2008 Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards Open
The 2008 Vernier/National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Technology Award program is now open. Each year, the program awards cash, technology, and travel funds for science teachers who demonstrate innovation in inquiry-based learning activities involving data collection.
"Hands-on activities put scientific concepts into meaningful contexts for students, making the ideas easier to understand and leaving students much more enthused about STEM fields," said David Vernier, co-founder of Vernier, in a statement released this week. "This award program not only rewards the ingenious ways in which the winners use data-collection technology to develop those activities, but also showcases the techniques for other educators."
This year's competition will award seven prizes to K-12 and post-secondary educators (one elementary, two middle school, three high school, and one post-secondary educator). The prizes, valued at $3,000, include $1,000 cash, $1,000 in Vernier equipment, and $1,000 for travel expenses put toward attending the 2009 NSTA National Conference.
According to Vernier, successful applicants will enter projects involving hands-on, inquiry-based learning and data collection using computers and handheld devices, including graphing calculators.
Entries are due Oct. 15.
Descriptions of last year's competition winners can be found here. Information on entering the 2008 competition can be found here.
