NOVEMBER 2012
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5 Community Nights in New Hanover County Schools, NC and Brockton Public Schools, MA
Techbook Times
A Monthly Correspondence for the Betterment of the Techbook Community
1.
Implementation Tips and Tricks
2.
Professional Development
3.
Spotlight: Science Techbook Challenge
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!!
Spanish On Demand
French On Demand
Hurricanes Explained
We continue to add new content in Spanish. Most recently we have started to add Spanish versions of the interactive Explorations. Within the next few months all Explorations will be available in Spanish. As they are completed they will be added next to the Explorations in English.
Spanish is not the only language in development, French content is already being added in the Techbook. First to be added are the Core-Interactive-Texts and the definition portion of the Interactive Glossary. You can now toggle between English, Spanish and French in certain concepts. More are added every week.
Whether or not your area was affected by the hurricane, chances are you and your students were affected. There are several resources within the Techbook that may help explain the forces that brought such destruction to the East. Have students Create a Hurricane
Here’s a sample Exploration in Spanish
Bits and Bytes from the Blogs Infographics for Advocacy and Promotion Kathy Schrock discusses the use of infographics to capture your audience.
Super Awesome Massive List of Websites You’ll Love! Georgia STAR Educator Sandi Dennis is not exaggerating when she says she’s sharing a massive list. It is awesome.
Connecting Math and Literature North Carolina STAR Educator Kelly Hines details why you should use literature too as a part of math instruction.
Appreciative Inquiry:Positive Frame for Moving into the Furture Jerry Jennings takes a look at the book Appreciative Leadership
Implementation We are constantly updating content and features. Most recently we added a new engineering virtual lab at the middle school level called “Tote and Sit.” Check out this new lab here
Professional Development Hundreds of in-person events occur across the US and Canada each year. You may have attended one of these in-person events, but have you ever logged in to one of our webinars? Between the upcoming and archived webinars you have hundreds of topics to choose from and even a few famous Discovery celebs pop in from time to time. I encourage you to take a look at the upcoming webinars to the right and join us for one, two or all of them. You just need an internet connection, computer and speakers. To learn all about everything that’s new, attend one of the many upcoming Techbook 2.0 webinars. Click here for the schedule.
“The sessions opened my eyes to how many possibilities are out there for me to bring to my classroom.” - Lori Jalling Neenah Joint School District, Wisconsin
Upcoming November Webinars Click event to learn more & register November 6, 7:00 PM EST 7 Simple Ways You Can Change the World (and your classroom) November 7, 1:00 PM EST Game On! - A Webinar for Students November 8, 7:00 PM EST What’s in Your Digital Tackle Box? Building a Multimedia Presentation November 13, 7:00 PM EST Discovery Education's Social Studies Techbook: A Tool for Teaching Today's Students November 27, 7:00 PM EST What are The 5E's and How Do They Fit into My Social Studies Classroom? Click to see entire webinar list
Professional Development Midyear Mind Explosion Are you ready for a mind explosion? Have a blast with Discovery Education as we illuminate your creative side and explore new instructional strategies and technologies. From literacy apps to flipped strategies to busting the myth that Discovery Education is only for teachers, these topics are sure to ignite your curiosity. Register today: http://links.discoveryeducation.com/mindexplosion
Spotlight: Lesson Presentation Challenge Challenge: Create a lesson plan presentation that is engaging and ready Requirements: ✦ to use in the classroom to receive a Discovery Education Science We would like your presentation to be a minimum of 10 slides. Techbook lab coat. Presentations must be submitted through There is no maximum length. Mediashare between October 8, 2012 and February 28, 2013. ✦ A title slide that includes concept and grade level(s) Click here for submission instructions. ✦ A slide with the lesson objectives Lesson Presentation Options: ✦ Representation of an existing Discovery Education ✦ A slide with essential questions Science Techbook model Lesson ✦ Adaptation of existing Discovery Education Science ✦ At least one slide (activity) for each component of a typical 5E Techbook model lesson to support specific lesson (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) students (e.g., special needs, ELL, academically gifted students, struggling readers, etc.) ✦ At least THREE uses of digital resources from the Discovery ✦ Original lesson using Discovery Education Science Education Science Techbook Techbook resources ✦
Presentation tools: You may use Microsoft PowerPoint or Keynote for your presentation.
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Remember that the Discovery Education Model Lessons represent several days of learning, your lesson presentation should as well. Click here to see an example presentation. Not sure how to build a lesson presentation? Attend a Lesson Building webinar!
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Information in the notes section that describes the intention of each slide (what the teacher and the students are doing) Several opportunities for the students to be engaged with the content. Examples include notebook/journal entries, hands-on activities, group discussions, prompts for logging in to DE to do individual work, project work At least one slide that includes some form of checking for understanding
Register at links.discoveryeducation.com/sciencetechbook
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 Looking for new innovative ways to engage your students with challenging activities, equip your classrooms with technology and resources, or bring awareness to key initiatives in and around your community? Discovery Education has combined efforts with like-minded partners to recognize teachers and their students by rolling out challenges, contests and sweepstakes throughout the school year that provide opportunities for participants and their schools to win cash, scholarships and other valuable prizes.
What: Catch Me Being Curious Sweepstakes
What: Explore the Blue Sweepstakes and Challenge
What: Toyota Teen Driving Challenge
Unlock curiosity by entering the Catch Me Being Curious Sweepstakes daily for the chance to win a dream vacation for four to one of four historic destinations. Plus, one teacher will also be selected from a teachers-only drawing to win a trip for two to the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in Arizona in May 2013.
Educator’s Sweepstakes: Teachers can enter daily to win an outdoor fishing adventure for your whole class.
Educator’s Challenge: Submit an action plan that promotes safe teen driving and you could win $10,000, a trip to D.C. and a virtual driving simulator and safe driving school event for the winner’s school.
Who:
Educators and students in grades 6-8 schools
Student Water Challenge: Students can register for this competition to identify and research a local waterrelated issue, develop and implement an action plan and showcase their project by submitting a short video!
Who:
Parents and Educators
When: Enter once a day through December 6, 2012
Learn More and Enter: curiosityintheclassroom.com/sweepstakes
When: Educator Sweepstakes entries accepted through March 14, 2013 Student Challenge entries accepted through March 15, 2013
Teen Video Challenge: Students can submit a two-minute video about how to make teens safer drivers for a chance to win $15,000 and a Discovery film crew to help them capture their vision!
Who: Educators and students in grades 9-12
When: Entries accepted through February 14, 2013
Learn More and Enter: www.exploretheblue.com
Learn More and Enter: toyotateendriver.discoveryeducation.com
DEN Discovery Educator Network Upcoming In-Person Events Click event to learn more & register November 7: Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools, NC Day of Discovery November 8: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM Community Night November 8: CAST in Corpus Christi, TX Reception with Danny Forster
Join Discovery Education for our November Science Live Stream When: November 14, 2012 1pm ET A lesson, broadcast LIVE from Jefferson County, Colorado on “Seasons and Other Sun, Earth, and Moon Relationships�. The live broadcast will feature hands-on activities demonstrating the concepts of seasons and other sun, earth, moon relationships. Register now at: http://links.discoveryeducation.com/novemberlivestream
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
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 of the screen. Here you will find Step-by-Step Guides and User Guides to help you provide access to your students, searching for content, accessing 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