Discovery Education has made quite a few changes recently to Discovery streaming, as some of you may already be aware. I’m sure you have a lot of questions. You are in luck! Discovery Education is going to be hosting three webinars tomorrow (Thursday, June 26) for anyone who is interested in learning more.
You can click HERE for more information. As always, if you will not be able to attend one, I’m sure the webinars will be archived and available for later review.
I’m not sure about everyone out there reading this, but I know that for me, the beginning of my exciting experiences with Discovery Education started with a little product called unitedstreaming. I was a new teacher and hungry for any help I could get in filling up my block schedule. The teacher I was replacing handed me a piece of paper with a passcode on it and said "I never got around to checking this out, but it might be something you could use". I signed up and started looking for videos. Through that novice beginning, I became acquainted with the Discovery Educator Network, and as they say, the rest is history!
After reading the Powerpoint from Lance’s "unitedstreaming 24/7" webinar, I realized something. After all of the institutes, events, workshops, and webinars I’ve attended with the DEN, I’ve totally neglected the one product that started it all for me! I’ve learned all about digital storytelling and how to use Photostory, MovieMaker, Premiere Elements, Google Earth, etc., and I tend to share those things with other educators, NOT the basics of unitedstreaming.
The point of this post is …. don’t forget the "basics" — you have new teachers and experienced educators alike who can benefit from the use of unitedstreaming as it sits, without the addition of other software. I held a staff development last week at my school which was geared towards the new user of unitedstreaming, but I encouraged veteran users to attend as well. As the "veterans" left the room after the presentation, I heard them commenting about how surprised they were that they had actually learned something new about unitedstreaming.
Tell us how YOU were introduced to the DEN. Do you have an amusing story to tell about your early days with unitedstreaming? What is your very favorite thing to do with unitedstreaming? Comments, please!
Have you noticed the new search feature on the NEW unitedstreaming site? Are you aware of all it can do. You might consider it an advanced filtering system for the purposes of this post I am going to refer to it as the ability to "Drill Down" because it allows you to delve into the depths of your search and subject matter. So let’s take a look…
When you type in your first keyword and click go you will notice numbers appear next to the media types, subjects, and grades. This lets you know how many assets we have that fit into each category. Of course some cross multiple categories. Now the advanced trick to start doing is to "Drill Down" according to your needs (I will highlight this process in the PowerPoint below). So let’s just say that I am a 7th Grade Science Teacher. I can first click under grades on 6-8. This will narrow my results to just material that fits that grade range. Also notice the breadcrumbs that are on the upper left side telling what you have narrowed by as you continue to "Drill Down". Now I can narrow by my subject, which was Science. I can now Drill Down further within Science by choosing a topic such as Earth and Space Science. Finally I Drill Down by sub-topic such as Oceans. This wonderful new tool will allow you to Drill Down and find exactly what you are looking for. Give a try during your next visit to unitedstreaming. 
Download drill_down_powerpoint.ppt
(By Brad Fountain - Field Manager North and South Carolina)
The NEW unitedstreaming is here and it’s AMAZING!!! To celebrate this launch and to help prepare many of you for staff development this summer, please try to attend either a webinar or event (if it’s in your area). Stay tuned for more events!
LAUNCH PARTIES
Tuesday, June 13 - The NEW unitedstreaming Launch Party
Thursday, June 15 - The NEW unitedstreaming Launch Party
WEBINARS - Join a workshop from home or school - all you need is the Internet and a phone!
Monday, June 12 - Webinar
10:00 am - 11:30 am
https://discoveryed.webex.com/discoveryed/j.php?ED=87072167
Meeting Toll Free Phone number: 866-469-3239
Meeting number: 551 773 974
Meeting password: denrocks
Monday, June 12 - Webinar
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
https://discoveryed.webex.com/discoveryed/j.php?ED=87072177
Meeting Toll Free Phone number: 866-469-3239
Meeting number: 552 300 055
Meeting password: denrocks
Wednesday, June 14, Webinar
10:00 am - 11:30 am
https://discoveryed.webex.com/discoveryed/j.php?ED=87072182
Meeting Toll Free Phone number: 866-469-3239
Meeting number: 551 287 497
Meeting password: denrocks
The New unitedstreaming is here! We’ll be presenting new features here on the blog.
So listen up for today’s feature. Have you ever wished you had cool sound effects when editing your digital story or the sound of wildlife in the background of your PowerPoint about the rain forest? Well, the NEW unitedstreaming has added over 3,000 audio files. These files can be streamed or downloaded just like the videos and it’s just as easy to do. Download this PowerPoint tutorial to learn how.
Download using_audio_files.ppt
The new unitedstreaming will include innovative teacher tools, such as the Assignment Builder and Quiz Center, allowing educators to select content for student access. The new Writing Prompt Generator tool will work with any image on unitedstreaming allowing you to create your own writing prompts.
Teacher-Managed Student Access
Students will be able to access and explore teacher-selected assignments, quizzes and media published to the Student Center and accessable from anyplace. Student usernames and logins will allow easier tracking of student activity.
Professional Development Enhancements
The Video Library of Best Practices will include topics such as differentiated instruction, technology integration, classroom management, and parental involvement. In addition, new Live curriculum-based Web Seminars on science, language arts, social studies and literacy will be led by visionaries in education technology. The technology integration demonstrations will provide weekly teaching tips and “classroom quick start” ideas as well as “how-to’s” on using leading educational software including: Inspiration, iMovie, Adobe Premiere Elements, Microsoft Office and PowerPoint.
New Upgrades to Administration Tools
The new Server Manager and Network Manager will allow for easier management of server storage space, content downloads and auto-updating of software application to give greater content control.
Take the lead and share what you have learned thus far about the new unitedstreaming. To learn more, go to http://www5.unitedstreaming.com/comingsoon/
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