Best Buy Helps Schools Apply Technology in Classrooms

The Best Buy Children's Foundation, Minneapolis, has awarded more than $2.9 million to 1,162 schools across the nation for demonstrating creativity in integrating interactive technology into classrooms. Each of the schools selected - including 68 schools in Minnesota - will receive a $2,500 grant through the foundation's new te@ch program. The grants will serve nearly 435,000 students throughout the United States.

"Schools are creating exciting and valuable educational experiences through the use of technology in classrooms - the applications we received for te@ch demonstrate just that," said Susan Hoff, president of the Best Buy Children's Foundation. "Our desire is to help schools enrich student education by using technology to bring textbooks to life in fun and interactive ways. The more excited and involved students are in the learning process, the more valuable their educations will be."

One innovative recipient of a te@ch grant is Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, Calif. Under guidelines from the American Film Institute (AFI), students create and produce short films to communicate their understanding of academic subjects. According to the application, AFI and the school found the process of creating a film - writing, pitching, producing and critiquing - provides a compelling and highly motivating way for students to demonstrate mastery of the curriculum. Teachers hope to eventually present a student media festival in which students evaluate the films and receive awards. With the te@ch grant, Walter Reed Middle School intends to purchase hardware that will allow more students to work on the project.

Another success story comes from Bethlehem, Penn., where Liberty High School students are working to restore an 1856-era grist mill (called Illick's Mill) - a real-life, nonprofit, multi-year project that brings the students and community together. Students are responsible for creating and maintaining a Web site, writing grants, publishing quarterly newsletters and producing and presenting plans and learnings. According to the executive director of the Illick's Mill project, students involved in the project have higher than average school attendance and an increased attachment to their studies, as well as a commitment to their community's betterment. The school intends to use the te@ch grant to purchase hardware to allow for more efficient creation and sharing of information.

Applications for te@ch awards were accepted from October through December 2003; all accredited, public and private nonprofit elementary, middle and secondary schools located within 25 miles of a Best Buy store were eligible. More information on applications for the next round of te@ch awards will be available in May 2004.

For a complete list of the 2004 recipients of the Best Buy Children's Foundation's te@ch awards, visit Best Buy's Web site.

top