Today the DEN LCs  are attending the BLC in Boston.  We began with am amazing Keynote speech given by Michael Wesch. We will be following a traditional conference format, choosing from among a host of amazing sessions. My first session of the day is entitled “What Can You Do with 3 (4) Billion Photos?” presented by Dean Shareski.

Ok, so is it a bad thing to admit just how badly I want to be accepted for this summer’s events.  As if waiting an entire year for the Institute application was difficult enough, now I have the excitement of waiting to see who is chosen for the Discovery Student Adventures pilot.  I want this for my kids. (So does everyone else:)  But, I love my kids and I love what I do and I want to be able to do this for them.  Sorry if I sound whiny. Ok, enough rambling. I will cross fingers and toes and do a rain dance while I wait for applications to be considered!

Okay, so I’m a bad blogger.  I never get around to it.  I enjoy it and wish I could do more.  Tonight I just had to open the release valve and let out a little steam.  I just read the National Blog and may I just say WOOOOHOOOO!  The summer adventures they announced are amazing.

You see, I work with kids who have nothing.  Some are homeless.  Some have been abandoned.  Some are just living in the worst possible situations.  So, to even think that I may have a shot at applying to expose these kids to the world made my sense of anticipation reach maximum capacity.  Hence the need for the release valve.

The DEN has been so good to me.  Belonging to a group that is full of truly amazing people has transformed me.  I teach, think and even approach my daily life differently because of the DEN.  I know it may sound a little corny but, I think that if I had never stumbled across the DEN I might not be the teacher or person I am today. You see, I was on that edge.  The edge between teaching and doing something else (not in education).  Here is my story in a nutshell.

I was granted the E2T2 grant and in a workshop that I was required to take, someone mentioned the DEN.  I looked at it, applied and then my professional life was transformed.  I know just about everything I know about instructional technology to someone who works for or with Discovery.  The beautiful part about teachers is that the learning doesn’t stop with them.  So, I’ve taken everything that I’ve learned and have given it to my students and fellow teachers.  It sort of has a 6 degrees of separation feel, doesn’t it? 

Anyway,  I just wanted to express my gratitude for the DEN and my awe of such an amazing upcoming opportunity. Whew, pressure released:) 

Calling all members of my DEN family! My class is beginning a new fundraising project. We are attempting to raise funds through the UN Foundation in order to provide insect netting to families in Africa.  This much needed netting will help protect entire families from contracting malaria.  This project will help my students realize that they are citizens of the world.  It will also help them realize that no matter how little they have, they can give to others.  As a bonus reward, the classroom that is able to collect the most donations or sponsorships will receive a laptop for each student.  My students would never be able to afford their own computers.  So please, help us help others. 

Nothing But Nets http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=563106

Thanks Illinois DEN for a nice night.  Everything was wonderful at IETC.  I am always amazed at the people that I met through the DEN.  Thank you for all that you do.

What a super cool new look for the DEN.  Way t0 GROW!  I feel amazingly blessed to have the opportunity to be part of such an amazing group of people.  Thanks DEN.  Tracy