Wisconsin

What better way to “Get in the Swing of Things” for school than to have an awesome Wisconsin DEN event at Miller Park.  Recently, about 15 Wisconsin Star DEN members and others gathered for a great afternoon at the Milwaukee Brewer Stadium.  The event, held on Friday, August 21, was a great way for DEN members to connect and learn about the latest and greatest there is with Discovery Education.

Rachel Yurk, Wisconsin DEN Chair, Chad Lehman, Wisconsin DEN Blog Coordinator, and Tony Heinowski, a member of the Events Team, helped coordinate this event.  Here’s what Rachel had to say about the event, “It was a fantastic opportunity to ‘get your head in the game’ with fellow educators.  We need to gather like this to learn more about what we all do and improve our own beast practices.”
The event started with a tour of the beautiful park.  After the hour-long tour, DEN members met in a club house room and got an opportunity to hear from Mike Bryant, Wisconsin Discovery Educator Account Manager.  Rachel Yurk also presented information about an upcoming Race for the Cure Event.

Fellow Star Educator Rita A. Mortenson was back from the Discovery Student Adventure Trip in China, and was able to give a glimpse into the life of what she and her 4 students from Verona Area High School got a chance to experience while in China.

The event contintued with some door prizes, laughter and great conversation amoung other educators.  It was really such a great opportunity to connect with others and learn more about the upcoming Wisconsin and Regional Events.  A special thank you to Rachel and others who helped organize this event!

To kick off the 2007 school year, we are proud to hold our Wisconsin Fall Discovery Streaming extravaganza on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at Verona Area High School, Verona, WI. This FREE event is sure to be filled with lots of learning and discovery as we have an exciting day planned for you with many hands-on workshops. Please note, at this time participants will not have access to the Internet with their personal/school laptop. Computer access will be supplied by Verona Area High School. Please feel free to bring a jump drive/flash drive to save projects. The day will begin at 8:00 a.m. with registration and check-in followed by our keynote speaker, and Discovery Education’s very own Steve Dembo. If you are interested in attending this FREE 1 day event, please complete the following registration material. Registration is limited to the first 100 participants so please be sure to register early. Registration closes on Wednesday, October 10.

Tentative agenda includes:

• 8:00-8:30 Registration and check-in
• 8:30-10:00 Presentation by Steve Dembo
• 10:15-11:45 1st Session 11:45-12:30
• Lunch provided by Discovery Education
• 12:30 - 2:15 2nd Session 2:15-2:30 Closing remarks and info

If you have any questions, you can contact Rita Mortenson.

To register, click HERE.

It is time to let your student’s creative abilities shine through participation in the 2006 Discovery Educator Network National Poster Contest. 

Challenge your students to express their love for learning by creating a digital image that shows how they "Connect to a World of Learning." 

• What do you enjoy learning?
• How do you learn?
• Where is the best place to learn?
• How does technology change what and how you learn?
• What inspires you to learn more about the world?

Students are permitted to use digital cameras to take photographs or create their image using means other than a digital camera (e.g., drawing the image with pencil and paper and scanning the image into digital format, developing the image on a computer using a painting or drawing program, etc.).  Judging will be based on creative expression, technical merit/image quality, and interpretation/relevance to the theme.   

Two winning images from each grade level range (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12) will be selected and awarded prizes.  Winning entries will be used in a poster design that will be distributed to thousands of classrooms across the world. 

This contest runs November 1, 2006 through 5pm CST (for the midwest WIDEN Star DEN) December 1, 2006 so don’t delay! 

Any student of a STAR Discovery Educator can participate.

Official Rules: Download den_npc_rules_06.pdf

Flyer & FAQs: Download den_npc_flyerfaq_06.pdf

Student Application: Download den_npc_student_application_06.doc

Release Form: Download den_npc_release_06.pdf

After reviewing the rules, FAQ, and related files above if you have any questions, please email Jan Wee, WI DEN Field Manager

Who won the InFocus LCD which is being raffled off today to one of our most ACTIVE STAR DEN members? 

Congratulations to Toni Heinowski, Elmwood Elementary School, New Berlin School District!   

The raffle was held at 4:45pm today, November 1.

The following were entered into the raffle for being in the top event reporting WI DEN Members during the 6/1/06 through 10/31/06 time range: 

Bill Lemberg, Rachel Yurk, Toni Heinowski, Patti Hawkenson, Wendy Liska, Heidi Catlin, Keith Schroeder, Lee Hansen, Missy Smits, and Rita Mortenson.    

Each of these STAR DEN Members did many trainings, sharing sessions, etc. over the summer and fall and most importantly REPORTED them to me using the Event Reporting Template. (see DEN Downloads via the WIDEN Blog to find this spreadsheet)  The number of raffle tickets they received were based on the number of events, attendees, and length of the sessions completed.

I apologize for being slightly late in holding the raffle… my 85 year old mom had heart problems yesterday and "family first" has always been my motto. (I hope it is yours as well!)  She is resting well now and time today is focused on determining the winner!

She was even feeling well enough (after three hours on IV and meds) to share her story with the nurses of being one of the first 50 WWII Women’s Welders working on the Liberty Ships in Baltimore!

Aren’t moms special!

Pre-Event Friday Fun
Yerkes Observatory Tour Friday Evening, October 19, 2006

Curious Rita checks out Yerke’s library—————————>
Did you know that Yerkes Observatory, built in 1897, houses the world’s largest refractor telescope which is still used by astronomers and astrophysicists and is often called "the birthplace of modern astrophysics?"Yerkes main mission presently is education outreach and remains an astronomical observatory for the University of Chicago astronomy department.  Some of the DEN team and guests were able to tour Yerkes Observatory on Friday evening before our October 20 Day of Discovery at The Abbey in Fontana, Wisconsin.

DEN Fest at The Abbey in Fontana, Wisconsin

Brainstorming and sharing story ideas.  Seeing examples of photo essays and photo slide shows, digital stories, and digital storytelling. Digital storytelling is much more than simply combining pre-selected images and adding music!  See Bernajean’s web site, Digitales, to learn more about the ART of Digital Storytelling.

Attendees (and guests, too):  Please share any follow-up ideas you have generated since October 20.  How will you bring digital storytelling into your classroom?  What project ideas have been generated?  Any thoughts about delving into digital storytelling and the approach you will take?   PLEASE POST via the Comment window!   Bernajean will be checking our Blog and contributing ideas and answering questions as time permits.

Check out the Illinois DEN Blog to hear what the October 20 IL and WI DEN Day of Discovery event attendees have to say about the event which included Bernajean Porter’s Digital Storytelling keynote and breakouts, Brad Fountain’s luncheon keynote on unitedstreaming and Digital Storytelling, and Steve Dembo’s Educational Blogging breakout sessions! 

What an amazing, inspiring day.   Tap more pictures, ideas, and DENergy (new term for the renewed energy we feel from Days of Discovery) soon!

Brad Fountain, Midwest Team Manager, and Steve Dembo

       Bernajean and Rita Mortenson (STAR DEN Member from Verona Area Schools) demonstrate the coaching process helpful in developing well-planned digital stories as attendees absorb and enjoy seeing this strategy modeled.

Wisconsin native and Vice-President of Discovery Education, Coni Rechner, joined us, along with James White.  James is a member of our amazing Discovery Educator Network DEN web team who is responsible for our award winning DEN web site!  Kudos to James!

What’s in your “bag” of tricks?

Have you shared your unitedstreaming knowledge and expertise?
Did you learn something cool at a workshop and want to train others?

If you are already a STAR Discovery Educator or aspiring to become a STAR Discovery Educator , we have a special opportunity just for you!

Beginning October 1, 2006 through December 1, 2006, Discovery Educators can receive rewards by reporting professional development workshops and other types of involvement in the Discovery Educator Network, such as blogging, podcasting, attending webinars, and helping new DEN members reach STAR status. 

All you have to do is report your activity to your field manager WI DEN Events Report spreadsheet that I have already sent to everyone via email.  The spreadsheet is ALSO on the WI DEN site under Downloads towards the bottom of the page.

Discovery Educators who have conducted two professional development workshops and participated in two other activities listed below between October 1, 2006 and December 1, 2006 will….. Receive a Discovery Educator Network computer bag. (Limit 1 bag per person)

STAR Discovery Educators that encourage a colleague to apply for the STAR Discovery Educator Network — attend the STAR DEN webinar, upload a resource,  complete one event — and are accepted into the STAR DEN between October 1 and December 1, 2006 will….. Receive a STAR Discovery Educator Network hooded sweatshirt.  (Limit 1)

So what constitutes a professional development session? Any time you share the power of Discovery Education with 3 or more educators you are hosting an event.

Here are some ideas…

• Share an integration idea over lunch
• Demonstrate a skill involving unitedstreaming to co-workers before, during or after school
• Conduct an awareness session where you demonstrate unitedstreaming to your whole faculty
• Set up a face to face training or webinar where you work hands-on with your peers, which may include topics such as using unitedstreaming with digital storytelling, Inspiration and TimeLiner software. 
• Show colleagues how to embed a video into PowerPoint over lunch
• Lead a technology tip session using Discovery School resources
• Prepare a brief unitedstreaming presentation to present at a faculty meeting
• Coordinate a “Birds of a Feather” session at conferences
• Utilize unitedstreaming in a workshop or poster session at a Conference (local, state, regional, national)
• Hold periodic “DEN Meetings” to network and touch base with other members in your area
• Present examples of your integrated resources at an open house, PTA/PTO or School Board meeting
• Create an Integration Time! Introduce your colleagues to the new tools and features on unitedstreaming. Avoid information overload with short sessions on the writing prompt builder, quiz builder, assignment builder, best practices, integration strategies and much more!

As long as you are showing others the power of unitedstreaming (or any other Discovery Education product including Discovery Health Connection or Cosmeo), it counts. 

In order for your activity to count, you must report all of your activity and events between October 1, 2006 and December 1, 2006 to your DEN Field Manager.

All summaries per the reporting spreadsheet (including date, location, number of participants, brief description of event) must be received by December 1, 2006 to be eligible.   

Go ‘behind the scenes" with DISCOVERY: ATLAS Producer Shannon Malone!

You’re invited to a Q&A webinar on Monday, October 16 at 4:00 PM (EST) with DISCOVERY ATLAS Producer Shannon Malone.  During the webinar Shannon will explain her role in the production of the DISCOVERY ATLAS series and share her learning experiences and adventures during filming. 

If you and your colleagues have any questions for Shannon, please send them to Debbie_Baillie@discovery.com prior to the webinar.  We will make sure to include them in the webinar and Shannon will do her best to answer them.  Instructions on how to register and log onto the webinar are below. 
Register now for this one time event — seats are limited!

What: Q&A Webinar with ATLAS Series Producer Shannon Malone
Date:  Monday, October 16, 2006
Time:  4 PM ET (3 PM CT)

To register for the event:
1.  Go to:  discoveryed.webex.com
2.  On the left hand sidebar, under "Attend a Meeting", click on "Register"
3.  On the blue bar at the top of the page, click the right calendar arrow over to "Monday, October 16, 2006"
4.  Select "Q&A with Atlas Series Producer Shannon Malone" at 3 PM CT and click Register  (NOTE:  the webex tool lists times in Central Time)
5.  Enter your name and email, click "Register Now"
6.  Registration information and link for the webinar will be sent to your email in box.

All week we have been posting information on how you can get involved in the T+L Conference being held in Dallas.  If you have missed any of the information, here is a recap. 

Join us to rustle up some grub at Eddie Deen’s Ranch on Wednesday, November 8, 2006.  This event is open to all Discovery Educators attending the T+L Conference or willing to make the trip to Eddie Deen’s.  Food, fun and networking will be the focus of the night.  Hope to see your there!

Dinner Details
Eddie Deen’s Ranch
Wednesday, November 8, 2006 ~ 7:00 pm
944 South Lamar
Dallas, Texas 75202
888-535-DEEN (3336)
www.eddiedeen.com

Driving Directions & Map - http://www.eddiedeen.com/ranch_facility.htm#drive
The Ranch is walking distance from the Dallas Convention Center and also accessible from The Dart Rail line that stops at the Convention Center.  Parking is also available at the Ranch for a minimal cost.

Please RSVP for dinner by October 18, 2006 by commenting to this blog post.
Provide your name, state, email address and favorite DEN story.