Students Design World Fixing Solutions

Have you heard about Imagine Cup, the student technology competition? The competition was developed by Microsoft to encourage young people to use their imaginations, their passion and creativity to design technology innovations that can make a difference in the world today.

Each team is challenged to come up with solutions that improve health, reduce poverty or boost literacy based on the UN Millennium Goals. To learn more about the United Nations Millennium Development Goals - http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

The competition hopes to inspire more students to become interested in technical careers and prepare them for future careers. To view some of this year’s finalist videos click on the link and select a country - http://www.msstudentlounge.com/studentrally/tabid/81/Default.aspx

The competition categories are: Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Design, Digital Media and IT Challenge. To read about each teams’ projects - http://imaginecup.com/Competition/Finalists.aspx

Although this is a global competition how can you inspire your students to become passionate about learning and making a difference in the world? What project-based activities could you do with your students next school year? Do you want to design a student-centered project from scratch or find project-based activities online? Here’s some help with available project-based ideas from the internet –

• Computing Technology for Math Excellence - http://www.ct4me.net/math_projects.htm
• Internet4Classrooms: Project Sites - http://www.internet4classrooms.com/project.htm
• Mrs. O’s House: Projects - http://www.mrsoshouse.com/pbl/pblin.html
• Youth Learn: Inquiry Based Project -
  http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/planning/lesson-planning/how-inquiry/how-inquiry
• Project-based activities in Math & Science - http://www.squidoo.com/project-based-activities

There are many other sites on the internet that guide teachers in developing project-based activities and many sites that offer examples of project-based activities. This summer is a great time to revamp your lesson plans and incorporate project-based activities throughout the school year.

To learn more about Imagine Cup - http://imaginecup.com/
To view videos from Imagine Cup 2010 -
http://www.eschoolnews.tv/MN/Mnp/eSchoolNews/eSchoolNews.aspx