Let the Collaboration Begin

CDW-G invites K-12 schools and districts nationwide to participate in the second annual Collaboration Nation awards program, kicking off Feb. 1. Collaboration Nation recognizes the country’s finest examples of collaboration on successful educational technology projects and offers schools and districts the chance to win a grand prize of $50,000 or one of three monthly prizes of $15,000 to spend with CDW-G on technology products and services.

“In 2015, we launched Collaboration Nation to give schools a chance to showcase their exemplary educational technology collaboration projects and the measurable impact they had on learning and teaching. From music class to history class, and tablets to cameras, last year’s participants used technology and collaboration to engage students in new and innovative ways,” said David Hutchins, vice president, K-12 education, CDW-G. “As we kick off Collaboration Nation 2016, we know the entries will continue to break the barriers of what is possible in educational technology.”

From Feb. 1 to April 30, schools and districts are encouraged to enter Collaboration Nation by visiting eschoolnews.com/collaboration. Participants must create a 90-second video highlighting their cross-departmental collaboration project, upload the video to YouTube and submit a brief entry form.

Schools and districts can win the monthly contest by collecting the most votes through the Collaboration Nation Facebook page. The school or district with the most votes between the 1st and the 15th of March, April and May, respectively, will win $15,000 in products from Collaboration Nation partners Cisco, Cisco Meraki, HP and Lenovo.

To award the grand prize, the distinguished judging panel will review all entries to assess overall education vision and strategy, project goals, program success and the level of collaboration. This year’s judges are:

  • Ann McMullan, consultant, public speaker, writer: An education consultant, McMullan focuses on leadership, professional development and curriculum for maximizing technology tools for learning
  • Stephen Noonoo, editor, eSchool News: An education technology journalist, Noonoo has his finger on the pulse of K-12 education technology
  • Mike Patterson, K-12 education strategist, CDW-G: A former educator and school technology specialist, Patterson works with schools and districts, communicating the benefits, challenges and effects of technology in the classroom.

To learn more and submit your entry, visit www.eschoolnews.com/collaboration/.

To check out last year’s entries and winners, visit www.facebook.com/CDWGCollaboration/videos.

Featured

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Embry-Riddle Completes Construction on Research, Lab Facility

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced the end of construction on a new research and lab facility on campus. The Center for Aerospace Engineering II (CAT II) will support aerospace research and technology development and broke ground last summer.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • Minnesota District Opens New PreK–12 School

    Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Schools in Gibbon, Minn., recently announced that construction is complete on a new, $68.9-million school for students in grades PreK–12, according to a news release.