DSU to host first ever Technology Showcase

Dakota State University will be hosting its first ever technology showcase for grades 3-12 and teacher education students in May. The showcase, as part of the Learning Organizations for Technology Integration or LOFTI grant, is designed to recognize, encourage and reward outstanding achievement in the integration of content and technology. The LOFTI grant offers practicing and pre-service educators the skills to effectively use technology in their teaching.

“Our goal is to get our student teachers or the students they work with to develop innovative projects in technology and to enhance our collaboration with K-12 education in this area,” said Tom Hawley, dean of the college of education.

The showcase is split up into four categories: grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 and teacher-education college students. Contestants can enter individually or within a group, but the group must contain only members of the same category. Each individual contestant grade 3-12 must have an adult sponsor. Contestants have the choice of entering into either the multimedia or web development contests.

“Our students are truly doing amazing things,” said Linda Venekamp, associate professor of English and director of the showcase. “We’d like to involve students from other campuses and let the state know what kids can do with technology. It’s also good for our students to see what K-12 students are capable of.”

Venekamp said area home-schooled students are also welcome to participate.

Dakota State students will get a first hand look at what those 3-12 grade students are doing because they will be judging those student’s projects.

The deadline for entries is April 13. Participants will be notified by April 27 of their score and the top five from each category will advance to the finals competition held on May 18. Winners will be invited back to the campus in September to showcase their projects at the LOFTI technology conference.

All entrants will receive a certificate of participation. Finalists in each category will receive a showcase t-shirt and the winners will receive a savings bond.

For more information contact Linda Venekamp at (605) 256-7301 or email at linda.venekamp@dsu.edu.