Dive Brief:

• Sharp Electronics has launched a "Tech-It-Up" classroom technology challenge, which will award over state-of-the-art Sharp-branded products to 11 K-12 schools across the U.S.
• The winner of the challenge will get $100,000 worth of Sharp products, while 10 finalists will receive an Aquos Board interactive display system.
• To apply, schools must answer these two questions by April 30, 2015. The winners will be announced in May.

Dive Insight:

The two questions schools must answer in order to win are how they would integrate Sharp technology (such as interactive whiteboards, professional display monitors and multifunctional copiers) into classrooms to improve the educational experience, and how students would benefit from the award. It sounds pretty simple, but with plenty of likely competition, making sure a response is innovative and interesting is a must.

These sorts of awards are win-wins for all. Winning classrooms get the advantage of new technology to aid in the learning process, while Sharp gets the benefit of introducing its products to new users — and, ideally if all goes well in the winning classroom, other schools and districts will be compelled to purchase more Sharp products for their own classrooms.