Wisconsin

With shrinking school budgets, educators might consider looking to grants for project funds. Here are some tips (from the links below and from personal experience) for you if you are thinking of applying for a grant.

Preparation

• Make sure your idea fits the grant criteria (location, non-equipment, etc)
• Look for full grants and mini-grants too
• May need to become member of professional organization(s) to be considered
• Grants have two broad categories:
  • New proposals
  • Help to buildup existing projects
• “Less is more” in proposal
• Find colleagues as collaborators, community support
• Look at successful proposals of other grant ideas
• Find multiple uses of money, if possible
• Involve students
• Is your project sustainable beyond funding?
• Gather ‘writing tools’
• Success breeds success in grants

Writing

• Use technical writing, not a creative writing style
• Be clear and concise in writing style
• Make sure to plan ahead and make the deadline, if not before
• Display confidence & enthusiasm
• Do your homework: research, cite studies that support your project
• “Jargonize” appropriately
• “Less is More” in writing
• Develop specific, attainable goals in your project
• Provide and timeline and a means for evaluation
• Be prepared to showcase your successes already related to grant
• Discuss potential problems and pitfalls
• Consider your funding needs
• Proofread! Avoid simple typos, misspellings, or awkward formatting
• Critique your own proposal
• Have others read your final draft as well
• Turn in ON TIME (or ahead of time)

Follow-up

• Some grants will contact you regardless of acceptance
• Don’t get discouraged – a good idea is still worth doing. Look for other funding, try again next year
• You may have a perfect idea/application and still get rejected
• If rejected, ask grantor for comments/suggestions
• If accepted, make sure to follow criteria for follow-up: report, publicity, etc

Links

• Grant Writing for Begninners(from TECHlearning): [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]
• Tips for Writing NIH Grants [Link]
• From November Learning: [Wining Grants - pdf], [Grants: Beyond the Money]

Grant Sources (specifically science)

• Local Grants (School, District, Foundation, Community, etc.)
• WSST Foundation Grants
• Toyota Tapestry Grants (large and mini)
• Best Buy Te@ch Awards – awards success using technology
• Hach Scientific Chemistry Projects
• Vernier Technology Award/Grant
• Grants Available through NSTA
• Teacher’s Network List of Science Teacher Grants
• Technology Grant News List of Science Education Grants
• The Foundation Center
• Kathy Shrock’s Grant Listing

Do you have other ideas, or grant sources to share?

[Also posted on explodingsink.com]

Share my thanks-filled memories by downloading this Microsoft Photo Story WMV file.   

2006 has been a year full of rewarding and fun Discovery Educator Network times with my wonderful colleagues and with YOU. 

The best reward is being connected to exceptional Wisconsin educators (you!!), an amazing team of DEN leaders and colleagues, and being able to help to connect each of you with Discovery Education, unitedstreaming, the DEN and with one another.

I wish I had more pictures so that each of you were included.  Know that each of you are represented through your spirit, initiative, and participation in the Wisconsin DEN.

Thank you for all you do!  If you would like to comment on how being a WI or national DEN educator has impacted you, PLEASE do!  Sharing is it’s own reward! :-))

This file is 14.6MB so please know that you should only download this if you have a faster Internet connection. 

Download DENthankyou_1.wmv   -updated as of Sunday, 11/26/06 
(right-click on file and download to your computer and view in Windows Media Player or another compatible media player) 

Note: I always create the slide show in PowerPoint, save the files as JPG files in PPT and then import the images into Photo Story 3.  It makes working with adding text and multiple images in one slide a LOT easier!    I then use the free Jodix video converter program to convert the file to video iPod format.  Connect your video iPod (I love the one I have!!! - great Christmas gift!) to your TV via a $15 or so AV cable and wa-la… you have a great slide show for home, school, family, to use during events, etc.

If you have not had the chance to see Google’s new Customized Search tool be sure to visit and get up to speed on this one!   For educators this tool has amazing potential and real value, especially if you have your own classroom web page, blog, wiki, or Google Home Page to house your selection of special search engines!

You basically create your own mini-search engine based on the web sites YOU want your students (or others) to utilize.   Rather than searching the bazillions of web pages available on educational topics you are in control of the sites to be tapped.  First step: read the OVERVIEW and FAQ! And, take a look at the Featured Examples!

Imagine how helpful this is when you assign a research topic on, let’s say something very much in the news - Global Warming — and you want to have authoritative, reliable, current information.   

You create a Customized Search by logging into your Google Account (create one - it is worth having just for this alone).  You will use a form to complete the search details asking you to give your custom search a name, a description, and also to input the list of URLs you want to use.   

You can select "use only these sites" or "search the entire web but emphasize these sites."   Next, you allow others to contribute to the list of searchable sites or you may choose to limit this feature to only those whom you invite (say the rest of the HS Science Department).  Of course, the last step will be to read and agree to the Terms of Service.

You now have your OWN custom search for students to tap more efficient and effective based on your skill in selecting the "best of the best" of the web resources!  How cool! 

You can even have your OWN GOOGLE HOME page and add your custom searches to it seamlessly. 

Do you have any Goggle CUSTOM SEARCHES created yet?  Have you collaborated with other educators in building specialized curriculum-related searches? Share here so we can all learn about them!  That’s the power of the DEN… we COLLABORATE!

Discovery Education is pleased to feature renown presenter and author David Warlick on Wednesday Nov. 15 at 5:00PM EST.

Who: David Warlick, a 30 year educator, has been a classroom teacher, district administrator, and staff consultant with the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction. For the past ten years, Mr. Warlick has operated The Landmark Project, a consulting, and innovations firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. His web site, Landmarks for Schools, serves more than ten-million visits a month with some of the most popular teacher tools available on the Net. David is also the author of three books on instructional technology and 21st century literacy, and has spoken to audiences throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America.

Topic: You can not attend any kind of conference today without someone standing in front of you and saying, “You must read “The World is Flat.” In this enormously popular and talked about book, New York Times columnist, Tom Friedman makes the case for a world that is increasingly global, where industry is crossing political borders not only for natural resources and cheap labor, but also contracting for the intellectual talent. The emerging and increasingly ubiquitous Internet is promoting a world where geography means very little when it is talent that helps you accomplish your goals.

Over the past two years, we have also seen an enormous flattening of the information landscape where more and more of the content that resides on the Internet comes from conversations than from formal publishing. Individuals are writing and publishing their own digital magazines (blogs) and some of them are making a living at it, entirely independent of publishers and printing.

So what about our classrooms. Are they flat too?

Cost: FREE!

This webinar will be limited to the first 200 people!  Registration link is available at school.discovery.com/edtechconnect

If you have any questions about EdTechConnect or registration, contact Steve_Dembo@discovery.com

Technorati Tags: den, discovery, discovery educator network, edtechconnect, education, warlick

Have you visited the Implementation Blog yet? 

If not, make this a top priority!  Our Implementation Team is amazing and provides critical support for our unitedstreaming schools.   

Be sure to visit their blog on a regular basis and not just for technical support help.  Check out the great 2nd grade lesson "She’s Back and With an Idea!" shared by Monika Davis. 

Our Implementation Team is also actively helping out on our DEN web site by answering some of the questions you have posted to the Ask An Expert area.

One of the very helpful files recently shared relates to addressing issues within PowerPoint when you see a blank screen instead of your embedded video clip.  Download DEUS_UG_1_EmbeddVideo.pdf

And, here is our own FANTASTIC Implemenation Team Member for Wisconsin, Download blair_mcmillen.ppt. Blair’s contact info is included in this downloadable PPT file. 

October DEN Blast: Be sure to check out the following Discovery happenings this week!

1. Be sure to view Discovery Atlas: Brazil on Sunday, October 15, 2006 8PM CST - Discovery Channel and Discovery HDTV

2. And then go ‘behind the scenes" with DISCOVERY: ATLAS Producer Shannon Malone! 

What: Q&A Webinar with ATLAS Series Producer Shannon Malone
Date:  Monday, October 16, 2006
Time:  4 PM ET (3 PM CT)
Registration information — see the DEN National Blog!

3. Monday, October 16 keep an eye on the DEN National Blog for announcement of the T and L - Dallas, TX Conference Winners!   I am keeping my fingers crossed and positive thoughts for the WI DEN educators who posted to the National Blog within the deadline date!  Good luck to everyone! Three lucky STAR DEN members will be on their way to Dallas November 8-10 to help record and share this exciting educational technology conference.

4. For those of you new to the Discovery Educator Network or who wish to become a STAR DEN member:  Webinars are scheduled for the following dates and times. Just go to this link which provides a link to the webinar and other details.

1. Tues 17-Oct 9:00 AM 2:00 PM 7:00 PM
2. Wed 18-Oct 9:00 AM 2:00 PM 7:00 PM
3. Thurs 19-Oct 9:00 AM 2:00 PM 7:00 PM

5. Day of Discovery, Friday, October 20, 2006 at The Abbey in Fontana, Wisconsin

Over 80 Illinois & Wisconsin Discovery Educators will descend on The Abbey at 8:30am-4pm for an exciting adventure into the art of Digital Storytelling with Bernajean Porter and the adventures of educational podcasting with Steve Dembo.

Special luncheon keynote speaker will be our own Brad Fountain, Midwest Team Manager,    We have maxed out attendance and look forward to having a GRAND DEN FESTIVAL DAY! 

Visit Bernajean’s Digitales Web Site
Note:  Bernajean will bring approximately 20 copies of her Digitales books for those interested in purchasing a copy!

Visit Steve’s Teach42.com Blog

Map of The Abbey

Beginning Wednesday, October 4, 2006 the Discovery Educator Network will be launching a semi-monthly DEN Podcast hosted by Brad Fountain, Regional Manager Discovery Educator Network.

The podcast can be subscribed to via iTunes (www.itunes.com) or can be downloaded from the DEN National Blog.  The initial podcast will focus on utilizing Character Education to enhance your school and will feature an interview with Dr. Merle Schwartz, Director of Education and Research for the Character Education Partnership. This podcast will link directly to the Character Education Webinar that will be presented on Thursday, October 5^th at 4PM.

The second podcast will air on October 18, 2006 and will focus on utilizing the Professional Development section of unitedstreaming for enhancing classroom instruction and will feature Lisa O’Brien, Professional Development Content Developer at Discovery Education. 

At the end of each podcast there will be a question posed that can be answered by utilizing unitedstreaming, the DEN website, or possibly other Discovery Education products.  Each entry must be emailed to the host and all correct entries will be entered into a drawing for a Special Discovery Education Prize.

So check out the NEW DEN PODCAST!!! 

You have great ideas and love to share with others, so don’t keep it to yourself! 

Dale Basler, Appleton East HS educator, shares his digital video editing skills and podcasting savviness.
Check out the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers web site and Brian Bartel and Brian produce regular science-related podcast which are worth checking out called the Periodicity podcasts. 

Remember…

• The DEN is about collaboration and sharing. 
• Conferences are all about collaboration and sharing.
• The WEMA, WSST, other in-state and out of state conferences such as NECC are great opportunities to share your expertise.
• Get out there and share!

Wisconsin Educational Media Association wiil be held on March 25-27, 2007 in Madison at Monona Terrace.  The theme this year is "Cultivating Success: Information Literacy and Technology in Wisconsin" and will be a great conference to share your digital media integration strategies.  Applications to present are due November 1, 2006! 

The 2007 featured speakers include: Deneen Frazier Bowen, Eric Rohmann, David Jakes, Toni Buzzeo and Candance Fleming

WSST Conference will be Friday, Saturday, Sunday March 23-25, 2007 at the KI Convention Center & Regency Suites Green Bay, Wisconsin.   Apply to present by October 15, 2006!

Is a National Conference within your reach?  Consider presenting at NECC 2007!

See NECC 2007  which will be in Atlanta, Georgia June 24-27, 2007.  Atlanta is the home of Georgia Field Manager, Katherine Aiken.  The theme is "Learning and Leading with Technology" — sure sounds like the DEN’s battlecry to me!  The deadline for submission is October 4 so don’t wait too long!

If you are planning to present a DEN-related session, please let me know and I will plan to be there for moral support and to cheer you on.   Do you know of other excellent conferences in-state or regional, please share via a comment and invite others to attend!

Technorati Tags: Discovery Education, EdTechConnect, digital storytelling, webinar

Join us online for the first EdTechConnect of the 2006-2007 school year!
Discovery Education is proud to feature Joe Brennan on Wednesday Sept. 20 at 5:00PM EST.

Who: Joe Brennan is a STAR Discovery Educator who recently retired from Niles Township High Schools and is now an independent consultant specializing in digital storytelling .  A former Spanish teacher who coached both soccer and basketball, Joe first became interested in educational video and multimedia because of his visual approach to teaching and coaching. 

Joe is an Apple Distinguished Educator and the Illinois Computing Educator’s Educator of the Year in 2003.    He is also an all-round FUN guy!

Topic: The Incomplete Guide to Digital Storytelling - An overview of the tools and resources available to students and teachers to help them share information and inspiration with the rest of the world. From PowerPoint to podcasting to professional video editing programs, classes can collaborate on exciting projects that extend their learning far beyond wall the walls of their school.

Cost: FREE!

This webinar will be limited to the first 200 people, so register now!   

If you have any questions about EdTechConnect or registration, contact Steve_Dembo@discovery.com