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Second Annual Dakota State Technology Showcase 

            The Dakota State University College of Education along with the Learning Organizations for Technology Integration (LOFTI) program is sponsoring the second annual Technology Showcase competition. The contest encourages, recognizes and rewards outstanding achievement in the integration of content and technology. Contestants are asked to showcase a project that uses multimedia packages such as PowerPoint or HyperStudio or a web-based project. The project may be a class assignment or something prepared specifically for the competition. Contestants may enter individually or as a team.

            “This is an opportunity for students to share ideas and the tricks of the trade with other students,” said Linda Venekamp, DSU associate professor of Education and coordinator of the contest. “It also gives us a chance to see what elementary and high school students know.”

There are four different categories for eligibility, grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 and teacher-education college students. Contestants may enter individually or with a team of no more than three that are all in the same age grade category. Each individual or team entry must have an adult sponsor. The sponsor may be a teacher, parent or community member. Entries must be received by April 5, 2002 and can be sent to Venekamp at venekaml@pluto.dsu.edu or mailed to her at Dakota State University, Madison, SD 57042.

Participants will be notified of their score by April 19, 2002, the top five in each category will be invited to the Dakota State University campus for final competition. A final competition and award ceremony will take place on April 26. Winners will then be invited to the Technology Conference on Campus in September to showcase their projects. All entries will receive a certificate of participation. Finalists in each category will receive a Showcase T-Shirt. The top winners in each category will receive additional prizes.

            “There are so many aspects in technology,” said Venekamp. “You can watch fifth graders ask college students ‘How’d you do that?’ and then see college students ask fifth graders the same thing. It’s great to see the interaction and the sharing between students.”

            Judges will be looking for a balance between content and presentation. The contest is available for any student who meets the stated requirements no matter where they attend school. A registration form and more information are available online at http://www.homepages.dsu.edu/venekaml/technology_showcase/.