DEN Blog Network

I know, I know, we have been stuck on the letter "B" forever.  I promise to resume the march through the alphabet very soon. 

Recently I have been on a whirlwind tour of the states.  I was in Berkeley, CA participating in the DEN Institute, then it was off to MD, VA, PA, NJ (pretty much in that order) to meet with educators and deliver a few presentations.

During the two Days of Discovery in Lawrenceville, NJ, I had the opportunity to deliver the 50 Ways to Integrate unitedstreaming presentation to educators from all over that great state.

Many of them asked for the presentation, and as promised, here it is.  Download 50_ways.zip

Feel free to download, modify, and use it however best meets your needs.  And while we don’t go through all 50 ideas, I encourage you to check it out - it just may spark an idea or two

Talk to you soon,
Matt Monjan

Ok so the last Back to Basics posting was brought to you by the letter "A."

As always, the focus of the Back to Basics blog will be to explain terminolgy in easy to understand language, offer tips and tricks (even for advanced users), and provide suggestions for using technology and unitedstreaming inside the classroom.

The Back to Basic blog postings will operate with this thought in mind, "If I can get my mother-in-law to do it…"

Feel free to distribute this information and, of course add your thoughts, tips and tricks - all are welcome!

So without further ado let’s look at the letter "B"

B
Beta Version
A beta version, at least in the software world, is the first version of a product that people can evaluate, provide feedback, and report any bugs (see explanation down below) that they find in a real-world setting.  Beta level software is almost complete and ready to go to production, but since it may include known issues and bugs, Beta Testers are recruited to give the software a run for the money.

Beta Testers as mentioned above, report issues, provide recommendations, and feedback so that, when the software is ready to be released, it is relatively free of issues.

In unitedstreaming’s case, DEN Star members are often recruited to be beta testers.  They get to see new versions of unitedstreaming before it is released to teachers nationwide.  Their feedback helps to shape the product that you see and love today.  Thank you DEN Star Members for all of your help!

Bookmarks Defined
Bookmarks are place holders that you can save on your computer so that when you want to find a website or page again you don’t have to search for the page; you simply click on your bookmark.

To create and access your bookmark using Internet Explorer follow four simple steps:
1. Find a website or page that you would like to visit again (without searching for it)
2. Click on the word “Favorites” in your Internet Explorer tool bar
3. Click on the “Add to Favorites”
4. To access your newly created bookmark, click on “Favorites” and then click on your link

As we covered in the previous Back to Basics blog posting, unitedstreaming has a book marking feature called "Adding Content."  That way when you find a video, image, quiz, etc. that you really like you can add it to your content. Then when you want to come back to this asset you simply go to My Content and click on the link.

BUGS Defined
Bugs are those little things that can sometimes drive you crazy!  Those little errors that cause the software not to do what is supposed to do are called bugs.

Common folklore traces the history of this term back to 1947 when a moth made its way into a Harvard computer and caused the computer to malfunction.  But, in fact, the term may have been tossed about as early as Thomas Edison!

Bytes Defined
Bytes are individual units of data that computers use to show us video, compute equations, play sound, etc. Generally, the hierarchy works out to something like this:

1000 Bytes = One Kilobyte (KB)
1000 Kilobytes = One Megabyte (MB)
1000 Megabytes = One Gigabyte (GB)
1000 Gigabytes = One Terrabyte (TB)

With today’s computers and servers we’re pretty much working with Megabytes, Gigabytes, and Terabytes.   In fact, as microchips and processors (your computer’s brains) get smaller, you can now carry around one gigabyte of data storage on your keychain with a thumb drive for less than $100!

Here are some tie-ins to unitedstreaming:

For every minute of video that you download your computer requires about two megs (MBs) of storage space.  If you were to download one hour of video you would roughly need 120 (MBs) of storage space - not too bad when you consider that you can use that one gig (GB) keychain to store the video.

You do; however, want to watch how much content you are downloading so that you don’t fill up your computer or drives.

unitedstreaming streams (plays live over the internet) video at 256 (kbs) per second.

If you were to download the entire unitedstreaming library you would need a little over three terabytes (TBs) of storage space.

I have updated the glossary of terms (with pictures and tips and tricks) and have attached the document to this posting.  To download and share it with your teachers click here:

Download back_to_basics_document.doc

Talk to you soon,

Matt Monjan
Discovery Educator Network

The idea of this posting, and its subsequent postings comes, from my good friend, and DEN Star Member, Stevie Kline - Intermediate Unit One Coal Center in Pennsylvania.

During a recent conversation Stevie asked me if we could include some information for users that are not only brand new to unitedstreaming, but may be getting their feet wet with technology as a whole.  I thought this is a great way to turn tech-NO-logy into Tech-KNOW-logy (sorry I love a cheesy pun).

As we all know there is a great diversity of tech skills and knowledge within our schools and workplaces.  To help level the playing field (just a wee bit), I’m going to create a series of postings called "Back to Basics." 

Each Back to Basics blog will address technology and/or unitedstreaming terms and break them down into layman terminology.  They’ll also include tips and tricks, and easy-to-follow instructions for you to share with your colleagues. 

I’ve also created a Back To Basics Category (located in the grey bar on the left-hand side of your screen).

Finally, I’ll update and attach this information as a Word document so that you can print it out and use as a reference.

We’ll start with the A’s and go through to the Z’s (I may have to be liberal with some letters like X or Z).  Of course I welcome your input so please feel free to add your knowledge to the postings - I’ll capture your comments and add them to the document.

Ok let’s get started!

A
Adding Content - unitedstreaming allows users to save ("bookmark") links to unitedstreaming assets (videos, quizzes, images, assignments, etc) so that, once they find them,  they don’t have to search for them all over again.  Links to these assets are stored in the "My Content," "School Content," or "District Content" folders. 

Now here’s the really cool thing, you can organize your unitedstreaming bookmarks and create customized folders. 

For example, let’s say that I want to teach a unit on Cells.  I can click on "My Content," create a folder called "Cells" and store videos on cell division, images of mitochondria, articles on the nucleus, quizzes, writing prompts, assignments and more, all in my Cell folder.  Then, when I want to access my unit on Cells, I simply click on My Content, the Cell Folder, and voila - there’s all my stuff!

It is important to note that this material is not physically saved on your hard drive, it is simply saved as a link within unitedstreaming.  To print out step-by-step instructions, click on link at the end of this posting.

You can also go to the blog posting My Content, Your Content, Our Content.

Audio Files - unitedstreaming houses elementary songs, famous speeches, and over 3,000 sound effects.   These audio files are in MP3 Format.  MP3 is an audio-specific computer format. It takes the audio and compresses it (makes it smaller) by filtering off certain sounds that cannot be heard by the listener, i.e., outside the normal human hearing range.

Since the audio files are compressed, they can easily be downloaded and embedded (put inside) things like Word, PowerPoint, and even Google Earth!

To search for a unitedstreaming audio file simply log into unitedstreaming and choose Audio: Songs, Audio: Sound Effects, or Speeches in the "WITHIN" box and hit Go.

Now here are some really cool applications:

1. Use unitedstreaming images and sound files to help English Language Learners by inserting them into Word or Powerpoint
2. Make your own Student sound files and combine them with images to tell a digital story
3. Use the unitedstreaming songs as activators in your elementary classroom
4. Use the unitedstreaming songs, images, and speeches to help illustrate a lesson or unit

Check the attached documents to see how to do step by step instructions for some of these ideas. Download back_to_basics_document.doc

Tune in for the next Back to Basic when we discuss terms like "bandwidth, bits, bytes and more"

Talk to you soon!

Matt
Discovery Educator Network!

They say that imitation is the purest form of flattery.  Well this posting and the ideas attached in it aren’t so much imitation as much as they are blatant "borrowing" from our very own DEN Manager Extraordinare, Lance Rougeux.

Recently I had the opportunity to present to a group of educators attending WHRO’s Tech Trek 2007 in Norfolk, VA.

Before I traveled to Norfolk, I had the chance to see Lance’s presentation, Summer Streamin’ Great Tips To Get You Ready For The New School Year and asked him if I could borrow it for my presentation.

I made a few modifications so that I could highlight the Discovery Atlas feature as well as a couple other things, and of course not feel so guilty to attach my name to it.

I encourage you to check out the attachment so that you too can borrow, modify, and make these great tips your own.

Download back_to_school1.ppt

Talk to you soon,
Matt Monjan
Discovery Educator Network!

Exciting news! We have just improved and updated the Assignment, Quiz and Writing Prompt Builders.

Here is how each builder has been made better.

Assignment Builder Improvements

Now, when you build your content, you can Bold Text, change the color of your text, add numbering and bullets, sub and super scripts, special characters, tables and more!

You can also click on the View Grade Report link to see which of your students has completed your assignment or choose to have an assignment notification e-mailed to you.

Finally, when adding material to your Assignment, you can now search your saved content instead of the entire unitedstreaming library.

Quiz Builder Enhancements

Just like the Assignment Builder, the Quiz Builder, gives you the ability to add Bold Text, change the color of your text, add numbering and bullets, sub and super scripts, special characters, tables and more!

Writing Prompt Improvements

I think the following enhancement is too cool for school.  When your students log into the Student Center to access your writing prompts, they can now type in their work.  Students also have the ability to bold text and do all of that fun stuff in their response. 

PLUS, once your students click on on the submit button, you can access their written work either by e-mail or by logging into unitedstreaming.com and clicking on the view grade report links.

Finally, as with the other two builders,  the Writing Prompt Builder now gives you the ability to add Bold Text, change the color of your text, add numbering and bullets, sub and super scripts, special characters, tables and more!

These changes were brought about because of you, and your comments.  Thank you for helping us continue to make unitedstreaming better!

Talk to you soon,
Matt Monjan
Discovery Education, unitedstreaming

Soon after Planet Earth aired on the Discovery Channel, requests from educators around the country started to pour in.  We received questions like, "How soon will DVDs be available?" "Can I use the DVDs in schools?" And, of course the inevitable, "How much?"

Well, my friends, here is the good news. Discovery Education has procured a number of Planet Earth DVD Box sets.  Every school that subscribes by June 15th to Discovery Education unitedstreaming™ or unitedstreaming Plus will receive a Planet Earth DVD Box Set - a $650 value!

Now here is the deal.  In order to receive the Planet Earth DVD Box Set with your subscription, your school must either be renewing their license by upgrading to unitedstreaming Plus or be a brand new unitedstreaming school and purchase Discovery Education unitedstreaming at its list price. 

Basically it breaks down like this-

Current unitedstreaming users:
Upgrade to unitedstreaming Plus for an additional $995 per building and receive one Planet Earth DVD set per school*
K-8 building Current unitedstreaming license + $995
9-12 building Current unitedstreaming license + $995

New unitedstreaming users:
Subscribe to unitedstreaming and receive one Planet Earth DVD set per school*

unitedtreaming price:
K-8 building - $1,495
9-12 building - $1,995

unitedstreaming Plus price:
K-8 building - $2,495
9-12 building - $2,995

*It goes without saying that this offer is available as long as supplies last.

To learn more about this offer simply click on this link unitedstreamingsales@discovery.com and send your request.

Talk to you soon,
Matt Monjan
Discovery Education, unitedstreaming

Ok so here we are on Friday and, as promised, here is the third of three postings on The Builders (Assignment, Quiz and Writing Prompt).

Today we’re going to tackle the Writing Prompt Builder.

The Writing Prompt Builder is a tool that allows you to tie together any image that you find on unitedstreaming with a caption they you create. 

Just like the other two builders, you can copy from the unitedstreaming Writing Prompt Builder question bank.  Once you’ve copied them you can customize them to make them your own!

And, like the Assignment Builder and Quiz Builder, your content is stored on the web so your students can access your quiz from any computer that has Internet access - even at home!

The over 500 unitedstreaming writing prompts are based on the national English/Language Arts standards for writing by the NCTE—National Council of Teachers of English.

These prompts also feature:

• Difficulty levels that cover students from those beginning the writing process to those who are in AP courses
• Descriptive, Narrative, Expository, and Persuasive prompts for grades 3-12
• Analysis prompts for grades 9-12

Each prompt includes images that relate to content taught across the country—both literary and non-literary, i.e., social studies, science, philosophy, cultural, community, and more.

To access the Writing Prompt library, log into unitedstreaming and click on the Teacher Center.  Then click on the Writing Prompt Icon.

To search the entire Writing Prompt Library, look inside the Search Writing Prompt Library box and uncheck the top three boxes - leaving only the unitedstreaming Writing Prompts box checked.   And in no time you’ll see the 500+ writing prompts appear on your screen.

I have attached a small PowerPoint presentation to this e-mail.  It includes step-by-step instructions for creating a Writing Prompt.  Feel free to download and customize it to meet your needs! Download writing_prompt_builder.ppt

Talk to you soon,
Matt Monjan
Discovery Education, unitedstreaming

True or False - within unitedstreaming you can find three great tools to help you integrate technology into the classroom?

True of course!  Way to go you passed the Pop Quiz!

And speaking of Pop Quizzes - let’s dive a little deeper into unitedstreaming’s Quiz Builder.

The Quiz Builder is a tool that allows you to tie together videos and video segments to questions that you design.  You can create Multiple Choice (Single Answer), Multiple Choice (Multiple Answer), True and False, and even Essay questions (unitedstreaming won’t grade essay answers). 

You can even copy entire quizzes and/or questions from the unitedstreaming Quiz Builder question bank.  Once you’ve copied them you can customize them to make them your own!

And, like the Assignment Builder,  your content is stored on the web so your students can access your quiz from any computer that has Internet access - even at home!

You can find the Quiz Builder by going to the Teacher Center. Once there, click on the blue Go To arrow and let your imagination loose! 

I have attached a small PowerPoint presentation to this e-mail.  It includes step-by-step instructions for building a Quiz and viewing a grade report.  Download the_quiz_builder.ppt

NOTE: I recommend that you use the online grade report to view your students grades.  If you choose to have them sent to you by e-mail you will receive individual reports for each of your students - which can add up to lots of e-mails!

Make sure to check back on Friday when we review the final builder in this series, the Writing Prompt Builder.

Talk to you soon,
Matt Monjan
Discovery Education, unitedstreaming

We posted these 13 page works of wonder within the Professional Development section of unitedstreaming. 

To access and print these booklets out you can either click on this link: Get More Booklet.

Or you can fill out the form below. Please note - The Get More Booklets are shipped in packs of 10. So if you order 20 - you’ll receive 200 booklets. You can request as many and as often as you want - for as long as we have them in stock.

As you all know by now unitedstreaming is much more than a video library.  It is also full of tools and applications that you can use in the classroom.

This week we’re going to tackle three of those tools, the Assignment Builder, the Quiz Builder, and the Writing Prompt Builder.

Let’s start by saying right off the bat that before creating an Assignment, Quiz or Writing Prompt you will need to turn OFF your Pop-Up Blockers.  When you go to save an Assignment, Quiz, or Writing Prompt, a second confirmation window appears. If you have your pop-up blockers turned on you won’t see this window and thus not be able to continue.

And here’s a helpful hint - even though you may have turned off your pop-ups in your Internet Explorer/Safari settings, you may also have to turn them off in tool bars like Yahoo and Google.

I’ve put together a quick how to turn on/off pop up blocker instruction-sheet for you.  Feel free to download it and share with your peers! Download turning_off_popup_blockers.doc

For this posting we’ll be concentrating on the Assignment Builder.

The Assignment Builder is a tool that allows you to tie together all of the assets (Videos, Images, Sounds, Quizzes, etc) that you find in unitedstreaming and create a unit.  Since the content is stored on the web your students can access the assignment from any computer that has Internet access - even at home!

You can find the Assignment Builder by going to the Teacher Center. Once there, click on the blue Go To arrow and let your imagination loose!

I have attached a small PowerPoint presentation to this e-mail.  It includes step-by-step instructions for building an Assignment.  I’ve also included notes on most slides.  That way you can print out the slides and refer to their instructions.  Feel free to download the presentation and make it yours!  Download assignment_builder_directions.ppt

Tune in on Wednesday when we explore the Quiz Builder!

Talk to you soon,

Matt Monjan
Discovery Education, unitedstreaming