Discovery Education Speakers Bureau

The cameras in their cell phones make them citizen journalists. The web is their personal library and media center. Social networks give them enormous group expertise.  They communicate in real time with the ends of the earth. But can they convince their teachers to let them learn at school with help from such powerful tools? Beyond the "wow," technology provides nearly limitless potential for connectivity and education. See examples of how today's technologies can (and should) engage and teach a new generation of students.

For only a sliver of time in human culture has learning meant decoding the written word. Learning means assimilating information in a way that matches our wiring: responding to the terabits of information in motion and sound. Technology brings education access to the transformative visual tools of an image-based society--- a move closer to the way we truly learn. Follow with a veteran the 30-year path of projects from film to Internet2. Learn what this technology means for your school and what a commitment to simple truths can mean to education.

Web 2.0 technologies such as Podcasting and Blogging break down the barriers to publishing teacher and student created content on the internet. Schools that do so are finding the benefits reach far beyond the classroom walls. By making learning transparent, many schools are creating a strong sense of community while offering their students the opportunity to collaborate with others on a global level. See how some districts have embraced these new technologies while still maintaining high standards and keeping their students safe.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is the backbone of many of the most popular new web technologies, such as blogs and podcasts. However, that's just the very tip of the iceberg. Learn what RSS is and then learn how RSS can be used to create individualized professional development and learning communities. Explore built in browser tools and aggregators and gain an understanding of how you can take control of your blog's RSS feed as well as how to use other feeds to drive dynamic content throughout your site. You'll be amazed by the diverse ways RSS can be used.