Advance excellent teaching with Annenberg Media.

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*** In the Spotlight for August ***
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 -  Linking to Current Events
 -  Distance Learning Update
 -  This Month on the Channel
 -  Connect Learning with Special Days
     o Anniversary of the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
     o Get Ready for Kindergarten Month
     o National Inventors' Month

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*** LINKING TO CURRENT EVENTS ***

Political Party Conventions

The historic presidential candidacies of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have generated a great deal of interest in upcoming major political party conventions, which will make the parties' candidates official and serve as backdrop for the announcements of running mates. The Democratic National Convention is August 25-28; the Republican National Convention is September 1-4.

> Democracy in America Unit 12, "Political Parties: Mobilizing Agents" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_12/>. The unit includes an interactive and downloadable readings by Alexis de Tocqueville and others; click on "Pre-Viewing Activity and Discussion" for a discussion of the two-party system. Other programs in the series are also relevant to the topic.

> Find ideas for teaching about elections at the high school level with Making Civics Real Workshop 2, "Electoral Politics" <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/civics/workshop2/>.

> The Constitution: That Delicate Balance <http://www.learner.org/resources/series72.html> discusses critical issues in presidential elections in Program 3, "Nomination, Election, and Succession of the President."

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Military Tribunals

The first U.S. war crimes tribunal since World War II has begun -- in spite of a Supreme Court ruling in June affirming Guantanamo Bay detainees' legal rights. Military tribunals have been widely criticized since they can allow hearsay and secret testimony, as well as confessions obtained through questionable interrogation methods.

> Watch "Under Orders, Under Fire," Parts I and II, in Ethics in America <http://www.learner.org/resources/series81.html>. Part II, featuring Chaplain Timothy Tatum of the U.S. Army War College, the Reverend J. Bryan Hehir of the U.S. Catholic Conference, and other leading figures, covers controversies surrounding military tribunals.

> The Constitution: That Delicate Balance <http://www.learner.org/resources/series72.html> considers several facets of criminal justice in Programs 4, 5, and 6, "Criminal Justice and a Defendant's Right to a Fair Trial," "Crime and Insanity," and "Crime and Punishments."


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*** DISTANCE LEARNING UPDATE ***

Announcements:

- Look for us at the upcoming Central Piedmont Community College meeting on August 13th, 2008 in Charlotte, NC. We will be highlighting our new and tried and tested courses, including Mathematics Illuminated, The Habitable Planet, and The World of Chemistry.

- Order your student DVDs for the Fall/Winter 2008 semester NOW. The cost for DVDs for students enrolled in a telecourse will increase from the current $35 per set/per part to $50 per set/per part effective September 1, 2008.

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New Courses -- Call 1-800-LEARNER for a Free Preview:

- Mathematics Illuminated. This course is geared toward students who require math credit but are not math majors as well as teachers and adult learners. Throughout the series, experts explain in fascinating detail the historical perspective of the mathematics topics that helps students gain a greater understanding of the world around them. Visit the in-depth Web site for more information including the free access and downloadable online textbook: <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/mathilluminated>.

- The Habitable Planet: A Systems Approach to Environmental Science. This course is an excellent resource for teachers, college students, and adult learners that explores the natural functions of Earth's systems: geophysical, atmospheric, oceanic and ecosystems; Earth's ability to sustain life, especially human life; and the effects that human actions have had on the different natural systems. Visit the in-depth Web site for more information including the free access and downloadable online textbook: <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/envsci>.

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New! Online Video Demonstration:

Curious to see how Annenberg Media video can be incorporated into an online college course? Stayed tuned for our demonstration where we will show how the Course Stream system developed by College Anywhere can easily adapt any Annenberg Media video into your online course. We will be hosting an online forum and demonstration this Fall. Look for the formal announcement soon in your inbox and invite your colleagues to join with us as we launch the next direction for distance education.


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*** THIS MONTH ON THE CHANNEL ***

Take this opportunity to record programs before the satellite broadcast ends. (Note that Video on Demand will still be available after September 2008.)

The following series begin this month on the Annenberg Channel. Be sure to scroll down on the pages linked below for the broadcast dates and times of specific programs. Consult the full broadcast schedule for many more programs and partial series airing in August.

ARTS
> American Cinema (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series67.html>
> The Art of Teaching the Arts (high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series202.html>
> The Arts in Every Classroom: A Workshop for Elementary School Teachers <http://www.learner.org/channel/series174.html>
> A World of Art: Works in Progress (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series64.html>

EDUCATION THEORY & ISSUES
> Looking at Learning Again...Part 1 (K-12) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series106.html>

FOREIGN LANGUAGE & ESL
> Fokus Deutsch <http://www.learner.org/channel/series104.html>
> Teaching Foreign Languages K-12 Workshop <http://www.learner.org/channel/series201.html>
> Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices <http://www.learner.org/channel/series185.html>

LITERATURE & LANGUAGE ARTS
> American Passages (college level) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series164.html>
> Developing Writers: A Workshop for High School Teachers <http://www.learner.org/channel/series194.html>
> In Search of the Novel (middle-high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series111.html>
> Signature: Contemporary Writers (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series55.html>
> Voices & Visions (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series57.html>

MATHEMATICS
> Teaching Math: A Video Library, 5-8 <http://www.learner.org/channel/series33.html>
> Teaching Math: A Video Library, 9-12 <http://www.learner.org/channel/series34.html>

SCIENCE
> Earth Revealed <http://www.learner.org/channel/series78.html>
> The Habitable Planet: A Systems Approach to Environmental Science (high school/college) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series209.html>
> Learning Science Through Inquiry (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series129.html>
> Planet Earth (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series49.html>
> Reactions in Chemistry (high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series168.html>
> Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives (high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series187.html>
> Science in Focus: Force and Motion (K-8) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series136.html>
> Science in Focus: Shedding Light on Science (K-5) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series118.html>
> Science K-6: Investigation Classrooms <http://www.learner.org/channel/series116.html>
> Unseen Life on Earth: An Introduction to Microbiology (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series121.html>

SOCIAL STUDIES & HISTORY
> America's History in the Making (middle-high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series208.html>
> Bridging World History (high school/college) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series197.html>
> The Economics Classroom: A Workshop for Grade 9-12 Teachers <http://www.learner.org/channel/series159.html>
> Human Geography: People, Places, and Change (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series85.html>
> Inside the Global Economy (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series86.html>
> Making Civics Real: A Workshop for Teachers (high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series177.html>
> Out of the Past (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series45.html>
> The Power of Place (high school/college) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series180.html>
> Rural Communities: Legacy & Change (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series7.html>
> Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12 <http://www.learner.org/channel/series166.html>
> The World of Abnormal Psychology (college/high school) <http://www.learner.org/channel/series60.html>


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*** CONNECT LEARNING WITH SPECIAL DAYS ***

Anniversary of the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945)

Since the first use of nuclear weapons in 1945 by the U.S. against Japan, concerns over countries' nuclear capabilities keep resurfacing.

> Read the article "Creating Strategies and Conditions for Civil Discourse About Controversial Issues" <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/civics/workshop7/otherlessons/index$1.html> by John Rossi, which focuses on how the controversial topic of the use nuclear weapons may be used as a teaching opportunity.

> Try our interactive, "You Decide: The Atom Bomb" <http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/prog23/> on the Biography of America Web site.

> How do we wage war when the enemy dresses as civilians and children throw bombs? This question is addressed in "Under Orders, Under Fire, Part I, Program 6 of Ethics in America <http://www.learner.org/resources/series81.html>.


Get Ready for Kindergarten Month

> Find research-based teaching methods that can prepare kindergartners to become successful readers in Teaching Reading K-2 Workshop <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/readingk2/> and Teaching Reading K-2: A Library of Classroom Practices <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/readingk2/>.

> Get ready for kindergarten math with the programs of "Teaching Math, Grades K-2" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/teachingmath/gradesk_2/> and "Teaching Math: A Video Library, K-4" <http://www.learner.org/resources/series32.html>.

> Discovering Psychology: Updated Edition <http://www.learner.org/discoveringpsychology/> looks at the role of psychological development in children's learning readiness in Program 5, "The Developing Child," Program 6, "Language Development," and Program 8, "Learning."

> Review the basics of early childhood development and sound caregiver practices by watching The Whole Child: A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years <http://www.learner.org/resources/series59.html>.


National Inventors' Month

> America's History in the Making Unit 14, "Industrializing America" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/amerhistory/units/14/> examines the role of technological innovation in social and political developments. Go to <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/amerhistory/units/14/video/transcript.html> for an interview discussing the importance of Black inventors such as Lewis Latimer.

> Consider ways of integrating invention with the arts using ideas from The Arts in Every Classroom: A Video Library, K-5, particularly the program "Students Create a Multi-Arts Performance" <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/artsineveryclassroom/video11.html>. Click on "Interviews" for ideas related to teaching about invention.

> Learn about innovations in several areas of biology with Rediscovering Biology: Molecular to Global Perspectives <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/biology/>. Be sure to read the expert interview transcripts at <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/biology/units/experts_all.html>.

> Watch A Biography of America Program 14, "Industrial Supremacy" <http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/prog14/>. Try the Interactive Inventions Timeline which highlights key inventions of the thirty years between 1868 and 1898.

> For another historical look at technological invention, watch Primary Sources: Workshops in American History, Workshop 5, "Cans, Coal, and Corporations" <http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/primarysources/corporations/introduction.html>. Click on "Before You Watch" for a list of inventions of the 1890s, futurist essays of the era, images from the 1893 World's Fair, and more. Explore "Lectures and Activities" for lecture transcripts and relevant activities and reflections.

> How has industrial innovation affected the world? Look at the global impact of technology in "Global Industrialization" <http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/worldhistory/unit_main_19.html>, the 19th unit of Bridging World History.

> Consider how inventions have changed our way of life over time with "Historical Change" <http://www.learner.org/channel/libraries/socialstudies/k_2/kitts/>, the first program of Social Studies in Action: A Teaching Practices Library, K-12. Click on "About the Class" and "Lesson Background" for a brief history of American farming and the impact of agricultural innovations.

> In the American Passages archive, find a large portrait of early inventor Benjamin Franklin <http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=2151&fullsize=1> and this 1865 depiction of Minvera, the Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts of civilization, along with American inventors and technological devices <http://www.learner.org/amerpass/slideshow/archive_search.php?number=8334&fullsize=1>.

> The Mechanical Universe...and Beyond <http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html> explains how advances in physics have led to various inventions, such as the parallel plate capacitor and the electric battery.


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