What is C2i?

The Challenge to Innovate, C2i, is a web-based, open invitation to public school educators and others to identify and solve education's most pressing classroom problems.

How Does it Work?

C2i is housed on the U.S. Department of Education's Open Innovation Portal. There we initiate conversations and idea sharing among educators, giving voice to a wide range of people interested in public education issues, and engaging them in selecting the best ideas. With the help of an expert panel, we review their selections and give cash awards for the best ideas. To date, more than 9,200 individuals have registered and joined the C2i community.

Gaming Challenge

.According to a recent study, 91 percent of kids ages two through 17 (approximately 64 million) play electronic games in the U.S. The NEA Foundation’s latest C2i initiative invites teachers to develop new ways to use game-based learning and interactive technology to help students learn.

The next great teaching frontier is light years away from the chalk board and eraser. If we change the classroom conversation from a one-way exercise to an engaging process that is constantly being renewed and refined, what would happen? Can gaming and education be combined in effective ways? You tell us.  

Please join us on the U.S. Department of Education Open Innovation Portal and post your idea today.  

 Submissions will be accepted from January 23 – March 5, 2012.

• A proposed solution must effectively incorporate game-based learning.
• Portal registrants can also review, comment, and vote.
• At the end of the review period, up to 10 solutions will receive $1,000 cash award from the NEA Foundation.
• The solutions selected will be shared by the NEA Foundation and Microsoft–US Partners in Learning via multiple outlets.
• This challenge is open to anyone in public education.

Rating Criteria

All entries will be scored on a 5-point scale (0 = lowest, 5 = maximum), by registrants of the Open Innovation Portal. Awardees will be decided by the scores from the Open Innovation Portal community, the NEA Foundation, and Microsoft–US Partners in Learning.

How Do I Start?

Registration only takes 15 seconds. Register and submit your idea on the Open Innovation Portal!

Look for updates on the Portal and check the NEA Foundation website for updates on C2i and other grants and education news, join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our blog and subscribe to our newsletter.

For more information, please contact Jeff Howard at C2i@nea.org.