Turning Foundation, the non-profit arm of Turning Technologies, has announced the award winners of its second annual Innovative Teacher Mini Grants area educators.
Innovative projects that received funding include proposals submitted by Natalie Burnett of Bloomfield High School, John Fisher of Champion High School, Sharon Ragan of Youngstown Chaney STEM Academy, Shawn Reynolds of Howland Middle School and Haley Shaffer of Poland Middle School.
Turning Foundation's Innovative Teacher Mini Grants are an effort to promote and support creative and innovative classroom practices in local schools. Grant funding of up to $1,500 is awarded annually to classroom teachers in the local area displaying creative and innovative practices that reflect 21st century skill development.
This past fall, 22 grant applications were submitted. This year, the five awarded grants totaling $7,178.84 will impact 1,208 students in K-12 classrooms. Funding for the grants is made possible through donations to the foundation from Turning Technologies.
"By giving teachers potential resources to 'think outside the box', educators can design lessons and activities to support 21st century teaching and learning. The five Innovate Teacher Mini Grants will provide opportunities for area students to develop skills that will allow them to compete in a global economy, a critical effort in today's educational environment," said John Wilson, executive director of Turning Foundation.
Details on the projects are below:
- Natalie Burnett, Bloomfield High School: Using video and still cameras along with Windows Movie Maker, students will incorporate interviewing and researching skills to tap into local history. Students will research local history and partner with the local historical society to create documentaries and research papers about major events in their local town's history.
- John Fisher, Champion High School: The "iMeasure" program lets teams of high school physics students use computer-based labs in conjunction with student response technology. The physics students teach elementary and middle school students how to measure the world around them and then learn to analyze those measurements through an interactive lecture demonstration.
- Sharon Ragan, Youngstown Chaney STEM Academy: Students will use multiple content areas to create a landscape plan and then build and plant a Butterfly-Shakespearean garden in the courtyard area at the high school. The courtyard will be used for scientific endeavors (rainwater runoff, solar energy, plant growth, butterfly life cycle) as well as visual and performing arts.
- Shawn Reynolds, Howland Middle School: Through the use of SmartMusic interactive software, students will explore individual and student-directed learning. The software provides a fun way for students to improve skills on their instrument while learning self-assessment and evaluation techniques, which will transfer to all academic content areas.
- Haley Shaffer, Poland Middle School: Students will interpret and analyze infographics. Infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. By using Wonderoplis.org and their own knowledge of text features and structures, author's purpose and perspective, persuasive techniques and connotation/denotation, students will research their own "wonder" and create infographics to be shared publicly.
Turning Technologies, a leader in the student response industry, established the Turning Foundation in 2009 as separate non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The mission of the foundation is "to seek, secure and distribute resources in support of improving educational opportunities and student achievement in K-16 settings and enhancing community well-being."
