Collegium filmmakers in the finals
eligible for a $1,000 bonus prize and is now vying for votes once again in the hopes of being awarded the competition’s $50,000 grand prize.
The Collegium project aims to have its students create a series of educational, science-centric videos aimed at students who share similar struggles to their own on the traditional classroom environment.
By having the complex scientific concepts explained in interesting and amusing ways by people who know the struggles students have in understanding the material on a personal level, the project’s organizers hope to reach future pupils on a new level while also having current collegium students engage more fully with the program in the process.
“This is the first time we’re doing something like this,” said Collegium teacher Akesh GillColeman. “This is all very new to us.”
The project is up against some formidable opponents, with other finalists having received sometimes as many as 300 votes per day in round one. At the same time, however, GillColeman pointed out that there are a large number of prizes up for grabs, and a limit of one prize per project.
The CST website lists five main prizes based on the votes received: One $50,000 grand prize, two $25,000 second-place prizes, and two $10,000 third place prizes. On top of that, there are ten $10,000 “category champions” to be awarded by the competition’s judges. The “Inspired Minds” competition has five categories for projects, each of which has its own judge. Regardless of vote count, the judge in each category has discretion in the awarding of his or her two awards.
“Aha! Now I get it!” is one of three finalists in the Puzzles and Experiments category.
Gill-Coleman, who heard about the competition on the radio as it began to get underway, could barely contain her excitement at the progression so far, but also expressed a great need for renewed support from those able to vote.
“You really need community in something like this,” the Collegium teacher said.
Those interested in voting for the project must register on the CST website and answer a brief questionnaire about whether or not they heard about the project from a CST representative. Following a successful registration, each member is then allowed up to three votes per day; one on the website learningproject.cst.org, one on Facebook, and one via Twitter.
Voting is open on round two until June 1 at noon. Winners of the competition will be announced on June 9.