St. Stephens High School beat out nearly 60 other high schools in the U.S. and Canada in a competition for classroom technology.
Molly Rice, theater arts teacher for the school, competed in the annual Interactive Classroom Makeover contest, sponsored by eInstruction, to provide some much-needed technology to her classroom. It currently houses one working computer.
As one of the three winners, Rice will receive $30,000 worth of technology, including:
• A mobile interactive whiteboard;
• A dual interactive whiteboard, that allows two people to write on it simultaneously;
• Electronic clickers, which can be used to poll or survey a class;
• Software;
• 12,000 questions in the core curriculum;
• A Dell netbook;
• A projection system;
• $1,000, which Rice might use on a PA system for the theater arts; and
• Lessons on how to use everything.
Rice found out a few days ago that she won the prize. She said keeping the secret from her students, who made the winning video, wasn't easy.
"I had to fill out the paperwork and fax it back to the company, so I couldn't tell anyone until it was official," Rice said. "My students asked me every day if we won, and I had to tell them 'No.'"
Rice told the students Thursday. The class was working on poetry, and she told them to look at a poetry performance online. When they looked at the poem, it was actually the eInstruction page, which announced the winners of the contest in each school division, including St. Stephens High School.
One of the students also announced it to the school over the PA system, Rice said.
Her theatre arts II class created and edited the video, which is a spoof of "The Twilight Zone" and Pink Floyd's song "Another Brick in the Wall." The black and white video shows what life is like for the students without technology. It then switches seamlessly to color, and shows what life would be like in school with the technology they'd receive from the contest.
The students worked on the video as a class project. Rice entered the contest last year and controlled much of the content and editing of the video. This year, she relinquished most of it to the students, which Rice said was one of the best parts of the contest.
"I facilitated them. Sometimes, we were going to give up because they broke down arguing," she said. "But we did quality work. I just put my two cents in instead of leading. It was student-driven. The editing was done by a student as well."
In addition to Rice being pleased with the students' video, the judges were, too. St. Stephens High School's video was just shy of winning the online vote, which is 30 percent of the total score. One of the other four high schools competing in the final competition edged out Rice's class by about 30 votes. However, the judges' decision tipped the win in Rice's favor.
Rice said she's most excited about the interactive boards and the electronic clickers, which can be used anywhere in the room.
She said her winning also is beneficial for the entire school.
"All of the teachers will be able to use the software," Rice said. "And the whole school gets a cake party."
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