Please vote for my micro-grant project by 8/10/09

I am participating in a Microgrant program sponsored by Dell and an online community, called WeAreTeachers. The 10 recipients of this grant receive $200 to promote "digital learning" in their classroom, as well as a flip video camera.

Recipients are selected through an online voting process. SO -- If you have a moment, I'd really appreciate your going online and voting for my project. It would really mean a lot to me to have your vote and support! Just go to http://www.weareteachers.com/web/weareteachers/dlvote and follow the directions there.

Thanks,

Colette Cassinelli


Project Title
Voices of the Past

Description
Middle school students at my school visit residents of a nursing home on our school campus. Students are paired up with a resident and spend time visiting, playing games, taking photos, completing activities and conducting interviews during their weekly visits. The students create a unique friendship with the residents. A culminating social event at the end of the year involves students creating special memory book of each resident and family members are invited to attend a special reception.

How will I use the money:
The money from this grant will be to purchase Flip cameras so the students can record the discussions between the students and the residents. Students will then use the recordings when they prepare their memory books or for use in digital storytelling or videos. The students can include a DVD of the clips with each memory books for the resident's family.

Who will benefit:
Of course, the flip cameras will benefit the students in our school. Not having to worry about keeping track of notes during the interviews will free up students to focus on the interview and the resident. This project will also benefit the residents of the nursing home and their families. A DVD of their family member talking about their life and memories will be priceless.

Where:
Beaverton, Oregon

How will you use the FlipCam to document your idea?
September 2009

When will my project take place:
The FlipCam will be the focal point of the interview project and they will be used by the students to record the resident interviews. I would also like to interview the students about their experience of visiting an older person and what the project has meant to them. Giving the students a chance to reflect on the stories they heard and the lessons they learned are extremely valuable.

Why I want to do this:
Giving students the opportunity to discover the stories of real people who have led long and interesting lives is so valuable. It teachers them about friendship, respect, listening, curiosity and appreciation. Creating a video for another person about their life is a precious gift. The learning involved in choosing what to include in the interview, which segments to show, how to piece it together to tell a story is a wonderful learning opportunity. It's real, authentic and meaningful.