We are calling on educators and web professionals to join our new effort – the 2010 MLK Day Technology Challenge. The purpose is simple: to connect schools and non-profits that have technology needs, including skills training and mentorship, with web professionals, developers, graphic designers and new media professionals who are willing to volunteer their skills for the common good.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” We ask that you answer his call in 2010 by participating in the MLK Technology Challenge.

Typical projects include:

• Enhance the school’s website by creating blogs or discussion groups for various student groups, such as student council, chess club, drama group, dance troupe, or varsity and intramural teams.
• Create a Facebook Fan Page for your school or for your Parent-Teacher’s Association, Student Government Association or Alumni Association
• Create a NING social network your school or a school organization
• Develop online mentoring within school system between high school students and elementary school students
• Create an anonymous web form to report bullying
• Recruit local graduates for a school-sponsored job-shadowing program.
• Make a digital story video about a school project to show how technology can change the dynamics of a class.
• Create a tech advice online forum for your school, and help answer questions on it.
• Create a Twitter account for school announcements (snow days, upcoming back sales, sports games, special announcements) or other student-centered topics.
  efurbish computers for schools

Registering your MLK Day Technology Challenge Project
 

Serve.gov uses All for Good to bring together and help people find volunteer opportunities near them. To help web professionals find your project, register your event with one of our partner websites - all listings from these sites are brought together in one place at All for Good. When you create your volunteer opportunity, be sure to include the “MLKTech” keyword – the keyword is necessary for search.

Find a MLK Day Technology Challenge Project
 

NOTE: When looking for projects to get involved in, remember that schools have very strict child protection and privacy laws, as well as internally managed IT systems. Don't get involved in configuring or installing software on school computers, or anything relating to student information, unless school or district leaders authorize your work in writing. Instead, stay focused on projects that can help parents and teachers communicate, organize and stay in touch more effectively.