Bull Run teacher keeps learning

In July, Netia Elam, instructional technologist at Bull Run Middle School in Haymarket, participated in an exclusive five-day professional development event for Discovery Educator Network members at the Headlands Institute in Sausalito, Calif.

The Discovery Educator Network National Institute was hosted by Discovery Education, a division of Discovery Communications, whose networks include Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Science Channel.

The Discovery Educator Network is a global learning community of more than 100,000 active educators, supported by Discovery Education, who are passionate about using educational technology and digital media in the classroom to engage students in learning. Launched in June 2005, the DEN fosters collaboration and helps educators share resources, ideas and classroom-tested strategies for improving academic achievement.

The DEN National Institute is open only to STAR Discovery Educators -- DEN members recognized for their efforts to share their insight and expertise with peers through activities such as trainings, workshops or presentations on how to integrate digital media and the latest educational technologies into classroom instruction. The educators are two of 5,600 STAR Discovery Educators nationwide.

Guest speakers at the DEN National Institute included Claudia L'Amoreaux of Linden Labs, the developers of the Second Life virtual world, and Adam Frey, the co-founder of Wikispaces. During the Institute, educators participated in hands-on workshops, collaborated with fellow educators on a variety of educational technology projects, and networked with their peers and shared ideas. By the end of the Institute, participants also had created a number of classroom-ready multimedia projects and learned a variety of new strategies and techniques for integrat-ing digital content and educational technologies into their classroom activities.

"The Discovery Educator Network National Institute is a great opportunity for educators to learn strategies and techniques for improving student achievement through educational technology," said Discovery Educa-tion Director Lance Rougeux. "Discovery Education is pleased to host this event for STAR Discovery Educators, who will incorporate these skills into their classrooms, and share this knowledge with peers at Prince William County Public Schools."

Elam was one of 80 teachers who attended the institute. Another Prince William County teacher, Cheryl Phillips, an instructional technology resource teacher at Marshall Elementary School, also attended.

-- Submitted by the Discovery Education Network