COMMUNITY: Non-profit Digital Harbor Foundation, based in Baltimore, has announced a promising fellowship program, EdTech Link, to build a local ecosystem for Baltimore technologists, educators and students. Here's how it works: tech-savvy volunteers pledge to spend one year providing professional development for EdTech Link fellows in Baltimore public schools. These teachers pass on these skills to students, who then provide "reverse mentoring" for educators in other local districts. Teachers get a bit of money ($9500 in total and a laptop) and will agree to take part in summer training. And if this weren't cool enough, fellows will have opportunities to take their classroom experience to work with local edtech startups. The foundation also offers yearly scholarships for tech-savvy students and recent graduates. Check out this Prezi to learn more. (Hat tip to Tina Barsheghian over at Mind/Shift.) Applications for Baltimore teachers looking to be EdTech Link fellows are due April 15. Hurrah for local community building!
