January-February+Report

=Share the Skies= ITRTs participating in the initial **Share the Skies** telescope project received follow-up training in January at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia. In the next few months, these ITRTs will be conducting regional training. The telescope project was launched in December at the Educational Technology Leadership Conference, and teachers and students will soon be able to access the telescope in Australia and capture images of stars, nebulae, and galaxies in the southern hemisphere. Currently, plans are underway to begin training ITRTs who will then train and assist the teachers in their school divisions.

Find out more about this project and make use of the resources section by visiting [|http://www.sharetheskies.org.]

=Workshop Opportunities= The Office of Educational Technology is offering a series of workshops focusing on Web 2.0. Each workshop has a particular focus. Please see the following starting dates for these workshops and and thefocus groups addressed by each. Targeted e-mail announcements are being sent out by the facilitators for each workshop.
 * February 26: Linda Holt facilitator. Target group: Library Media Specialists
 * February 26: Jean Weller facilitator. Target group: Teams of classroom teachers and Instructional Technology Resource Teachers
 * March 3: Kay Lera facilitator. Target group: Open enrollment for teachers, library media specialists, Instructional Technology Resource Teachers, or other licensed personnel
 * May 6: Julie Mersiowsky facilitator. Target group: Instructional Technology Resource Teachers.

=Project Tomorrow=

Project Tomorrow is seeking 100 educators to participate in Project TestDrive, a national research study on the classroom effectiveness of the online K-12 science, technology, engineering and math resources from the [|National Science Digital Library].

The National Science Digital Library, funded by the National Science Foundation, is a free, online library for science, technology, engineering and math resources with links to 1 million resources from over 500 unique collections.

Project TestDrive provides a unique opportunity to use innovative science, math and technology resources from a trusted source - the National Science Digital Library. During this project you will have the opportunity to try out the resources, free-of-charge and network with like-minded professionals as you: It's easy to participate, you will:
 * Why participate?**
 * Engage your students in learning through innovative science, technology, engineering and math resources. * Develop students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills. * Share effective teaching practices with peers across the nation.
 * What’s required?**
 * Identify, implement and evaluate 7-10 online resources from the National Science Digital Library. * Participate in Just-in-Time training on the online resources from the National Science Digital Library. * Secure Parent/Guardian Permission for your students to participate in the national research study. * Collaborate with other K-12 educators through threaded discussions, seminars or conference calls.

The research project will be open between Dec 07 - Jun 08. [|Download and return the completed application today!]

[|][|][|]The National Science Digital Library (NSDL) was created by the National Science Foundation to provide access to high quality resources and tools for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Here are a few examples: · Middle School Portal highlights instructional resources for science, math and technology. · Teachers' Domain at WGBH provides multi-media resources for earth and space science, engineering, life science and physical science. · ComPADRE provides resources for teaching physics and physical science courses. [|Click here to visit the National Science Digital Library]
 * Learn more about the National Science Digital Library**

We hope that you will consider joining the project, and/or encourage others to join. To learn more about visit [|Project TestDrive].

Or contact: Amanda Ford Program Support Coordinator aford@tomorrow.org 949 609-4660 ext 12

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Laurie Smith Director, Research & Evaluation Project Tomorrow is conducting Project TestDrive in cooperation with the National Science Digital Library (www.NSDL.org) and the Digital Libraries go to School Project at Utah State University.

These projects are funded through grants from the National Science Foundation.

=Information Brief, "Implications of Digital Conversion for Virginia's Schools," Now Available= A superintendent's memo, INF Memo #40, will announce to superintendents the availability on the VDOE Web site of an information brief outlining basic information about the digital converstion and its impact on schools. The information brief may be found at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Technology/OET/fyi.shtml

= = =Need a Speaker to Talk About the Digital Conversion?=

Volunteer representatives from television stations across Virginia are eager to educate their viewers about the digital transition. The broadcasters are willing to visit schools in their communities to talk with students, parents and administrators about the analog-to-digital transition and what they can do to be prepared. The **NAB ** is spearheading this effort, which is the largest consumer education initiative ever conducted by the broadcast industry and one that directly impacts viewers who use broadcast television for their local news, including updates on school closings. For more information, please visit [|www.dtvasnwers.com]. To schedule a speaker from the NAB DTV Speakers Bureau at your school, organizational meeting or any other event in 2008, please contact Dan Woodley at dwoodley@crosbyvolmer.com or 202.232.6648. =PBS Adds iTunes U Content=

//PC World// reported on the addition of PBS content to iTunes U. Content from KQED, WETA, WGBH, and WNET includes not only video clips from educational programming but also lesson plans that incorporate the use of the video. The video clips may be downloaded for free. KQED offers educational resources on such topics as digital storytelling and content from Quest, a series covering science, nature, and the environment. WETA is offering a variety of content including segments from Ken Burns' //The War//. Other programming on teaching reading and writing and featuring interviews with today's top authors is part of the WETA contribution. WGBH is providing classroom-ready science media from Teachers' Domain and a collection of college lectures from the WGBH Forum Network. Thirteen WNET offers programming such as Wide Angle and professional development resources for teachers such as Teaching & Learning Celebration. To read the article, visit http://www.thejournal.com/articles/21972

=Which Technologies Will Shape Education in 2008?=

This article appearing in the February 2008 issue of __The Journal__ explores some of the mobile broadband, collaborative Web technologies, and mashups that will "significantly impact education over the next five years." To read the article, go to http://www.thejournal.com/articles/21972.

=Microsoft"s Innovative Teachers Network=

Microsoft has launched its Innovative Teachers Network. In a statement from the mission statement, the ITN is described as a program "designed to build community among teachers and help them collaborate with their colleagues, provide access to quality content, and challenge educators to use technology in new ways."

To find out more or to join the network, go to http://anon.us.innovativeteachers.us/Pages/Welcome.aspx.