Advance excellent teaching with Annenberg Media.
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*** In the Spotlight for April ***
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- "Mathematics Illuminated" Premieres
- Linking to Current Events
- This Month on the Channel
- Connect Learning with Special Days
o World Health Day
o National Stress Awareness Day
o Earth Day
o Week of the Young Child
o Mathematics Awareness Month
o Jazz Appreciation Month
o National Poetry Month
- Telecourse/e-Learning Bulletin
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*** "MATHEMATICS ILLUMINATED" PREMIERES ***
"Mathematics Illuminated," a new multimedia series will premiere on the Annenberg Channel April 8 and "in person" at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, April 10-12 in Salt Lake City, Utah. A session highlighting some of the topics from the series will be held Friday, April 11 at 1-2 PM in the Salt Lake City Convention Center, 250E. Visit the Annenberg Media exhibit booth at the conference for more information.
Don't miss this new multimedia learning resource for adult learners and high school teachers. Rather than a series of problems to be solved, mathematics is presented as play we engage in to answer deep questions that are relevant in our world today. The 13 episodes use groundbreaking videos, interactive Web exploration, text materials, and group activities to reveal the secrets and hidden delights of the world of mathematics. <http://www.learner.org/resources/series210.html>
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***LINKING TO CURRENT EVENTS***
Race in America
The evolving presidential candidate race has initiated a long-delayed public debate about the role of race in America.
> Explore the roles that individuals and government have played in expanding the guarantees of political and social equality to less-protected segments of society, including African Americans, women, and the disabled with "Civil Rights: Demanding Equality," Program 5 of "Democracy in America." <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_5/>
> Don't miss the associated readings, accessible from the series Web site. An excerpt from The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois, considered by many to be one of the greatest African American intellectuals, references experiences at the turn of the 20th century, but provides insight into the current debate.
<http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/democracyinamerica/support/dia_5_readings.pdf>
> The Emancipation Proclamation, a resource for "Considering Emancipation" (workshop four of "Primary Sources: Workshops in American History") demonstrates the value of using primary-source documents in the research and interpretation of American history. <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/primarysources/emancipation/introduction.html>
> Though race is at the center of Langston Hughes' work, which focused on the beauty, dignity, and heritage of blacks in America, he always sought to speak to all Americans, especially on the larger issues of social, economic, and political justice. His life and work are interpreted through readings, archival photographs, performances, and interviews on Voices & Visions <http://www.learner.org/resources/series57.html>.
> In Workshop 8, "Teaching Multicultural Literature: A Workshop for the Middle Grades: Social Justice and Action," a group of seventh-grade students looks critically at past and current media depictions of African Americans, Latino/as, and Native Americans. Students then examine ways in which writers from those cultural groups represent themselves. One of the teacher's stated goals is to help students recognize the pervasiveness of stereotypes and understand the danger of allowing "one dominant myth to tell the whole story of a group of people." <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/tml/workshop8/index.html>
Monarch's Shrinking Habitat
> Every year thousands of students across North America follow the migration of the Monarch butterfly as spring moves north. But this year, there may be a decline in the number making the trip. Satellite photos found by biologist Lincoln Brower at: <http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/MonarchImages.html> reveal there's been illegal clear-cutting in the forested areas of Mexico where many butterflies spent the winter last year. The problem was covered on the Public Radio International program, "The World." Visit the "Journey North" site to find out more about the annual migrations of a range of critters, and watch how school classes report local sightings at: <http://www.learner.org/jnorth/>
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*** THIS MONTH ON THE CHANNEL ***
The following series begin this month on the Annenberg Channel. Take this opportunity to library these series for use after the satellite distribution ends in October. Scroll down on the pages linked below for specific broadcast dates and times. Consult the full broadcast schedule at for many more programs and partial series airing in April.
ARTS
> "Connecting with the Arts: A Teaching Practices Library, 6-8"
<http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/connectarts68/>
> "Exploring the World of Music" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/resources/series105.html>
> "A World of Art: Works in Progress" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/resources/series64.html>
FOREIGN LANGUAGE & ESL
> "Connect With English" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/resources/series71.html>
> "Teaching Foreign Language K-12"
<http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/tfl/>
LITERATURE & LANGUAGE ARTS
> "Literary Visions" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/resources/series41.html>
> "Making Meaning in Literature: A Video Library, Grades 6-8"
<http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/makingmeaning/>
> "Teaching Reading K-2"
<http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/readingk2/>
MATHEMATICS
> "Learning Math: Measurement" (K-8)
<http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/learningmath/measurement/index.html>
> "Math Illuminated" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/resources/series210.html>
> "The Missing Link: Essential Concepts for Middle School Math Teachers"
<http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/missinglink/>
SCIENCE
> "Earth Revealed" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/resources/series78.html>
> "Essential Science for Teachers: Life Science" (K-6) <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/essential/life/>
> "Habitable Planet: A Systems Approach to Environmental Science (college/high school) <http://learner.org/redirect> > "Planet Earth" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/resources/series49.html>
SOCIAL STUDIES & HISTORY
> "Growing Old in A New Age" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/resources/series84.html>
> "Out of the Past" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/resources/series45.html>
> "Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/powerofplace/>
>"Seasons of Life" (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/resources/series54.html>
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Be sure to download the Channel Program Guide <http://www.learner.org/channel/chnnl_programguide.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://www.learner.org/channel/broadband/video.html>, also closed captioned <http://www.learner.org/channel/broadband/video-cc.html>.
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*** CONNECT LEARNING WITH SPECIAL DAYS ***
World Health Day (April 7)
The theme for this year's World Health Day is "Protecting Health from Climate Change." Through increasingly extreme weather events, changes in migration patterns caused by climate changes, competition for a finite supply of fresh water, and changing geographical distribution of vector-borne infectious diseases, mankind may be the species most endangered by climate change, according to the director-general of the World Health Organization.
> Learn how water is distributed around the globe and how human activities are affecting our finite supply of usable water with "Habitable Planet: Water Resources."
<http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=8&secNum=0>
> Discover the factors involved in the spread of disease and what can be done to counter them with "Disease Lab," one of the interactive labs on the "The Habitable Planet" Web page.
<http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/envsci/interactives/index.php>
> "Unseen Life on Earth: An Introduction to Microbiology: Microbes and Human Diseases," illustrates how microbes come into contact with humans, the many factors leading to disease outbreaks around the globe and details actions necessary to control disease worldwide. <http://www.learner.org/resources/series121.html>
> Explore the cellular, genetic, and microbial actors in the development of cancer, AIDS, malaria, and influenza in "Rediscovering Biology" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/biology/index.html>. For an example of the site's resources, view these animations demonstrating influenza infection <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/biology/archive/animations/hires/a_infect8_h.html> and how the immune system works <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/biology/archive/animations/hires/a_hiv1_h.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 at <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/primarysources/disease/introduction.html>.
National Stress Awareness Day (April 16)
Is it a coincidence that National Stress Awareness is the day following the deadline for income tax payment?
> 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://www.learner.org/discoveringpsychology/index.html>
> "The Brain: Teaching Modules," <http://www.learner.org/resources/series142.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" 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.
> <http://www.learner.org/resources/series60.html>
> 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://www.learner.org/resources/series59.html>
Earth Day (April 22)
> Will human ingenuity, resiliency, and cooperation save us from the worst outcomes of our "global experiment?" Is there something we as individuals can do? "The Habitable Planet: Looking Forward: Our Global Experiment" provides thought-provoking information based on current research and the rest of the series explains the global systems that make our planet habitable for life. <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=13&secNum=0>
> In "Teaching Reading 3-5 Workshop," observe Gage Reeves's fifth grade lessons that incorporate fun literacy-building exercises into a unit about global warming and climate change. <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/teachreading35/>
> 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://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hslit/session7/aw/work1.html>
> Get a solid overview of earth science and topics such as plate tectonics, volcanism, and erosion with "Earth Revealed" <http://www.learner.org/resources/series78.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." For environmental concerns, focus on Program 3, "The Climate Puzzle," and Program 7, "Fate of the Earth." <http://www.learner.org/resources/series49.html>
> See how big business and government regulations can affect the environment in "Economics U$A," <http://www.learner.org/resources/series79.html> Program 21, "Pollution."
> In "The World of Chemistry" <http://www.learner.org/resources/series61.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 13-19)
Created to promote excellence in early childhood education, Week of the Young Child is the perfect time to learn from the teachers featured in our video libraries.
> Watch "Teaching Reading K-2: A Library of Classroom Practices" 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. <http://www.learner.org/resources/series175.html>
> "The Arts in Every Classroom: A Video Library, K-5" offers a peek into well-functioning kindergarten classrooms. <http://www.learner.org/resources/series165.html>
> For ideas in developing social studies lessons, see "Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12" <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/socialstudies/k_2/gonzalez/index.html>. An excellent example is Program 6, in which a kindergarten teacher offers her students a hands-on lesson about the economic concepts of production and cooperation through "Making Bread Together."
> 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://www.learner.org/resources/series21.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://www.learner.org/resources/series32.html>
for effective kindergarten math lessons that tap the excitement and energy of young children; see them solve problems, learn to make connections between concepts, and communicate and reason mathematically.
> "Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition," Program 5, "The Developing Child," focuses on the theories of developmental psychologists and the nature/nurture debate. <http://www.learner.org/discoveringpsychology/05/e05expand.html>
> 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://www.learner.org/resources/series59.html>
Mathematics Awareness Month
The theme of Mathematics Awareness Month in this presidential election year is "Math and Voting."
> "Game Theory," Program 9 of the new "Mathematics Illuminated," demonstrates that competition and cooperation can be studied mathematically. Game theory began in the analysis of games like chess and checkers, but soon showed its relevance to economics and geopolitical strategy.
<http://www.learner.org/resources/series210.html>
> "Learning Math: Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability," Video 9, "Random Sampling and Estimation" illustrates how to select a random sample and use it to estimate characteristics of an entire population. The video includes information especially useful in an election year: the variation in estimates and the effect of sample size on an estimate's accuracy. <http://www.learner.org/resources/series158.html#program_descriptions>
> "The Missing Link: Essential Concepts for Middle School Math Teachers" offers methods for teaching how to conduct random sampling and use probability to make predictions in Workshop 7. <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/missinglink/>
Jazz Appreciation Month
Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald called the confluence of arts "The Jazz Age". Find out more about the artists of this period their influences and who followed in their dance steps.
> Read the article "Jazz Aesthetics" <http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit14/context_activ-4.html> and, for historical context, "Cultural Change, Cultural Exchange: The Jazz Age, the Depression, and Transatlantic Modernism" < http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit11/context_activ-3.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://www.learner.org/amerpass/archive/9000s/9195.mp3> and the ragtime piece "Trombone Johnson" <http://www.learner.org/amerpass/archive/9000s/9197.mp3>.
> The programs of "Exploring the World of Music" <http://www.learner.org/resources/series105.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 that shows the influence jazz had on his work in "Voices & Visions." <http://www.learner.org/resources/series57.html>
> Observe a vocal music teacher working with an advanced jazz ensemble in "The Art of Teaching the Arts: A Workshop for High School Teachers," Workshop 2, "Developing Students as Artists." <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hsarts/program2/>
National Poetry Month
> This April, immerse yourself and your students in the hour-long documentaries of "Voices & Visions" <http://www.learner.org/channel/series57.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. Or select a poet of your choice and view the program using Video on Demand.
> Our literary analysis series "Literary Visions" <http://www.learner.org/resources/series41.html> includes seven programs about different aspects of poetry.
> Consider the historical relevance of American poetry in "American Passages: A Literary Survey" Program 10, "Rhythms in Poetry," <http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit10/index.html>, and Program 15, "Poetry of Liberation" <http://www.learner.org/amerpass/unit15/index.html>.
> Help young adolescents explore feelings and learn the power of written expression while developing as writers and readers of poetry. Two master teachers demonstrate strategies in "Teaching Poetry," the third workshop in "Write in the Middle: A Workshop for Middle School Teachers." <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/middlewriting/>
> Get upper elementary students started with poetry with this lesson plan <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/engagingliterature/starting/lessonplan.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://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/tml/>. 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://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/tml/workshop2/index.html>.
> "The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature in High School" offers lessons plans for teaching poetry, like this one <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hslit/session8/lessonplan2.html> for teaching the work of Lawson Fusao Inada. Hear and read an excerpt of Inada's poem "Drawing the Line" at <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hslit/session8/aw/work2.html>.
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Visit our Web site for information about our FREE Video on Demand and other viewing options.
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*** TELECOURSE/E-LEARNING BULLETIN ***
If you plan to attend either of the following events, be sure to stop by our booth in the exhibit hall:
- North Carolina Distance Learning Meeting, April 2-4, in New Bern, NC
- NILRC Conference, April 10-11 in Joliet, IL
Also come see us at the NAMTC Summit April 22-25 in Syracuse, NY. We look forward to meeting you and hearing your views.
> Remember that "The Habitable Planet" is available to license for Fall 2008 telecourses. These timely programs explore the Earth's natural systems: geophysical, atmospheric, oceanic, and ecosystems. Each half-hour program features two documentary case studies describing current environmental science research, and is coordinated with an extensive Web site providing content, activities and recourses to help students and educators deepen and extend their understanding of environmental science. Contact Nancy Williams at nwilliams.learner@gmail.com or call 1-800-LEARNER for licensing information.
Don't forget to send in your winter/spring 2008 enrollment numbers. Direct them to nwilliams.learner@gmail.com. Visit <http://www.learner.org/telecourses/> to check out the new Fall, 2008, Intent to License form.
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