First-graders have videocam, will compete

The first-graders in Rich Colosi's class may not be old enough to read on their own yet, but they certainly can spell "digital."

After producing a four-minute-long video last month, the Canandaigua students are well on their way to winning $15,000 for things like an interactive white board, a projector and a digital sound system.

It's all part of the Classroom Makeover Contest - sponsored by an educational-tech company, Interwrite Learning - for all K-12 classrooms throughout the United States and elsewhere. Colosi's class is among the finalists.

Students and teachers entering the contest are required to create a video showing ways technology is used in the classroom. Colosi's class made a video set to Gwen Stefani's pop song "Hollaback Girl," focusing on girls using technology. Instead of the original song's lyrics, which spell out "bananas," the students spell "digital." And instead of "Ain't gonna holla back girl," the lyrics read "They ain't gonna hold us back, girls."

src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tKybjUkG8Mkrel=1" width="425" height="355" scale="ShowAll" loop="loop" menu="menu" wmode="transparent" quality="1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> "It's about girls using technology 'cause people don't think girls really like it," said 6-year-old Bridget Wagner, who narrates the video. Colosi, who has a background in producing videos professionally, shot it during lunch periods and after school with his own camera. He said he didn't want just to talk about the lack of technology in his classroom: Rather, the video is about what students are already doing, like using iPods and computer programs. "I pretty much had the belief that (technology) is something everyone enjoys," said Colosi. But when studying media in college, Colosi was exposed to research that showed girls not measuring up in technological fields. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, males accounted for 86 percent of students who took the Advanced Placement examination in computer science in 2002, and males had higher average scores on the exam than females. The National Science Foundation reports that only 38 percent of the science and engineering doctorates awarded in 2005 went to women. Colosi said that in his classroom, the girls are just as excited to use technology as boys. "In our classroom ... every kid uses technology," he said. "If we had more technology, we could further spread this message." Students danced, jumped and screamed to spread their message. "In my class, my teacher says girls can do anything with technology," said Bridget on the video. "And I'm gonna shout it out that girls need to learn about this technology stuff." Colosi's class is one of 15 finalists chosen from a pool of 200 competing for the $15,000 prize. The class was in first place with 925 votes Thursday afternoon. Trailing them is a class in Hildebran, N.C., with its video, "Interwrite can get us what we need." Voting online accounts for 30 percent of the final evaluation. The winner will be chosen after voting ends Nov. 9. Six-year-old digital learner Jennifer Rosato is already excited for the prospect of new stuff in her classroom. "We're going to show them how we get down," she said. "I love using computers. It's like fun to use technology, so you get smarter and smarter."To vote for the video, visit http://contest.interwritelearning.com/contest/1/ <em>Stephanie Bergeron can be reached at (585)394-0770 , ext. 255 or at sbergeron@mpnewspapers.com