Follett Challenge shares ‘secrets’ to winning entry

With less than six weeks remaining before the entry deadline for the 2012-13 Follett Challenge, organizers have shared some of the “secrets” behind what the six-person panel of judges will be looking for in a winning entry.

The Follett Challenge is an advocacy contest awarding $200,000 worth of Follett products and services to six K-12 schools that are aligning their curriculum to teach 21st century learning skills. The deadline to enter is Jan. 4.

Follett Challenge judges will be evaluating entries on how they do the following:

  • Encourage communication outside the traditional school walls
  • Promote collaboration across diverse teams
  • Engage critical thinking, decision making and problem solving
  • Teach using a variety of media and technology
  • Ensure the learning programs are sustainable over time
  • Use social collaboration and learning communities
  • Measure success
  • Increase student motivation
  • Meet all of the written and video entry requirements

The 2012-13 Follett Challenge is seeking entries from schools designing 21st century learning programs that develop critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration between students and among educators.

The Follett Challenge is open to all public and private K-12 schools in the United States and Canada. International schools that meet the criteria for participation are invited to apply as well. Applicants are asked to submit a three- to five-minute video, as well as provide an overview of the program and how it has impacted student advancement with 21st century skills.

For more information, visit www.follettchallenge.com.