If you are looking for an inexpensive rolling crate for your iPads or tablets, we just launched one. For just $349.95, you can protect your investment for less than the cost of a single tablet!  Each rolling mobile lab can be configured with either 10 or 12 tablet slots and comes with a TSA approved lock.  Check it out here!

April 15th is the next deadline for Digital Wish’s grants.  We have 7 grants in total with awards for movie maker and podcasting software, a clipart subscription and more!  Check them all out here or pick from the list below:

• Earth Day Movie Making Grant
• Clip Art Station Grant
• The Big Bus 2.0 Grant
• Adventures in Technology Grant
• Let’s Get Podcasting! Grant
• Fun with Phonics Grant
• Early Learners Grant

Manchester Center, VT – March 21st, 2012 – Funded by a grant from the Motorola Mobility Foundation, Digital Wish has just launched the Digital Wish Apps Center, the newest tool designed to help teachers find the best educational applications designed for the Android™ operating system.  With so many apps currently on the market, this tool was created to give teachers an easier way to filter through them based on search criteria such as grade level, subject, free/paid, and ratings by fellow educators. In just a few mouse clicks, educators can find apps that fit their topic and grade level, then immediately download them from from Google Play™.

School technology budgets have been cut so far that many classes have very limited or no access to technology. Yet, at the same time, students are bringing their smartphones to class. Without adequate technology funding, some schools that have historically banned cell phones are taking a hard look at the devices students are bringing into the classroom and teachers are discovering some fantastic apps that turn these smartphones into learning tools. According to classroom trainer Eric Bird, “The ability to use student devices can give a whole new population of students access to learning technology, who would otherwise have to go without.”

“We are thrilled that Digital Wish has leveraged our Empowerment Grant to link classroom needs with mobile technology resources, ultimately helping to transform educational communities,” said Eileen Sweeney, director of the Motorola Mobility Foundation.   

As a nationwide trend, an increasing number of schools are looking at tablets as an alternative to costly computers. Digital Wish’s Apps Center was developed to help educators identify the perfect app among the thousands available in Google Play.  Digital Wish Program Developer, Sky Kochenour explains, “The tablet market is taking off, and apps are being developed so quickly that it has proven extremely difficult for educators to sort through the masses and select the appropriate apps to use in the classrooms. The Apps Center is a catalyst for changing the educational pathways to technology.”

With the prevalence of tablets and mobile devices in the classroom, the Apps Center gives teachers the ability to find what they are looking for quickly and conveniently.  They will spend less time searching, and more time teaching. Digital Wish carefully pre-screens all apps before they are showcased in the Apps Center to determine their appropriateness for teachers.  This allows teachers to go to directly to the Apps Center, do a quick search, and locate apps that are relevant to their needs.

About Motorola Mobility Foundation 

The Motorola Mobility Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Mobility. With employees located around the globe, Motorola Mobility seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. The company achieves this by making strategic grants, forging strong community partnerships, fostering innovation and engaging stakeholders. The Motorola Mobility Foundation focuses its funding on education, community, health and wellness and disaster relief. For more information, on Motorola Mobility Corporate and Foundation giving, visit Motorola.com/give.

Manchester Center, VT- March 6, 2012- Digital Wish has been awarded a $25,000 grant by the A.D. Henderson Foundation for the Vermont School Modernization Initiative, which supplies classrooms the computers, training, and curriculum necessary for students to develop 21st century skills. These funds will support the research and development of resources to help schools identify and secure sustainable funding streams for their technology programs.

The Vermont School Modernization Initiative has provided curriculum, training, and computers to 1,269 fourth through sixth grade students and 79 teachers in 28 schools across Vermont. Just as Digital Wish has modeled technology implementation strategies, this new grant will allow Digital Wish create new resources that will help schools develop sustainable funding strategies.  In order to ensure that schools have clear paths to future funding to sustain their new technology programs, Digital Wish will develop an online sustainability course that includes a comprehensive list of proven ideas for the reallocation of school budgets, community engagement strategies, and checklists of often-overlooked sources of funding.

For administrators, Digital Wish will develop online tools that will auto-generate a starter list of relevant sustainability tasks and fundraising strategies based on a school's current socio-economic status, PTA engagement, staff readiness, and technology integration progress. Additionally, through the School Modernization Initiative, a collaborative learning curriculum unit will help encourage community support.  

By September 2012, Digital Wish will be able to supply each of the 28 Vermont School Modernization Initiative schools with a comprehensive sustainability guide, impacting not only the 1,348 direct program participants, but also thousands more students in the same schools and districts across the state. To further share this knowledge, articles on re-budgeting, sustainability, and leadership will be published nationwide and Digital Wish will automate as many resources as possible so that schools statewide and nationwide can benefit from newly developed online sustainability tools.

About Digital Wish
Digital Wish is a non-profit on a mission to solve technology shortfalls in K-12 classrooms. The www.digitalwish.org website is designed to help teachers locate much-needed funding for classroom technology. In addition to making over 28,388 technology wishes come true for American educators, Digital Wish provides a host of fundraising ideas and allows teachers to craft a technology wish list so that parents and community members can make a classroom contribution and invest in America’s future.

Most of the deals are limited time / limited quantity so be sure to plan accordingly. The most current schedule is here: http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/news?id=155

*Will be available through Monday.

Start a Fundraiser - Earn a Flip:

PTAs and supporters who plan to give over $500 in technology this holiday season, should do their giving at www.digitalwish.org. Digital Wish will donate a free Flip video camera to any classroom that receives at least $500 through an online fundraiser by December 31st. Let Digital Wish match your donation with a 4-hour professional-grade Flip camcorder, worth over $200, this holiday season! Start a fundraiser here:

http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/fundraisers

Every Hour – Starting at 6:00am EST, we’ll donate 25 Flip Mino HD video cameras every hour. Limit one per customers. $24.95 processing and validation fee applies.

*5:00-6:00AM Kodak 2-for-$199 Waterproof Video Camera Kits with rechargeable batteries, HDMI cables and media software (normally $149 each, no limit, 250 available).

6:00-7:00AM Loaded Dell Latitude 2120 Netbook Bundles – up to 48% off - includes Windows 7 Pro, MS Office 10, 2GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive, webcam, 10.1” monitor upgraded to 1366X768 resolution, 6-cell battery upgrade that lasts the school day, 3-year extended on-site warranty, added shoulder strap, (normally $1,200, 50 units available, you can not get this price anywhere else).

*7:00-8:00AM 2-for-1 Video Podcasting, $99 for 2 (no cap, limited time)

*8:00-9:00AM Livescribe Smartpen Bundles, Buy 2-Get one free! Includes the Livescribe 8GB Echo smartpen, micro USB cable, Livescribe desktop software, extra ink cartridge, Smartpen 101online training course, K12 Idea Book, k12 Deployment Guide, MyScript software for handwriting to text transcription, and stylus (not available to schools in Florida, no cap, ends 11/21 at midnight EST).

9:00-10:00AM Flip MinoHD Mobile Lab - Buy an Equipped Mobile Lab Without Cameras and we'll fill it with 10 FREE Flip video cameras. (27 available, no pre-orders) http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/product?id=112515

*10:00-11:00AM Limited-quantity scanner/ inkjet printer/ copiers with FREE ink special (15 available until sold out). Software BOGOs - Buy one, get another free! Selected software titles include podcasting, video editing, keyboarding, early learning, early music, phonics series, (no quantity limit, limited time offer).

11:00-12:00PM Retro Hour - Software that runs on older computers - slashed prices at 50%-84% off (One hour only, 70 different CD-ROM titles are $12.99 each with free shipping).

*12:00-1:00PM Animation hour – Buy Stop Motion Pro Software and get a free Microsoft HD webcam (Limited time promotion, pre-order now) http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/product?id=9212 . Also, discounts on clay animation starter kits.

1:00-2:00PM Special Education Hour - 30% off On Track Reading Series and Leaps and Bounds series. Buy a Skoog, get a bundle FREE (limited time promotion).

2:00-3:00PM Buy the Pyramid Math 3D Game Series ($79, 3-CD set) and get a Calculator FREE (worth $20).

*3:00-5:00PM Vocab Videos - 75% off SAT test-prep subscriptions (one hour only, not available anywhere else)  PSAT scores come back in December and SAT and ACT test dates are fast-approaching, so now is a perfect time to help your students learn essential vocabulary with Vocab Videos!  The Vocab Videos system uses hilarious short videos to illustrate the meanings of 500 frequently-tested words, showing students what words mean instead of just telling them. Subscriptions feature study tools including quizzes, worksheets and a multimedia digital flashcard maker, so students can practice using the words. Teachers can monitor their students’ progress from their educator accounts. Help your students by taking advantage of this very special Vocab Videos offer! (Two hours only!)

4:00-5:00PM Multimedia Mobile Lab – $250 Off!  Rolling crate with photography and video equipment at a substantial discounts.

About Digital Wish

Digital Wish is a non-profit on a mission to solve technology shortfalls in K-12 classrooms. The www.digitalwish.org website is designed to help teachers locate much-needed funding for classroom technology. Here, teachers can make technology wish lists... and supporters make those wishes come true. PTA’s and PTO’s can start online fundraisers for new classroom technology in just a few mouse clicks, complete with credit card processing. Over 26,000 classroom technology wishes have been granted!