Calling All Students: Create Funny SAT Videos and Possibly Win $600
By SLJ Staff -- School Library Journal, 12/25/2008
If you have some students with spare time on their hands over the holidays ask them to create a video—up to two-minutes in length—that’ll help students remember a specific SAT word.
Winners will receive $600.
MIT grads Jack Yu and Nori Yoshida created BrainyFlix.com, with the goal of helping high school kids prepare for the SAT by offering fun and free videos about SAT vocabulary—made by students themselves.
Although most entrants are expected to be high school students, the contest is open kids of all grades.
“By the end of the contest, we are looking to have built a library of SAT words taught in an engaging way that beats the trousers off of flashcards,” says Yu, who graduated from MIT in 2001 and has helped tutor students studying for the SATs. “By participating in the contest, students will have not only helped themselves prepare for the SAT ,but also created something special that will help other students across the country.”
Kids are encouraged to have fun with their videos—but not be too raunchy. For some hilarious examples, visit http://youtube.com/bosoxclown.
The winner that receives the most number of votes from the public will receive $600, with $200 going those who made the video and the remainder going to the class or school club of the winner’s choice.
To encourage participation, those who either submit five videos or five referrals receive one free iTunes download.
MIT has agreed to sponsor the project, which has helped Yu and Yoshida land a community service grant from Salesforce.com.
Video submissions to BrainyFlix.com will begin January 1, 2009 and end February 23, 2009. Voting will take place between March 1-14, 2009, and the winners will be announced on March 20, 2009.
