White House, American Film Institute and Famous Scientists Team Up with Students

Bill Nye, Barack Obama, and Neil deGrasse Tyson

by Lisa M.A. Winters, contributing writer

The White House asked students from kindergarten age through 12th grade across the country to create short films on the role that technology plays in their classrooms, wanting to know why technology is so important, and how it will change the educational experience for kids in the future.  The response was overwhelming; nearly 3,000 films.  Sixteen selected films screened at the White House itself February 28, 2014.

During the screening, the President was joined Kal Penn, Bill Nye, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, along with Conan O’Brien (by video), to talk to their young guests and reveal some hopes and plans for improving student access to the internet, productive software and other high-tech classroom improvements through the ConnectEd Initiative.

The playlist below includes all 16 of the selected films which were shown at the White House.  The films speak for themselves.

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Lisa M.A. Winters