Arizona

Whew, the Day of Discovery for Administrators at SkySong was a success in every measure of the word. Over 100 eager participants joined us for a day of presentations by Philippe Cousteau, Hall Davidson, Brad Hagaman, Justin Karkow, Rosie Escandon and Sarah Crawford. Welcomes and introductions came from Margaret Dugan and Cathy Poplin from ADE, and Mark Nichols from ASU Alt^i/IDEAL. An audience of 35 in Tucson was able to join us for many of the presentations via communications equipment generously provided by PolyCom.  

Break out sessions provided specific focus on techniques and tools available to educators; all of them designed to engage students, use standards based resources, and employ multiple learning modalities. The audience was actively involved in each workshop and there was never a shortage of volunteers for answers and examples. That enthusiasm carried through the beginning of this week with a flurry of e-mails asking for presentation copies, administrative rights for DE Streaming, student access, tutorials for IDEAL resources, and requests for more workshops.

Members of the DEN Leadership Council and Arizona’s Technology Integration Specialists were on hand to assist with directions and connections.

Students at Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies and Yavapai Elementary School were treated to an assembly featuring Philippe Cousteau on Thursday. On Thursday evening, Discovery also hosted a VIP reception at Eddie V’s.

AZ DEN LC would like to thank the Discovery team, IDEAL, ADE and PolyCom for providing our administrators with the opportunity to share the resources their teachers have been raving about!

Photos included in the Flickr photostream reflect all of these events.

Were you there? Can you find your picture? Click HERE to view the photos.

Big thanks to IDEAL & Dept of Ed, Discovery, CCS Presentation Systems, Polycom,  Lindsay Hopkins (Discovery Rep), and all the many who helped coordinate and get this event happening.

The Tucson event was hosted by the generous people of CCS Presentation Systems, who not only had a LifeSize screen to show the morning speakers, but allowed us to use four SMARTBoards for our afternoon digital storytelling project.  We had 35 administrators and lead teachers attend the event and leave very excited about getting their staff to maximize all the Discovery and IDEAL resources.  Their enthusiasm has the phone ringing off the hook and email inboxes chiming in AZ technology integration specialist offices.

For the morning, we used donated PolyCom equipment to stream Margaret Dugan and Cathy Poplin of the Department of Education; Mark Nichols of IDEAL/ASU, Phillipe Cousteau and Hall Davidson.  After a grand assortment of Tucson Tamales, we enjoyed “Beyond the Stream” done Lindsay Hopkins-style.  What an outstanding presenter!  We had so much fun and loved to see the participants taking breaks to play and explore the DEN and the rest of Discovery.  After the “Stream” administrators finally got their turn to do some of the Digital Storytelling we are always talking about.  Lindsay facilitated their PhotoStory “advertisements” and “virtual visit” creations using images from the day.  What fun!

We do regret we did not getting to rub shoulders with the “Talent” of Discovery en vivo, but  having such a spectacular facility (especially for gadget-lovers) and a more intimate situation, made for great Discovery experience.

Thanks again to everyone.  Excellent job!

We are back from NECC and the DEN Leadership Council Symposium inspired and ready to Share! (Mouse over text to link to references)

The DEN brings together so many distinguished educators to meet and mind-mash with; those who have done great things like taken students on Discovery Student Adventures to Australia, South Africa, and China (see highlights); Discovery leaders who are ready to share and willing to travel to us in order to facilitate our events and lend their expertise for the cause of  inspiring teachers and administrators to capitalize on the benefits of using technology and Discovery resources in classrooms; teachers who have used technology to turn around approaches to learning for the great benefit of their students.  (Check out Carol Ann McGuire, Outstanding ISTE teacher for 2008 and her Rock Our World project). It is easy to see how the power of the DEN benefits all of us.

At the symposium, we realized how lucky we are in Arizona to have the state treating us to the Discovery subscription.  We are one of the rare states that provides this resource, while teachers elsewhere are bound by their district or site’s willingness to subscribe.  I encourage everyone to show the state how valuable it is to our students’ learning, make the most of all the resources, and encourage that in your colleagues.  Matt Monjan has a great presentation on the administrative analytic feature of Discovery that allows school leaders to see how and how often teachers are using the various resources in Discovery.   You will love his Geekybird site. This is a great tool for approaching administrators about encouraging more use of Discovery and evaluating what tools teachers are using to deepen student learning.  Be sure to get your school leaders to the Administrative Event:  Discover the Undiscovered, Administrative Pathways at Skysong on August 28th.  Rumor has it there will be “Camera Talent” (that means TV stars) and Hall Davidson will be the Keynote and breakout session leader.  We are hoping to do a simulcast from a Tucson location for those of you closer to the Old Pueblo.
A reminder to keep checking on the upcoming Webinars and share them with everyone you know.  There will be a preview to the new site on July 14 & 28th and Justin Karkow’s outstanding presentation on “Thinking Outside the Slide” is on August 3rd, 8-9.

An estimated 21,400 Arizona residents serve full time in the military, 5,400 serve as reservists, and 7,200 are enlisted in the National Guard, totaling 34,000 Arizonans in military service. As the anniversary of September 11th approaches, please keep in mind the sacrifices that military families make throughout the Grand Canyon State.

On Sept. 11, please join the DEN team and the Military Channel as we partner with America Supports You, a Department of Defense program recognizing citizens’ support for our military and communicating that support to members of our Armed Forces and their families. America Supports You connects citizens and corporations who are looking for ways to support the military with homefront organizations that are devoted to helping the troops and their families. The Military Channel is working with our partners to spread the word about these significant events.

In 2005, Pentagon employees wishing to create an event that would commemorate the attack on the Pentagon and honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001, created what has become a new national tradition, the America Supports You FREEDOM WALK . On September 11, 2005, over 15,000 people walked from the Pentagon to the National Mall to pay tribute to those who died; to renew their commitment to freedom and the values of our country and to honor our veterans, past and present. The response from people across the country who learned of that first walk was overwhelming. In 2006, the fifth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, volunteers and America Supports You homefront groups organized FREEDOM WALKS in every state in the Union, including more than 130 cities.

FREEDOM WALKS come in many different shapes and sizes. The San Diego, CA walk had an “open course”. People chose a time to walk from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. that worked best with their schedules. In St. Louis, MO all walkers wore yellow t-shirts and formed a “human yellow ribbon” on the Anheuser-Busch Center field. The present Governor and the former Governor of Oklahoma co-chaired the FREEDOM WALK in Oklahoma City attended by over 5,000 people. In Sebring, OH, 9-year-old Colton Lockner organized a FREEDOM WALK for the town’s nearly 3,000 residents with the support of his Mayor and sponsorship for t-shirts from his local Pizza Pan. The College Gate Elementary School in Anchorage, AL walked around their school five times and concluded the event by writing essays on what freedom meant to each of them.

This new national tradition continues to grow. We encourage each city to plan a walk that best fits and exemplifies their community. Walks can be held early in the morning, during the lunch hour or after work. They can be held on September 11, or around the date, depending on local traffic patterns. However they are organized, the America Supports You FREEDOM WALKS are a wonderful opportunity for cities, work places, schools, or groups of citizens to gather together and remember this significant day and those protecting our freedom. FREEDOM WALKS are also an excellent tool to use as a history lesson for students.

The first ever DEN Arizona officially launches today.  Through digital and face to face interactions, the new AZ DEN Leadership Council is excited to share the immense opportunities with Web 2.0 tools including podcasting, blogging, wikis, etc.  Using the resources of the Discovery Education Network, it is our goal to provide statewide professional development activities, regular updates and a resourceful blog.

There will be more information soon about the DEN members presenting at the Way Out West (WOW) Conference at ASU-West on April 28th, 2007.  The keynote speaker is Bernajean Porter and the overall theme of the conference is Beyond Integration: Transforming Classrooms for 21st Century Skills.  Get registered TODAY!     

So, without further ado, here is the introduction of the Arizona Discovery Education Network!

• Alison Oswald-Keene - Chair
• Diana Laufenberg - Blog Chair
• Carlene Shortz - Events Co-Chair
• Darcy White - Events Co-Chair

Click here for the original slideshow file.