The TryComputing.org portal, to be launched in 2012 as part of an IEEE New Initiative, will provide resources to inform pre-university students about the vast array of opportunities available in the rapidly growing and evolving field of computing. One such resource will be computing-focused lesson plans designed to help students ages 8 to 18, understand the essential facts, concepts, principles, and theories relating to computer science and software applications.  The TryComputing.org Lesson Plan Competition invites IEEE Student Members, Graduate Student Members and Graduates of the Last Decade to submit plans on computing topics for inclusion on the TryComputing.org Web site. Eligibility: IEEE Student Members, Graduate Student Members and Graduates of the Last Decade are eligible to compete in the IEEE TryComputing.org Lesson Plan Competition. Entrants may compete as individuals or in small teams. Lesson plan topics and format: IEEE is in search of creative, engaging lesson plans that will expose students to fundamental activities of computing on topics such as: networks, information organization, modeling and abstraction, and algorithmic thinking and programming. Lesson plans should expose pupils to fundamental activities of computing and facilitate critical thinking and active problem solving. Lessons should encourage creativity in the construction of solutions, possibly with more than one achievable design outcome. Most of all, lesson plans should be fun! The format for TryComputing.org lesson plans will be modeled after lessons currently featured on TryEngineering.org. Important Dates: Outlines Due - 15 May 2011 Acceptance/Rejection Letters Sent - 1 June 2011 Full Lesson Plans Due - 31 August 2011 Awards Announced - 5 November 2011 Awards Distributed - 1 December 2011 To view the detailed submission process and other information, please visit here.