SYDNEY, Australia, July 23, 2007 – Google Australia today announced the launch of an exciting new initiative for Australian schools called "Doodle 4 Google". The competition invites school children across the nation to design a themed Google logo inspired by the topic "My Australia". The winning student will have their doodle appear on the Google Australia homepage for all to see on Australia Day 2008 and win over $10,000 worth of technology equipment for his or her school.
The "Doodle 4 Google" competition is open to all students attending schools in Australia from Years 1 through to 10. Students will be challenged to portray their own image of Australia and what it means to be Australian using the Google logo.
Ms Meg Lomm, Visual Arts Coordinator at SCECGS Redlands in Sydney, said: "I know that our art students of all ages will enjoy participating in this initiative. We are keen to encourage our students to explore their national identity in creative and innovative ways."
Mr Chris Hilton, Head of Art at Melbourne’s The Knox School, said: "Visual Arts at The Knox School is an integral part of the curriculum and our students are looking forward to participating in ‘Doodle 4 Google’. It’s a fun and challenging opportunity for them to express their feelings, ideas and perceptions of Australia."
Ms Jill Crawford, Visual Arts Teacher at St Patrick’s College in Launceston, said: "We’re excited to incorporate ‘Doodle 4 Google’ as part of our Art curriculum and are looking forward to seeing our students’ designs,"
"Schools can use the competition for students in Years 1 to 10 to express their creativity while considering what ‘My Australia’ means to them," said Ms Sharyn O’Neill, Director General of the WA Department of Education and Training.
Students’ doodles will be judged on artistic merit, creativity and the representation of the ‘My Australia’ theme. The judging panel will select the finalist doodles across four different year group brackets. The Australian public will then be asked to vote for the winning doodle in each bracket. The grand prize winner will then be selected at a gala national event by the original Google Doodler, Dennis Hwang.
The customisation of the Google logo started in 1999 by Google Webmaster Dennis Hwang, whose work is seen by millions every time he exhibits on the Google homepage. The 29-year-old calls his drawings "doodles". Dennis has celebrated and marked worldwide events, anniversaries and holidays with doodles that incorporate the Google logo. In Australia, the Google logo has been decorated for Anzac Day, Australia Day, Melbourne Cup Day and, in 2007 for the first time, NAIDOC Week.
Schools have been sent information packs, incorporating art and design lesson ideas and plans. The lesson plans were developed in conjunction with education specialists with the aim of integrating the activity into the art curriculum. Teachers can register their school online by going to: www.google.com.au/doodle4google/. Schools that register will receive bookmarks and certificates for their students.
The initiative is being proudly supported by Tourism Australia.
Further information, competition details, photos and past doodles are available at www.google.com.au/doodle4google/ and the Google Australia blog (www.google-au.blogspot.com)
Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.
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Jennifer Jefferys
SpectrumLife
+61 2 9954 3299
jenniferj@spectrumcomms.com.au
Labels: Australia new announcements
