Penning with the Pros FAQs


1.      
What is Penning with the Pros?
2.       What is the Great Plains Network?
3.       What is Internet2?
4.       What is an Internet2 Sponsored Education Group Participant (SEGP)?
5.       Who can participate in Penning with the Pros?
6.       How can I register?

7.       What states are participating?
8.       What are the composition styles we can submit?
9.       Who do I send my composition too?
10.   What is the timeline?
11.   What does it cost?
12.   I don’t have video conference equipment can I still participate?
13.   I would like to have a judge meet via video conference with my class, what do I need to do?
14.   Who is judging?
15.   What are the prizes?
16.   What is a Virtual Field Trip?
17.   When will winners be announced?
18.   Who do I contact for more information about the program?
19.   May I have my student submit more than one composition?
 

What is Penning with the Pros?

A creative writing contest for K-12 schools that will be judged by authors from universities in the Great Plains Network that are Internet2 Sponsored Education Participants (SEGPs) and your submission could be published (at least one per school).

You also have an opportunity to meet via videoconference with published authors.   

And first, second and third place winners of each composition style will win funding for virtual field trips for your schools.

What is the Great Plains Network?

The Great Plains Network is a consortium of mid-western states dedicated to supporting research and education through the use of advanced networking technology.  The seven states are Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

What is Internet2?

Internet2 is a not-for-profit consortium led by over 200 universities working in partnership with government and industry to develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies. The primary goals of the Internet2 consortium are to:

The term “Internet2” is often used to refer to the high performance network used by the Internet2 consortium, but this is a misnomer. Internet2 is a network of organizations and people, not wires and routers.

What is an Internet2 Sponsored Education Group Participant (SEGP)?

Internet2 Sponsored Education Group Participants (SEGP) are sponsored by member universities that allow expanded access to Abilene for state and regional education networks, through sponsorship by Internet2 university members. State and regional networks may include nonprofit and for-profit K-20 educational institutions, museums, libraries, art galleries, or hospitals that require routine collaboration on instructional, clinical and/or research projects, services and content with Internet2 members or with other sponsored participants.

Who can participate in Penning with the Pros?

Any K-12 student in the Great Plains Network SEGP States

How can I register?

You can fill out the registration form.  It is located at http://www.greatplains.net/penning/register.htm

What states are participating?

The GPN SEGP states are Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

What are the composition styles we can submit?

There are three styles; Essays, Short Stories, and Poetry

Who do I send my composition too?

Kristen Klaver, her email address is kklaver@ou.edu

What is the timeline?

January through March 2004

- Submit compositions.  Deadline for submissions is March 31, 2004

January through March 2004

-          Meet with published authors via video conference

March 31, 2004

-          deadline for submissions

Mid-April, 2004

-          judging begins

May 2004

-          Winners announced

June 2004

-          Published book mailed

-          Grand Prize winners announced and funds distributed

What does it cost?

There is no charge to participate

I don’t have video conference equipment can I still participate?

Yes, we will try to locate video conference that is close to you so you can meet with the judges, but if we can’t locate one, you can still participate in the contest.

I would like to have a judge meet via video conference with my class, what do I need to do?

Contact Kristen Klaver (kklaver@ou.edu) or (405) 325-5774 and she will set it up

Who is judging?

Published authors from universities from GPN Internet2 members.  For more detailed information about them, check out http://www.greatplains.net/penning/authors.htm

What are the prizes?

Every participant will receive an award certificate.

At least one composition per school who participates in the program will be published.

 There are also grand prize winners for each category (essays, short stories and poetry). The school that the students attend will win funding for virtual fieldtrips. The first prize will be granted $500, second place $300, and third place will receive $200.

What is a Virtual Field Trip?

A virtual field trip is where students can visit museums, zoos, countries via video conference while sitting in the classroom.

When will winners be announced?

Winners will be announced at the end of April 2004

Who do I contact for more information about the program?

Contact Kristen Klaver at kklaver@ou.edu or (405) 325-5774

May I have my student submit more than one composition?

Yes, you can send in as many as you would like.

Home    Register here    Authors    Schools participating    Students Participating    Flyer    FAQs