Maine

   Getting to an event in Maine can be an experience in itself……..but WELL WORTH it! Teachers from central Maine gather to learn more about DEN. The group was almost 1 to 1 with Star members and new members. All participants reviewed the new website interface and were introduced to the many tools that they have available to enhance their classroom. New members were encouraged to become Stars. The group planned out monthly events for the upcoming school year. LC Chair Carol Miller presents new information to the DEN stars.            LC Events coordinator Mauri Dufour introduces new members on becoming a Star.       LC Blog writer Lori Twiss is at her computer.  Lunch:After lunch Regional Manager Michael Hakkarinen introduced himself via webinar.

Greetings !      On July 8th the new website went live. There are many exciting new features that will enhance your teaching. As with many websites when changes of this magnitude occur somethings do slip by. The discovery technicians are welcoming comments and constantly working to fix any of the bugs that occurred.  Please don’t hesitate to comment in the forums or blogs, be patient and polite as this is a process and they are diligently working for us.    Maine Star educators are currently receiving information for a workshop to go over these changes. The Stars are out there to help for you, don’t be afraid to reach for the Star’s!  While Star gazing should you choose to become a Star be sure to click on the “Become A STAR Discovery Educator” which is found by clicking on the DEN link in the upper menu bar after you log in.

In June Mauri Dufour, Carol Miller and Lori Twiss attended the National conference at Discovery Communications. The days were packed with exciting news on upcoming features and the new website. We met our new regional manager, Michael Hakkarinen, he is very energetic, is looking forward to working with us and coming to Maine. Keep posted for further news as he joins the Discovery Education Team and upcoming DEN events.

Hi All

As the school year is quickly coming to an end we need your input.  Please post a reply to this blog with some fun summer event ideas!

Saturday, Oct 24, 2008 Edward Little High School will  host a DEN virtual conference which will provide a unique opportunity to 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. And it’s free!

 We happen to have many slots available for anyone interested in Discovery Streaming. Usually these are only open to STAR DEN members but when space is available we open to our own districts. We are providing 6 hours of professional development, snacks, lunch and giveaways free of charge. Everything is being covered by Discovery Education! Please share this with your staff they would need to register as soon as possible so we have an accurate count for the caterer for lunch.

Register ME 

DEN staff will be sharing a series of information-packed sessions on how to integrate the newest online technologies used by today’s media-savvy students into classroom instruction. Among the topics slated for presentation are an introduction to streaming media, tips and tricks for integrating digital media with popular Web 2.0 websites, and strategies for incorporating free movie making tools and multi-media PowerPoint presentations into curricula. On September 23rd, from 9AM EDT until 9PM EDT, we’ll be sharing a new presentation every hour on the hour. 

Follow this link for more details and registration information. 

  Erin Towns, World History teacher of Edward Little High School has received a Japan Memorial Fulbright Scholarship to study abroad. Erin will start her adventure in Tokyo and spend time visiting Universities and schools. She will have opportunities to talk to teachers, students, parents and spend a few days living with a family.  Before Erin heads overseas in the fall of 2008 she will be incorporating Japan’s culture into her classroom. She will continue to use Discovery Education and Unitedstreaming to support her curriculum. In addition to this introduction to Japan, while overseas she will be working with her students via web cam. 

 Congratulations and Thanks to Erin for all her efforts has she enhances the educational experience for herself and students!

A reminder from our regional director: 

Every year STAR Discovery Educators are asked to report at least two events they have conducted in the past school year in order to have their contracts renewed for the following season (i.e., maintain STAR status for next school year). Give your agent some additional leverage to land you a big contract by reporting more than two events.

Any STAR DE who reports at least three events for the time period of September 1, 2007 through June 6, 2008 will receive a DEN Water Bottle as a signing bonus.

What is an event?

Click here to report your events.

Recruit a RookieWe’re always looking for new prospects who can throw a 90 mph fastball or embed a DE streaming video into PowerPoint. If you help us find a rookie sensation, we’ll hook you up with some new DEN gear.

Any STAR DE who recruits a new STAR Discovery Educator before June 6, 2008 will receive a DEN baseball jersey. Note: The STAR DE you recruit must have his/her contract officially signed by June 6, 2008 (i.e., he/she must complete all parts of the application process by June 6).

Help Your Region Win the PennantYour DEN Account Managers are looking to you to help them bring home the pennant for your region. The DEN Manager whose region has the most new STAR recruits during DEN Spring Training will win the coveted Discovery Educator Network Louisville Slugger straight from the factory in Kentucky.

Feb 2, 2008, in spite of the ice & sleet storm Den’s Virtual Conference in Central Maine was attended by local teachers.

Lance Rougeux presented ‘Lost in Translation’, explained how many of todays students are bilingual, their second language being text messaging. Matt Monjan presented ‘Building A Bigger Blogger’ which introduced web applications that can blend with the teacher resources in Discovery Education’. Next ‘The Bionic Lesson’ presented by Mike Bryant showed how to transform standard lessons into a more engaging presentation using a variety of programs and hardware technologies.

In between programs door prizes were awarded and teachers enjoyed sharing ideas. After a lunch of chicken and roast beef sandwiches, everyone returned to a relaxing presentation by Hall Davidson, the ‘Revenge of the Digital Immigrant’. He described the new brain of the 21st century student and how education needs to evolve to match the evolution of the media.

Following Hall Davidson Steve Dembo presented “50 Ways to Spin a Digital Story”. Steve described how to use web sites to make students’ digital stories come alive.

The 21st century student is quite a different learner than those of us that have been teaching for years — Just ask Harley, (the golden) Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

Thank You Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine  for supporting us with a meeting place and beverages!

You can win one of the 5 wireless labs, each of which will include:

• 20 notebook or tablet computers from HP, Lenovo or Toshiba
• 3 wireless access points from D-Link, Linksys or NETGEAR
• 1 Bretford mobile cart
• 1 Promethean interactive whiteboard
• 20 Promethean Activote integrated personal response system
• 1 video projector from Epson or NEC Solutions
• 1 document camera from AVerMedia
• 1 laserjet printer from Epson or HP

Just click on the enter button and register. You may register more than once.