Arizona

Darcy White, Alison Oswald-Keene, Justin Karkow and I (Diana Laufenberg) were just treated to an amazing event at Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Pasadena, CA. About two hours ago we were on site watching as the information reported in on the Phoenix Mars Lander landing. Just a few minutes ago, mission control and the scientists at the University of Arizona received the first images from the lander. The mission, so far, has exceeded expectations and spirits are very high. We are all amazed to have been able to be here, in real time, for the event. This was quite a treat. More to come later… stay tuned! THANKS to Justin Karkow and Discovery for the fabulous opportunity!

Here are the links to video footage shot by Darcy White and pictures from Justin Karkow!

The latest DEN event couldn’t be more relevant to the great state of Arizona, home to Spring Training!  Let’s get those email addy books out, fire off some IM’ s and blog away to grow our AZ DEN!!!  Here is how it all works…

DEN Spring Training is back! This year the DEN coaches are scouting talent for the All-STAR team as well as looking for some new prospects to join the DEN squad. You have a couple ways to impress the coaches during DEN Spring Training and earn some DEN gear.

Renegotiate Your Contract
Every year STAR Discovery Educators are asked to report at least two events they have conducted in the past school year in order to have their contracts renewed for the following season (i.e., maintain STAR status for next school year). Give your agent some additional leverage to land you a big contract by reporting more than two events.

Any STAR DE who reports at least three events for the time period of September 1, 2007 through June 6, 2008 will receive a DEN Water Bottle as a signing bonus.

What is an event?

Click here to report your events.

Recruit a Rookie
We’re always looking for new prospects who can throw a 90 mph fastball or embed a DE streaming video into PowerPoint. If you help us find a rookie sensation, we’ll hook you up with some new DEN gear.

Any STAR DE who recruits a new STAR Discovery Educator before June 6, 2008 will receive a DEN baseball jersey. Note: The STAR DE you recruit must have his/her contract officially signed by June 6, 2008 (i.e., he/she must complete all parts of the application process by June 6).

Help Your Region Win the Pennant
Our DEN Account Manager, Justin Karkow, is looking to you to help them bring home the pennant for your region. The DEN Manager whose region has the most new STAR recruits during DEN Spring Training will win the coveted Discovery Educator Network Louisville Slugger straight from the factory in Kentucky.

State Challenge
The state with the most STAR Discovery Educators recruited during DEN Spring Training will receive a Day of Discovery featuring Hall “of Famer” Davidson and other major leaguers from the DEN team.

In summary…

• Report at least 3 events and earn a DEN water bottle
• Recruit a new STAR and earn a DEN baseball jersey
• Help your DEN Manager win the pennant by recruiting new STARs
• Get Hall and the DEN team to host a Day of Discovery in your state by recruiting the most new STARs

Good luck! If you have any questions, please feel to have your agent contact us.

Connect with educators from across the state during this unique professional development experience.  The Reaching for the Stars Technology Conference is an event that provides educators a unique opportunity to experience hands-on, quality professional development.  

We will kick-off the event on Friday with a gallery walk displaying student work and a keynote address from Barnaby Wasson of University Virtual Schools.  Saturday will feature presentations from Marco Torres an Apple Distinguished Educator and technology leaders from the Cartwright School District.

Required: Open mind and Willingness to learn  
Optional:  Laptops, cameras, cords, etc.!

The conference will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7th at the Maryvale Community Center with registration and a gallery walk to display student projects.  Saturday, March 8th will be filled with great sessions provided by our C.A.T.S. teachers and we will then take advantage of the expertise of Marco Torres in a special lunch session, “The Impact of Mobile Technologies on Teaching and learning.”  

Friday Registration           Saturday Registration

So…. it’s Saturday and here we all sit, in Snowflake, AZ.  Through the efforts of Vicki Schmidt and Brian Weir, we are treated to the comfort of a lovely lab in Snowflake High School and access to a wealth of great information from the DEN.  There are about 20 of us watching and learning.  At the end of the day, the tools are really cool and there are a ton of resources, but hopefully we all start to think of connections that can be made, collaborations that can be fostered and classrooms that stretch with our students towards a more connected classroom.

  On January 26th, Dr. Tim Tyson will be a part of the second AzTEA conference of the season in Tucson at the 16th Annual Teaching and Technology conference.  The theme of the day will focus on Students in a Global Village. 

   Tim Tyson will be presenting sessions titled From Classroom Knowledge to Global Contribution, Is It Time to Upgrade: Making the Case for Change and The Film Festival as a Springboard to Systemic Instructional Change.  The day will be filled with incredily engaging and informative sessions for educators of all levels of technology experience.  Planning has also begun for a pre-conference get together hosted by none other than Darcy White… stay tuned for more information.  To register for this and other AzTEA offerings this year visit AzTEA!

It is that time of year again when our pocketbooks are empty, exhausted from another holiday season!  If there is still a penny or two around, I would highly suggest digging deep to particpate in the Arizona Tax Credit Program.  There is almost no way to ever direct your tax dollars to a specific program at a specific school.  Well, in Arizona there is a way to easily direct your tax dollars to the school and program of your choice and then have the money refunded to you when you file your Arizona tax return.  So, get your checkbook out, tell your friends and use the most lovely tax law to benefit the schools in your life.

Get registered with the EdTechConnect on December 12th at 5pm for a unique opportunity to hear from Daniel Pink, an incredibly dynamic writer for the 21st century. His book A Whole New Mind sparks many educationally based conversations about the nature and future of learning. A description from the website…

The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind. The era of “left brain” dominance, and the Information Age that it engendered, are giving way to a new world in which “right brain” qualities-inventiveness, empathy, meaning-predominate. That’s the argument at the center of this provocative and original book, which uses the two sides of our brains as a metaphor for understanding the contours of our times.

Enroll now as time is of the essence to catch this wonderful conversation.

  The season of giving is upon us and this is a limited and unique opportunity for starting your holiday shopping a little early.  One Laptop Per Child is offering the chance to buy one of the new XO laptops that are being distributed worlwide.  The program is called “Give One, Get One” where you can donate an XO laptop to a child in the developing world, and receive one for the child in your life.  The price for the two laptops is $399, $200 of which is tax deductible.  Additionally, T-Mobile is offering donors one year of complimentary access to T-Mobile HotSpot locations throughout the United States. Visit OLPC to participate in this unique opportunity. 

I hope all of you are enjoying a lovely weekend in Arizona.  I know that we are having a blast here in Sedona with Joe Brennan and a bevy of enthusiastic DEN members.  For a photo recap please visit our pix of the day.  Here is a taste of the fun!

AzTEA will be holding three regional conferences again this year in Arizona.

1. Peak Performance Conference in Flagstaff on November 3rd

2. Teaching and Technology in Tucson on January 26th

3. Way out West in Glendale at ASU-West on May 3rd

The keynote for all three conferences is Dr. Tim Tyson.  Dr. Tyson will be speaking and presenting on a range of topics:  It’s Time to Upgrade: Making the Case for Change, From Classroom Knowledge to Global Contribution and The Hyper-Connected Student in the Accountability-Driven Classroom.  There will be a wide variety of presentations to compliment the keynote addresses.  Please mark your calendar, consider presenting and and register for these wonderful professional development opportunities.