DEN Blog Network » New York

What to Expect at PETE&C

Max — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:56:25 +0000

You will surely be able to ENGAGE, TRANSFORM, and ACHIEVE teaching and learning by attending any of these sessions at the upcoming PETE&C Day of Discovery! If you are a DEN Star and haven’t signed up yet, click here now: links.discoveryeducation.com/petec2012. Check it out…

One of Our Own – Published Author: New York’s Lisa Parisi

Nancy Sharoff — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:50:28 +0000

That’s right! Lisa Parisi (DEN STAR – NY) has had a book published by ISTE titled, ‘Making Connections with Blogging: Authentic Learning for Today’s Classroom’ with co-author Brian Crosby. The expected publication date is May 20, 2012, but if you head on over to the link you can pre-order it.

I had a chance to discuss some aspects of the book with Lisa and below is our ‘conversation’:

How did you write the book when you live so far away from each other?

Brian and I used Google docs to write the book. We would skype about once a week to talk about updates and changes we had made during the week.

Why did you and Brian decide to write the book?

We are very passionate about bringing technology into the classroom and about blogging. We first met through ClassBlogmeister, since our kids were commenting to each other. As we got further and further into blogging, more and more of our PLN started asking us for advice. We decided it was time to write a book.

Who is the target audience?

This book is designed for educators who work with children ages 7 – 12. It covers all subjects. It also covers different standards from different countries so it works internationally.

What was the process?

When we won an ISTE online learning award, my congratulations letter came with a letter that said if I was ever interested in publishing a book, they would love to do so. I put that idea in the back of my mind and when Brian and I started talking about the book, I immediately went to ISTE. We sent them a letter and a table of contents. They sent us a contract and we began to write. This summer, we met Courtney from ISTE who took over the publication of our book and it is now available for preorders. The book will be out in May and Brian and I are doing an ISTE presentation about blogging at San Diego so we hope to do a book signing there.

Did you ever get together face-to-face to work?

The only time we ever got together face-to-face was at Educon after the book was completed. We both went to the conference and took a couple of lunches to go through the book and decided what was still needed. It was almost a superfluous visit. We had spoken so much on line and through skype that we really knew what we were doing already.

Is there anything you would like to add to our conversation?

I am in the process of writing a new book, with Karen Janowski, on UDL in the classroom. ISTE will be publishing that one too. Maybe by next summer. LOL

We wish Lisa and Brian much success with their book, and who knows, it might make the New York Times Best Seller list!

RD3 @ PETE&C

Max — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:47:28 +0000

RD3…That’s (Lance) Rougeux, (Hall) Davidson, (Steve) Dembo & (Patti) Duncan delivering featured presentations at the Discovery Education PETE&C PreCon this year! If you are a DEN STAR and you want to join this amazing line-up of presenters and/or participate in our Educator Showcase Poster Session, send in your proposal description with contact info ASAP: links.discoveryeducation.com/petec12submit

Required info includes:

Session title
Session type
Clear and catchy description (PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR CONTACT INFO)
URL: This can be the Presenter’s name(s) & email – [This is in the Extended Field section]

If you have yet to register for this amazing networking and professional development opportunity, what are you waiting for? Sign up now!

Do you have a SWEET session idea for PETE&C 2012?

Max — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:44:36 +0000

In February Discovery Education will be back at the Hershey Lodge and Conference Center Hershey, PA connecting with educators looking for creative ways to use digital media in the classroom. Are you a STAR who still hasn’t registered? Do so now at: links.discoveryeducation.com/petec2012.

Are you interested in presenting at the PreCon Day of Discovery at PETE&C or participating in the Educator Showcase Poster session? *We are now accepting ideas and proposals. Just go to: links.discoveryeducation.com/petec12submit and follow the simple instructions below.

*Submissions deadline for Educator Showcase extended through Monday, February 6th, 2012.

Great Opportunity in NYC!

Chad Lehman — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:45:50 +0000

Do you live within a few hours of New York City? Are you looking for a great reason to head to the Big Apple? Discovery Education is hosting an event in New York City on Saturday, November 19. As part of our Discovery Education Wilkes University Instructional Media Program we are hosting several events around the country to raise awareness and answer questions about the program for prospective students.

The event in NYC is very special and features our own Steve Dembo. So, if you are interested or have colleagues who would like to attend, learn more about the DE Wilkes Masters Program and have a lot of fun on a Saturday morning, please take a look at the info below. It’s totally FREE! I hope to see you there.

Discover Your Future then Explore the Past

Join Discovery Education and Wilkes University for the Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Biblical Times exhibition

Saturday, November 19, 2011
10:00am – 12:00pm
(registration begins at 9:30am)
Breakfast provided by Cake Boss Cafe

All attendees will receive one complimentary pass to Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Biblical Times (valid only November 19, 2011).

Keynote Speaker - Steve Dembo

The Perpetual Learning Machine: Professional Development Through Community

Steve Dembo is a course designer and adjunct professor for the Discovery Education Wilkes University Instructional Media Program. A former kindergarten teacher and school Director of Technology, Steve was named as one of “Twenty to Watch” by the National School Board Association. He currently serves as the Director of Social Media and Online Community for Discovery Education.

Discovery Times Square
226 W 44th Street
(Between Broadway & 8th Avenues)
New York, NY 10036

PETE&C 2012…Let your STAR shine!

Max — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:03:08 +0000

Planning on attending PETE&C in February? Are you a STAR? Guess what? Discovery is taking over the Pre-Con! That’s right. The entire day is going to be a blast!

DEN STARS should register for the pre-conference here: http://links.discoveryeducation.com/petec2012

The Discovery Educator Network (DEN) is pleased to present a special full-day pre-conference event. The day will provide educators with an exciting and enriching day of professional development focused on creative and effective ways to use digital media in the classroom.
This year’s thematic sessions will help you answer the following questions:

How do I engage my students with content and resources that interest them while maintaining a focus on my instructional goals and standards?
How can I transform my instructional practices to take my students beyond the classroom walls?
How do I help my students achieve in the context of 21st century student outcomes? And, how do I measure their success?

Why should you attend?

Customize your own schedule as you select three breakout sessions out of nearly a dozen choices that match your specific interests and needs.
Mix and match your session choices or focus on a particular topic including Digital Storytelling, Instructional Leadership, and STEM.
Learn from Discovery Education’s experts including our DEN Gurus.
See over 25 examples of what other educators are doing in their classrooms during our interactive lunch and learn session.
Meet this year’s PETE&C keynote speaker, Reed Timmer, TVN lead storm chaser and meteorologist from Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers.

Participants will have multiple sessions to choose from including the following featured sessions:

iThink iNeed iPads in the Classroom
with Steve Dembo
Sure they’re bright and shiny, but are they really learning devices? We’ll take a close look at how exactly these technologies are being leveraged in the classroom and what the best Apps are for educational purposes. We’ll also explore some creative ways that you can fund your own i-initiative!

Taking Leadership in the Digital Age: Linking Engagement, Assessment & Achievement
with Hall Davidson
The benefits of the digital world have arrived. State legislatures recognized dynamic teaching and assessment environments match 21st Century learning styles. As a result, laws changed in states across the country, enabling digital supplementary materials to replace traditional texts. Suddenly, differentiated instruction became more effective, along with accountability and sharing. Leaders can now build an education that lifts their students into the world where they succeed.

The Collective Brain (AKA Things I’ve Learned from 5,000 Teachers)
with Lance Rougeux
Leverage the power of community and learn effective ways to engage and inspire your students. During this session we will explore the ten latest, greatest and most effective resources and strategies shared by teachers of the Discovery Educator Network. You’ll leave the session with a ton of new ideas, tools and resources to start using tomorrow in your classroom.

Creating an Integrated STEM Curriculum
with Patti Duncan
Historically, the STEM concepts of science, technology, engineering and math have been taught independently of each other. Students travel from class to class with little understanding of the connection between each and struggle with making the connections. Being able to solve real world problems is a skill that requires the ability to see how these concepts work together. By creating lessons that integrate the concepts together we expose students to situations that help them develop problem-solving skills. During this session we will explore examples of integrated lessons as well as investigate how to turn traditional lessons into ones that help build our critical thinkers of tomorrow.

Lunch will be provided. Registration for this full-day pre-conference event is limited so save your spot now:

http://links.discoveryeducation.com/petec2012

Note: This event is free for STAR Discovery Educators.
STAR Discovery Educators should contact Max_Brooks@Discovery.com for more details.

Looking for ‘Treats’…

Nancy Sharoff — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:10:06 +0000

Image Source: Flickr.com janineomg

I’m SUPER PSYCHED to be part of the Virtual Conference this year. I’ll be presenting at 10 a.m. (EST), so set those alarm clocks!

My session is titled, ‘No Tricks, Just Treats’ and I’ll be featuring goodies from my tech bag. And since one of DEN’s mottos is, ‘We Are Our Own Best Resources’ I thought I would reach out to my DEN family near and far to see if you’d be willing to throw a ‘treat’ into my bag.

If there’s a quick trick (or a little-known treat) you have for using any of the resources in the DEN, please consider posting a comment below. I’d like to highlight a few in my ‘bag’ on October 22nd.

Thanks….and see you at ‘Tech or Treat‘ on October 22nd! (cackle, cackle)

Stand up to Cyberbullying: An Interactive Town Hall Event

Christine Southard — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:09:20 +0000

On October 18, teens, parents, and educators in Chicago will participate in a provocative anti-bullying town hall hosted by MTV celebrity SuChin Pak and sponsored by Common Sense Media, MTV’s A THIN LINE, and Yahoo! Safely.

You and your students are invited to join us online. Tune in live to watch the event via webcast, and submit your own questions, comments, and topics for discussion through Twitter.

We hope you will join us for this remarkable opportunity to connect and collaborate around this important and timely topic. Even better, make watching it an extra-credit assignment! (Please note that the event is appropriate for students in 8th through 12th grades.)

Here are the details:

Stand up to Cyberbullying Town Hall
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
6:30pm – 7:30pm CDT

WATCH online: safely.yahoo.com/teens/townhall

PARTICIPATE via Twitter: Use hashtag #standup

LEARN more: www.commonsense.org/standup

The event is also supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the McCormick Foundation, and Chicago Public Schools.

NYDEN: Hudson Valley NYSCATE

Christine Southard — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 02:20:44 +0000

Save the date! The 2012 NYSCATE Hudson Valley Conference has been scheduled for March 3, 2012. They are requesting proposals for this conference until December 1, 2011. Follow this link for the RFP: http://nyscate.org/conferences.cfm?subpage=305

Target Field Trip Grants

Christine Southard — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 02:21:41 +0000

FYI – There are only 11 days left to apply for a Target Field Trip Grant! If you’re looking for $ to support a field trip for your students/school, then you’d better act fast and complete the request. You can find more information here: http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031767