Announcements
Technology Innovation Award Sponsored by Follett Software Co., Linworth Publishing, Inc., Honors Classroom-Library Collaboration
Follett Software Company —Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Outstanding Librarian/Teacher Teams To Be Recognized at Washington, D.C. Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2009 - Three New York schools have been named the winners of the second annual ISTE Media Specialist Technology Innovation Award, which recognizes collaborative technology innovation projects created by elementary, middle and high school teachers and library media specialists.
The award is sponsored by Follett Software Company, Linworth Publishing Inc./Library Media Connection magazine and the International Society for Technology in Education's (ISTE) SIG for Media Specialists. The winning schools are to be formally honored in a presentation at 10:30 a.m. EDT today at the 2009 National Education Computing Conference (NECC) in Washington, D.C.
The first-place winners in the individual categories are as follows:
-- Elementary School: Karen Kliegman and Noel Forte, Searingtown Elementary School, Albertson, NY, for "Meet the Candidates," a fifth-grade project focused on the 2008 presidential election.
-- Middle School: Lindsay Cesari and Patrick Donahue, Durgee Junior High School, Baldwinsville, NY, for "Element Commercials," highlighting the use of digital storytelling to produce commercials selling an element and then using the commercials to pitch their product in an "Apprentice-like" environment.
-- High School: Belinda O'Brien, Susan Casement and Cindy Rubenstein, Minerva DeLand School, Fairport, NY, for "People Who Changed the World," a program where students read biographies and autobiographies of people who changed the world with the goal of having the students analyze where they could apply similar qualities and ideas to their own lives.
Each of the three winning teams will receive $1,000 cash award for the school media center; $500 travel stipend for the winning teams to attend NECC and conference registration for each team member; a one-year standard ISTE membership; a commemorative plaque; $1,000 in professional library resources from Linworth Publishing; and a one-year subscription to Library Media Connection magazine.
Honorable mention winners in the individual categories are as follows:
-- Elementary School: Mary Carole Strother and Lisa Paine, Fanny Finch Elementary, McKinney, TX, for its "Caldecott" project.
-- Middle School: Karen Gartner and Nathan Keith, Westland Middle School, Indianapolis, IN, for its "Algebra Podcast" project.
-- High School: Elizabeth Hoffman and Carol Johns, Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Highlands, NJ, for its "Graphic Novel" project.
Carl Harvey, one of the award's six judges, said he and his colleagues were duly impressed with the quality of the entries.
"There were many great projects this year," said Harvey, a library media specialist with North Elementary School in Noblesville, IN. "This gives library media specialists and teachers a chance to collaborate and allow their technology projects to shine. Not only are they being singled out for recognition, but their efforts can inspire other programs across the country to also show what they can do."
Representatives from the award's sponsoring companies, Follett Software Company and Linworth Publishing, echoed Harvey's sentiments and added that they are proud to support ISTE and SIGMS in recognizing outstanding librarian/teacher teams.
"We may be spotlighting the winners at the NECC in Washington, D.C.," said Michelle Begora, program director for library products at Follett Software Company, "but clearly there are no losers here. This year's depth of entries offers further proof how educators across the country are meeting the demands of today's learning environment and digitally native students. The 21st century school library is a 24/7 resource with unlimited potential and these entries prove that."
According to Marlene Woo-Lun, president and publisher of Linworth Publishing and Library Media Connection magazine, "Today's library is all about providing resources for all learners, including meeting the needs of students who use technology in everything they do. Educators who recognize this and consistently progress toward a new learning environment should be rewarded, and the SIGMS Technology Innovation Award recognizes the best and the brightest."
About Linworth Publishing | http://www.Linworth.com
Linworth Publishing, Inc. offers a powerful combination of practical information and professional development focused on building strong connections among school library media and technology professionals, classroom teachers, and curriculum leaders. Linworth Publishing's portfolio includes Library Media Connection magazine, Linworth Books, Linworth Learning and Linworth @ The Forefront: Webinars and More for Your Professional Learning Community. The Columbus, Ohio-based company can be reached at (614) 884-9995.
About Follett Software Company | http://www.FollettSoftware.com
Follett Software Company is the partner that more than half of America's school districts trust to help them manage everything from library resources and school assets to information for data-driven decision making. Follett Software helps districts of all sizes track and use information and resources more efficiently so their dollars are best leveraged to help each and every student. Follett Software Company is a subsidiary of Follett Corporation - a $2.37 billion, privately-held company that provides products, services and solutions to the educational marketplace. Follett Corporation was founded in 1873 and has its headquarters in River Grove, Ill.
About ISTE | http://www.ISTE.org
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the trusted source for professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy and leadership for innovation. ISTE is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in improving teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in PK-12 and teacher education. Home of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), the Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET) and the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), ISTE represents more than 100,000 professionals worldwide. We support our members with information, networking opportunities and guidance as they face the challenge of transforming education.
Contact: Doug Thompson, Thompson Drake Public Relations, doug@thompsondrake.com, 541.322.9345
