Manchester Center, VT – October 4, 2012 – If you have a special talent, Digital Wish would like to invite you to become an "expert" volunteer at www.digitalwish.org. Volunteers register and post a quick profile outlining their special expertise.  Our network of 58,000 educators has been invited to post their classroom projects, and an easy search engine helps match them together. It’s a great way for employees to “give an hour” without ever leaving the workplace. The volunteer and teacher schedule a time to video conference over the internet and the students benefit from the volunteer’s special expertise! This is a totally FREE service that Digital Wish provides for classroom teachers and their direct supporters.

Get Started:
Simply login here: www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/volunteers

• “Expert” Volunteers will post a profile that outlines their unique expertise.
• Teachers will post a class project that needs a volunteer expert, by video conference.
• A robust search engine matches them together.
• Volunteers get regular newsletters of the latest projects.

Please invite your network to get involved!

Organizations Can Sponsor
Throughout the school year, Digital Wish will be recruiting employees of large corporations, entrepreneur networks, and many scientific associations to have their members volunteer to become Virtual Volunteers for class projects.  If your organization would like to sponsor a special week for your employees or members to volunteer – Digital Wish can create “themed” week of volunteering, just for your organization. Then we’ll reach out to our 58,000 registered teachers to post project ideas posted around your theme.  We can also work with your philanthropic giving division to fund gift cards for your employees such as, “Volunteer an hour and we’ll give a $25 gift card to your favorite classroom for technology!” Contact us for details.

For More Information:

Heather Chirtea, [email protected], 802-375-6721 X-202

Digital Wish, Executive Director
PO Box 1072, Manchester Center, VT 05255
www.digitalwish.org

About Digital Wish
Digital Wish is a nonprofit on a mission to bring technology to K-12 classrooms to prepare students to thrive in the global economy. At www.digitalwish.org, teachers make technology wishes, and donors make those wishes come true with contributions, bringing technology to needy classrooms in all 50 states. Since August 2009, Digital Wish has granted over 29,299 classroom technology wishes through its online network of over 58,000 teachers, and delivered over $12 million in technology products to American classrooms directly impacting over 500,000 students.

Manchester Center, VT – October 4, 2012 – Teachers who are planning a class project, and need "expert" volunteers – are invited to post project ideas on the new Virtual Volunteer area at www.digitalwish.org. Digital Wish connects classroom teachers with "expert" volunteers by video conference. Throughout the school year, Digital Wish will be recruiting employees of large corporations, entrepreneur networks, and many scientific associations to have their members volunteer to help educators with their class projects. This is a totally FREE service that Digital Wish provides for classroom teachers and their supporters!

Get Started:
Simply login here: www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/volunteers

• Teachers will post a class project that needs a volunteer expert, by video conference.
• “Expert” Volunteers will post a profile that outlines their unique expertise.
• A robust search engine matches them together.
• We'll email teachers the profiles of newly posted “Expert” volunteers.
• Volunteers get regular newsletters of the latest projects.

Please invite your teacher network to post their projects!

For More Information:

Heather Chirtea, [email protected], 802-375-6721 X-202
Digital Wish, Executive Director
PO Box 1072, Manchester Center, VT 05255
www.digitalwish.org

About Digital Wish
Digital Wish is a nonprofit on a mission to bring technology to K-12 classrooms to prepare students to thrive in the global economy. At www.digitalwish.org, teachers make technology wishes, and donors make those wishes come true with contributions, bringing technology to needy classrooms in all 50 states. Since August 2009, Digital Wish has granted over 29,299 classroom technology wishes through its online network of over 58,000 teachers, and delivered over $12 million in technology products to American classrooms directly impacting over 500,000 students.

If you are planning a class project, and need an “expert” volunteer - I’d like to invite you to post your project on the new Virtual Volunteer area at Digital Wish.  Digital Wish connects classroom teachers with “expert” volunteers by video conference. This is another great free service we provide our members! Just login and post your project here:
http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/volunteers
 

• Teachers will post a class project that needs a volunteer expert, by video conference.
• Executive Volunteers will post a profile that outlines their unique expertise.
• A robust search engine matches them together.
• We’ll keep you updated with profiles of newly posted expert volunteers.

Over the next month, we’ll be inviting the employees of large corporations, entrepreneur networks, and many scientific associations to have their members volunteer to help you with your projects. So please post your projects and our staff will be out there recruiting volunteers!

We now have Hitachi projectors for your classrooms that are up to 69% Off!  These projectors range from short throw, to portable, to classroom, and more!  You can check out each individual model by clicking on them below, or check out all of them here.

• CP-X2521WN Portable Projector 69% Off
• CP-A222WN Ultra Short Throw Projector 51% Off
• CP-WX2515Wn Classroom Projector 64% Off
• CP-X4021N Advanced Projector 60% Off
• CP-WX4021N Advanced Projector 62% Off

Remember to check out our other ongoing deals here!

3M Partners with Digital Wish To Help Bring Tablets into the Classroom
Parents Can Support 3M Screens for Schools
and Apply for Chance to Win up to $25,000 in Tablets for Local School

July 31, 2012 - Manchester, VT - Studies have shown that the use of tablets in classrooms may help students score better on math and literacy tests, with one group of students testing 20 percent higher after using an Algebra app than their peers who used a textbook.[1] To help make tablets more accessible for schools on a tight budget, 3M, the maker of 3M Screen Protectors, is partnering with Digital Wish, a non-profit organization that works to outfit classrooms with the latest technology.

Through the 3M Screens for Schools grants program, 3M Screen Protectors – with the help of parents, teachers and school administrators – will donate up to $25,000[2] to Digital Wish.  The funds will then be awarded to one school so that it may equip its classrooms with new tablets and accompanying 3M Screen Protectors.

To reach its goal of donating up to $25,000 to Digital Wish, 3M Screen Protectors is encouraging parents to show their support for 3M Screens for Schools at Facebook.com/3MScreens. For every eligible person who shows his/her support, 3M will donate $1 to Digital Wish and an additional $1 for every person who shares the 3M Screens for Schools message on Facebook[3].

Parents, teachers and school administrators can also apply for the chance to win up to $25,000 in new tablets for their local school at Facebook.com/3MScreens by submitting an essay between 200 and 500 words explaining:

• Why does the school need the award for new tablets and how would the new tablets change the school for the better?
• If awarded the new tablets, how would learning be enhanced for students and teaching be enhanced for educators?
• What other creative fundraising, if any, has the school undertaken in an effort to bring new technology into the classroom?

Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM EDT on September 12, 2012. Only one entry is permitted per person but multiple entries can be made on behalf of one school. Teachers and school officials are also allowed to enter on behalf of their school. The winning entry will be determined by an independent panel of judges as appointed by Digital Wish. To learn more about who is eligible to participate and to win the grand prize, please review the complete set of contest rules, here.

“We know how difficult it can be for schools to be able to afford new technology, which makes it even more important for that technology to last as long as possible,” says Nicola Stevens, business manager, Mobile Interactive Solutions Division.   “We are excited to be partnering with Digital Wish on this program to help teachers and students receive new tablets to enhance the educational experience, and to be protecting them with 3M Screen Protectors.”

According to Heather Chirtea, Executive Director of Digital Wish, “tablets are the hottest technology in schools right now and we’re really grateful to 3M Screen Protectors for the opportunity to grant a school with new devices to help enhance the learning experience for its students.”

For additional information on 3M Screen Protectors and the variety of privacy and protection products offered – including new Natural View Anti-Glare and Fingerprint Fading Screen Protectors – visit www.3MScreens.com and follow @3MScreens on Twitter.

We just put together a classroom Motorola Xoom Tablet Bundle that includes a 32GB Motorola Xoom (Refurbished) tablet and an accessory kit at a 12% discount. The kit comes with a cover and stand to protect your tablet, and a detachable keyboard that allows for typing. Tablet features include:

• 32GB memory
• 6 customizable home screens
• Dual cameras

Apps Center: Don't forget to hunt for Android education apps in the Digital Wish Apps Center. You can search by subject, grade, paid or free, and read teacher reviews.

Remember to check out our other ongoing deals here!

 School Modernization Initiative

2011-2012 Survey Results

Organization:           Digital Wish
Contact:                    Heather Chirtea, Executive Director
                                    [email protected]
Phone:                      Dir (802) 549-4571, C (802) 379-3000 F (845) 402-7242
Websites:                 http://schoolmodernizationinitiative.wordpress.com/
501(c)(3) Status:     Approved August 26, 2008
Report Released:   July 23, 2012

About the Survey

If you would like to cite data from these surveys, please credit:
© Digital Wish 2012

Digital Wish runs the School Modernization Initiative, putting one-computer-per-child programs into 28 schools, in order to study the process of technology integration and craft strategies that will allow other schools to replicate success.  Every student and teacher in the survey received a dedicated computer for use in a 1:1 computing classroom with take-home rights, and a technology training class each week for 4-6 months.

Data is self-reported by 30 teachers and 465 students participating in the replication phase of the School Modernization Initiative from September 2011 to May 2012.  The data was collected through anonymous surveys conducted on www.surveymonkey.com.

The same questions were asked in both the pre-initiative and post-initiative surveys.  Both students and teachers reported increases in computer literacy, rising comfort levels with technology, and overall increases in engagement. The data reflects the difference in the responses given between the pre- and post-survey data. Different surveys were given to students versus teachers.

Please be aware that the data collected shows anecdotal trends, self-reported by the teachers and students participating in the initiative.  Digital Wish does not conduct formal research, nor do they make any conclusive research-based claims.

Sample Size:
Replication Phase
30 Teachers surveyed
465 Students surveyed
Pre-survey administered Sept 2011
Post-survey administered May 2012
Curriculum taught to grades 4-6.

Overview of Reported Gains

Listed here are some interesting reported gains:

• Workforce Prep - Over 90% of students say having technology in school is important in preparing them for the future.
• Importance - 83% of students say that it is important to their education to have their own netbook/computer during the school year.
• Skill - Teachers say that only 11% of their students are considered beginners with computers, a decrease from 30% pre-initiative. They consider approximately 50% of their students to be advanced/expert computer users, a value that has more than doubled since the 20% pre-deployment.
• Access to Technology - 100% of teachers now have a school laptop, up from 80% before the initiative.
• Frequency - The number of students who use a computer every day in the classroom more than tripled the pre-initiative levels, increasing from 20% to 65%.
• Students Becoming Tech “Experts” - The majority of students say they are experts at digital media, word processing, making presentations, safely and responsibly using the internet, solving problems using technology, and researching a topic on the Internet.  At the beginning of the initiative, almost 50% of students said they didn’t know how to do these things.
• Problem solving - Students who say they can “figure out just about anything on their own” increased from 38% to 51%, a 134% increase.  The number of students who say they have participated in 10 or more technology projects that required them to solve a problem, gather information, or draw a conclusion, has nearly doubled, from 23% to 42%.
• Internet Safety - After completing the Initiative, 93% of teachers now say they are “comfortable” with Internet safety, with 67% of them saying they are “very comfortable”.
• Student Engagement - Student engagement increased 140% in word processing and writing, creating presentations, and video production.  52% of teachers now feel that the majority of their students are highly engaged as opposed to only 37% pre-initiative.
• Creativity - Teachers now say that 46% of their students are experts or peer coaches in creating a new idea or original project using technology, a value that almost quadrupled the pre-initiative’s mere 12% levels.

Student Research Data

Student Skills
21^st Century Skill Levels Increased:

Work Improvements
Students Reported Computers Improved Schoolwork:

Student Likes / Dislikes
Students Liked Technology More:
Students were asked to rate how much they liked a certain tasks on a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being “Not at all”, and 10 being “I love this!”  Nearly every 21^st century skill increased:

Students Enjoyed School More With Technology:
Students agreed/disagreed w/ following statements:       

• I prefer to use a computer to do my schoolwork - 88% to 91% agree
• Computers make schoolwork easier - 38% - 42% strongly agree
• I enjoy school more when teacher uses tech to teach lessons - 83% to 85% agree

Frequency
Students Participated in More Technology Projects:

Workforce Development
Interest in Technology Careers Increased:
The percentage of students who said they’d like to have a career in Technology / Computers increased from 13% to 16%.

Student Anecdotes

When asked “How important is having technology in school for preparing you for the future?” students responded with:

• Technology is very important to have because you can have a bigger selection of job options if you know how to use the Internet.
• I think the future will be based on technology so we should get ahead while we can.
• It makes learning like 20 times easier!
• I LOVE using technology in school, it makes me a little bit more happy to go to school now.

When asked “What did you enjoy doing this year as part of the Digital Wish program?” students responded with:

• Everything, and I hope for Digital Wish to expand to more than just Vermont, kids around the world should have a chance like I did.  It is a wonderful program you have got here and I hope it continues.
• I enjoyed making projects and learning how to fix any problems all by myself.
• Learning how to type faster and learning not to believe everything on the internet and not to believe that all web sites are real.
• Learning about new programs because sometimes I could teach my mom about them.
• I enjoyed the stop motion films that we made.  I made more when I went home that day.
• Digital Wish is very fun but my favorite was business because I loved using Windows Publisher and creating business cards.
• Now I know how to do about a thousand more things on the web.

When asked “What is the most exciting thing you've ever done with a computer?” students responded with:

• I made a 57 page power point on Autism and special education!!!!:)
• I taught my whole family how to use it.
• I taught my aunt how to make a Prezi and she took me to a convention in Chicago where she used her new skills!

Teacher Research Data

Collaborative Learning
More Collaborative Projects - 24% of teachers now assign collaborative technology projects either weekly or daily.  Pre-initiative, no teachers did this.

Increased Teacher Technology Usage
More Projects Assigned - 80% of teachers said they assigned 3+ major technology projects in the past school year that required problem solving, critical thinking, or analysis of information (only 30% pre-initiative).  7% of teachers assigned 10 or more projects.

Increased Home Usage  - Post-initiative, 39% of teachers send the computers home with students 5 times a week and 39% send them home 7 days a week.

Increased Frequency of Technology Usage - The percentage of teachers who use technology in English, Science, or Social Studies/History four times a week or more, increased to 3 to 5 times that of pre-initiative levels.

Increased Time Using Technology

Teacher Comfort Levels With Technology
Teachers Rating Themselves “Very Comfortable”

Teachers Rating Themselves “Comfortable”

Community Support
Increased Community Support - Level of community support that teachers said they received regularly, increased from 17% to 31% of teachers reporting they were fully supported by the community. 

Teachers Rate Student Engagement in Learning
Increased Student Excitement – Teachers rated 85% of their students as “very excited” about technology, an increase of 10% over pre-initiative levels of 75%.

Teachers Rated More Students as “Highly Engaged”:

Teachers Rated More Students as “Engaged”:

Student Skill Levels:
Teachers Rated Overall Student Skill Levels with Technology:

Teachers Reported Increasing Percentage of Students With Skills Rated as “Above Average”:

Teachers Reported Increasing Percentage of Students Rated as “Experts/ Coaches”:

Hurdles With Technology
Biggest Hurdles Encountered by Teachers:

1. Students forgetting to charge computers
2. Technical trouble
3. Students playing video games when not directly supervised
   Student/Parent irresponsibility
4. Teachers having limited knowledge
5. Inappropriate sites/use of computers
   Fluctuating Internet access
   Software problems and application
6. Time management with transitioning to/from computers
7. Time commitment is required

Teacher Anecdotes

On student gains as a result of the Digital Wish program...

• I have noticed much more student confidence on the use of technology. Motivation to do the work has been invaluable. Overall, students' attitudes have been that of wanting to know more.
• Students are very confident when given an assignment that incorporates the laptop.  They are very good at listening to a computer-related lesson once, then working with each other to understand it better and putting it to practical use.
• Students are more fluent with technology. They are able to select their form of expression using any of the programs we learned.

On the 1:1 initiative’s success in preparing students for the future...

• It is nice to see the students coming to class these days, computers in hand. It's become second nature to them to immediately turn on their netbooks upon entering class and connect to my blog where most of my lessons are located. The work they do has improved in quality and quantity as a result of the repertoire of technology tools available to them--and the skills they have acquired through Digital Wish has resulted in more creativity and polish in their projects and presentations. I feel our students are better prepared for the demands of Middle School as a result of their experiences with Digital Wish. On behalf of our small school, thank you for contributing to the academic success of our students.

On the netbooks inspiring interest in learning outside of school...

• We started our Newton Law study in science and decided to incorporate the stop motion videos into our science study.  Students selected one of the laws and then were given backdrop materials and clay.  They needed to bring the LAWS to life. The kids were very excited about this.  Many of the students went home and created their own videos at home.  It was wonderful.