It was 3 days of amazing! The students and I participated in Chemistry labs, Biology labs, Physics labs, Computer Science labs, and Geology labs! We also listened to a great line up of graduate students in each field to see and hear about what they’ve done in school.

In Chemistry/Biology, the students learned about collecting and recording DNA samples, and even had their own DNA collected and made into a necklace!

In Computer Science, the students had fun working with Scratch. In the Physics lab, the students cracked open brand new electricity kits that were shipped from India in order to experiment with voltage and resistance.
In the Geology lab, students looked at various rocks and minerals, and then painted with earth-based paints.

In addition, the students also had time to visit the local and campus pools, listened to drumming and story telling at the tipis in the evening, and toured the local SIAST college. The students left the camp talking about being inspired by the people they met, are more interested in attending college and/or university, and for some, this camp sparked an interest in a subject that they didn’t know existed. I’m looking forward to camp next year!

Since I’m here, I will post about the huge success of our DEN First Nation LiveStream. It was a lot of fun, the students loved creating the VoiceThread to answer student questions, but the hype has fallen, and many classes that we thought we could continue a dialogue with are busy with their own classrooms and projects.

I feel disheartened sometimes when I invite colleagues to events and after committing to attend, they don’t. Or when invited, they decline and then attend a gathering of their own. I sometimes wish I worked in a district with more like-minded people when it comes to the DEN. Hopefully one day, that will be the case. Even so, I will still shine brightly, learn and develop myself through webinars, and I will be all that I can be with the DEN. I will continuously need support and encouragement and will receive it from my DEN friends in other parts of the world.

Monday night (Sept. 17) was a great night! I was able to share in a Google+ hangout with teachers from Winnipeg, MB in an “Evening of Discovery”. http://bit.ly/S4DApI

I went early to my Scouts meeting, because I thought it started about the same time the hangout was to start. Unfortunately, the meeting wasn’t until 7pm! I had no way of getting into the school to set up, so needed to improvise! I parked the car close to a block heater outlet, rested the battery pack on the windshield, ran the wire into the car, and held the computer on the steering wheel, and joined the hangout!

Scouters started to arrive, parking on either side of me. Some waved with questioning looks, some didn’t even notice! Rob Wall shared from the highschool here in town, then I shared about how I use Discovery Streaming and the Student Centre. I think I shared too much, too quickly, but I was excited and nervous to take part! I wish I could’ve stayed for the remainder of the hangout, but needed to get inside to the started meeting.

I’m very thankful for the DEN and all their support.
Now to get ready for the Tech or Treat!! http://bit.ly/UcvnWJ

This is what the blog says about this amazing resource tool:

I’ve been using this handy little gadget in my classroom for well over a month now and my students and I LOVE it! What do I love about it you ask??

It’s light weight and easy to use!
The sound is very clear and high quality.
It allows me to be in two places at once.
The reluctant/shy students are motivated to read aloud to it.
The kids are under it’s charm and stay focused when reading to it.
It doesn’t need batteries.
You can play back recordings on the spot, save for later, send to a parent via email, upload recording to your blog, etc… (So much potential!!)
Wonderful way to practice fluency! They can buddy read in a fun voice (cowboy/robot/alien/etc.) then play it back and listen to themselves. Super fun!!

Sign up for the giveaway at:

http://tinyurl.com/cdwdlwj

I’m really glad that Dean Shareski hosted a Canadian DEN meeting! Am looking forward to our follow up meeting next week. My colleagues and I have run into a few roadblocks with sharing the DEN with others in our area. We want to see the DEN grow, grow, GROW!

I was out of the classroom for a month, in order to take on an interim position in our school for a sick colleague. I missed my students so much, and using D.Ed.! It was right when Dr. Lodge put out the music video contest. I am SOOO glad that he’s extended the deadline. I’m back in the classroom and the students are working hard to learn the parts so we can tape soon!

The Mythbusters are putting on a LIVE webinar this Thursday! The Gr. 3-9 classrooms are excited to watch!

I can’t WAIT for the Science Techbook to be made for Canada. It is an amazing resource!

I’m also disappointed that alot of webinars/meetings that I’d like to attend start at 4pm CST. Which is right as I’m driving home from work. Once home, it’s over. *pouts*

Going to start advertising ASAP to schools in my area that my school will be hosting the Spring Virt Con again this year. I am hoping that at least 1 person comes this year! Once 1 comes, the rest will follow!!! I just know it!

I nominate the following:
Best Group Blog: Discovery Education http://denblogs.com/
I really enjoy being able to read the Discovery Education Glogbal blog, Canada blog, and Leadership Council blogs. They are insightful, give great ideas, and are a great means of sharing news, events, and successes internationally.

Best EdTech / Resource Sharing blog: Discovery Education http://denblogs.com
Through the Global, Canadian and Leadership Council blogs, I learn about some amazing resources! I really appreciate being able to read a great review of a product and then being able to access a link to the resource so that I can try it out for myself!

Best Open PD / Unconference / Webinar Series: Discovery Education http://www.discoveryeducation.com/Webinars/2.cfm
I love Discovery Education’s webinars! In my school, we’ve participated in over a dozen different webinars in the last couple of years. Some of these webinars include: Healthy Eating with Mark Sanchez, Climate Change, Polar Bears, learning with Phillipe Cousteau Jr., Spring Virtual Conferences (open PD), and Fall Virtual Conferences (open PD).

Best Educational use of a Social Network: Discovery Education http://community.discoveryeducation.com/
I’m a STAR member in the Discovery Education Network (DEN). I’m part of a global community of educators who are passionate about teaching with digital media, sharing resources, collaborating, and networking. The DEN connects teachers both on-line and in person. Through this network, I’m able to read blogs and discussion boards, have exclusive access to a wide range of resources and professional development, network, and attend exclusive Discovery Educator events. I love it!!

Discovery Education Tech or Treat: Our school hosted this event for our 2nd year. 15 staff were in attendance, arriving at the school for 7am, happy to be welcomed by Tim Horton’s coffee and muffins We had a great time learning about new resources from all of the presenters. We also enjoyed being able to sit and chat about the resources we’ve been using in our classrooms. I love sharing sessions! I always walk away with new ideas.

Non DE news: My Gr. 5/6 class just hosted a cultural sharing session with a school in Ontario on Nov. 17th. My colleague in Ontario, Leigh Cassell, has started a huge project called the “Digital Human Library”. It is going to be an AMAZING resource once it is up and running. Teachers will have a digital library of contacts that classes can connect with via Skype. Check out our presentation at: http://blog.amdsb.ca/2011/11/20/borrowing-from-the-digital-human-library/

I’m also really looking forward to my first gig as a SmartBoard trainer on Thurs. the 1st (which is also my birthday)!
It is a great opportunity to show how I use the SmartBoard in my classroom, but it’s also a great outlet for me to plug DE!! I use DE photos, sound, and video in quite a number of my lessons for the SmartBoard.