclusive body of research that actually draws a connection between technology usage and increased test scores. So, in a recessionary environment of declining funding, how do you convince funders that technology is important?

Change the argument! Test scores are not the answer.

Argue for Economic Development
Try crafting a connection between your technology initiative and the future economic development of the workforce and your community.
Consider this: if students are tech-savvy, then businesses hiring technology workers will be able to hire locally and sustain or grow their operations. Graduates who find local jobs will stay in local communities, raise families, buy houses, contribute to the tax base, and start new local businesses. A technologically rounded education has the downstream effect of promoting the economic development and future growth of an entire community. It sparks systemic change.
Companies and colleges are spending an estimated $17 billion per year to train recent graduates in the basic skills they should have gained in school. Students need technological competence to succeed in the competitive workforce. New entrepreneurs can work from anywhere, start businesses, and bring new growth opportunities to local communities.

Talk about Globalization
America's position in the flattened global economy has declined and shortfalls in the technical workforce are hurting American businesses. Just ask your local businesses. According to Deloitte LLP, only 22% of high school students feel schools have done an "excellent" job preparing them for college. In order to remain competitive in global markets, our school systems must prepare our students with the skills they need to compete globally.

Raise a Moral Question
In a 2007 survey, 75% of educators classified themselves as "often in need of" or "desperate for" technology resources. Bob Stevens, the Executive Director of the Vermont Principal's Association stated that the lack of technology in the classroom can be likened to "educational malpractice." Schools need access to technology so that students can develop the skills they need to thrive.

Point out Relevance
85% of teens ages 12-17 engage in some form of electronic personal communication, including text messaging, emailing, or online social networking. Yet students are faced with a pencil-and-paper education. Relevant technology tools will inspire our students to learn and engage in their education.

Discuss Student Engagement
"...Increases in student engagement" are the #1 most common benefit cited by schools who employ one-computer-per-child initiatives. Here is a one idea to present. The effective life of a computer in a school is approximately 4 years. The effective career of a student through your school is probably similar. You might want to turn over the computers' "pink slips" to students as a bonus upon graduation. This not only saves the cost of disposing obsolete equipment, but students will take much better care of equipment they know is "theirs when they graduate". It is also an added motivation to stay in school at a time when the drop-out rate is so dramatically high.

Focus on Workforce Development
As technology funding erodes, our teachers become progressively less able to prepare students for future employment in the rapidly expanding global economy. The Journal of Industrial Technology reports that over the past 2 decades, enrollment in technical degrees has decreased by as much as 11%, while the demand for technical workers has risen by 29%. Businesses are sounding the alarm. Without students receiving adequate exposure to technology in schools, it becomes increasingly difficult to find and hire technologically qualified graduates from the local economy. It's a silent and cumulative crisis that now threatens to undermine our children's future.

If we don't, then...
Consider what's going to happen to your school and town if you don't modernize schools with technology. Brainstorm the worst-case scenario, then share the story with your potential funders. It will sound something like this, "...if our students aren't savvy, local businesses can't hire. Those who are savvy will leave and never return because there are no job opportunities..."

Tell Stories
It is much easier for a decision maker to fund a "human interest" story than a piece of equipment. This works incredibly well with politicians. If you ever get the opportunity to appeal to your school board or local legislator, don't do the presentation yourself. Rather, invite a few students to speak on your behalf. Let the students explain why they need technological skills to prepare for college and get a job. Remember, you are not trying to put technology in schools, rather you are preparing students for the future workforce in the global economy. You are fighting for your children's future!

Craft a Financial Argument
Many rural states experience a "Brain Drain" wherein graduates leave to attend college and don't return. Consider the financial effect on the state's tax base. Each student who stays in the local area will get a job, raise a family, buy a house, and contribute to the local tax base (which in most states contributes directly to education funding). Regardless of whether your state suffers from a "Brain Drain," you can calculate the annual financial gain to the tax base and local economy based on average salary rates in your state for each student who decides to "stay local." Every 1% of students who stay contribute $XX.XX to the tax base and $XX.XX to the local economy each year. Over a lifetime, a single family can bring an additional $XX.XX to your community. Hard numbers are what decision makers need to justify re-allocating funds. Remember, a savvy student can work from anywhere.

Calculate the Percent of Total Spending
Calculate the total education budget in your funding region (school, district, or state), then consider what percentage of that budget would be necessary to put a computer in every student's backpack. It is a sure bet that you will be able to craft a true and compelling statement such as, "Less than one half of 1% of the total education budget would put a computer on the desk of every single student in our district." You will quickly realize how small that percentage really is.

You may republish this article and the images (together) in your newsletter, as long as you include the following credit:

By Heather Chirtea, Executive Director, Digital Wish, [email protected]

Digital Wish is on a mission to solve technology shortfalls in American classrooms. Invite your teachers to make their technology wish lists at www.digitalwish.org, then invite parents and community members to donate.  Flip video cameras are available to US schools through a 2-for-1 matching program. Digital Wish has brought technology grants to over 22,000 classrooms and maintains a vibrant community of over 50,000 educators.

Manchester Center, VT- February 1, 2011- Digital Wish is excited to announce a new Digital Wish Deal to kick off February: the "2 X 2 GorillaPod Tripod Bundle", including 2 GorillaPod Original Tripods, 2 GorillaPod Magnetic Tripods, and the "Adventures in Technology" lesson plan book/CD set for just $70 (retail $109.78).  This bundle is over 36% off the retail price and it's only available for purchase or donation to schools through www.digitalwish.org. Teachers can take advantage of the discount, add the bundle to their wish lists, and invite parents and community members to make their technology wishes come true.

GorillaPod Tripods are perfect for classroom projects with either still or video cameras, including Flip video cameras! While other tripods require a flat surface, the uniquely bendable legs on GorillaPods allow them to wrap around any surface, be it a desk leg, a fence, or even a playground jungle gym. The magnetic GorillaPods can even stick to metal surfaces with powerful magnets in their feet!

This GorillaPod bundle replaces the first Digital Wish Deal, the 2-for- $200 Olympus Camera Bundle.  Those who took advantage of that bundle or the Flip Video Camera 2-for-1 promotion will be able to use the new GorillaPods with those products in their classroom.

"GorillaPods are fun, edgy, and allow for creative shooting in any location," said Heather Chirtea, founder and Executive Director of Digital Wish, "These are the coolest camera accessories I've seen this year, so we're excited to bring these versatile tools to educators at such a great price. We want to help teachers stretch their scarce technology budgets further!"

The promotion is expected to run throughout the school year so educators are encouraged to add the bundle to their wish list at http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/product?id=4348 and invite parents and community members to make their wishes come true!

About Digital Wish
Digital Wish is a non-profit on a mission to solve technology shortfalls in K-12 classrooms. The www.digitalwish.org website is designed to help teachers locate much-needed funding for classroom technology. In addition to awarding over fifty grants this year, Digital Wish provides a host of fundraising ideas and allows teachers to e-mail and print their technology wish lists so that parents and community members can contribute.

Manchester Center, VT- January 20th, 2011- It's called "The Digital Wish Deal" and it's the hottest new opportunity for teachers from Digital Wish. Their first offering? A specially priced photography bundle that includes two Olympus T-100 digital cameras, two 2-Gigabyte SD cards, two Olympus neoprene cameras cases, and the "Digital Photography for Educators" instructional book/CD set for just $200. The catch? There isn't one, but there is only a limited supply, so teachers must act fast to grab one of these hot bundles! Donors can also buy this bundle for their favorite teacher.

Digital Wish is already recognized for their educator-only 2-for-1 deal on Flip UltraHD™ video cameras, and now plans to regularly refresh their "Digital Wish Deal" with new promotions and specially priced educational technology products.

"With ever-decreasing budgets from school districts, educators need a low-cost, high quality solution to bring technology into their classrooms," said Heather Chirtea, Executive Director and founder of Digital Wish, "We designed 'The Digital Wish Deal' in response to the constant stream of product requests that teachers send to us. We're working behind the scenes with a number of manufacturers to set up special teacher-only discounts that support technology integration for K-12 classrooms."

Digital Wish empowers educators with all the tools they need to creatively and effectively engage their students in relevant learning with a jam-packed lesson plan library and year-round grant opportunities.

About Digital Wish
Digital Wish is a non-profit on a mission to solve technology shortfalls in K-12 classrooms. The www.digitalwish.org website is designed to help teachers locate much-needed funding for classroom technology. In addition to awarding over fifty grants this year, Digital Wish provides a host of fundraising ideas and allows teachers to e-mail and print their technology wish lists so that parents and community members can contribute.

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Cartridges for Kids has announced that they are offering double pay for cell phones donated through Recycle Forward campaigns between January 19th- 21st. All you have to do to get this bonus for your campaign is e-mail [email protected] with your school name and zip code, write "DOUBLE PAY" on your shipping labels and arrange to have your boxes picked up by FedEx on one of those three days!

Recycle Forward is a program that allows schools to raise money for classroom technology by recycling cell phones, used electronics, and ink cartridges. Participating schools can set up a community-wide recycling campaign to collect used equipment from parents and local businesses. 100% of the money earned is automatically matched with another 2%-10% in funding on Digital Wish to make teacher's classroom technology wishes come true!

Visit http://www.recycleforwardnow.org/ to sign up and start a campaign for new classroom technology in your community today!

Manchester Center, VT - December 9th, 2010 - Digital Wish dispersed $10,000 in donations from International Cars, Ltd.'s "National Back to School" month celebration. This past August, the International Cars, Ltd. (ICL) family of dealerships-including Honda North, Porsche of Stratham, Audi Stratham, Dover Honda and Dover Chevrolet- asked its customers and community to join them in celebrating "National Back to School" month. For each vehicle sold throughout the month of August, each of ICL's six dealerships pledged to donate $100 to local schools through Digital Wish. In September, Digital Wish received $10,000 to distribute to various New England classrooms, and some very grateful teachers are sharing how they plan to use the donation funds.
Angi Manning-Welch, a teacher at the New Franklin School in Portsmouth, NH, said she plans to use the money to obtain a PA system for an annual project in Boston.

"Students research different topics that match up with stops along the Freedom Trail in Boston, and then turn their research into an expository speech. In the spring each year, all 5th graders go to Boston and give their speech along the trail. We hope that the Teacher PA system we were able to purchase because of the ICL donation, will allow all students to be heard over the sounds of the city!"

Jen Lapham, a teacher at Newbury Elementary School, was incredibly grateful for the donation and had many different ideas!

"We were thrilled to receive two Flip Cameras and add such fun technology to our class. I'm planning on using the cameras for activities such as: Reader's Theater, "documentaries" about Rocks and Minerals and Plant Life, theater productions about colonial life in Massachusetts, reading fluency practice, and so much more! I'm working with our technology director to see how we can even upload videos to our school website so that parents and classmates can view our creativity."

Heather Chirtea, Digital Wish executive president and founder, said, "Digital Wish is very grateful to International Cars, Ltd. for holding this wonderful promotion, but nothing can compare to the joy and excitement these teachers are feeling by having their wishes granted! The students are the true beneficiaries. "

Classrooms that received donations have written heartfelt, handmade thank you cards to International Cars, Ltd. for their generous program to help Digital Wish solve technology shortfalls in classrooms across America.

About International Cars, Ltd:

International Cars, Ltd. is an employee owned company comprised of five New England area dealerships. The New Hampshire locations include: Dover Honda, Dover Chevrolet, Dover Auto World Collision Center; Porsche of Stratham and Audi Stratham. Honda North is located in Danvers, Massachusetts. The International Cars' team, company-wide, is one that values ownership, accountability, and the importance of high-level service and customer satisfaction.

International Cars is headquartered at Honda North in Danvers, MA and is the recipient of several industry awards, including the 2007 Governor's Highway Safety Association Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award and the Time Magazine 2006 Quality Dealer Award. Honda North is a 3-time Honda President's Award winner, which is the most prestigious honor that Honda can grant to one of its dealerships. Dover Auto World in NH is a two-time President's Award winner. Audi Stratham is a 2009 recipient of the Magna Society Award from Audi of America for excellence in customer service and performance. International Cars has also earned several AACE (Annual Award for Communications Excellence) Awards through The National ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) Association.

The Employee Owners of International Cars, Ltd. take great pride in supporting charitable based initiatives that directly impact their local communities. This type of involvement is an integral part of the success of employee ownership. For more information on International Cars, please call Ebben Zall Group at 781-449-3244 or visit www.iclautos.com.

About Digital Wish
Digital Wish is a non-profit on a mission to solve technology shortfalls in K-12 classrooms. The www.digitalwish.org website is designed to help teachers locate much-needed funding for classroom technology. In addition to awarding over fifty grants this year, Digital Wish provides a host of fundraising ideas and allows teachers to e-mail and print their technology wish lists so that parents and community members can contribute.

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Manchester Center, VT - December 15th, 2010 - Digital Wish has unveiled their highly anticipated 2011 grants calendar, featuring over fifty technology grants for K-12 classrooms. By simply uploading a technology-based lesson plan to Digital Wish's lesson plan library, teachers become eligible to win a myriad of educational software programs for their classrooms.

Lesson plan submissions must demonstrate creativity, student involvement, and describe how the software would be utilized to complete the project. The grants calendar has a combination of recurring and themed grants, with something new and exciting happening each month to encourage repeat participation! With over $30,000 worth of software and licensing up for grabs, teachers across the country will soon be able to enhance their curricula with great new technology!

"Digital Wish grants are a wonderful way for teachers to get new technology in their classrooms while sharing lesson plans with fellow educators. We're thrilled to be awarding some exciting new software, including student-friendly video editing software that's perfect for teachers who have taken advantage of our 2-for-1 deal on Flip video cameras," said Heather Chirtea, Digital Wish's executive director and founder.

About Digital Wish
Digital Wish is a non-profit on a mission to solve technology shortfalls in K-12 classrooms. The www.digitalwish.org website is designed to help teachers locate much-needed funding for classroom technology. In addition to awarding over fifty grants this year, Digital Wish provides a host of fundraising ideas and allows teachers to e-mail and print their technology wish lists so that parents and community members can contribute.

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Written By John Sullivan- Communications Manager, Digital Wish

Digital Wish's mission resonates with many across America: to solve technology shortfalls in American classrooms. By helping teachers obtain technology for their classrooms, Digital Wish hopes today's students will be better prepared for the technology dependent jobs of the future.

But some may ask how we can measure tangible results when we're working with students who won't be entering the workforce for possibly another decade or more?

I volunteer myself as a possible example.

Exposed to technology from a young age by my father, who is possibly the most gifted man I have ever seen work with a computer, I have always felt at home working with control panels and (relatively) sensitive system preferences. With all the information available online, once one has even a basic grasp of how to use technology, the world is yours to prod with the digital stick.

But that's besides the point- I would not be a programmer like my father, as endless lines of code held absolutely no appeal for me. The ever- idealist, I was interested in words giving birth to ideas and the life of the harried journalist seemed to be my destiny as I started to apply for colleges.

My birthday that year, however, threw an unexpected wrench into my tertiary education plans with one simple gift: a video camera.

With this tool, I suddenly found a new, creative storytelling medium: video. The ability to splice together short clips like words felt natural to me and I quickly shifted my post- grad plans to cater to this new interest. With the heralded downfall of traditional print media accompanying the rise of the Internet, I saw promise in becoming not a journalist, but a video editor. I transferred my major to a Radio/TV/Film concentration upon arriving at Marist College and never looked back.

Now, working for Digital Wish, I am in charge of a huge range of technology intensive tasks from editing multimedia to coordinating social media efforts, all the while connecting with those who can benefit from our mission, no matter where they are-- and I love the ever- changing excitement of each task.

This is why I get excited whenever I see a new Flip Camera 2- for- 1 package being shipped to a classroom. While my college education more than prepared me for the workforce today, I sometimes wonder how advanced my skills could be if I had had one of these wonderfully easy-to-use cameras in my fourth grade classroom.

I imagine the next Lumiere, Spielberg, or Coppolla getting their first spark of creative energy in an Iowa classroom, fueled by the sight and satisfaction of a completed digital video project. I envision the next Katie Couric or Tom Brokaw getting ready to record a podcast for their Lousiana school's morning broadcast.

Most importantly, I see young versions of me, engaged in school and learning, because they are working with the technology and media of their world, their digital language. They may not become famous, or rich, but they will be ready for the challenges of the coming years and have the knowledge to intelligently collaborate with the global society around them in whatever role they choose to fill.

This is the trend of the age we are in: constant innovation, constant learning, constant excitement. It's not just up to our teachers to fulfill this need, it's everyone's job to bring excitement for learning into our children's education.