SMARTer Kids Foundation accepting applications for 2005-2006 Connections program
Nov 17, 2004 10:51 AM
The SMARTer Kids Foundation (www.smarterkids.org) of
Canada is now accepting applications for the 2005-2006 Connections program,
a fully funded collaborative learning program for grade six classes from
across North America. Eight to ten upper elementary classes will be selected
and equipped with leading-edge education technology. The teachers will be
trained in its use so they can undertake collaborative projects between
schools. Grade six teachers from schools in Canada, the United States and
Mexico are eligible to apply. Applications must be received by March 1,
2005.
While participating in Connections, students and teachers collaborate on
projects and communicate with one another via e-mail, online bulletin boards
and conferencing with the goal of encouraging mutual respect and
understanding, regardless of geographical location. The program ends in May
2006 with teachers and selected students meeting in Calgary, Alberta,
Canada, for a week of friendship, adventure and learning. The Connections
program is entering its seventh year, with more than 1,500 children already
having participated.
“Connections enhances student learning by opening the doors of communication
and giving students the opportunity to interact in meaningful and relevant
ways,” says Beatrice De La Paz, a 2003-2005 Connections teacher from San
Roberto Institute in Monterrey, Mexico. “Not only does Connections assist in
teaching curriculum-related concepts, but it allows students to feel,
witness and partake in interactive projects. Most importantly, the program
is a celebration of the similarities and differences that exist in students
across North America.”
“The Connections program has already touched the lives of hundreds of
children by giving them the opportunity to reach beyond the walls of their
classroom to become part of the larger, global community,” says Nancy
Knowlton, executive director of the SMARTer Kids Foundation. “This year, the
Foundation renews its commitment to enriching children’s understanding of
cultural diversity, social responsibility and respect for oneself and
others.”
Program Details
The SMARTer Kids Foundation administers the Connections program for grade
six teachers and students. Once selected, grade six teachers from each
school will visit Calgary in July 2005 to receive training on the donated
products, integrating technology into the curriculum and using Web-based
communication tools. Teachers will also work together to plan collaborative
projects for the coming year. In the spring of 2006, a select number of
grade six students, accompanied by their teachers, will participate in the
Calgary student visit.
Costs associated with the Calgary student visit and the teacher training,
including airfare, accommodation, meals, local transportation and admission
to Connections-sponsored activities, are paid for by the SMARTer Kids
Foundation.
Product Donations
All Connections schools receive a SMART Board 580 interactive
whiteboard, floor stand, SMART Board software, SMART Ideas
concept-mapping software and an NEC VT series projector. These products
are integrated into the curriculum to support collaborative learning
projects and remain in the schools at the completion of the program.
How to Apply
Grade six teachers from accredited, not-for-profit public and private
schools in Canada, the United States and Mexico are eligible to apply.
Applying teachers must teach a majority of core subjects. All applications
must be received by midnight MST on March 1, 2005. Applicants will be
notified of their application status by March 18, 2005. Successful
applicants will be required to enter into a participation agreement with the
Foundation. Full program details and requirements are available online at
www.smarterkids.org/k12/connections.
About the SMARTer Kids Foundation
Founded in 1997, this private, not-for-profit organization supports,
sustains and improves learning through research programs, grants and other
initiatives. The Foundation’s programs and grants help educators equip
classrooms with technology, provide students with enriched learning
experiences and support teacher-training projects that integrate multimedia
tools into curriculum delivery. Research programs supported by the SMARTer
Kids Foundation focus on the impact and effectiveness of technology in the
classroom. The SMARTer Kids Foundation is committed to working with
educators to provide programs that make a difference in education. For more
information, visit www.smarterkids.org.
