Discovery Education Speakers Bureau
Supporting the most effective use of technology in classrooms and schools
Supporting the most effective use of technology in classrooms and schools
"Another high point was watching my friend, Joe Brennan, present about digital video and digital storytelling in Pennsylvania. He is a talented presenter and the entire audience was captivated the whole time."
David Warlick, Author, Blogger, Listener, and Speaker
"Joe has presented at several of our Tech Forum conferences, always to rave reviews. He's extremely knowledgeable about digital storytelling and visual literacy, and he's well connected with exemplary educators... On top of all that, he's a great guy and a pleasure to work with!"
Judy Salpeter, Program Chair, Tech Forum/Technology & Learning Events
"The group was really inspired by the projects and techniques you discussed. And we very much appreciate the mention on your blog! Thank you so much for sharing with us." "Fun! Fun! Fun! - Learning! Learning! Learning! Thank you, Joe Brennan, for a wonderful FUN and LEARNING experience (AFI Pittsburgh). I'll continue to pass on the enthusiasm!! My students loved "The Door Scene" production." "Joe, thank you for a wonderful and jammed pack day... It was incredible. The amount of stuff I learned was great and I have a lot of great resources to share with my students and staff this year. Thank you!" "I feel that I have improved my intermediate level several degrees based on your workshop. Your presentation skills are amazing... Have you ever considered a career in stand up?" Susan Tompkins, Teacher
Sarah Lieberman Weisz, TEN Program Director, Teaching Excellence Network,Golden Apple Foundation
Peggy Barger, Teacher
Rita Mortenson, Teacher
How do you assign, manage and share projects in a world gone digital? Get a hands-on experience with software, video and photography, storage, and sharing it all via fixed media and the Internet. All platforms and all skill levels can build meaningful media using desktop technology. From free material to great for-fee sites, learn how the student passion for media can be put to work in a classroom.
Become a film maker for a day and add that skill to your teaching toolkit. Learn how to make standards based videos using the American Film Institute's "Lights! Camera! Education!" curriculum based on years of experience with their K-12 Screen Ed program. Learn to brainstorm, write, film, and edit a polished video that can be applied to any subject at any grade level. Leave with access to media that builds on what you have learned. The skills acquired transfer to project-based learning, collaborative learning, and 21st Century skills. The path to mastery is just a workshop away.
Being part of the "Millennial" generation and the Information/Technology Age is nothing new. It happened before, in the few hundred years surrounding the beginning of the last millennium. This difference now is that our society and educational community are going through that same information upheaval in less than a generation. From the Moors' invasion of Spain to the printing press to Web 2.0, let history help you steer where we might be going.
Tap the Web, your own software, and some surprising free applications to create graphics (and sounds) for your presentations, movies and websites. Make the most of software you own but don't think you are limited to the programs on your computer. See what’s available on the Internet to edit video and photos, and to find and create graphics and sounds. Maximize the media impact in everything your students do with tools you didn’t know you had!
Use writing and the tools and skills of 21st century learners to share compelling narratives and information in a variety of formats. Integrate images, narration, and sound to build authentic stories from students. Using a variety of formats that students already understand, learn to blend curriculum objectives with first person experience. From personal stories to commercials and movie trailers, let your students' voices be heard.
The American Film Institute has released its K-12 Screen Ed curriculum as the video program "Lights! Camera! Education!" available through Discovery Education Streaming. Learn from a twelve-year audiovideo K-12 veteran how to use the AFI’s years of experience working with students to integrate movie making into creative collaboration for all grade levels in any subject. The skills acquired transfer to project-based learning, collaborative learning, and 21st Century skills.
Before retiring after 33 years in education as the Visual Literacy Facilitator for the Niles Township High Schools in Illinois, Joe Brennan served for 12 years as the AV/Media Coordinator at Niles West H.S. and taught Spanish for more than 20 years before that. He also coached soccer and basketball. Joe first became interested in educational video and multimedia because of his visual approach to teaching and coaching. That interest led to collaborating on the development of an interactive Spanish laser disc program for Encyclopaedia Britannica before leaving the classroom for the media position at Niles West. During his years in that job, the audio-visual department changed from a lending/consumption center to a creating/production area. In 2006 his district received ISTE’s national Sylvia Charp Award in part for the multimedia labs under his direction and in 2009 he received the "pink" jacket, Making IT Happen ISTE award. He was the Illinois Computing Educators' Technology Educator of the Year in 2003 as well as a semifinalist in Technology & Learning magazine's Ed Tech Leader of the Year program. Joe has been recognized by the corporate community as well; he is a STAR Discovery Educator and an Apple Distinguished Educator. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife, near his young grandchildren.
