Virginia

Aron Sterling, Kat Staton and I are attending the DEN LC in Silver Spring, MD

NECC is just under a week away, and we hope you’re as jazzed for it as we are!  Our home on the conference floor will be Booth #3228 and we’ve got a packed schedule there.  You’ll be able to see presentations such as:

• Discovery the Possibilities with Discovery Educaiton Digital Services
• Multimedia Einsteins: Discovery Education Science
• Using Multimedia in the Classroom with Mimio
• 50 Ways To Use Discovery Education streaming 
• Bring 21st Century Teaching to Your Classrooms: Professional Development that Works
• Connecting Formative Assessment to the Power of Digital Media

And who will be presenting these sessions?  None other than your favorite DE and DEN presenters, including Hall Davidson, Lance Rougeux, Steve Dembo, Matt Monjan, Jen Dorman, Eren Koont, Alex Morrison, and more!

Download the complete Discovery Education Booth Schedule
Don’t forget though, that’s just a fraction of what we’re doing at NECC.  Be sure to attend the special Using Multimedia in the Classroom session we’re hosting with Mimio and the four DEN spotlight sessions.

Look forward to seeing you at the conference!

Yesterday, the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing to examine how technology, innovative education tools, and digital content are transforming and improving education in America.  The DEN’s very own Scott Kinney, Vice President of Outreach and Professional Development for Discovery Education, served as one of seven panelists who testified as to how technology and digital content can improve American education in the future.

Citing recent research, Scott illustrated that students use technology profusely at home, while most are unable to use that same technology in the classroom.  Today’s tech-savvy students function by consuming, processing, and learning from media, in many forms simultaneously.  Scott asked the committee to envision an educational system that supported the use of technology in the classroom, therefore, supporting how students learn naturally.

What do you think?  If you were asked to testify in front of the House Education and Labor Committee on the Future of Learning, what would you share with them? Please visit the EdTech Action Network (ETAN) and share your thoughts with your elected officials on why educational technology is so important to America’s future.

Our account manager Matt Monjan and his wife Lori welcomed into the world today Benjamin Eli. Benjamin Eli Mezoff Monjan weighed in at 9lbs 3ozs and is 21 inches long. Mom is doing fine. Congratulations to Matt and his family! If you would like to stay up to date with the Monjan’s check out their new family blog at http://mezoff-monjan.blogspot.com/

Why not send those end of the year party invitations in style. We are all familiar with Evite, but below are a few other options guaranteed to make your party planning go smoothly.

http://www.doodle.com/main.html

Doodle is a great online date decider. It eliminates all of those back and forth emails when you are trying to pick a date. I used it with my staff when we were trying to choose a date for our staff retreat. There are two things you can do with Doodle. Schedule an event or make a choice. You can visually see what dates work for people.

http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

Features:

• Date decider
• invites and save the date available
• Create a food list and keep track of what people are bringing
• Lots of great designs

http://purpletrail.com/pt2/cons/mkt/home

Features:

• Similar to Evite - no advertisements
• Invites can be sent over email, SMS and Facebook
• Modules can be added
  • -Polls
  • -Collect money
  • -What to bring and more

http://www.pingg.com/

Features:

• Invitations
• eCards with a designer series that includes design from Martha Stewart
• You can create and then have them print and mail invites. Cost is $1.50 + postage
• “Surround Send” post to email, the web, SMS, Facebook and Twitter
• Lots of great designs

 Join Fellow DEN Members for a Frames Webinar!

We love the DEN for all of the great resources they provide us. Hopefully you were one of the lucky members to receive a free copy of Frames. To help you get started using this exciting animation and digital storytelling tool Steve Dembo has set up a webinar by Jeremy Jackson on integrating Frames into your curriculum. Register to attend this great event.

Find Out More About Frames!
Frames is the perfect storytelling tool. Use Frames to share your ideas through stop-motion and clay animation, time lapse, and digital storytelling.

You can find additional Frames resources online at: www.tech4learning.com/frames

Click the Integration link in the Frames menu on the web site to view sample student movies from a variety of subject areas.

Visit Connect, Tech4Learning’s Social Network, to view sample videos and stories from educators around the world.

The Recipes4Success Lesson Library is full of lesson plans that will help you successfully integrate Frames into your classroom curriculum.

Two Very Special Webinars for your Students

Young Scientist Challenge: Tips from America’s Top Young Scientist

Need tips for submitting a winning video entry? Join us for a webinar with special guest Melissa Rey, America’s Top Young Scientist of 2008, on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 1 PM ET.  Learn more about the Young Scientist Challenge and this year’s topics, and get helpful tips for creating a video submission.  The first 20 teachers who register (and attend) will receive a Discovery Kids TV Microscope for their class.  Register today.

 

Ready Classroom: The Science of Hurricanes
Get ready for National Hurricane Preparedness Week and hear from NOAA Scientist Gerry Bell, Ph.D. - lead hurricane seasonal forecaster - in a webinar to learn about the science of hurricanes and how they are predicted. Join us with your classroom at 1 PM ET on May 18, 2009.  Sign up today!

 

The DENnies
Join us for our final DEN webinar of the school year on May 26 at 7 PM ET.  We will discuss all things DEN-related and unveil some very special awards to members of the DEN community in our first-ever DENnies Awards Ceremony.  Register today!

 

Sponsored by CRSTE and Discovery Education

Register at https://discoveryed.wufoo.com/forms/crste-day-of-discovery-literacy-20/

When:     
May 30, 2009
8:30am – 3:30* pm – lunch is provided

An additional special session will be held for Staff Developers, ITRTs, Technology Coaches, and Curriculum Staff – 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Where:
Washington-Lee High School
1301 N. Stafford St. Arlington, VA 22201 (just a few blocks off of I-66)

Registration Fee:  $25

Registration will be open April 20 – May 11 on the CRSTE web-site

Session Titles

• 50 Ways to Use Discovery Education streaming
• Two Roundtrip Tickets to Anywhere: Google Earth and Discovery Education streaming
• Digital Storytelling and Discovery Education streaming
• Get Interactive with Glogs, Voicethread & the Discovery Education Builders
• Powering up Your Professional Learning Network
• Professional Development and Second Life
• Literacy 2.0
• Building Internal Capacity with Professional Development and Discovery Education
• Special session for Staff Developers, ITRTs, Technology Coaches & Curriculum Staff
• Discovery Education is Pretty Suite – Lunch Time Speaker Session

Find out more about CRSTE at http://crste.org

 The Discovery Educator Network is seeking feedback from educators who have participated in the DEN and/or attended DEN-sponsored events. This survey should take you about 5 minutes to complete. The DEN really appreciates your feedback.

Spring Into Action at the DEN Virtual Conference!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
9 AM to 3 PM (EDT)
Register Today!

Spring Into Action with the DEN and join thousands of educators who are passionate about integrating media into their instruction and collaborating with each other to improve student achievement. During this unique (and free) professional development event you have the flexibility to attend online or in-person at one of many regional events hosted by the DEN Leadership Councils.

The day will feature a special presentation from Chris Lehmann, Principal of the Science Leadership Academy in the School District of Philadelphia.  Entitled Building School 2.0, Lehmann’s presentation will examine ideas of constructivist pedagogy and the use of 21st century tools to create schools that are engaging, caring and relevant places of learning for everyone involved.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to learn alongside the DEN team through presentations from Hardin Daniel, Brad Fountain, Matt Monjan and Lance Rougeux.  The day will also include two special presentations featuring projects, ideas and tips from STAR Discovery Educators.

More information can be found on the National Blog.