New award for Multimedia and ICT students launched – Innovate to Educate
Innovate to Educate from NESTA Futurelab, an organisation dedicated to researching, developing and evaluating new technologies for learning, is a new award for students working on degree and postgraduate projects in multimedia, ICT or related subjects. Supported by Cambridge Assessment, the award encourages students to work with a teacher/educator to focus their final year or similar project on a novel digital resource to assist learning, in school or out of school.
The winning student entry will receive £3,000, industry secondment(s), a free place at the November 2006 NESTA Futurelab conference as well as possible other prizes such as hardware or software. There is also an additional prize of £1,000 for the teacher/educator, if one is closely involved in the winning project.
With growing interest in the use of multimedia and interactive games in education, educators and technologists alike are involved in developing resources that can match the level of engagement found in commercial games. This award aims to uncover new talent with the creative and technical skills to help transform education.
NESTA Futurelab is also looking for educators and teachers who are keen to work with students to make education more engaging, as well as the ICT and creative industries to mentor students so that their ideas take into account practicalities, the needs of the market-place and other ‘real-world’ factors.
Chief Executive of Cambridge Assessment, Simon Lebus, said: “We are delighted to support the Innovate to Educate challenge. We believe it represents all that is best about UK education – informed development and delivery of educational resources, innovative approaches to the measurement of learning and ‘fit for purpose’ exploitation of technology.”
The deadline for submissions is 30 June 2006. For further information on the Innovate to Educate award or on how to get involved, go to www.nestafuturelab.org/events/award/intro.htm or alternatively contact Lacia Ashman at NESTA Futurelab on 0117 915 8222 / lacia.ashman@nestafuturelab.org.
