How to get your hands on the MONEY!

Money might be the biggest obstacle as to why schools are unable to advance the technology in their classrooms.  If that is the case for your school, there is money to be had, it just may take some time and effort.

But, if you are able to come up with a concise plan and budget for your technology needs, then there are always granting organizations willing and able to fund your needs.  

How do you find these granting opportunities???  Below is a link that provides you with a detailed list of grants focusing on all areas of educational technology.  Check it out!

Technology Grant News

And if you have never filled out a grant before and need a few pointers, this website will give you several great starting points and tips to begin.

Grant Writing 101- Tips and Techniques

Here are a few personal tips that I have learned from my experience grant writing.

1. If you don't try to find the funding for your programs, you will never be able to achieve new and innovative educational programs and techniques.
2. The more often you apply for grants, the better you will become at grant writing and ultimately understanding what the granting organizations are looking for.
3. Try to build relationships with individuals at the granting organizations.  They can be an advocate for your needs and will be able to point you in the right direction when creating your proposal.
4. If you have a great idea, there will always be someone willing to help you out!

Yes, grant writing may be a daunting task, but the time, effort and energy is worth it!

Good luck!

Jewish Ed Blog

Very thought provoking article.  If you like what you read below, click on the link to read the full article.

"It is already clear that technology is revolutionizing where, when, and how Jewish learning and teaching take place. Technology expands the boundaries of time and space, collapsing barriers that keep us from connecting to worlds and people beyond our immediate physical presence. Technology brings into play multiple senses and new creative skills. It encourages, invites, and facilitates new habits of communication. These capabilities demand that we re-imagine what education is and how it is conducted. The challenge for Jewish education, especially in traditional institutions like schools, is whether they can re-envision what they do to take advantage of what new technologies offer, while avoiding the potential “dark sides” of this powerful force."

The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education 

Interactive Jewish Education

Some Religious Schools have the financial means to purchase those big ticket items that create an interactive lesson in their classrooms.  The video above shares some of the innovative uses of incorporating the technology into their schools and curriculum.

Here's a great article about incorporating technology into your classrooms and schools with very little training or equipment.

http://www.teachhub.com/12-easy-ways-use-technology-your-classroom-even-technophobic-teachers

The Way of the Future

Technology and education go hand in hand in this generation of learners.  

It's also hard to find a public or private school that doesn't try to incorporate technology into their programs.  However, I do not work in a full-time private or public school system in which tax payers or large tuition prices help pay for these new technology.  I work in the supplementary school world; where tuition is low, funding is practically non-existent, attendance is not always mandatory, but expectations are still very high.  One of the expectations in these schools is staying relevant, current and keeping up with the trends in secular school settings.  Which means technology is always a big topic of conversations with the principals, parents, and teachers.  But the biggest issue is how do you incorporate new technologies, as well as rethink school spending to purchase computers, tablets, smartboards, etc, when we are only in session two to four hours a week? 

This blog will focus on providing supplementary school leaders with the ideas and tips to initiate technology transformations in their schools.