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*** In the Spotlight for April ***
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 -  Telecourse/e-Learning Bulletin
 -  This Month on the Channel
 -  Connect Learning with Special Days
     o World Health Day
     o National Stress Awareness Day
     o Kindergarten Day
     o Astronomy Day
     o Earth Day
     o Week of the Young Child
     o Jazz Appreciation Month
     o National Poetry Month

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*** TELECOURSE/E-LEARNING BULLETIN ***

Welcome to the Telecourse/e-Learning Bulletin! Our Bulletin subscribers will now receive telecourse/e-learning news as part of this monthly Update. Look for information about our courses, licensing, and any changes, as well as upcoming events and conferences we'll be attending.

If you plan to attend either of the following events, be sure to stop by our booth in the exhibit hall:

- NILRC Conference, April 12 & 13, 2007 in St. Louis, Missouri
- TELECOOP Conference, April 11 & 12, 2007 in Estes Park, Colorado

We look forward to meeting you and hearing your views.

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Telecourse/e-Learning Spotlight: "Ethics in America II"

New. Incorporate the six new programs of "Ethics in America II" (add program titles) into your existing "Ethics in America I" course. Or offer "Ethics in America II" as a stand alone course. Go to the Ethics in America II Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/april/ethic1.html> to review the incredibly rich coordinated materials including free PDF downloads -- the Ethics in America II Reader and Discussion Guide.
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Remember to visit the Telecourse/e-Learning FAQ <http://learner.org/redirect/april/tlcrs2.html> if you have questions about our telecourses or how your college can offer them for credit.


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*** THIS MONTH ON THE CHANNEL ***

The following series begin this month on the Annenberg Channel. Be sure to scroll down on the pages linked below for specific broadcast dates and times. Consult the full broadcast schedule <http://learner.org/redirect/april/sched3.html> for many more programs and partial series airing in April.

ARTS
> "American Cinema" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/cine4.html>
> "Art of the Western World" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/art5.html>
> "The Art of Teaching the Arts: A Workshop for High School Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/hsart6.html>
> "Connecting with the Arts: A Teaching Practices Library, 6-8" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/conartl7.html>
> "Connecting with the Arts: A Workshop for Middle Grades Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/conartw8.html>
> "A World of Art: Works in Progress" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/awoart9.html>

EDUCATION
> "The Whole Child: A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/child10.html>

LITERATURE & LANGUAGE ARTS
> "American Passages: A Literary Survey" (college level) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/apass11.html>
> "English Composition: Writing for an Audience" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/ecomp12.html>
> "Literary Visions" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/lit13.html>
> "Making Meaning in Literature: A Video Library, Grades 6-8" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/mml14.html>
> "News Writing" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/news15.html>
> "Signature: Contemporary Writers" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/sig16.html>
> "Teaching Reading K-2: A Library of Classroom Practices" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/k2read17.html>

MATHEMATICS
> "Learning Math: Measurement" (K-8) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/meas18.html>
> "The Missing Link: Essential Concepts for Middle School Math Teachers" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/link19.html>

SCIENCE
> "Essential Science for Teachers: Life Science" (K-6) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/eslife20.html>
> "Planet Earth" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/planet21.html>
> "Science in Focus: Energy" (K-6) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/energy22.html>
> "Unseen Life on Earth: An Introduction to Microbiology" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/unseen23.html>

SOCIAL STUDIES & HISTORY
> "America's History in the Making" (middle/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/amhist24.html>
> "Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/psych25.html>
> "Rural Communities: Legacy & Change" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/rural26.html>
> "Seasons of Life" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/seas27.html>
> "The World of Abnormal Psychology" (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect/april/abnor28.html>

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Find general information about the Annenberg Channel -- including free licensing -- at <http://learner.org/redirect/april/chnl29.html>.

Be sure to download the Channel Program Guide <http://learner.org/redirect/april/guide30.html>, available in PDF format. The Guide contains satellite and signal information, plus daily and month-at-a-glance program schedules.

With a broadband Internet connection, watch the Channel simulcast <http://learner.org/redirect/april/view31.html>, also closed captioned <http://learner.org/redirect/april/viewcc32.html>.


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*** CONNECT LEARNING WITH SPECIAL DAYS ***

World Health Day (April 7)

The slogan for this year's World Health Day is "Invest in health, build a safer future."

> Explore the cellular, genetic, and microbial factors in the development of cancer, AIDS, malaria, and influenza in "Rediscovering Biology" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/rbio33.html>. For an example of the site's resources, view these animations demonstrating influenza infection <http://learner.org/redirect/april/flu34.html> and how the immune system works <http://learner.org/redirect/april/immune35.html>.

> For a look at how disease has been managed in the past, watch "Primary Sources: Workshop in American History" Workshop 7, "Disease and History: Typhoid Mary and the Search for Perfect Control." Find links to documents, Video on Demand, lecture transcripts, and more on the series Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/april/prim36.html>.

> "Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/psych37.html> explores several forms of mental health in Program 21, "Psychopathology." Program 23, "Health, Mind, and Behavior," considers the important role of a person's psychological state in his or her physical health.

> Learn about the role of bacteria and viruses in human diseases with "Unseen Life on Earth: An Introduction to Microbiology" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/unseen38.html> Program 9, "Microbial Control;" Program 11, "Human Defenses;" and Program 12, "Microbes and Human Diseases."

> "The Merrow Report" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/merrow39.html> Program 13, "Healthy Children, Healthy Learning," investigates what goes on in America's school-based clinics. Also see Program 9, "Attention Deficit Disorder: A Dubious Diagnosis?" which offers an alternative view of the ADD/ADHD epidemic, and Program 27, "Living With AIDS--and Teaching," which provides a vivid example of the impact one person can have on the health-related decisions of young people.

> "The Mind: Teaching Modules" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/mind40.html> examines how the traditional medical mind/body dichotomy has been revised through studies demonstrating how psychological disposition and coping strategies can affect patients' health outcomes.


National Stress Awareness Day (April 17)

> For accounts of how subconsciously received messages can cause stress and affect mental and physical health -- and how the mind can shield us from stress by forgetting -- watch "The Mind Hidden and Divided," Program 14 of "Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/psych41.html>

> "The Brain: Teaching Modules" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/brain42.html> Module 21, "Emotions, Stress, and Health," examines the impact of chronic stress on health by focusing on the case of air traffic controllers. Also see Module 22, "Stress: Locus of Control and Predictability."

> "The World of Abnormal Psychology" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/abnor43.html> Program 2, "The Nature of Stress," looks at what causes stress, its effects on health, and what can be done to reduce its harmful effects.

> Learn techniques to help young children develop healthy coping strategies in "Dealing With Feelings," Program 4 of "The Whole Child: A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/child44.html>


Kindergarten Day (April 21)

Kindergarten Day was established on April 21 to mark the birth in 1782 of Friedrich Froebel, who established the very first kindergarten in Germany. Froebel's Play and Activity Institute, founded in 1837, was renamed "Kindergarten" in 1840, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of Gutenberg's design of a moveable type printing press.

The Universal German Kindergarten was intended to cultivate children's natural curiosity through the use of play materials and movement -- moveable activity blocks and balls called "gifts," and dance and physical exercises, or "occupations."

The ideas implemented by Friedrich Froebel are still practiced today by kindergarten teachers everywhere, including the excellent teachers featured in our video libraries.

> Watch "Teaching Reading K-2: A Library of Classroom Practices" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/k2readl45.html> to see how four kindergarten teachers approach literacy and oral language development with diverse students, many of whom are learning English as a second language. A case study focuses on one student's progress.

> "The Arts in Every Classroom: A Video Library, K-5" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/aecl46.html> offers a peek into well-functioning kindergarten classrooms.

> For ideas for developing social studies lessons, see "Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/ssl47.html>. For example, see Program 6, "Making Bread Together," in which Tampa, Florida teacher Ms. Gonzalez teaches her students about the economic concepts of production and cooperation.

> Use Video on Demand to hear the thoughts and observe the lessons of kindergarten teachers Jenny and Elsa in "Case Studies in Science Education" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/case48.html>. Elsa makes the transition to hands-on science; Jenny gains confidence through the use of benchmarks.

> Look to "Teaching Math: A Video Library, K-4" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/k4tmvl49.html> to observe effective kindergarten math lessons using stories, manipulatives, and various activities to teach basic concepts.


Astronomy Day (April 21)

> "Essential Science for Teachers: Earth and Space Science" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/esearth50.html> Programs 7 and 8 consider children's own theories about the moon and solar system, respectively.

> "Planet Earth" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/planet51.html> Programs 4 and 6 look deep into space to explore our solar system and our connection with the sun.

> Learn what physics can teach us about the movements of the heavenly bodies with the programs of "The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/mech52.html>. Watch Programs 20 through 25 for programs covering equinoxes, orbits, gravity, space travel, and related theories.

> To find out why even Harvard graduates can be wrong about what causes the seasons, watch "A Private Universe" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/apu53.html>.

> Tune in to the moon <http://learner.org/redirect/april/moon54.html> and to astronomy with this set of activities and links on the Web site for our workshop, "Looking at Learning Again...Part 1."


Earth Day (April 22)

> In "Teaching Reading 3-5 Workshop" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/35read55.html>, observe Gage Reeves's 5th grade lessons incorporating fun literacy building exercises into a unit about global warming and climate change.

> For a literary tie-in with environmental issues at the high school level, consider the science fiction novel "The Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler, featured in "The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature in High School" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/sower56.html>.

> Get a solid overview of earth science and topics such as plate tectonics, volcanism, and erosion with "Earth Revealed" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/earth57.html>. Programs also address environmental issues including the use of fossil fuels, groundwater contamination, and potential consequences of global warming.

> Learn more about the health of our planet with "Planet Earth" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/planet58.html>. For environmental concerns, focus on Program 3, "The Climate Puzzle," and Program 7, "Fate of the Earth."

> See how big business and government regulations can affect the environment in "Economics U$A" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/econ59.html> Program 21, "Pollution."

> Our Weather exhibit <http://learner.org/redirect/april/weather60.html> discusses the dynamics of Earth's atmosphere and addresses the greenhouse effect and ozone depletion.

> In "The World of Chemistry" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/chem61.html> Program 17, "The Precious Envelope," Earth's atmosphere is examined through theories of chemical evolution and explanations of ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect.


Week of the Young Child (April 22-28)

> "Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/psych62.html> Program 5, "The Developing Child," focuses on the theories of developmental psychologists and the nature/nurture debate.

> For an overview of the main topics in early childhood development and sound childcare practice, watch "The Whole Child: A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/child63.html>.

> "The Merrow Report" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/merrow64.html> Program 52, "The Promise of Preschool," looks at the benefits and shortcomings of preschool programs by examining in depth the involvement of a few families, by comparing private and public programs, and by comparing public programs offered in the U.S. and France.


Jazz Appreciation Month

> Read the article "Jazz Aesthetics" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/jazz65.html> and, for historical context, "Cultural Change, Cultural Exchange: The Jazz Age, the Depression, and Transatlantic Modernism" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/jazzage66.html> on the American Passages Web site. Then click on "Archive" to view our many jazz-related images. Enter keyword "jazz" for photos of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, The Machito Orchestra, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and other greats. Or follow these direct links to hear audio clips of "The Jelly Roll Blues" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/jelly67.html> and the ragtime piece "Trombone Johnson" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/trom68.html>.

> The programs of "Exploring the World of Music" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/music69.html> show segments on jazz and jazz musicians to demonstrate how musicians learn their craft, build upon structure, use harmony, and improvise.

> Watch a beautiful documentary about the life and works of poet Langston Hughes -- showing the influence jazz on his work -- in "Voices & Visions" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/vv70.html>.


National Poetry Month

> This April, immerse yourself and your students in the hour-long documentaries of "Voices & Visions" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/vv71.html>. Featured poets include Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath, and William Carlos Williams. Several programs are scheduled to air on the Channel in April; click on "Broadcast Dates" for details.

> Our literary analysis series "Literary Visions" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/lit72.html> includes seven programs about different aspects of poetry.

> Consider the historical relevance of American poetry in "American Passages: A Literary Survey" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/apass73.html> Program 10, "Rhythms in Poetry," and Program 15, "Poetry of Liberation."

> Get upper elementary students started with poetry with this lesson plan <http://learner.org/redirect/april/start74.html> on our Web site for "Engaging With Literature: A Video Library, Grades 3-5." The page includes a link to a list of poems suggested for teaching the use of line breaks, repetition, and other devices.

> Try out different teaching strategies presented in "Teaching Multicultural Literature: A Workshop for the Middle Grades" <http://learner.org/redirect/april/tml75.html>. Draw inspiration from the work of Nikki Grimes, whose characters in the novel "Bronx Masquerade" perform at an "open mike" poetry event at school. Grimes's poems appear on pages 17-20 of this PDF document <http://learner.org/redirect/april/tml76.html>.

> "The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature in High School" offers lessons plans for teaching poetry, like this one <http://learner.org/redirect/april/canon77.html> for teaching the work of Lawson Fusao Inada. Hear and read an excerpt of Inada's poem "Drawing the Line" at <http://learner.org/redirect/april/canon78.html>.

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Visit our Web site <http://learner.org/redirect/april/vod79.html> for information about our FREE Video on Demand and other viewing options.


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