When I took physics in high school, we started with Newton's laws of motion, and I was immediately intrigued. Phrases like "get the ball rolling" and "fighting an uphill battle" suddenly took on a mathematical application that I found fascinating. I like to think of action as directed motion. Action, just like motion, doesn't happen without some upfront "oomph."
Sometimes things are just cooler when they move. Kinetic art from local artist
Andrew Smith.
When we built Canvas, we put our oomph behind three guiding principles: education, innovation, and openness. Over the last few years we've worked hard to turn these ideas into actions that would make a lasting and tangible difference for students and educators.
Now we're ready to apply the forces of action and change in yet another way. Today we’re announcing the launch of Canvas Grants. We’re offering 15 grants for a total of $100k to help fuel creativity and spur innovation in education. That’s five grants of $10,000 for Higher Education and ten grants of $5,000 for K-12.
The most innovative ideas in specific categories for both HE and K-12, as judged by a panel of experts, will receive grant money, as well as other assistance from Instructure, to help get their difference-making ideas off the ground. Submissions may include (but are not limited to) content, applications, classroom techniques, tools, or some amazing thing we don’t even have a word for yet. We’ll announce the winners at SXSWedu in spring 2014.
Wondering what a panel of experts look like? Here you go:
Higher Education judges
Mike Caulfield, Washington State UniversityLarry Cooperman, OpenCourseware and UC IrvineJim Groom, University of Mary WashingtonJosh Kim, Inside Higher Ed and DartmouthGeorge Siemens, Athabasca UniversityJesse Stommel, Hybrid Pedagogy and University of Wisconsin-MadisonAudrey Watters, Hack EducationNancy White, Full Circle AssociatesK-12 judges
Steven Anderson, Web 2.0 Classroom Jaime Casap, Google Sean Junkins, Horry County SchoolsChris Lehmann, Science Leadership AcademyScott McLeod, Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency Linda Nathan, Boston Arts AcademyTom Vander Ark, Getting Smart and Learn CapitalSubmissions should fall into one of the following categories:
Higher Education categories
Facilitating competency-based learning Engaging students through academic careerBlending online and face-to-face coursesNew models of content and curriculum development and sharingApplying universal design to online learningK-12 categories
Meeting demands of standardsInvolving parents in meaningful waysSpecial education1:1 initiativesProject-based learningExtending the classroomPK-5 technologyPersonalized learning pathsUniversal design for learningSTEMNolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese’s, thinks that “everyone who has ever taken a shower has had an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it that makes a difference.” And we think he’s onto something.
So, what are you waiting for? The education world is waiting for you to set your “oomph” in motion. Submit your brilliant idea today at www.instructure.com/canvasgrants.
Keep learning,
Brian
Chief Learning Officer
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