As you begin thinking about the upcoming school year and your professional development, check out the DEN Webinar Series running August 3 - August 27. The sessions will include topics such as Digital Storytelling, School Leadership, Science and Web 2.0. All of the DEN Summer School Webinars will begin at 11 AM ET. You can register for any of the webinars by visiting The Nutshell and clicking on the registration link on Justin’s page. The following is the link for the DEN Webinar descriptions: http://tinyurl.com/mfz3fx
DEN pre-conference was an awesome day of learning. We held school at DEN Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. DEN head quarters is a beautiful place, if you are ever invited GO!!! Even though, we were treated as students on this day (being required to have Hall passes) we were definitely given a fantastic day of EDUCATION. Two classes I attended and recommend:
Learning Through the Funnies with Brad Fountain
Learning Through the Funnies presentation
Top Ten FREE Web 2.0 Sites with Steve Dembo
View his presentation here
For those of you unable to attend, DEN has linked some of the presentations: Discovery School at NECC 09 Remember you can use these presentations as events with your faculty & staff .
Now is the time for change and the National Educational Technology Plan is the place to start. At NECC 2009, a collaboration event was created to gather “high impact, researched-based recommendations” from teachers and education professionals that would help drive the future of education and technology. Today’s students need a plan to bring their education up to speed. Your opinions are requested by July 12, so let your voices be heard. Click on the link to join this web-based outreach event. https://edtechfuture.org/?page_id=316.
Came across this interesting little tidbit off of eSchool News online today. Parents, teachers and students were asked to voice their opinion on how they felt technology was being utilized in schools. Some of the highlights of the survey results include:
- The study shows that students
want to learn math and science through real-world problem solving,
visiting places where they can view science in action, and talking with
professionals in the fields
- Use of digital cameras, MP3 players, and laptop computers in grades
3-12 has increased significantly during the past two years of the
study.
- 53 percent of students in grades K-12 use video games
on a weekly basis. Girls are just as likely to be playing as boys until
high school.
- 75 percent of teachers believe the use of technology in
schoolwork has resulted in increased student performance and
achievement.
- One-fourth of students are eMailing their teachers.
- One-third of students are interested in taking an online class.
How do these results translate to what we are doing as DEN educators. I personally believe we are in the forefront in what I refer to as "preaching through modeling" the importance of educational technology tools. Important to note is the second bullet in the list. Through digital storytelling and podcasting we are showing our students ways to express themselves in genuine and authentic measurements. Furthering the claim that 75 percent of educators feel technology enhances student achievement. The stat to hold in our collective thought processes shows exactly WHAT our students want to learn: "to learn math and science through real-world problem solving, visiting places where they can view science in action, and talking with professionals in the fields."
Listen to their voices as we are going out into the classrooms. I know I will be sharing this with my administrators and teachers alike.
Tom.
Eschool News Online: http://www.eschoolnews.com
Parent, Teachers, Kids Speak up on EdTech: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6951&page=2
What a great Good Friday! This has been a fantastic week! I heard from Putnam County trainers about sessions they completed this week, which have been posted to the calendar. Shelley 
Thompson did a fun session on Mining for Gems in unitedstreaming at Mellon Elementary. I spent Wednesday afternoon on a webinar with Matt Monjan and Polk County, who also had trainers reporting events on the calendar. Today I enjoyed a casual meeting of the minds in Hernando County to discuss how to add events to the calendar, adding resources, being an active member, hidden gems in unitedstreaming and more.
Cheryl Cyrus from Lake County found one of the hidden gems that Discovery Educator Network and unitedstreaming offers - the Discovery Educator Network: Training Certification. This is mentioned on the home page of Discovery Educator Network, but is found under the TEACHER CENTER of unitedstreaming. It’s a self-paced, interactive online course to prepare you for training teachers in your schools.
Here are two challenges for North Florida. One: add a comment below on your favorite gem of unitedstreaming or training tip. This should be easy for all of you since you’ve been actively holding events and training teachers. You can email it to me, but I’d really like you to share the gem with everyone by adding the comments below. Two: If you complete the DEN Certification Module, send me the certificate. Let’s run this through April 27th (Tuesday). For those who do the gem comments, you have a chance to win a Discovery Education Polo Shirt. For those who send me their certificates (and yes Kay in Polk, I have yours on file already!), you have a chance to win a computer bag (the computer does not come with the bag).
And don’t forget to keep logging those events on the calendar and send me the spreadsheet each week to help your district win the Florida Contest! Download FLEVENTS_template.xls
Have you heard of Cosmeo yet? Seen the commercials, like the one that aired during American Idol last week? Did you hear the buzz at the FETC conference?
Obviously one such school has! Darlene Wolfe from Ocoee High School has been corresponding with Joel Jacobson to work out how Cosmeo can reach the Ocoee Students.They are ready to get their students into Cosmeo! But what exactly is Cosmeo and why should you be interested?
Cosmeo is a home product designed to assist students with studies by providing access to videos, homework help, educational interactive games, and encyclopedia articles. Students who are struggling to learn or those that are just a sponge soaking everything up will benefit from Cosmeo. As a parent, I like the idea of being able to track my child’s progress. I also like the fact that students can earn points for the various activities they complete on-line. One clarification: Cosmeo is NOT the home version of unitedstreaming. While the videos in unitedstreaming are great for teachers because of the rights that come along with a subscription, Cosmeo videos can only be played at home for study purposes. They cannot be viewed at school or downloaded for projects. The two services are not the same and shouldn’t be confused.
The similarities: Like unitedstreaming, you can sign up for a 30 day trial. Also like unitedstreaming, all content is aligned to state standards.
But unlike unitedstreaming, you can actually do a fundraiser for your school by selling subscriptions to Cosmeo. Think about it. You don’t have to receive boxes and boxes of goods to sort and pray get back to the person who ordered them. There’s no chocolate to melt in your car, or be eaten by you. (This is an all familiar in my arena.) Oh the hassles you won’t have to deal with! It’s a fun educational product, one that will benefit all students k-12. The money can be used for items your school is in need of, but never seems to have the funds to buy. Think of the possibilities! If you’re interested in more information on this topic, you need to contact Joel Jacobson.
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