Cool Tools | Teachers: How to Bridge the Gap Right Now

Looking to bridge the digital gap? Check this out, especially if you’re looking for reading comprehension tools—deadline’s coming right up, but you’ve still got enough time: DYMO/Mimio has introduced the third grant award in its classroom technology grant series—the “Bridging the Gap” grant, a unique grant program that allows teachers to apply individually rather than requiring a school or district application. This latest grant is the first from DYMO/Mimio to incorporate Headsprout Reading Comprehension tools, providing research-based instruction that teaches learners how to comprehend text in an engaging, interactive, personalized environment. Two winning applicants will each receive five MimioTeach interactive systems, which transform any dry erase whiteboard into a fully-interactive whiteboard, five MimioPad wireless tablets that allow users to interact with their MimioTeach-enabled whiteboard from anywhere in the classroom, and five MimioView document cameras, which feature simple plug-and-play integration with the rest of the product suite. Each teacher will also receive five licenses to set up classrooms in their district with Headsprout Reading Comprehension, plus on-site training with a DYMO/Mimio Teaching and Learning Specialist. To apply, teachers can send grant applications and supporting documentation should be submitted to funding@mimio.com  by 5 p.m. EST on Friday, November 25, 2011.  For more information and entry rules for the “Bridging the Gap” grant, visit www.mimio.com/grants

That’s not all, however. In its commitment to providing educators with innovative teaching technology tools, DYMO/Mimio has also launched a new teacher contest this month on MimioConnect, offering K-12 educators a chance to win free classroom technology by submitting creative lesson plans for elementary, middle and high school levels.  Teachers can submit their best winter-themed lessons on MimioConnect.com, a free online community for educators, for a chance to win a MimioView document camera. Submissions will be accepted until midnight EST on December 23 with winners being announced on January 16, 2012. One grand prize winner will be named from each category: Grades K-5, Grades 6-9 and Grades 10-12. Visit http://www.mimioconnect.com/2011_winter_lesson_contest for entry details.