K-12 Schools Win $25,000 Classroom Makeovers

• By David Nagel
• 12/11/08

eInstruction has announced the winners of its second-annual Classroom Makeover Contest. The K-12 competition called on educators to create short music videos demonstrating how classroom technologies can be used to enhance instruction. Winners each received $25,000 in hardware, software, and support.

Grand prize winners were selected in three categories: K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. According to eInstruction, 290 submissions were received from the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The winners were as follows:

• Brett Lanier, Chinquapin Elementary, North Carolina (K-5);
• Michael Grothem, Corona Ranch Elementary, California (6-8); and
• Vicki Gough, Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School, London, Ontario, Canada (9-12).

For the top winners, prizes included:

• A Dell Latitude E5400 Laptop;
• An Interwrite DualBoard and Interwrite Mobi;
• An Interwrite Pad;
• An LCD projector;
• A classroom sound system;
• A CPS RF 32 Unit student response system;
• A CB-1000 control system from Calypso Control Systems;
• Workspace ExamView Edition interactive software;
• ExamView Learning Series software, which includes more than 340,000 questions for use with ExamView;
• The ExamView Assessment Suite;
• A Planet Earth Series DVD set from Discovery Education;
• A subscription to Study Island, an online learning environment;
• Licenses of Inspiration Software's Inspiration and InspireData;
• Safari Montage Server pre-loaded with programs;
• A netTrekker d.i. license;
• A day of professional development from Brewer Technology and Learning;
• Free installation from BMC;
• $1,000 toward the purchase of additional classroom technologies; and
• A party for the entire school.

The total package is valued at approximately $25,000.

"My students have seen first-hand how their hard work and creativity has paid off," said K-5 category winner Lanier in a statement released last week. "I want to express my gratitude towards eInstruction for hosting this contest and to our school family and surrounding community for their support and votes. Our students will be reaping the benefits from this technology for years to come."

"We are so ecstatic win!" said Grothem, the 6-8 category winner. "It is such a blessing that a company like eInstruction is helping students all across the globe. I can't wait to see the new heights my students will reach with this opportunity that has been given to them. Winning this contest will not only help my current students, but it will continue help shape students' minds for years to come. It is great that these students have seen their hard work come to fruition. It is a dream come true!"

"This contest has been an incredible experience for my students and has challenged them to rise to a new level of teamwork and collaboration," said Gough, the 9-12 category winner. "With this new technology at hand, our students will be given an advantage that will help them succeed as they approach their futures. These students are growing up in a generation that is centered on technology, and now they have the tools to exceed their dreams."

In addition to the grand prize winners, all entrants received a free copy of Workspace-ExamView Edition LE. Finalists also received eInstruction's ExamView Assessment Suite, PuzzleView, and Quiz Show. Further information about the competition, including the winning videos and additional video submissions, can be found here.

About the Author

David Nagel is editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Technology Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal and STEAM Universe. A 25-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.

He can be reached at dnagel@1105media.com. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at or follow him on Twitter at @THEJournalDave (K-12) or @CampusTechDave (higher education).