Find your voice with Tool Factory Podcasting!

Apply for the Podcasting Grant and win a free site license Tool Factory Podcasting plus all the digital media accessories you need to start a podcasting program in your school! To apply, simply develop a lesson plan demonstrating how you would use podcasting in your curriculum.

If you are new to podcasting, start by taking the 5-minute tour and find out what it's all about! You are invited to download the 30-day trial version of Tool Factory Podcasting and try it out. It only takes a few minutes to build your first podcast. Then use your creativity and come up with a podcasting project idea. We highly recommend getting your students involved. Invite them for a group brainstorming session and gather your ideas.

The most unique podcasting lessson plans, incorporating student involvement and creativity will win!

Grants will be judged based on:

• Effective integration of podcasting in the curriculum.
• Effective use of ALL the resources provided by the grant.
  
• High degree of student involvement. We are looking for projects which involve the entire class in a variety of capacities for a group project, or where each student gets the opportunity to build their own project.
  
• Creativity and fun. Our judges are looking for great projects that they would like to take part in!

Download the printable flyer (PDF).

Deadlines

June 30, 2007 - 3 Winners Chosen. Read the winning applications!

December 30, 2007 - 4 Winners Chosen. Read the winning applications!

April 30, 2008 - 3 Winners will be chosen. Judging Occuring Now!

K-12 and special education schools in the US, its territories, and Canada are eligible to apply. Private, public, and charter schools are equally considered. 10 grants will be awarded each year and you have 3 chances to win. You must resubmit after every deadline to reapply.

Make Your Application Great!

Here are a few hints from the judges to make your application stand out from the pack.

• Try an inventive title that reflects enthusiasm such as, "Rockin' Reports from Rotterdam's Finest Reporters!"
• Tell a great story. What makes your group special? Why are the students excited about podcasting? How will this project contribute to their future?
• Let your students help develop the ideas. Their creativity will shine through. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
• Always use properly grammars and corretc splleling!
• Be sure to utilize all the resources below in your project description.

One Tool Factory Podcasting Site License Worth $1,000

Awardees will get a school site license of Tool Factory Podcasting to install on every computer in their school! Take the Tour! Anyone with a microphone, a Windows computer, and an internet connection can publish audio podcasts to people anywhere in the world! You no longer need 3-4 different software programs to create a podcast. All you need is the simplicity of Tool Factory Podcasting. The software combines a scripting tool, sound recorder, easy uploading, and broadcast utility into one simple interface.

3 Olympus Digital Voice Recorders Worth $600

The Olympus Digital Voice Recorders are a wonderful resource for teachers! Record audio on field trips, around school grounds, at meetings, or even take voice notes. This voice recorder doubles as a flash drive so you can even transfer documents from one computer to another. Pull it apart and you'll find the hidden USB plug for fast file-transfer directly into the computer. Up to 266 songs can be stored and played in impressive stereo sound with the track and artist's name clearly displayed on the LCD. Digital voice recorders are perfect for news gathering!

3 Headsets and Microphones Worth $40

When you are sitting at the computer, the headset and mic is the perfect way to record your voice and listen to computer sounds. The boom mic is flexible for accurate positioning, and the headset is adjustable for kids and adults alike.

Clip Art Station - School Subscription Worth $400

Visit Clip Art Station and get a great collection of photos and sound clips to use in projects! Our library of photographs and sounds is perfect for students, teachers, and families. Subscribers get instant access to the full library of artwork and audio posted on Clip Art Station. Download images and sounds and get busy building class projects.

Worksheet Station - School Subscription Worth $400

Go to Worksheet Station and get a great collection of worksheets to use in your classroom! Storyboard worksheets and script writing worksheets are perfect for podcast planning. Our library of worksheets is perfect for students, teachers, and families. Subscribers get instant access to the full library of worksheets posted on Worksheet Station. Download worksheets and spark some ideas for class projects.

Web Page Station - School Subscription Worth $400

Tool Factory will host your podcasts on the Web Page Station server as an output for your podcasts. Save server space on your schools network by using Web Page Station. Coming soon -- you'll be able to look here for educational podcast streams, news, and new project ideas.

Tool Factory's Simple Guide to Podcasting - Book/CD Worth $20

Get the book and get started! Tool Factory's Simple Guide to Podcasting is the perfect companion book to Tool Factory Podcasting. Learn what a podcast is, then explore some great introductory web links. The pages are jam-packed with step-by-step instruction on how to record sounds and publish your own podcasts. This is a great resource for learners who want visual instructions at-a-glance. Every step in the process is outlined with large bold pictures and easy 1-2-3 instructions. Readers can delve into the text for a deeper understanding of the podcasting process, or simply browse the visual images which "show" every step in the podcasting process.