5...4...3...2...1... NASA!

Digital Learning Network

Grab your helmets and put on your spacesuits!

NASA's Digital Learning Network provides science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM content featuring NASA's missions and research.  The DLN includes 10 NASA field centers and has reached close to 1 million students and teachers using VC (videoconferencing) and webcasts that feature NASA-related STEM instruction.  Participants can take advantage of free interactive lessons and professional development events through distance learning technologies.
To learn more about the programs being offered check out NASA's DLN Event Catalogue!

The DLN also offers Special Events - interactive activities/ web-casts that are not a part of their regular catalogue and they are usually geared towards students.  With these opportunties you and your students will be able to talk to and learn from NASA astronauts, scientists, engineers, and other NASA employees.  Be sure to check our NASA's DLN Special Events page regularly to see what NASA has to offer!

I strongly encourage you to learn more about NASA's DLN programs by visiting their website!  Not only will you be able to browse their Event Catalogue and Special Events pages, and watch exciting webcasts, but you will have access to educational resource packages to support your teaching of STEM content.

Keep shooting for the stars!

Leigh Cassell
Elementary Teacher, AMDSB
Founder of the Digital Human Library

Global Education Conference

The Digital Human Library has been selected to present at the third annual Global Education Conference, a free week-long online event bringing together educators and innovators from around the world, on Thursday, November 15th at 7:00PM EST.  The Conference runs from Monday November 12 through Friday, November 16, 2012 (Saturday, November 17th in some time zones). The entire conference is held online using the Blackboard Collaborate platform (formerly known as Elluminate/Wimba) with the support of iEARN worldwide as the conference founding sponsor, who will be running their annual international conference in conjunction with this event.

The Global Education Conference is a collaborative, inclusive, world-wide community initiative involving students, educators, and organizations at all levels. It is designed to significantly increase opportunities for building education-related connections around the globe while supporting cultural awareness and recognition of diversity. Last year’s conference featured 340 general sessions and 18 keynote addresses from all over the world with over 10,000 participant logins. 

The Global Education Conference seeks to present ideas, examples, and projects related to connecting educators and classrooms with a strong emphasis on promoting global awareness, fostering global competency, and inspiring action towards solving real–world problems. Through this event, attendees will challenge themselves and others to become more active citizens of the world. Participants are encouraged to learn, question, create, and engage in meaningful, authentic opportunities within a global context!

To attend this year's conference and to be kept informed of the latest conference news and updates, please 
join the Global Education Network.

Leigh Cassell
Elementary Educator, AMDSB
Founder of the Digital Human Library

AMDSB Presentation

Earlier this week I presented the dHL to the AMDSB and it was a huge success.  Since releasing the dHL to all AMDSB elementary and secondary staff, I've had about 20 teachers register, and I hope in the coming months to see 20 more.  When I was asked which member of the dHL I thought would be most popular my response was The Memory Project Speakers' Bureau.  The Speakers' Bureau connects veterans and serving soldiers with students online and in classroom across the country.  With Remembrance Day only a month away, teachers will be starting to discuss why we remember.  I hope they consider connecting with a veteran or serving soldier this year.
There have been some new developments this week too, which I am really excited about, and the AMDSB got to hear them first!  I contacted the Canadian Museums Association, who represents nearly 2000 members, and the CMA has agreed to promote the dHL to all of their members.  The support of the CMA will help me gain more dHL membership from museums all across Canada.
This week I also had the pleasure of speaking with Leanne Clare from the David Suzuki Foundation.  We discussed the possibility of members from the David Suzuki Foundation joining the Digital Human Library to support teachers using The Nature Challenge Teacher's Guide, Curriculum Resource for Grades 4-7, available on the David Suzuki website.

What's next?  You'll just have to wait and read!

Leigh Cassell
Elementary Teacher, AMDSB
Founder of the Digital Human Library

Another Fantastic Week for the dHL!

That pretty much sums it up.  It has been a fantastic week.  The Biosphere http://www.ec.gc.ca/biosphere/, Sheffield Museum http://www.sheffieldmuseum.ca/, Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre http://www.bms.bc.ca/, and Science North http://sciencenorth.ca/ are the newest members to join the dHL.  Please visit the dHL website and browse the incredible variety of programs offered by these unique organizations. Be sure to book early! Some organizations can only offer a limited number of free sessions per year.

What can you look forward to in the upcoming weeks?  

I will be chatting with the Royal Ontario Museum  http://www.rom.on.ca/, the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/visit_us/at_the_museum/, the Royal Tyrrell Museum http://www.tyrrellmuseum.com/, and the David Suzuki Foundation http://www.davidsuzuki.org/ to hopefully provide even more programming opportunities for you and your students! 

Leigh Cassell
Elementary Teacher, AMDSB
Founder of the Digital Human Library

What's New?!

I've been busy!

Here's the scoop on who, and what's new with the dHL.

Most recently the Art Gallery of Ontario agreed to join the dHL offering an incredible range of art programs, tours, and art history lessons for students of all ages.  Check the dHL website for the AGO's fall program schedule coming soon!

In August I discussed membership with the Ontario Science Centre, Toronto Zoo, and Granby Zoo (offering programs in French and English).  These organizations are currently working on their new fall educational programs as well, and they will be available to teachers and students in the next month or so.

The Digital Human Library has also had several new community members register including an optometrist, chef,  graphic designer, and children's author to name a few.  Please visit http://digitalhumanlibrary.com and register today to view the full library of members available to teachers this fall!

So what's next?  Well, in addition to meeting new community members daily whom I hope to inspire to join the dHL, I have also been working with Parks Canada http://www.pc.gc.ca/.  My goal is to secure membership from a representative at each National Park and Historic Site in Canada!  Imagine the possibilities . . .

Stay tuned!

Leigh Cassell
Elementary Teacher, AMDSB
Founder of the Digital Human Library

Back to School

It's that time of year again!  Back to school is just around the corner and most teachers are busy planning and preparing for another exciting school year.  What kinds of wonderful new experiences will you offer your students this year?

Well, I have a few suggestions!  How about connecting with some members from the Digital Human Library? With over 100 members to choose from across the curriculum, you could offer your students the opportunity to learn something new in an exciting new way.

Visit with a farmer and learn about the fall harvest and why we celebrate Thanksgiving.  Connect with a veteran from the Speakers Bureau and learn about the Second World War, the Korean War, Peacekeeping Operations and/or Canadian Forces experiences around Remembrance Day.  Celebrate diversity by inviting a Passages to Canada speaker to visit your classroom to share his/her story of coming to Canada. Want to take a class trip to the North Carolina Zoo?  All of these exciting new opportunities for learning are waiting for you!

Register with the Digital Human Library today and start connecting with members this fall!

Interested in giving back to your school community?  Sign-up to become a member today.  Visit http://digitalhumanlibrary.com to learn more about this exciting new initiative!

Leigh Cassell
Elementary Teacher, AMDSB
Founder of the Digital Human Library

Digital Human Library Website

Now you can visit the Digital Human Library website to learn more about this exciting new initiative!  Check out http://digitalhumanlibrary.com and browse the library of experts, find hundreds of virtual resources, and learn about how to get the most from your Digital Human Library experience.  Register as a member today and start making a difference in the lives of our students!

I hope to see you in the classroom,

Leigh Cassell

Elementary Teacher, AMDSB

Founder of the Digital Human Library