Streaming A to Z

We want to hear from you. Discuss the future of Discovery Education streaming in one-on-one feedback sessions.  Each session will last approximately one hour.

If you are interested in volunteering please send your name, school district, subjects/grades that you teach and time slot that you are interested in to Shelley Santora Jones

Thursday, February 12th
4:00 ET
5:00 ET
6:00 ET
7:00 ET

Tuesday, February 17th
5:00 ET
6:00 ET
7:00 ET
8:00 ET

All participants will receive a copy of the four-DVD set of When We Left Earth:  The NASA Missions.

As always - we appreciate your help and support!

 Middle School Students Can Enter for the Chance to Win $50,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds

Do you know a middle school student who is eager to explore the wonders of science?  Discovery Education and 3M announce a call for entries in the 2009 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge (YSC), the nation’s premier science competition for students in grades 5 through 8.  Ten finalists will be selected to receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to compete in the final challenge in October.  The winner will receive $50,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds ($25,000 cash value) and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Research shows that science test scores start to drop in middle school when interest in science begins to wane.  In an effort to foster the development of our nation’s next generation of scientists, Discovery Education and 3M have teamed up once again to reward students for their science acumen and curiosity, while encouraging them to share that passion by creatively communicating their findings.

Underlining the importance of communication skills in the science field, the competition challenges middle school students residing in the United States to create a one- to two-minute video about a specific scientific concept that relates to innovative solutions for everyday life.  Evaluated by a panel of judges, all video entries for the 2009 competition will be assessed based on creativity, persuasiveness, classroom suitability and overall presentation.  Videos will not be evaluated on production skills and may be recorded on cell phones or simple digital cameras.  All video entries must be submitted online at www.youngscientistchallenge.com by May 20, 2009.

The video entry should use science to create an innovative solution to one of these everyday problems:

1. How can I play my music system for my own enjoyment, without disturbing the rest of the house?
2. What can I do to the soles of my shoes to make them better perform when I skate board?
3.  What can I do to reduce the glare on my television when I’m playing video games?
4. What device or method can I create which might help lower my family’s heating or cooling bills?

For more information on the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, including submission guidelines and examples of entry videos, go to www.youngscientistchallenge.com.

Yesterday the world watched as our nation’s 44th President was sworn into duty!

On his way to the office, President Obama utilized a huge a variety of 21st century tools - including things like Twitter, blogs, Facebook, texting, and more - to mobilize his base and get his message out.

During his campaign he stated, “I will recruit new teachers and make new investments in rural schools, we’ll connect all of America to 21st century technology and telecommunications.”

In fact, ComputerWeekly.com has billed President Obama as our nation’s first Digital President.

As an educator with access to Discovery Education streaming you can celebrate the fact that you already have access to a myriad of digtal tools.  Discovery Education streaming is jam packed with editable videos, sound effects, songs, speeches and more.  For example you can type in the keywords “Video Yearbook” to find an extensive editable video almanac.  This video series is filled with primary source material going as far back as 1938!

Feeling a litle overwhelmed?  Don’t worry the Discovery Educator Network  is here to help!  This community is chock full of educators who are passionate about sharing their ideas and resources with each other.  In fact, next month we’re getting together at the VSTE conference to explore different ways to tell a digital story - check it out - this pre-conference event is free to anyone who wants to attend!

If Powerpoint is more your speed - we’ve got you covered too.  Check out the Bird House page on geekybird.com to find step-by-step instuctions on all things DE streaming.

So join our new digital administration and incorporate a 21 century tool in your lesson plan today!

The Beatles aren’t the only ones that can sing about getting help.

Today I’d like to sing the praises of the DE streaming help page.  If you haven’t checked out this page I encourage you to give it a look-see. 

Once there you’ll see three tabs.  The first tab, “Most Recent“  includes the most recent updates to the Help section.  The second tab, “Top Issues,”  dives into the top issues identified by users - and lists their solutions!  The third tab, “Top Guides,” provides quick access to different user guides found on the site.

You’ll also find the phone and email of our support team listed within the Help section as well as self-service tools like finding your username/password or what to do if you’ve changed schools.

Finally, you can type in keywords into the search box and find technical support answers relevant to your search terms!

Now you can see why I’m singing about our Help section.

The March 15 Deadline for Entries Quickly Approaching!  And we’re hosting January Webinars to Help Adult Advisers Engage Students in Sustainability 

Now in the final months for entries, the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is encouraging middle school students across the United States to kick off 2009 by “going green” and implementing environmental change in their local communities. The website for this entirely web-based challenge, www.wecanchange.com, is host to lots of kid-friendly activities such as virtual interactive labs, an eco-footprint game, an environmental IQ quiz, online journals, video clips—plus many more resources for both students and adult advisers.

Teams of two to three students in sixth through eighth grade, under the mentorship of a teacher or adult supervisor, will identify an environmental issue in their community, research the issue using scientific investigation, and create a replicable green solution using web-based curriculum tools powered by Discovery Education.

Teachers and adult supervisors are invited to participate in any of Discovery Education’s January online webinars, which will provide additional information about the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. Webinars will be offered Tuesday, January 13, at 4:30 PM (ET); Wednesday, January 14, at 5:30 and 6:45 PM (ET); and Thursday, January 15, at 5:30 PM (ET). To register, go to https://discoveryed.webex.com and click on “Events Center” at the top, then click on “List of Events” at the left and scroll down to “Other Events.” Lastly, click on a “Register” link for your p referred webinar.

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge submissions from middle school students will be accepted through March 15, 2009. A total of 51 teams representing each state and the District of Columbia will be selected as state finalists and an additional 50 teams will be eligible for honorable mention awards. Three of the state finalist teams will be selected as national finalists, and one of those will be named the inaugural grand prize-winner. State finalist and national finalist teams will be announced in Spring 2009.

All student teams entering the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge will receive prizes for their participation. Top-performing teams, as judged by a panel of environmental experts and science educators, will earn cash, teacher education materials and unique “Discovery Experience” trips. The grand prize-winning team will receive a comprehensive prize package, whic h includes an appearance on Planet Green, Discovery’s 24-hour eco-lifestyle network and a once-in-a-lifetime Discovery Adventure Trip, accompanied by a Discovery TV personality.

The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) have partnered on the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge to educate, empower and engage students, teachers and communities to become “Agents of Change” in improving their communities nationwide. The initiative expands to elementary schools in 2009 and to high schools in 2010.

Prizes Include Once-in-a-Lifetime Discovery Adventure Trips with a TV personality, an Appearance on Discovery’s Planet Green TV Network and Savings Bonds

Five Winning Schools Given the Opportunity to Expand Educational Technology and Learning Resources for Students and Teachers

VERNON HILLS, Ill., and SILVER SPRING, Md. – January 5, 2009 – CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation and leading source of Information Technology (IT) solutions to educators and governments, and Discovery Education, the leader in digital video and multimedia-based learning, today announced the opening of the seventh annual “Win a Wireless Lab” sweepstakes.  The program gives K-12 schools nationwide the opportunity to win a 21st-century classroom, complete with tablet or notebook computers, wireless cart, interactive whiteboard, student response system, projector, printer and document camera.  CDW-G and Discovery Education also provide on-site training to all Win a Wireless Lab grand-prize winners.  The 2009 program will award five grand-prize winners.

To date, CDW-G and Discovery Education have awarded wireless computer labs to 18 schools, helping to increase teachers’ and students’ access to state-of-the-art educational technology.  Nearly 70 percent of past grand-prize winners noted that teachers have developed new projects and lessons that incorporate tablet computers and other technologies into their classrooms, according to a recent survey conducted by CDW-G. 

Previous winners also highlighted the important role of teacher professional development in integrating technology effectively into the classroom.  Bonnie Gambler, first grade teacher at Central Manor Elementary School (Pa.) noted, “We have in-service professional development training in the summer to update teachers on the latest technology, and teachers offer continuous professional development to each other throughout the school year.  For example, teachers have shared how they use unique applications like Moodle with the tablet computers to develop class Web pages, and MindMeisters, a Web-based mapping tool.”

“As CDW-G and Discovery Education enter the program’s seventh year, we are just as excited to award the 21st-century classroom as we were in 2003,” said Bob Kirby, senior director, K-12, CDW-G.  “Feedback from previous sweepstakes winners underscores the wireless lab’s positive impact on teaching and learning.  Win a Wireless Lab increases students’ access to the latest technology and supports alternative approaches to learning to help students achieve their educational potential.”

Previous winners are using the technology in myriad ways to advance learning.  At Central Manor Elementary School (Pa.), first graders are using the tablet computers to practice reading, writing and math skills, and third-graders are studying weather patterns with Discovery Weather.  Students at R. A. Jones Middle School (Ky.) researched the presidential candidates’ campaign platforms and conducted a mock election.  Students at St. Michael’s School (Pa.) are communicating with students around the world, sharing projects and learning about other cultures. 

In addition to the technology hardware included in the 21st-century classroom, Discovery Education will award a $5,000 digital media grant to the five grand-prize winning schools to help them more fully utilize the technology and engage students in learning.

“Effectively incorporating educational technology into the everyday classroom is crucial to developing students’ 21st-century learning skills,” said Mary Rollins, director, Discovery Education.  “Through Win a Wireless Lab, Discovery Education and CDW-G are helping schools prepare students for higher education and beyond.”

The sweepstakes opened January 2, 2009 and entries will be accepted until May 1, 2009.  CDW-G and Discovery Education encourage public and private school teachers, administrators and school and district technology specialists to enter by filling out an online form at http://www.discoveryeducation.com/cdwg.  For each prize drawing, winners will be randomly selected from all eligible entries received.

Each of the five grand-prize winners will receive a 21st-century classroom valued at approximately $45,000, including:

Ø      Discovery Education digital media grant

Ø      20 notebook or tablet computers from HP, Lenovo or Toshiba

Ø      3 wireless access points from D-Link, Linksys or NETGEAR

Ø      1 Bretford mobile cart

Ø      1 interactive whiteboard from Promethean or PolyVision

Ø      20 Student Response Devices from Promethean or PolyVision

Ø      1 video projector from Epson or NEC Solutions

Ø      1 document camera from AVerMedia

Ø      1 laser printer from Epson or HP

Ø      1 video camcorder from Sony

In addition to the five grand-prize winners, CDW-G and Discovery Education will award:

Ø      Ten first prizes of a video projector from Epson or NEC Solutions

Ø      Ten second prizes of a notebook computer from Acer or Sony

Ø      Five third prizes of a digital camcorder from Canon

Winners will be announced in July 2009.  A complete list of rules is available online at http://www.discoveryeducation.com/cdwg.

About CDW-G

A wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation, ranked No. 34 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies, CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G) is a leading provider of technology solutions for federal, state and local government agencies, as well as educational institutions at all levels. The company features dedicated account managers who help customers choose the right technology products and services to meet their needs.  The company’s technology specialists and engineers offer expertise in designing customized solutions, while its advanced technology engineers can assist customers with the implementation and long-term management of those solutions.  Areas of focus include notebooks, desktops, printers, servers and storage, unified communications, security, wireless, power and cooling, networking, software licensing and mobility solutions.

For more information about CDW-G product offerings, procurement options, service and solutions, call 1.800.808.4239, email cdwgsales@cdwg.com or visit the CDW-G Web site at CDWG.com.

…but it can be a lot of fun to do!  Here’s a quick tip that is super cool.

• Find any image from the site -  my favorite image is called “Federal Troops at Rest”
• Once you find the image, and it is displayed in the blue media player box, open up a program like Word or Powerpoint
• Minimize that program.
• Then go back to your DE streaming image, left-click on the image inside the blue box and simply drag (be careful to not let go of your mouse button) the image into your Word or Powerpoint program.
• Once the Word or Powerpoint program opens on your screen, move your mouse up into your Word doc or PowerPoint slide until the cursor turns into a plus symbol
• Then let go of your mouse.
• Give it a second and you will soon see your image embedded into your Word or Powerpoint slide.

Pretty cool right?!?  I love this trick!

Did you know that you can now enlarge the Discovery Atlas videos to full screen?  You can - and it is super easy.

First you’ll need to find the Discovery Education Interactive Atlas.

To find the atlas log into Discovery Education streaming  and then click on the “Teacher Center.” 

Next, click on the “Discovery Education Atlas” in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.

Finally, click on the blue “Launch Atlas” button to find videos about various different cultures, histories, governments and natural habitats from around the world.  

Once you have chosen your video, and it begins to play,  simply right-click (on pc) or command-click (on Mac) on the image so that you see a menu bar.  Hover over the word “Zoom” and then choose “Full Screen.”  And that will do the trick!     

Well guys this is kinda super cool - and it is only going to get cooler.  We’ve upgraded the reporting functionality within DE streaming so that you can really zoom in and see usage like you’ve never seen it before.

Within the new reports you now have the ability to see who is creating and accessing Writing Prompts, Quizzes, and Assignments, sound files, and images- all at the user, school and district levels!  In addition you can run a report to see what the top non-video assets are being accessed by the school and district level.

And if that isn’t the cat’s meow, you can also see the top video and video segments streamed and/or downloaded accessed at the school and district level.

As an Administrator - how cool are these reports?  How easy will it be to walk the halls and know that in classroom 2A they are probably working on a writing prompt or watching a video on xyz?

By the way, for those keeping score at home, within DE streaming we have one full video, one video segment, one article and three images related to the keyword search “xyz.”  And you wonder why I have the name Geekybird?

All of these reports can be generated to in web-based, pdf, xls, csv and rtf formats.

Of course I’ve created a ppt for you to that will walk you through the “how to’s” of  creating and running these reports.  I’ve posted it within the Bird House but also made it available to you right here :->Running Reports Within Admin - New and Improved!

Enjoy and happy reporting!

Discovery Connect is proud to provide you and your students the opportunity to learn from a true American hero, U.S. Air Force Major Paul Moga of the Air Combat Command’s 1st Fighter Wing. Paul “Max” Moga is the host of Showdown: Air Combat, a Military Channel series which offers amazing insight into the aircraft’s,the weaponry and ground-breaking tactics employed in some of the most compelling historical dogfights. During this one hour webinar, he will be sharing his knowledge and expertise of all forms of aircraft from throughout history all the way up to today’s cutting-edge F-22 Raptor. Max has logged over 250 combat flying hours and currently serves as an operational F-22a instructor pilot and the air Combat Command F-22a demonstration pilot assigned to the 1st Operations Group, 1st Fighter Wing out of Langley Air Force Base.

During this webinar, students will have the opportunity to hear directly from Max live and in real time. They’ll be able to ask him questions about his experiences and learn what it’s really like to be both a U.S. Air Force Major as well as host of a TV series.

The only hardware required to participate is a computer and speakers. Or connect a projector and sound system, and share it with other classes in the school auditorium! Previous Discovery Connect webinars have been attended by thousands of students form around the world.

To attend this webinar, with or without your students, simply follow this link and register! 

Okay so it is the new school year and as many DE streaming educators go back to school - some are returning to brand new or different schools.

If this story rings true to you, you might be asking yourself how can you bring your DE streaming username/password to your new school?

Well one way is to shuffle yourself from one school to another.  In the past this required someone with administrative access to do all of the heavy lifting.   But that’s not the case anymore!  Over the summer we made a number of improvements.

One improvement was the automated shuffle feature.  Now any of you and your colleagues can shuffle yourselves from one school to another in five easy steps.  They are as follows:

1. Go to www.discoveryeducation.com
2. Click on the Passode Login tab
3. Enter your new school’s passcode
4. Enter in your existing DE streaming username/password
5. Click on the login box

And that’s it!  Pretty simple right?

Here is a link to the Geekybird PowerPoint that walks you through the steps above - screenshot by screenshot - Shuffle Thyself!

Please share this information with your peers and have a great school year!

Forty educators nationwide awarded $1,000 to implement inventive classroom lesson on sustainability

Silver Spring, MD (August 25, 2008) – General Motors and Discovery Education are pleased to announce the forty winners of the 2008 LIVE GREEN Teacher Grants. Each of the forty winning middle or junior high school educators will receive a $1,000 grant to implement new, inventive classroom lessons on the environment or renewable energy initiatives.

As stewards of the next generation, teachers are uniquely positioned to instill in their students excitement and optimism about the future of our planet. The LIVE GREEN Teacher Grant program recognizes outstanding educators who are implementing innovative ideas, inspires teachers to improve science instruction and empowers educators to offer students hands-on exposure to real-world environmental and energy topics. To view the complete list of LIVE GREEN Grant winners, visit www.discoveryeducation.com/livegreen.

Chris Anderson of Gateway Regional Junior/Senior High School in Woodbury Heights, N.J. is eager to start the school year and continue the work his class has already begun. “We are so grateful for this grant award. We will use the funds in my classroom to extend the sustainable food and energy projects that we are working on in my technology education curriculum. My students will be thrilled.”

In applying for the LIVE GREEN Grants, applicants submitted an essay online explaining how they will advance their students’ learning about sustaining resources. A panel of judges from Discovery Education and several partner organizations judged each submission on content, originality/creativity and adherence to contest parameters. The forty winning essays demonstrated vision, imagination and a unique way of presenting environmental and energy concepts to students.

In addition to receiving a $1,000 LIVE GREEN Teacher Grant, each winner is invited to participate in an online professional development program connecting them with leaders in the sustainability community and providing them with additional resources to support green initiatives in their school. The three-part webinar series is scheduled to kick off in mid-September. Grant winners also will receive a free video flip camera to record their experiences integrating environmental themes and lessons into their curriculum.

Kerry Girardin, a Science Teacher from Phoenix Multicultural Academy in Detroit, Mich. commented, “Sometimes it seems like an uphill battle with no assistance. This award will make a tremendous impact in the possibilities for this year. I promise that I will make this money stretch and work as hard as possible. The children will benefit 100 percent.”

“General Motors and Discovery Education are proud to support these forty innovative educators as t hey introduce creative green lessons that inspire change in their school communities,” said Rod Gillum, GM Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Diversity. “Through these grants, Discovery Education and General Motors are empowering teachers to improve instruction and enhance student achievement in an area of science critical to our future.”

For more information, visit www.discoveryeducation.com/livegreen.

Just a quick post to let you know that more inhabitants have moved into the Birdhouse. I have updated the page so that it now includes Powerpoints that show you how to tell a story with a few web 2.0 applications sites, create an multimedia powerpoint, and more!Check them all out by visiting the Bird House. As always mi Powerpoints son su Powerpoints so please feel free to use, edit, distribute, etc.!

Have a great Back to School experience.

Man how fast did this summer go by?  I swear I closed my eyes on June 1 and when I opened them it was almost August!  What happened to the slow lazy hazy days of summer?

Since the new school year is once again rapidly approaching we have set up a number of Back to School webinars to help you and your “rested” colleagues get back into the swing of things.

We repeated them multiple times so that you don’t have to worry about missing one of them :)  Check them out - they are as follows:

August 12, 2008 at 7:00 pm EST
Building a Bigger Builder - Your Guide to The DE streaming Tools
When teachers embraced Discovery Education streaming they found a wealth of resources including “The Builders” (Assignment, Quiz, and Writing Prompt builder). And now with Web 2.0 applications, “we have the technology to rebuild the builders” (thank you Six Million Dollar Man). During this session we’ll explore three web 2.0 applications, SlideShare, VoiceThread, and TeacherTube and how they can be incorporated into the DE streaming Builders. Now, armed with this knowledge, you will return to your classroom with new cyber tools for the 21st century.

August 20, 2008 - 3:30pm EST
Discovery Education: Getting The Ball Rolling
This one-hour session provides you with a plan to successfully roll out DE streaming within your school. We will be reviewing new account creation using passcodes, professional development options and best practices.

August 20, 2008 - 4:30pm EST
Discovery Education streaming: New Features and Benefits
This one-hour session provides your educators with the tools they need to be successful. We will be reviewing our most popular features and introducing you to our newest enhancements, including the classroom manager, new search words, new content and more!

August 20, 2008 - 7:00pm EST
Discovery Education streaming: New Features and Benefits
This one-hour session provides your educators with the tools they need to be successful. We will be reviewing our most popular features and introducing you to our newest enhancements, including the classroom manager, new search words, new content and more!

August 25, 2008 - 4:30pm EST
Discovery Education streaming: New Features and Benefits
This one-hour session provides your educators with the tools they need to be successful. We will be reviewing our most popular features and introducing you to our newest enhancements, including the classroom manager, new search words, new content and more!

August 25, 2008 - 6:00pm EST
Discovery Education streaming: Getting The Ball Rolling
This one-hour session provides you with a plan to successfully roll out DE streaming within your school. We will be reviewing new account creation using passcodes, professional development options and best practices.

August 25, 2008 - 7:00pm EST
Discovery Education streaming: New Features and Benefits
This one-hour session provides your educators with the tools they need to be successful. We will be reviewing our most popular features and introducing you to our newest enhancements, including the classroom manager, new search words, new content and more!

Of course you can always go here to see the full list of webinars - and there are a ton.  I hope to see you on one, two or more of them as we experience the new school year together.

This is a fun and easy trick that that will allow you and your students to add callouts and balloons to your Movie Maker movies. Once you install the files, they are ready to use each time you use Movie Maker.  Click here to see how…

Ok I admit it, I’ve always wanted to use the word “plethora” in a sentence and I’m a sucker for alliteration. Weird right?

Well, my dear friends, over the years I have collected a myriad of how-to instructions and ed tech integration ideas/solutions and put them together into presentations and pdfs. I have tried to tie each presentation back to DE streaming so that you can use your DE streaming library in new and creative ways.

This plethora of presentations is now all in one place! You can find them at the Birdhouse - a page that I’m also maintaining. Please feel free to download each and any presentation and make them your own.

You’ll want to check back often so that you can get the latest and greatest stuff! Enjoy!

I got this cool trick via DEN Stars, Cindy Lane and Jen Dorman and man is it cool!

Did you know that you can use the blue screen feature in Windows MovieMaker?  Yeah - how cool is that?  And since MovieMaker is a free download you don’t have to purchase an expensive movie editor to put your kids into a DE streaming movie.

What are Blue Screen and Chroma Key you ask?

Chroma Keying or bluescreening is very easy to do and is very common. In fact, every time you watch the weather, a bluescreen or greenscreen is used in the background.

Here’s how you do it with Windows MovieMaker:

1. Capture your subject in front of the bluescreen. (it is very important that it is blue for Windows MovieMaker - WMM!)
2. Upload your video onto the computer and open it in WMM (on XP).
3. Highlight the following xml code: (Source-windowsmoviemakers.net/forums)

<!– windowsmoviemakers.net/forums –>
<TransitionsAndEffects Version=”1.0″>
<Transitions>
<TransitionDLL guid=”{C5B19592-145E-11D3-9F04-006008039E37}” >
<Transition name=”Bluescreen” iconid=”12″ comment=”Makes first clip show through blue areas of second clip”>
<Param name=”KeyType” value=”1″/>
<Param name=”Similarity” value=”100″/>
<Param name=”Progress” value=”0.0″/>
</Transition>
</TransitionDLL>
</Transitions>
</TransitionsAndEffects>

4.   Copy it, and paste it into notepad. Click File>Save As>My Computer>Local Disc C>Program Files>Movie Maker>Shared>AddOnTFX.

NOTE: If you dont already have an AddOnTFX folder, right click then New>Folder. Save it as “bluescreen.xml”. Close notepad and open up WMM.

5.   Find the picture or video you want to show behind. Import it into WMM, and drag it down to the timeline, to the left of the video with your subject in front of the bluescreen.
6.   Now that your two video clips are in the timeline, go to your transitions and there should be one that says “Bluescreen”.
7.  Click it and drag it down to the timeline.
8.  Click the video of the bluescreen and drag it over onto the other clip. Don’t drag it to far because that will just make the clips switch places. Keep going until the blue triangle disappears, then go back just a hair.
9. Check out your preview and see if it worked.
10. Click File>Save Movie File to convert and export into a wmv.

Jen Dorman has provided a great easy to print-out doc here: http://tinyurl.com/3c7bjj

To see the screen shots that go along with these steps go herehttp://www.wikihow.com/Chroma-Key-in-Windows-Movie-Maker

Now here’s a little something you can do with DE streaming.

Log into DE streaming and type in the words “Video Yearbook.”  This will bring up our Video Almanac that stretches all the way back to 1938.  The neat thing about this video series is that all of the video and its subsequent archival material is editable.  That means you can go back in time and plop yourself or your students into these videos with the trick outlined above.   Imagine interviewing Dr. Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy, spending  a day with the Boston Redsox during their spring training…in 1938, or roaring towards space on a lunar mission!  You are only limited to your imagination.

Enjoy your time travels and, if you get a chance, share some of your explorations with us!

This is way too exciting and way too cool and I wish I could take credit for figuring this out.  Yesterday my colleague Kim Randall (DEN Account Manager, Western Region) sent me instructions that she received from Dennis Cowick a DEN Star Educator from San Diego Unified School District. CC Instructions for Macs

I have attached the Word Doc that he created along with screen shots. Now Mac users can download CC files and enhance/change the actual CC text too. Thank you Dennis!

In addition to the CC Word doc, I’ve also created a PowerPoint that walks you through the steps that both PC and Mac users should take when downloading videos and CC files. You’ll also find integration ideas and a neat CC trick that shows you how to change the CC font size, color and even the text itself!  I hope that you can use this deck as a tool to show your peers the power of close captioning and media. Close Captioning For PCs and Macs

Finally, by way of Lori Miller a DEN Star from Montgomery County Public Schools, MD, I’ve attached a Word doc that outlines the steps that you’ll need to take to get CC files to play within a Promethean Flip Chart. Thank you Lori! Promethean and CC files

As always, a huge thank you to you - the DEN Stars.  You are not only educating your students but we techies too - keep on sharing your fantastic creativity!

Not too long ago the Discovery Channel aired a series called The Rise of the Video Game. The series featured the America’s Army game

We thought it would really cool to develop a Discovery Connect Webinar around that theme and Wow what an amazing, interactive and jam packed webinar that was!

This morning over 1000 students, teachers and administrators from around the country got a unique behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create a video game from start to finish.

The session was led by Subject Matter Experts, Phillip Bossant and Mike Barnett. Phillip is the executive producer of the America’s Army PC game that is played by more than nine million registered users around the world. Phillip is based in Emeryville, CA located near San Francisco. Mike is the Chief Engineer Mike Barnett who oversees the development of military simulations that use the America’s Army game technology. Mike is based at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

Together Phil and Mike shared photos and stories with students. They answered questions and heard comments like:

• What are the best colleges to go to if you want to get into the video game industry?
• Where are the areas that you simulate in real life?
• How many people do you have working on a single game?
• It’s amazing how real everything looks!
• My kids thought the pictures were of the “real deal”

But just in case you weren’t able to join us this morning -we’ve got you covered. We recorded the event and you can experience it by clicking on this link: Discovery Connect Webinar - The Rise of the Video Game

As mentioned in the previous post The DEN also took two very lucky classes on field trips. Those students got to experience the simulations and motion capture suits first-hand!

To see pictures of the students put on motion capture suits and be put into a game in Emeryville, CA check out this link - Students in Emeryville, CA

To check out photos of the ROTC class that got to visit Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and play with the simulators check out this link: Students at Redstone Arsenal

You can also see video of both classes as well as video of the mechanisms that they got to simulate by checking out the files attached to this blog!

Emeryville Video

Redstone Arsenal Video

A big THANK YOU to Mike and Phillip for showing us what it takes to be a game developer and letting us experience your world.

If you are interested in attending future webinars, keep an eye out for announcements on http://blog.discoveryeducation.com. You can also register for currently scheduled events at http://discoveryed.webex.com Just click on Event center to see the full list of upcoming events

I’ve seen our educators do some really neat stuff, but this has got to be one at the top of the list!

Earlier this month I had the chance to travel to Alabama and visit Redstone Arsenal with a JROTC class from Bob Jones High School. During our visit the students were able to immerse themselves in a myriad of simulators - including a full scale HMMWV (Humvee for those of us that don’t speak military) surrounded by three floor-to-ceiling screens and surround sound!

While there, the students learned from subject matter experts like Special Forces Lt. Col. Randy Zeegers and Chief Engineer, Mike Barnett, about what it takes to create three dimensional virtual environments, the courses of study that prepare you to create games, and how Soldiers use game technology to train for real-world situations.

And just last week, Kim Randall - DEN Account Manager for the West and DEN Star, Diana Kenney, took a class to the America’s Army office in Emeryville, CA where the class donned motion capture suits and actually got to be put into a game!

And now everyone can share in their experience. On April 9, 2008 at 11am we’re going to be featuring the next webinar in our Discovery Connect Series - Discovery Connect America’s Army and Rise of the Video Games

What’s the tie in?

Recently the Discovery Channel released a series called The Rise of the Video Games. The America’s Army game was featured in one its episodes. During the webinar on April 9, 2008 we’re going to go behind the scenes and talk to the game designers and engineers who helped create one of the most popular online games today. We’ll also get the chance to talk with the students of those two classes and hear about their experiences!

Make sure that you register early to get a spot!