'Tech, Tech Baby' video a big winner for Des Plaines school

Dorothy Henson's career spans 26 years in Des Plaines Elementary District 62 and this much she knows: Entering students in competitions can be motivating - and empowering.

That was the case earlier this month at Algonquin Middle School in Des Plaines, when it was announced that a video Henson and co-teacher Cathy Hanley had helped students produce won a national contest and up to $60,000 worth of education technology.

"Working together on a competition gets the kids involved," Henson said, "and it teaches them that they can succeed."

Word of the win came during an all-school assembly, when the 660 students clapped and stomped their feet, shouting out the name of the video in anticipation: "Tech Tech Baby."

Principal John Swanson ultimately made the announcement, and he described how the video had drawn more than 15,000 votes and 23,000 views on the contest website, and even more through YouTube and Facebook.

He said the video had received votes from around the world, and had been promoted by the Des Plaines Park District and its Prairie Lakes Community Center. Its fans included schools and organizations throughout the community, and even employees at one of its technology partners, CDW in Vernon Hills.

Compass Learning, based in Austin, Texas, sponsored the contest, and turned to a panel of expert judges to determine the final results.

"We gather today to celebrate not just that we won - but how we won," Swanson said. "This was a total community effort."

Their video was among more than 120 video submissions to the Classroom Refresh Contest, promoting the use of technology in the classroom. Algonquin was the winner in the middle school category, while schools in Ohio and Tennessee won in the elementary and high school categories respectively.

The video was a parody of Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby," and in music video form described how technology had "refreshed" their school.

The students who created the video sat in the front row of the assembly. They are English Language Learners, or "newcomers" to the school, who represent countries like Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Pakistan and India.

"Back in my school in India, we didn't have any computers," said sixth-grader Meghna Pillai, who moved to Des Plaines in April from India. "We had to write everything out. This school is more advanced."

Both Meghna and her classmate, Armando Murillo, had featured parts in the two-and-a-half minute video, and Armando demonstrated some of his dance moves at the assembly.

"We had fun making it," said Armando, who moved to Des Plaines from Mexico two years ago. "We wanted to show that technology makes it fun to learn - that it's not boring."

Henley brought her own skills to the project: she has coached cheerleading at the school for 16 years and she choreographed the video, drawing on the singing and dancing skills of the students.

"They learn so much through the process," Henley said. "They incorporate math, social studies, language arts skills and all while integrating technology."

The assembly drew members of the District 62 school board, including President Brenda Murphy, as well as Superintendent Jane Westerhold, who had often tweeted to followers to vote for the video.

"As a district, this is what we want to see: teachers and students coming to school every day, excited about learning," Westerhold said. "And that's what is reflected today."

Swanson said the school would purchase another SMART Board with the winnings, as well as another set of Chromebooks, more iPads and subscriptions to educational software.