Included in the Digital Ideas Advent Calendar with a new idea each day!
I’ve been quite blessed to travel to over 20 countries and help teachers integrate technology even in places with very little funding. You can watch a video of me helping students in Ogulin, Croatia to get an idea of what this looks like in action. Often, we are not fortunate to work in schools that provide us with the budget to get the technology we want. If you have a passion for teaching with tablets, Chromebooks, or setting up a digital station then you have many ways to afford that dream. Don’t give up! Below, are ways to fund your vision whether it be a maker station, 3D printer, or other project. Don’t forget to check out my previous post, on getting your students to create digital books to help others. Students have the ability to publish and sell their digital books online. The proceeds can go towards getting computers, laptops, tablets, better wifi, a technology cart, or other digital tools.
Ideas
Find the ideas below in the bookmarks that follow or click on this link, Tech Funding.
Make a wish list or a project plan that you can share with students, parents, universities, local businesses, or other audiences to help you reach your goals. Often, you can get universities, churches, or businesses to donate their old technology to you when they make updates or get new inventory. This benefits them, especially when they can write it off for taxes.
Crowdfunding– Many sites will allow you to raise funds for a project by asking people around the world for small donations. Try Donors Choose, Pledge Cents, Digital Wish, Adopt-a-Classroom, Class Wish, Indigogo, or KickStarter.
Grants– You can apply for grants specifically meant for your topic. Try WeAreTeachers, GrantGopher, or NaNoWrimo.
Pilot programs– Often big companies like MicroSoft or Verizon will want to run pilot programs worldwide and provide your school with tons of their devices.
Develop an app that helps the community in some way or develop a game on an app. A group of kindergarten students created drawings for a version of MouthOff. Other schools have worked with developers to get their students to create an app. Find resources and places below to make an app easily. AppShed is a great tool for making apps.
Think of creative ways to fundraise! I have been part of celebrity dinners where students dressed as famous characters and served tables dinner. We also did a coffee and talent night with students reading poetry or playing music. You can discover tons of ideas in the bookmarks below.
Challenge:
Come up with a plan or project for your class and try one of these ideas to fund it.
If you enjoyed these ideas, you may want to get your copy of The 30 Goals for Teachers or my $5.99 ebook, Learning to Go, which has digital/mobile activities for any device and editable/printable handouts and rubrics. Subscribe for FREE to receive regular updates!
Links
Included in the Digital Ideas Advent Calendar! Scroll the image below and each day discover free web tools, apps, and resources.
