MARCH 2013
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Students Engaged with Discovery Education
Techbook Times
A Monthly Correspondence for the Betterment of the Techbook Community
1.
Implementation Tips and Tricks
2.
Professional Development
3.
Educator Spotlight
4.
Discovery’s Partners in Education
5.
DEN Community
Implementation Tips and Tricks Have you seen the updates to Techbook? Here are just a few new features that we love!!
Online Writing Assignments in Explore Recently we’ve started to add in writing assignments under the Explore tab in the Discovery Education Science Techbook. These quick assignments ask students to go through one of our Explorations and then respond to a few questions online.
Implementation
Student Practice with Sample Problems
Current Global News
High School teachers: are you looking for practice problems? We’ve got you covered. Practice problems are located in the Explore tab, embedded within the Core-InteractiveText, or just click on Explore More Resources to seem them all.
You’ve asked for it and we’ve delivered. Now there are weekly recaps of current global events in the Discovery Education Social Studies Techbook. Every week a new recap is added and available for viewing and downloading. Each segment is roughly 5 minutes long and truly gives a snap shop of what’s current in the world.
Professional Development The majority that receive this monthly publication have in some way experienced Discovery Education’s Professional Development. Our team of professional consultants work with districts across the country and around the globe. We never rest. Common Core, NGSS, new state standards/ tests are all coming and we’ve been hard at work preparing. Check out the latest offerings here.
Upcoming March Webinars Click event to learn more & register March 13, 7:00 PM EST Build Your Lesson with the Discovery Education Science Techbook March 14, 4:30 PM EST Engaging Students with Discovery Education March 19, 7:00 PM EST Discovery Education Social Studies Techbook and the 5E Instructional Model March 19, 7:00 PM EST Dynamic Knowledge: Using Wolfram|Alpha in the Classroom Click to see entire webinar list
Professional Development S.O.S.: Spotlight on Strategies According to a report by Pew Internet and American Life Project, “… texting ranks as the number one mode of communication among teenagers. Kids between the ages of 12 and 17 text a median of 60 times a day — up from 50 in 2009.” It is important that educators find creative ways to utilize their preferred mode of communication. Learn one new strategy incorporating texting by visiting us on our Strategy Spotlight page.
Spotlight: Social Studies Techbook We are rapidly approaching the end of the Social Studies Techbook Beta cycle. There have been many changes to the latest Discovery Education Techbook in a very short period of time. The interactive Investigations are absolutely amazing. They allow students to do history. We’ve selected a few samples to spotlight here. Don’t worry, trial access is coming soon.
Take on Global Challenges Your students are tomorrow’s leaders, so why not give them a shot at the world’s problems today. The Discovery Education Social Studies Techbook’s Global Challenge Investigations do just that by providing background information, data and multiple perspectives for students to develop a solution to some of today’s biggest challenges.
Use Math to Discuss Cultural Issues Math and social studies, best friends reunited in the Data Analysis Investigations. Historians use data all the time as a way to help understand an event or issue, both in the past and facing us today. This type of Investigation allows students to explore data in an effort to build an explanation or case for action.
Navigate Maps to Understand the Past and Present while Developing a Sense of the Future The old pull down maps in the front of the class wish they could do what the Map Guided Inquiry Investigation can do. Students will navigate maps, both ancient and present, while building background knowledge and analyzing the development of civilizations and/or how geography played a role in particular events.
Upcoming Educator Spotlight We have a robust network of educators that are utilizing the Discovery Science Techbook in their classrooms. Are you our next featured educator or do you know a colleague we should feature? If so reach out to Mike Bryant (michael_bryant@discovery.com)
Discovery Education Gives Back to Teachers and Students Don’t miss these unique opportunities to win amazing prizes this spring!
What: Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge
What: Win A Wireless Lab Sweepstakes
Do you have a science star in your classroom? If so, they might be America’s next Top Young Scientist! Encourage your students to enter the 2013 competition by creating a 1-2 minute video describing a new innovation or solution that could solve or impact an everyday problem related to How We Live, How We Work or How We Play. Ten finalists will participate in an exclusive summer mentorship with a 3M scientist and receive a trip to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, MN to compete for the chance to win $25,000 and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist!” Teachers can visit YoungScientistChallenge.com for lesson plans and project templates to help students explore the scientific method and help them prepare their entry video.
CDW-G and Discovery Education have partnered for 11 awesome years to award hundreds of thousands of dollars in technology prizes to schools. Two grand prize winning schools will receive a $40,000 wireless lab which includes 20 notebooks or tablets, an interactive whiteboard, document camera, student response system and a $5,000 digital media grant from Discovery Education.
Who: Budding inventors in grades 5-8
Plus, weekly technology prize giveaways. Enter every day through May 3rd to increase your school's chance to win. Share. Tweet. Pin. Get the word out to Win! WinaWirelessLab.com
Who: Educators in grades K-12
When: Video entries accepted through April 23, 2013
Learn More and Enter: www.YoungScientistChallenge.com
Learn More and Enter: winawirelesslab.com
DEN Discovery Educator Network What: Annual Spring Virtual Conference
What: In-Person PD & Networking Events
What: Annual DEN STAR Summer Institute
The DEN Spring Virtual Conference is a free professional development event for educators to learn about the most effective ways to integrate digital media into their instructional practices. It is unique because of its blended environment. The sessions will be broadcast online, but you can attend either from your own home or at one of the many face-to- face (F2F) events around the world. By attending an event in your area, you get that buzz that can only be experienced by being face to face with others.
Join us for the 2013 DENapalooza Tour! The DEN will be touring North America, stopping in ten locations to share the power of making connections through the Discovery Educator Network. Each full day event will have formal presentations in the morning around topics selected by those interested in presenting. Then, the afternoon will be spent unconference style. Attendees will choose the topics and lead the conversations. The DEN will supply lunch and a team member or two. You’ll provide your knowledge and eagerness to share with others.
The DEN Summer Institute has been scheduled for July 14-19 at the University of Vermont in Burlington, VT.
When:
When:
When: April 20, 2013
Multiple Dates Throughout the Year
Learn More: DEN Spring Virtual Conference
Learn More and Register: DENAPALOOZA
The main portion of this year’s application is a short (unedited) video that tells your DEN story. We want to know about you and why you are part of the DEN. Tell us what the DEN means to you or why you joined. Talk to us on camera or have a colleague or student interview you. Let us know why you want to attend #DENSI2013.
Who: Open to Discovery Educator Network STAR Educators
Institute is July 14 - 19 Applications Due: March 25, 2013 11:59 PM ET
Learn More and Apply: DEN Summer Institute
The Discovery Educator Network As one of the largest professional education learning communities, the DEN has impacted more than 1 million educators worldwide. Get connected and follow the conversation at http://denblogs.com
Instructional & Techbook Implementation The Discovery Education Techbook implementation team is here to serve. How can we better support you using Techbook with your students?
Meet the team: Brad Fountain brad_fountain@discovery.com
Mike Bryant michael_bryant@discovery.com
Erica White erica_white@discovery.com
Instructional Implementation Director
Instructional Implementation Director
Techbook Implementation Director
Duane Waber duane_waber@discovery.com
Patti Duncan patti_duncan@discovery.com
Emily Waters emily_waters@discovery.com
Instructional Implementation Manager
Instructional Implementation Manager
Techbook Implementation Manager
Kevin Eckert kevin_eckert@discovery.com Techbook Implementation Manager
Looking for additional help or you need technical support? Check out the Help section. The “Help” section can be accessed by clicking “Help” in the upper right corner of the screen. Here you will find Step-by-Step Guides and User Guides to help you provide access to your students, search for content, access resources, and virtually any other issue you may experience. You will also find the phone number to our technical support team, who take great pride in solving issues in a timely manner.
Techbook Times
A Monthly Correspondence for the Betterment of the Techbook Community