An Overview

• Each semester, there will be drawings for five technology prizes.
• Winners will get to select their prize from a list of prizes.
• To enter the drawings, teachers must submit student work samples for Rockstar Challenges (monthly challenges) and/or #TechBeyondSubstitution Challenges (semester challenges).
• Student work samples for both challenges must demonstrate the following criteria...
  • is linked to content curriculum being taught during the semester.
  • must demonstrate elements beyond paper/pencil substitution.
  • shows student creativity and is student-driven.
  • is submitted independently from other samples. You can only submit one project at a time.
• Teachers can enter unlimited quantities of creative student tech products for either challenge type as long as the products are from different assignments.

Rockstar Challenges

• emailed to all K-5 teachers on the 1st work day of each month
  • 1st semester - September, October, November
  • 2nd semester - February, March, April
• specific tool or concept is identified as the challenge
• teachers have entire month to have students create a product based on the challenge guidelines
• Teachers can submit unlimited samples as long as each sample represents a different assignment.
• Products created for the Rockstar Challenges can be submitted for the #TechBeyondSubstitution Challenge for the same semester.
• Deadlines: midnight, last work day of each month
  • Winners announced: 1st work day of each month

#TechBeyondSubstitution Challenges

• Teachers have the entire semester for students to create tech products that include. elements beyond the tech curriculum components required for the semester
• Teachers may choose to implement...
  • suggested lessons based on grade level
  • independently developed lessons
  • collaboratively developed lessons
    • If you choose the collaboration option.. YAY! Bonus points... literally.
    • When you submit your student work sample, you will be asked which lesson choice you made from the options above. If you chose collaboration, you must identify the teacher(s) you worked with to develop the lesson. For each teacher identified who submits a student work sample of the same project with same project name, you will receive a bonus entry into the drawing. Simply put... if you create it independently, you get one entry. If you work with others who submit student work samples, you get more entries for the same project. Collaboration is a good thing!
• Teachers may submit work samples for Rockstar Challenge projects created during the semester and may identify these as collaborative lessons for additional entries as long as the above collaborative criteria is met.
• Deadlines:
  • 1st Semester - December 10th
    • Winners announced through email on December 15th
  • 2nd Semester - May 10th
    • Winners announced through email on May 15th

Want to Participate but Need Support?

As always, Meghan Bottom is available to support any lesson that incorporates the use of technology, and these lessons are no exception. You can schedule Meghan to assist in implementing Beyond the Curriculum lessons to make the completion of the project easier. The classroom teacher, however, must be the lead teacher during the lesson.

Wait! What about specials teachers?

The suggested lessons were created for homeroom teachers only. However, special area teachers may still submit independently or collaboratively created student work samples to receive entries into the monthly and semester drawings.

Click HERE to see what you could win!

Have a suggestion for a prize... email it to Meghan Bottom.