California DEN

It’s back - one of the most popular DEN events ever and a California original. Join us for the Tech or Treat, a local event where you can participate in the DEN Virtual Conference and also learn from local DEN Stars. On Oct. 24th, the Discovery Educator Network Virtual Conference brings the best & brightest in Discovery Education right to your laptop. But attending with friends is even more fun. We’ll project the conference on the big screen, provide the treats (lunch included) and in between virtual sessions, you’ll get in-person breakout sessions from your CA DEN team. Did I mention there’s also prizes for dressing like your favorite Discovery celebrity? At this event, there’s no question: Tech or Treat? You get both!

Update: We now have two locations for this event - one in Northern CA and one in Southern CA. Check out the Events page for more. 

Flyer: Tech-or-treat

Register: http://LINKS.discoveryeducation.com/virtualcon

More details on the CA event:  Events page

Do you know what the best part of being in DEN is? OK yes, free stuff and parties are fun, but the greatest part in my opinion are the opportunities to network & learn with other STAR teachers. That’s why we’re inviting you to join the best & brightest to Orange County next weekend for the KOCE Day of Discovery. We’ve got a great lineup of sessions on everything from Digital Storytelling to creating a Global Collaborative Classroom. And I heard a secret that there are going to be some fantastic giveaways at this Day of Discovery - you’re really going to like these prizes!

More info? Click on the Events page or go straight to the RSVP now!

Just a quick reminder that coming up on Saturday, April 25th are two fantastic DEN events: the Spring Into Action Virtual Conference and the Grunion Run. Both events are detailed on our new Events but here’s another sneak peek. See you on the 25th!

The Virtual Conference is open to all educators and is a great way to share some of the valuable teaching tips with your colleagues. While there is an in-person event for teachers in the Orange County area, I know I’ll be attending from my living room. Last year’s presentations were excellent and this year’s lineup looks equally good.

The second event, the Grunion Run, was a DEN favorite last year and we are doing it again this year. Beach party, BBQ, private film screening, and of course, the fish that make like land animals when the moon comes out. This is a family friendly event so bring the kids - you’ll have a blast seeing one of the wildest events that goes on here in So Cal.

Also, check out the Events page to preview the upcoming KOCE Day of Discovery . . .

With CUE this weekend and many more conferences coming up, I thought it would handy to share some tips on how to get the most out of ‘conference season’. OK there’s not really a season, but whether your going to your first conference this year or attend several each year, these tips may help you enjoy the conference experience and get more out of it.

1. Turn your cellphone on vibrate. Sure, your at a tech conference and everyone is sporting the latest & coolest handhelds. But you’ve come to the conference to meet face-to-face with other educators. Engaging interpersonally helps build your network and prevents scowling looks from the presenter & attendees when your ringer goes off in the middle of a session.
2. Bring a water bottle and/or personal coffee container. You’ll want water more than you think (hello, Palm Springs!) and this also makes you a more green conference-goer by not contributing to the pileup of disposable water bottles/coffee cups you’ll see everywhere in the convention center. If you’re on a budget (and what teacher isn’t?) also consider bringing your own snacks - conference food hover around baseball stadium prices. Of course, it pays to be in DEN - they’re more than generous in keeping attendees happy & fed at their sessions.
3. Plan ahead. If there’s an intro session, attend it. You’ll get a good preview of what the speakers are like and perhaps find others interested in the same sessions.
4. I know some in the tech ed community will disagree with me on this one, but take notes on a notepad. I still use resources I wrote down in conference sessions over two years ago. Of course, they’re now bookmarked in Delicious or a blogroll somewhere, but I wouldn’t have remembered them if I hadn’t written them down. You can use your laptop, but it’s more cumbersome and restrictive. What if you & some newly made friends decide to go out for lunch in town but you’ve got your laptop? You’ll have to carry it or go back to the hotel to secure it somewhere, this takes too much time. You can twitter, blog, facebook, & skype out your notes. Besides, if everyone is blogging, facebooking or otherwise backchannel during while a speaker is presenting, I wonder how much of the content going on there is discussion vs. distraction?
5. In the expo hall, check out both new & older vendors - even ones you already use. Sometimes old vendors have upgrades or new products. If you’re like me, you may not always sign up for their email updates (just to keep my inbox manageable) but that means you could be missing out on something new & cool. It also pays for the reps to connect your face & name should you ever need a favor.
6. With our CA state budget & many schools facing cutbacks, make a list of goals of what you want to learn or people you want to meet. “What new ways do I want to use tools we already have? Are there free resources that could do the job of that software tool I’ve been eyeing? What am I going to share with my colleagues when I return?” If you’re in a session and it’s not meeting your needs, leave. This is your valuable time (and possibly money). If you don’t see another session in the schedule that looks worthwhile, head to the expo - it’s likely a less crowded time to get goodies and see exhibits.
7. Volunteer! You belong to the greatest professional network in education.  If there’s a DEN booth, ask if you can help out. The smiling face or the authentic testimonial of another teacher is what got many of you into the DEN. While volunteering you’ll meet lots of people and gain stronger knowledge by sharing with others (just like teaching). Besides, if you don’t yet have any DEN gear, this might be a way to swing some. Afterall, you can’t represent with sporting some cool Discovery swag.

Hall Davidson is doing an all-day workshop for teachers of the gifted at Audubon Middle School this Saturday. It is one of a continuing series of workshops done in collaboration with the California Association of the Gifted (CAG). Time is from 9 - 3 PM, with lunch provided. However, be advised that there is a registration fee of $95 for CAG members and $125 for non-members. There are state funds set aside for gifted education at schools with an identified gifted population and this is a perfect use for that. It makes you appreciate DEN Days of Discovery, which are free!

Audubon Gifted Magnet Middle School is located at 4120 11th Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90008. It is located at the intersection of Crenshaw Blvd. and Martin Luther King Blvd. The room is located on the first floor of the main building. Park in lot on 11th Ave. and Stocker, can’t miss it. Topics covered are media creation and building Google Lit trips with media. There are very limited spots available. Register at http://cagifted.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=79.

If you’re planning on attending California’s largest conference on educational technology, you should know about  special offers and events for DEN members and their guests. On Thursday, March 6 from 9:30 am to 3:30pm Discovery Education is presenting a “Media Makeover” pre-conference day. This day will include several different sessions on how to incorporate technology tools, as well as useful tips and tricks from your favorite Discovery speakers and fellow teachers. Check out the full Pre Conference Flyer for more info.

Go to this link to register, but hurry up, there are only about 10-15 more spots open! When you register, use “Guest of Jannita Demian” for how you heard of the event. See you there!

~Dave Kootman

I’m sure you’ve heard, but we are lucky to once again be hosting a fantastic training event. It’s the “Day of Discovery” hosted by KLCS in downtown LA on Saturday Dec. 8. All the great Discovery celebs will be there, including Hall Davidson, Steve Dembo and . . .you!

There’s already been a big response so make sure you RSVP soon - check out the flyer below for details. This is a great chance for DEN educators to get involved in training, networking, and sharing of ideas.

KLCS Flyer

About a week ago, I posted about an AFI (American Film Institute) workshop. We are now proud to offer additional discounts to all DEN members.  I attended this training in the spring and it was very engaging and hands-on.  The instructor, Frank Guttler, is highly enthusiastic and very knowledgeable.  I felt the training and environment were very authentic and I left knowing a lot about how to integrate digital storytelling into my curriculum, as well as movie making in general.

See below for more info on this opportunity.

September 22, 2007 CSUMB Language Lab 9:00am to 5:00pm

In this hands-on workshop, teachers and administrators
of all grade levels and subjects will learn how to use filmmaking as a
tool to engage student learning. Through experiential lessons, participants
will learn to shoot, plan edit and critique film and make connection to
their curricula.

Participants will learn:

    * The difference between shots and scenes

    * How to organize and improve filmmaking
with storyboards

    * How to use video cameras (a hands-on experience)

    * How to edit footage on a video editing
program (time permitting)

Participants will preview the program’s newest curriculum
and professional development components, including the program resources
now available at Discovery Education’s unitedstreaming.com, and hear the
latest program research findings. Participants will understand the premise
behind AFI’s development of the Screen Education program, stemming from
its 40 year history as a national institute providing leadership in screen
education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art
of film, television and digital media. Introducing digital filmmaking into
the K-12 classroom can capitalize on the appeal and excitement of collaborative
storytelling through moving images as a means to an end-the mastery of
traditional subject matter.

Learning to understand, consume, evaluate and especially
to create media for the screen can improve students’ involvement in the
classroom, expertise in appropriate use of technology, academic performance
and social skills. AFI believes the first step is to engage educators and
provide them with the skills, information and confidence to navigate a
technology-based environment.

This workshop is offered through a partnership between
Cal State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), the American Film Institute
(AFI) and CUE. The workshop will be lead by Frank Guttler, Associate
Director of the American Film Institute k-12 Screen Education Center.

A working lunch will be included with the workshop. Please
contact the CUEtoYOU coordinator at mwagner@cue.org
if you have any particular dietary requirements.

Regular Cost: $155 with current CUE membership ($195 new
or renewing)

DEN MEMBER SPECIAL: $120 for DEN members with current
CUE membership ($160 with new or renewing CUE membership)

Register Now: https://cueweb.cue.org/cueweb/pdw/pdwwebstore.aspx

Refund Policy: Membership and workshop are both non-refundable.
Membership is non-transferable.

Note: This workshop is eligible for a $120 reimbursement
through the Ed Tech K12 Voucher Program. Any membership fee added above
this is not eligible for reimbursement.

It seems to me that the fall season always holds many conferences.  We have CUE in the spring and ISTE in the summer, but most of the local CUE affiliate conferences seem to be in the fall. Who better to present at these conferences than DEN members?  There’s no way I can list all the local conferences out there, but hopefully you can contact your local board and help them out in one way or another.   Below is an except from the San Diego CUE call for presenters:

Are you an educator with information and excitement to share?  We hope you

will consider submitting an application to speak at this event!  In past
years there have been over 400 attendees,  all eager to hear about new and
nifty ways technology is being used in education.

Presentations are 45-minutes long including Q&A (some hands-on presentations
will be 90-minutes).

Our attendees range from novice to very experienced educators and technology

users interested in hearing about the variety of ways technology is used or
can be used in education.

SDCUE will provide complimentary registration and lunch for the primary

speaker of each non-commercial session.

Take advantage of the great opportunity to further your education and that of other educators.  Just take an idea that you have and run with it.  This is also a great way to prepare for a presentation at a larger conference. 
- Dave Kootman

Okay… I will confess that some days are more fun than others!  After Saturday night, the long hours paid off when we got to hang out with 2 of the most incredibly talented and crazy guys Discovery has… yep… Adam and Jamie of the Myth Busters.  After working BUSTIN our tails off in the booth, we were treated to a special meet and greet session with Adam and Jamie at the Marriott hotel. I was so impressed with their “guy next door” demeanors.  No arrogant movie star attitude in that room… in fact I found it completely humbling that they were actually thanking us for all the work we were doing with teachers.

Later that evening we had dinner at the NSTA Presidential Banquet and Adam and Jaimie spoke for about 45 minutes about teaching, science, their jobs, how they got started.  The audience’s favorite part was when we opened the mics to their questions.  The 1^st person to the mic wanted to know how teachers could find out ahead of time what episodes would be airing so they could be prepared to field all the questions by students the next morning, like how to capture farts!  I almost feel over laughing.  I also enjoyed listening and watching Adam poke fun of Jamie.  The last question of the night was by CA DEN member Carol Anne’s daughter Macy who explained that her mother teaches students with visual impairments and wondered if they have ever considered busting the myth that “Blind people of super sonic powers.”  The audience cheered loudly as the Adam and Jamie said they will definitely start thinking of ways to BUST that MYTH!

What Myth would you like to see Adam and Jamie bust?!?