California DEN

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?!?

I think that this conference was by far the best one I have seen yet.  In fact, I really encourage all teachers to attend the NSTA.  You better bring some money, because if you are anything like me, Hall Davidson, or Katherine Aiken you will want to buy everything you see!  (Yikes… hope my husband doesn’t read this post or my bank statement this month!)  Where else can you buy everything from some crazy powder that turns into fluffy snow, magic sand, human body models, lizards, magnetic balls that sing, and our favorite… massagers!  (I bought everything but the lizards and human body models) 

Hats off to Laurie and Mari for an incredible marketing campaign.  It was definitely all about the Myth Busters.  We had these terrific sandwich boards that we walked around with.  Teachers loved them so much they were willing to pay to actually have the opportunity to wear it.  We also passed out some fantastic Discovery Education lab coats during our theater presentations which were packed every time. Our booth was definitely the best there!  So many people were just amazed at our new look! And believe it or not we working hard… even though you can see that we clearly had fun through the pictures! 

So… those of you who know me will totally appreciate my recent CLM (Career Limiting Move). My colleagues have threatened to blog this, so I figured I would beat them to the punch. So here’s my humbling story….

Discovery Education sponsored an incredible VIP cocktail reception at NSTA, so I invited a few of our DEN members who were attending the conference.  I was hanging out with Katherine Aiken, DEN Regional manager, when Sandra my DEN member informed me that her co-worker had gone to get her camera after she had seen Bill Nye.  In total Jannita fashion I counter, “Bill Nye’s not here is he?”  They responded look down.  Literally 2 feet from where I was standing Bill Nye, yes… that would be Bill Nye the Science Guy…. was sitting down at a table. UGHH… I wanted to crawl in a hole!  Here’s hoping he didn’t hear!  Needless to say, I was thrilled that our team was able to grab a photo with him.  I can’t wait to show my old students.  Have you ever wondered how he got his start?!?  He was actually an engineer at Boeing. Now you are probably asking, what type of transition do you have from engineer at Boeing to Wacky Scientist.  Well, he did a radio comedy show for a while.   What other fascinating facts do you know about Bill Nye? Do you know that we have several Bill Nye science videos on unitedstreaming?!?  Do a key word search by his name!

This afternoon I was able to spend 2 hours with 15 terrific educators from Cupertino District.  Donna Axelson and the unitedstreaming implementation rep, set up this training that allowed these teachers to get their school start up kits which included posters, user guides, post it notes, and a variety of other resources. I was able to give an overview of unitedstreaming and integration strategies with these teachers. 

After discussing the benefits of the Discovery Educator Network, such as sharing projects, connecting with other teachers nation wide,  receiving additional resources and presents, invitations to Discovery Educator Events, 3 educators just couldn’t wait to fill out their applications.  They filled it out right there on the spot! 

Congratulations to the first 3 Cupertino DEN Educators, Chris, Reggi, and Shashi!

Special thanks to principal Chris Mosely and the great teachers at Noble Elementary School in the Berryesa School District, who allowed me the privilege of having lunch with them and discussing the benefits of the Discovery Educator Network for their site.  During their lunch we talked about some of the new resources found in the “Learning Tools” and “Teacher Center” pages on unitedstreaming.  I was also able to share some of the great projects that DEN teachers have been creating. Trish and Mark received special awards for being power users of unitedstreaming. 

Several great technical questions came up during our discussion, so I thought this was a great opportunity to remind everyone that you have a terrific implementation staff that is available to you!  If you have a question regarding technical issues of unitedstreaming please call 800) 323-9084.  If you would like to know who your implementation rep is email me.

Thanks again and I hope to see all the exemplary teachers from Noble again soon!!!