Grant Opportunities: Digital Wish Technology Grants and Teaching Resources
By Jen Adams
Who is offering this grant? Digital Wish is a nonprofit organization that believes that every child deserves a technology-rich education that will provide them with the skills necessary to excel in the global economy.
What is the purpose? Digital Wish is a non-profit on a mission to help teachers solve technology shortfalls in their classrooms. Apply for grants, create a wish list of technology your classroom needs, and share lesson plans and fundraising ideas with fellow educators across the country. Digital Wish also provides a searchable library of grants and a myriad of ideas for fundraising. The entire site is designed to empower teachers to find funding for technology for their classrooms.
What types of activities might be supported? Digital Wish supports specific technology initiatives each month. By submitting a lesson plan that responds to the targeted material, educators have an opportunity to receive curricula and associated materials free of cost. After registering at the Digital Wish site, you can login and submit a technology-based lesson plan for a chance to win over 50 different technology grants. In addition to serving as your grant application, every lesson plan you enter will be automatically added to your classroom’s profile, allowing you to share technology integration ideas with colleagues and fellow educators across the country! Examples of current grant opportunities are listed below.
| · Digital Citizenship and Cyber Safety – April – Digital Citizenship IT Curriculum Unit Package ($199.00 value) Deadline: Thu 04/30/2015 | |
| Submit a lesson plan on cyber safety or digital citizenship and qualify for a Digital Citizenship IT Curriculum Unit Package awards. Students will be well-prepared to use technology every day in a safe, respectful, and responsible way. Digital Citizenship Unit contains an instructor preparation checklist and four important lessons: Digital Citizens and the Internet; Cyber Safety; Safety Skits for Reinforcement; Copyright in the Classroom. | |
| · Autism Awareness Month – Tool Factory’s Autism Software Bundle for Interactive Devices ($249.00 value) Deadline: Thu 04/30/2015 | |
| Create and submit a unique lesson plan on inclusive teaching techniques with autistic elementary students. Lesson plans utilizing tablets and interactive devices are encouraged. Award: Tool Factory’s Autism Bundle that offers tools to: Encourage collaboration; Develop concentration and attention; Inspire imaginative play; Promote reading / early literacy; Teach emotional literacy. | |
| · Mobile Devices in the Classroom – April – 1 Dell Venue Pro Smartphone ($399.00 value) Deadline: Thu 04/30/2015 | |
| · Let’s Get Podcasting – Simple Guide to Podcasting Book/Cd Set and the Adventures in Podcasting! Incredible Lesson Plans for Your Classroom Book/CD Set! Plus Tool Factory Podcasting w/Video Software ($100.00 value) Deadline: Thu 04/30/2015 11:59:59 PM | |
| · Collaborative Writing and Debating – April – Classroom Collaboration and Debate Curriculum Unit Package ($199.00 value) Deadline: Thu 04/30/2015 | |
| Write and submit a lesson plan on collaborative writing or debating and you may be awarded a Classroom Collaboration and Debate Curriculum Unit Package. Using the Classroom Collaboration and Debate Curriculum Unit Package students will become editors of their own classroom wiki or other collaborative website. The right wiki program will allow students to post questions, pictures for analysis, or documents for group editing. They will also be able to see their classmates’ work and give feedback digitally, creating a classroom environment that gives all students a voice and nourishes and fosters fresh ideas. Moreover, it is an excellent opportunity to practice good digital citizenship. | |
Who can apply? Teachers and educators from private and public schools across the nation. Find your school and register here: http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/grant_awards.
When is the application due? There are specific deadlines associated with technology initiatives which change on a monthly basis (see sample grants and deadlines above).
How much can I request? Grants are awarded in the form of technology and/or associated curricula and materials. See examples above.
When will the awards be made? Grants will be awarded on the 15th of every calendar month after the grant application deadline
Is there anything else I should know? Lesson plans may cover any subject area. For monthly recurring grants, you don’t have to reapply to be considered. Relevant lesson plans will be stored and reevaluated each month.
Judging Criteria
- Guideline adherence. Lesson plans must follow the directions outlined in each grant’s description.
- Coherency. Lesson plans must be well-organized and well-written.
- Proper Grammar Usage, Punctuation, and Spelling. Lessons should contain no grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors.
- Curriculum Relevance. Lesson plans must be curriculum-oriented.
- Creativity and Fun. Lesson plans must be unique and exciting to implement.
- Student Involvement. Lesson plans must encourage student participation.
- Technology Integration. Lesson plans must incorporate technology.
How can I find out more? Visit the Digital Wish site at: http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/grants and view the full grants calendar.
