Home Administrative Solutions Are you using technology to positively impact K-12 student learning? Get recognized.

Are you using technology to positively impact K-12 student learning? Get recognized.

March 21, 2012

It's probably a lot easier than you might think to get recognition as the Teaching Superstar you are!

The Microsoft Partners in Learning 2012 US Forum is currently accepting applications, with the early decision deadline of April 1 fast approaching. The final deadline for all applications is May 15^th. The forum itself will be held July 31 to August 1 in Redmond, Washington and winners will go on to the 2012 Global Forum in Athens, Greece.

The Partners in Learning Forum recognizes teachers and administrators who leverage technology to inspire student learning. You don't have to be doing major technology innovation, just using a little tech to help turn ideas into engaging, impactful student work.

Last year's winners included “Project Unite,â€ a student-led initiative to combat bullying, an idea from 9th grader Antonio Sablan. He and his class put together a campaign culminating in an MLK Day assembly presentation and a series of public service video announcements. Or check out the work of teacher Nathan Manderfield who developed the â€œiAMâ€ project in which 4th and 5th grade students explored technology and careers, from engineers to small business owners, creating digital portfolios focused on possible career aspirations. Click here to check out all of access last year's winners.

While the winning projects are all great examples, they didn't require major budgets or tremendous technical achievements – just a sound idea and a little hard work. And this is not about Microsoft's technologies – they are not looking for uses of their products, just interesting uses of technology to facilitate some aspect of learning related activities (although there is an angle related to Microsoft software – new for this year for STEM educators, any application that is accepted the by Forum that does use Microsoft software or web development tools will win an Xbox360 and Kinect for their school!).

If you think something you've done in your school might quality, don't hesitate to apply and give yourself, your colleagues, and/or your students a chance to get recognized for their work, and have a great learning experience in the process!