From little acorns grow mighty oaks, so the saying goes. Colorado kids and their teachers have an opportunity to find those little acorns of technology through a grant program from CenturyLink that is currently accepting applications for 2018.

The CenturyLink Teachers and Technology grant program awards $5,000 to teachers in public, private and charter schools to “implement innovative technology solutions in their classrooms.”

In Colorado last year, 29 schools won CenturyLink grants. That included Thornton Elementary, which won for a LEGO® robotics program that involved 12 teachers and 280 kids in grades two through five, nearly 75 percent of the school’s enrollment, according to Brandon Yergey, Colorado market development manager.

Yergey called the Thornton idea one of the more unique that has come through the program, which started in 2008 and is funded by the CenturyLink Foundation. 

According to the grant application, Thornton Elementary offers an enrichment program for its students that extends the school day by about 45 minutes. Classes in gardening, chess and science are available.

For the LEGO® robotics program, teachers used a LEGO® WeDo kit to teach science through a robot-based learning system. Students build, program and modify the robotics kit, which the school’s application said can spark a love for experimentation and investigation, as well as teach critical thinking and creative ways to complete tasks.

“CenturyLink is proud to support our Teachers and Technology Grants program,” said Guy Gunther, CenturyLink’s vice president of operations for Colorado. “The ability to help fund technology investment in classrooms across our state is a tremendous way to continue promoting STEM learning concepts and ensure that students are learning to think critically using cutting-edge resources and getting the best education possible.”

The CenturyLink grant is open to pre-K through 12th grade teachers for grants of up to $5,000; the Foundation will award $1.4 million in grants for 2018.

Applications are now being accepted with a deadline of .January 12, 2018. Grants will be awarded between April 1 and May 15, 2018. 

Photo courtesy of CenturyLink