ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- A visually arresting look at the plight of the Polar Bears, and a fact-filled journey through the deterioration of our water supply, earned Grand Prize awards in the 2008 Mobile Learning Institute Earth Day Challenge, sponsored by The Pearson Foundation and Nokia. The Challenge is a global, environmental filmmaking competition that provides young people the chance to share their views on the earth’s future and the importance of combating climate change.

The 2008 Grand Prize Winners are The Earth is Warming, University High School, Orlando, FL; and Water Pollution, Plaquemines Parish, Belle Chasse, LA. They will receive technology and support worth up to $25,000, including digital arts technology and a workshop for up to 60 students in their school. All winners also receive a copy of An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore. A complete list of the runners-up is included below. They will also receive digital technology and copies of An Inconvenient Truth. The winning videos can be viewed at www.earthdaychallenge.org.

The announcement of the Challenge winners was made at the Florida Educational Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando.

Nokia, a world leader in mobile communications, and the Pearson Foundation sponsor the Mobile Learning Institute (MLI), which delivers engaging, personalized, project-based learning to classrooms and community centers across the United States. The Challenge was launched on Earth Day 2008 during Jane Goodall’s Global Youth Summit in Orlando, Florida, where young people were provided the tools to create and promote environmental videos as a kickoff to the filmmaking competition which began on June 1, 2008.

Throughout the summer, the MLI hosted workshops in over 30 locations around the U.S. where young people had the opportunity to make over 500 short films about environmental topics using the latest mobile technologies from Nokia. Using a curriculum developed specifically for the MLI, middle and high school students created films on a variety of themes including pollution, global warming, and water quality. These films will be used in the curriculum for the 2009 program. More information about the 2009 Mobile Learning Institute Earth Day Challenge summer program and video contest is available at www.earthdaychallenge.org.

"Through projects like The Mobile Learning Institute Earth Day Challenge, we can continue our commitment to have a positive impact on society by supporting young people and education in 30 countries, benefiting more than 1 million young people," said Michael Quesnell, Senior Representative for Community Involvement at Nokia.

Mark Nieker, Pearson Foundation President, added, "The Mobile Learning Institute gives young people the unique opportunity to realize the power of their voices by using the kind of mobile technology that’s already part of their everyday lives."

The 2008 Runners up for the MLI Earth Day Challenge are (in alphabetical order by state):

"Nature Man," Apollo Middle School, Tucson, AZ
"Air Pollution," Franklin Middle School, Los Angeles, CA
"Air Pollution Is Bad," Monrovia High School, Los Angeles, CA
"Now or Never," ASCEND, Oakland, CA
"Flip the Switch," University High School, Orlando, FL
"Sara and Stacy in Rain Forest Conservation," Plaquemines Parish, Belle
Chasse, LA
"Pollution "“ Water Pollution," Molo Middle School, Lake Charles, LA
"Smog and Its Effect on the 2008 Olympics," Molo Middle School, Lake
Charles, LA
"Air Pollution," Molo Middle School, Lake Charles, LA
"Undercover Earth," LiteracySparks Earthcamp, Oakland, ME
"Turn Off the Lights," Orr Middle School, Las Vegas, NV
"Climate Change Causes Hurricanes," Fordham University’s STEP Program,
The Bronx, New York, NY
"Land Pollution and Its Effects," The Bronx, New York, NY
"How to Save a Life," The Bronx, New York, NY
"Global Warning," The Bronx, New York, NY
"Pollution Problems," Digital Arts Summer Camp, Chesapeake, OH
"Clean It Up," Chesapeake Middle School, Digital Arts Summer Camp,
Chesapeake, OH
"Rad Recycling" Chesapeake Middle School, Digital Arts Summer Camp,
Chesapeake, OH
"Stop Deforestation before It Stops You," Lanier High School, San
Antonio, TX

The Mobile Learning Institute delivers engaging, personalized, project-based learning right to the classroom, giving students and teachers the opportunity to create digital presentations that share their perspectives and their understanding of classroom objectives. Working together, they design, develop, and complete the collaborative digital-arts projects they can share with each other, with their families, and with their community. In the process, students develop core subject knowledge together with essential learning, information, life and career skills. Teachers become equipped to engage their students’ in a way that promotes classroom objectives and important 21st century skills. www.mobilelearninginstitute.org

About Nokia, Inc.

Nokia has a positive impact on society that extends beyond the advanced technology, products and services the company creates. Through its cooperation with the International Youth Foundation and other regional philanthropic and social responsibility programs, the company prepares young people to embrace opportunities created by the global economy and new technological advancements. The company has been an active regional contributor to youth and education causes for many years, with Nokia employees making their own contributions as volunteers in a range of programs throughout the world. More information on Nokia can be found at www.nokia.com.

About the Pearson Foundation

The Pearson Foundation extends Pearson's commitment to education by partnering with leading nonprofit, civic, and business organizations to provide financial, organizational, and publishing assistance across the globe. We aim to make a difference by sponsoring innovative educational programs and extending our educational expertise to help in classrooms and in local communities. More information on the Pearson Foundation can be found at www.pearsonfoundation.org.

Pearson Foundation

Pearson Foundation

Pearson (NYSE: PSO) is the global leader in educational publishing, assessment, information and services, helping people of all ages to learn at their own pace, in their own way. For students preK-12, Pearson provides effective and innovative curriculum products in all available media, educational assessment and measurement for students and teachers, student information systems, and teacher professional development and certification programs. Our respected brands include Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall, SuccessMaker, Waterford, AGS, PowerSchool, Chancery SMS, SASI, Pearson Inform, Teachervision.com and many others. Our comprehensive offerings help inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within reach of every student. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.

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