Glenda Jenkins’ Blog

Thinking you could use a weekend away? How does Branson, MO sound?

Join the Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas DEN members for a day of learning and fun in Branson, MO! This year’s DE Virtual Conference will be hosted at Branson Elementary West on Saturday, October 22. We plan to spend the day learning about all the new, exciting content and features Discovery Education offers. In addition you have the opportunity to learn from other teachers in face-to-face sessions.

Also, representatives from Wilson Creek Battle Field will be here in the morning to do two session. One will be a common soldier re-enactment. The other will tell you what the National Park Services have to offer educators.

Participants Will Leave With:

-Deep exploration of the rich variety of digital content available within Discovery Education.
-Integration strategies and exemplar learning experiences to bring digital content alive in your classroom and engage students across the curriculum.
-Thorough exposure to a wealth of professional development resources including continuous support through the Discovery Educator Network.

Breakfast refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Date
Saturday, October 22, 2011

Location
Branson Elementary West
396 Cedar Ridge Drive
Branson, MO 65616-8142

Time
9:00 am – 2:30 pm Central Time (registration begins at 8:30 am)

Schedule:
8:30-9:00 Registration and Breakfast

9:00-11:00 Civil War Soldier Presentation
or
9:00-10:00 No Tricks, Just Treats with Nancy Sharoff
10:00-11:00 11:00 am Digital Storytelling: Get it Write! with Joe Brennan

11:00-12:00 The Collective Brain with Lance Rougeux

12:00-1:00 Lunch and Spotlight with Wes Fryer

1:00-2:00 Treat Yourself to A Story with Dean Mantz, DEN Guru

2:00-2:30 Questions / How to Become a Star / Wrap Up

Cost
FREE!

In your confirmation email, you will receive a coupon for a discounted hotel room.

To register, click here

Every where you look, you see a funny looking square with a cool design. Most of you know that is a QR code. The automobile industry first used the code to fast track production. Today, QR’s contain information for the purpose of advertising and sometimes just for fun. Businesses are using them on mailouts to give you discounts, provide links to stores and watch ads. Now we are seeing them in our schools. Libraries are using them to promote books.

Recently a high school librarian posted QR codes in front of various new titles on her shelf. She created the QR using a QR code Generator.
Here are ways she is going to use them:
1. Book summary
2. Link to the book trailer (Kids will have to have Internet on their phone or Wifi available.)
3. Link to the book and/or author website (Internet will be needed.)

Students can use their smartphones to scan the QR using a free app.
NEAT IDEA! Well for some educators where phones are allowed in school. Then there are the students that don’t own an iphone. Hopefully soon we can all get in the 21st Century!

Think Outside the Book with thousands of educators from all over the world as we connect during this unique professional development experience!

Learn powerful ways to integrate digital media and Web 2.0 tools into your instruction as well as discover an abundance of resources to expand your own personal learning network.

Participants Will Leave With:
-Deep exploration of the rich variety of digital content available within Discovery Education.
-Integration strategies and exemplar learning experiences to bring digital content alive in your classroom and engage students across the curriculum.
-Thorough exposure to a wealth of professional development resources including continuous support through the Discovery Educator Network.

Breakfast refreshments and lunch will be provided.

DATE and TIME:
Saturday, April 30, 2011
8:00-2:00

 
PLACE:
Midland High School
741 Main St.
Pleasant Plains, AR 72568

EVENT CONTACT:
Karen Wells, Arkansas LC Events Chair
karenwells@ymail.com

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Registration will close on Saturday, April 23, 2011
 

Sessions desciptions and the registration form can be found at https://lrougeux.wufoo.com/forms/spring-2011-virtual-conference-hosted-by-arkansas/

Arkansas has missed Jennifer Dorman since she moved away. I recently caught up to her as I was looking around the DEN. She is still working hard for Discovery. Check it out.

Tired of the same old summary being read from a piece of paper to the class?  Let students get creative and share their book reports in a “NEW and EXCITING” way! Richard Byrne shares 5 alternatives to the traditional book report. He uses Animoto for Education to create book trailers. Memoov to create animated videos. He created literature maps using   Google Lit Trips .  A 3D reality review can be created using  ZooBurst.  With  Glogster, Richard shows how to create multimedia collages. Introduce all 5 ways to your students and they will be busting down the door to the Media Center for books to share.

It is that time of year to either make sure you have all your professional development hours or planning for next years hours.  Arkansas requires 60 hours, so that means educators are always planning and scheduling. Discovery has several webinars taking place right now and are scheduled through June. A certificate of attendance is sent to you via email after the webinar. A quick suggestion, don’t think you already know everything about certain topics. There are always techniques, or ideas that someone shares during the webinar. You also have an opportunity to make connections with other educators across the US. 

Discovery doesn’t stop there! Take a look at the Interactive Training section in DE Streaming.  After the wonderful learning experience, or if you just need a refresher course, you receive a certificate of Achievement to show for those professional development hours. Thanks Discovery for giving us an extra kick!

That is exactly what several educators did on March 6th at Best Buy in North Little Rock.  Members of the” Geek Squad “along with the Arkansas Leadership Council instructed Educators on the many uses of the Flip Camera.  Following instruction, educators were turned loose in the store with the flip to practice recording and checking out all of the “BEST BUYS”.  Attendees were also instructed by Karen Wells on the use of Glogster.  Atendees were instructed on how to enter for a chance to win a gift card from Best Buy.  Checkout the Arkansas page to see the results.

If you don’t follow Diigo ….you need to.  Everyday a new post on fabulous information is given. A recent one was Printable Maps. The National Atlas has prepared reference and outline maps of the United States that you can print or use online. The reference maps display general reference features such as boundaries, cities, capitals, major highways, rivers and lakes, and terrain. Outline maps showing county boundaries, State boundaries, capitals, or other basic features are also available. Maps without labels are included for students and teachers of American geography. The maps are in color, but will also print or copy well in black and white. I plan on asking our East lab to print one for a teacher that recently requested a map of the United States. Check it out and after you finish there go on to Diigo.com and request to become a member of the Discovery Educator Network Group.

If you happen across this blog and you live in Arkansas and you love sharing technology, then you are the one we are looking for!  The Arkansas DEN is about to plan another spectacular event for Arkansas Star Discovery Members. We want you to join us. Leave a comment below so we can contact you in the near future.  In the mean time, checkout the Arkansas blog and get ready for the summer webinars! 

If you haven’t been keeping up with the Discovery Student Adventures/South Africa,  then you are missing out. It has not only been a fun experience to follow the group Karen Wells took to South Africa, but a wonderful learning experience. The talent these students have in writing their blog posts and the pictures they have shared are so breath taking.  I have laughed and cried with many of their posts. Show them your support and post a comment .  Better yet, take their quiz! That will really open your eyes.