A cross post by my friend Lindy McKeown at QSITE. Sounds like a fascinating contest that older students can sign up with with many angles that could interest them :-)<br><br>     <a href="http://digitalopen.org/user/register">http://digitalopen.org/user/register</a><br>

<br>Regards Roland<br><br><h1><a href="http://blogs.sun.com/serda/entry/the_digital_open_you_re" name="120da5e46eeac424_the_digital_open_you_re" target="_blank"><span class="il">The</span> <span class="il">Digital</span> <span class="il">Open</span> - You&#39;re Not Too Young For Free 
and <span class="il">Open</span> Technology</a></h1>
<h2>Wednesday Apr 22, 2009</h2>


<p>Here&#39;s a contest especially for youth 17 and younger.  Our friends at 
<span class="il">the</span><a href="http://www.iftf.org/" target="_blank"> Institute For <span class="il">the</span> Future</a> just launched <a href="http://digitalopen.org/" target="_blank"><span class="il">The</span> <span class="il">Digital</span> <span class="il">Open</span></a>, an innovation expo for 
global youth.  <span class="il">The</span> <span class="il">Digital</span> <span class="il">Open</span> is an online technology community and 
competition for youth around <span class="il">the</span> world, to demonstrate how they are using 
technology that will change <span class="il">the</span> world - or just make life a little easier or 
more fun.  </p>
<p>Students can share their experiences, expertise, and projects through photo, 
text, or video. There&#39;s <a href="http://digitalopen.org/about/prizes" target="_blank">great 
prizes</a> for <span class="il">the</span> winners including an PeeCee Mini Laptop running OpenSolaris, 
a <a href="http://www.theflip.com/store/Mino.aspx" target="_blank">Flip pocket-sized video 
camera </a>or other cool stuff.<br></p>
<p><span class="il">The</span> <span class="il">Digital</span> <span class="il">Open</span> is all about <a href="http://digitalopen.org/about/techoverview" target="_blank">Free and <span class="il">Open</span> 
Technology</a>.  In this spirit, all submissions must make use of existing 
free and <span class="il">open</span> platforms and/or licensing your project under one of <span class="il">the</span> <a href="http://digitalopen.org/about/techoverview" target="_blank"><span class="il">Digital</span> <span class="il">Open</span>-approved 
licenses</a>.</p>

<p>There is lots of opportunity for creativity.  Submissions can be in one 
of <span class="il">the</span> following</p>
<ul><li><a href="http://digitalopen.org/projects/categories/open-code" target="_blank"><span class="il">Open</span> 
  Code</a>
  </li><li><a href="http://digitalopen.org/projects/categories/open-community" target="_blank"><span class="il">Open</span> 
  Community</a>
  </li><li><a href="http://digitalopen.org/projects/categories/open-discovery" target="_blank"><span class="il">Open</span> 
  Discovery</a> 
  </li><li><a href="http://digitalopen.org/projects/categories/open-earth" target="_blank"><span class="il">Open</span> 
  Earth</a>
  </li><li><a href="http://digitalopen.org/projects/categories/open-entrepreneurs" target="_blank"><span class="il">Open</span> 
  Entrepreneurs</a>
  </li><li><a href="http://digitalopen.org/projects/categories/open-gear" target="_blank"><span class="il">Open</span> 
  Gear</a> 
  </li><li><a href="http://digitalopen.org/projects/categories/open-media" target="_blank"><span class="il">Open</span> 
  Media</a>
  </li><li><a href="http://digitalopen.org/projects/categories/open-play" target="_blank"><span class="il">Open</span> 
  Play</a></li></ul>

<p>Resources for each category have been posted to allow young students to get 
started quickly.  </p>
<p>If you&#39;re not 17 or younger, please share info on <span class="il">the</span> <span class="il">Digital</span> <span class="il">Open</span> with youth 
in your community and encourage them to <a href="http://digitalopen.org/user/register" target="_blank">sign up</a> and start 
participating.<br></p>
<p><br></p><br>--<br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>&quot;Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can<br>

change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.&quot;<br>--Margaret Mead<br><br><br><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br>

<br>&quot;Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.&quot; --Margaret Mead<br><br>