Rapides Parish Day of Discovery - August 2011

**MEDIA ADVISORY**

Rapides Parish School District Partners with Discovery Education to Provide Professional Development Event to Educators

-- District educators to learn the latest strategies and techniques for improving student academic achievement through the use of educational technologies and digital content--

WHAT:           Recognizing that 21^st Century students entering the classroom are extremely familiar with technology and digital media, on Saturday, April 9th, the Rapides Parish School District and Discovery Education are presenting a professional development event providing district educators with strategies and techniques to leverage the latest educational technologies and Discovery Education digital content to improve student engagement in learning.  This event is funded by the Rapides Foundation.

                        The leading provider of high quality curriculum-based digital content to America’s classrooms, Discovery Education is a division of Discovery Communications, whose networks include Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Science Channel. 

During this event, participants will experience interactive presentations on the following topics:

·       Assessing and Maximizing Student Engagement

·       Using Web 2.0 Tools as a Platform for Student Collaboration and Communication

·       Integrating Google Earth into Classrooms

WHO:            Teachers and administrators from Rapides Parish School District and educational experts from Discovery Education

                       
WHEN:           Saturday April 9, 8:30am-3:30pm

WHERE:         Tioga High School

1207 Tioga Road
Ball, LA, 71405

Phone:  (318) 640-9412

WHY:             Currently, our education system requires students to abandon the way they typically interact with technology when they walk into school and “power down.”  However, a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey of 2,002 people ages 8 to 18 found that today’s kids spend more than 53 hours a week interacting with digital media. To bridge this disconnect, the event will show participants how to use the tools available to them to help pupils “power-up” in the classroom.

**OUTCOME**

The Board unanimously approved "Bring Your Own Technology" for Rapides students based on the

success of the event!  

Facts/figures regarding on-site and Livestream attendance:

• 50 schools set up viewing rooms for the Discovery Education DoD Livestream 
• 2000 teachers attended virtually via Livestream
• 120 on-site attendees

**PRESS**

 

http://media.lpb.org/LSWI3449_Talking_Technology_iPod.mp4