Technology in Motion: Student Films Garner $400,000 in Technology for Schools

At the 2009 National Educational Computer Conference (NECC) in Washington, DC, 28 schools received awards and prizes in Sony Creative Software's second student digital video contest. Their schools will receive $400,000 in software and equipment.

The Technology in Motion content challenged high school and middle school students to produce a digital video that addressed this year's theme of "community of the future." Hundreds of entries were judged by film and audio industry professionals, who selected the top 3, which were then voted on by the public.

The grand prize winner was Full Circle, which came from Pacific Coast High School in Tustin, CA. Second place went to The Future, from Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, CA. And third place went to 2048: A Rock Opera, from Red Bank Middle School in Red Bank, NJ. Twenty-five fourth-place winners were also announced.

"Sony Creative Software is pleased to support this second national Technology in Motion competition. The program provides students and teachers with the latest software tools for video storytelling projects and effectively invigorates video education curriculums," said Dave Chaimson, vice president of worldwide marketing for Sony Creative Software, in a statement released this week. "We are proud to support educational initiatives, such as Technology in Motion, year round and congratulate all the students and faculty for their hard work and production achievements."

The total prize pool for the 28 winning schools was $400,000 in equipment and software for the schools. The grand prize received about $50,000 in prizes; second place tool $40,000 in prizes; third place received $30,000 in prizes; and the 25 fourth-place winners each received $10,000 in prizes.

The prizes for the top-3 winners included video, audio, and DVD mixing, editing, authoring, and scoring tools, as well as hardware, including Sony Vegas Pro 8 Promotional Edition software, Sound Forge 9 site licenses, ACID Pro 7 site licenses, Cinescore, Handycam Camcorders, and accessories. Fourth place winners received prize packages that included Handycam Camcorders and Vegas Pro 8 Promotional Edition software.

Further information about the competition, including streaming videos from the winning entries, can be found here.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • digital learning resources including a document, video tutorial, quiz checklist, pie chart, and AI cloud icon

    Quizizz Rebrands as Wayground, Announces New AI Features

    Learning platform Quizizz has become Wayground, in a rebranding meant to reflect "the platform's evolution from a quiz tool into a more versatile supplemental learning platform that's supported by AI," according to a news announcement.

  • red brick school building with a large yellow "AI" sign above its main entrance

    New National Academy for AI Instruction to Provide Free AI Training for Educators

    In an effort to "transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States," the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative that will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators.

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • Abstract AI circuit board pattern

    Nonprofit LawZero to Work Toward Safer, Truthful AI

    Turing Award-winning AI researcher Yoshua Bengio has launched LawZero, a nonprofit aimed at developing AI systems that prioritize safety and truthfulness over autonomy.