Turning Foundation Selects Classroom Improvement Grant Recipients
The Turning Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Turning Technologies, has named 10 teachers who were selected to receive Winter 2012 Classroom Improvement Grants, which will provide each of their classrooms with new technology and digital materials worth approximately $3,600. The foundation received nearly 1,300 applications.
The grants are designed to "help educators develop 21st century classrooms and improve achievement by providing technology tools from multiple industry leading companies," according to information found on the Turning Technologies Web site.
The recipients are:
- Rebecca Clinch, Arcade Elementary at Pioneer Central School District, Arcade, NY;
- Laurence Tan, 122nd Street School, Los Angeles, CA;
- Bethany Sharp, Morris Jeff Community School, New Orleans, LA;
- Chantal Schiller, Holy Family School, Flushing, NY;
- Lisa Lanza, Glide Middle School, Glide, OR;
- Kathryn Thomas, Windber Area Middle School, Windber, PA;
- Tara Supers, Newcomerstown Middle School, Newcomerstown, OH;
- Travis Risher, Newport Middle School, Newport, KY;
- Samantha Stanley, Long County High School, Ludowici, GA; and
- Teresa Adams, Rancho Verde High School, Moreno Valley, CA.
Each winning teacher's classroom will receive:
- A Turning Technologies 32-seat radio frequency student response system, with TurningPoint AnyWhere polling software suite, ResponseCard NXT keypads, USB-based response RF receiver, QuestionPoint 2 state-aligned question bank, customized carrying case, and technical support;
- A Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet, which has both front- and rear-facing cameras for video chat and runs on the Android 3.1 (Honeycomb) operating system; and
- A Classroom Access subscription for BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr. (for K-3), which provides standards-aligned content for many subjects, including social studies, math, science, technology, English, arts, and engineering. Lessons are provided using activities, readings, games, movies, apps, and interactive quizzes, which utilize Turning Technologies' student response devices.
"There were many thoughtful and innovative classroom uses of the technology described in the applications. The creative ideas that this grant program generated were impressive. I commend the teachers that participated and put such energy and effort into supporting their classrooms," said Turning Foundation Director John Wilson.
For more information, visit turningtechnologies.com/k12grant.
About the Author
Tim Sohn is a 10-year veteran of the news business, having served in capacities from reporter to editor-in-chief of a variety of publications including Web sites, daily and weekly newspapers, consumer and trade magazines, and wire services. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @editortim.