It's Been An Exciting Few Weeks!

So here's the exciting news!  In the last few weeks the Digital Human Library has grown to include Oregon Caves National Monument, Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, Ontario Science Center, and the Biosphere, Environment Museum.  Each of these unique organizations is now offering a variety of STEM educational programs via videoconferencing for Canadian students. To learn more about the newest dHL members, and how you can get involved visit http://digitalhumanlibrary.com.

And I'm still working on the list I posted a few weeks ago for the New Year. If you missed it, here it is again!  The organizations in bold have recently joined the dHL.  Organizations in italics have expressed interest.

Agriculture:
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Dairy Farmers of Ontario
Everdale Organic Farm and Environmental Learning Centre


Canadian National Parks:
Alberta Tourism Parks and Recreation
Cypress Hill Provincial Park, Alberta & Saskatchewan


Museums:
Royal Ontario Museum

Publishing Companies:
Penguin Books Speakers' Bureau


U.S. National Parks:
Biscayne National Park, Florida
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado
Death Valley National Park, California
Everglades National Park, Florida
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Washington DC
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon


More great things to come!

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

Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is currently testing its Distance Learning Pilot Program in an effort to determine if there is a need for internet based video conference programming in grades K-12. The programs provided in this pilot test incorporate multiple biological and environmental concepts all which correlate with grade specific curriculum standards.  During the duration of this testing period all distance learning programs will be provided free of charge provided that the academic institution has the proper video conferencing equipment on hand.   Attached to this post is a short survey inquiring about your schools current use of video conference technology as an educational aid, as well as the desire or need for programs such as ours to be added to your curriculum.  Please email any questions, comments, and completed surveys to sansaldi@torontozoo.ca .  Your help in determining the need for programming such as this is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration!

Also attached are some brief descriptions of the program topics being offered, but the experts at the Toronto Zoo are available to create customized programming as well.  The expertise of the Toronto Zoo Education Department revolves around the inner workings of ecology and environmental education at a K-8 grade level.  If it is found in nature, they can find a way teach about it.  Login or Register with the Digital Human Library and book your virtual visit to the Toronto Zoo today!

Distance Learning Pilot Program Duration:

November 1^st, 2012 – December 21^st, 2012

Monday - Friday  (All programs must be booked two weeks in advance)

Toronto Zoo Distance Learning Pilot Programs

Video Conference Survey

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

November News

October ended with a bang!  The Digital Human Library has partnered with Aerin and Jimmy Guy of SpaceRace, a progressive digital agency "connecting the planet through visionary technologies". So what does that mean?  Our mission is to bring the dHL to school boards across Canada to provide 21st century learning opportunities for teachers and students by connecting you with your people and your audiences. In other words, we want to connect you - the teachers - with the best educational videoconferencing resources available to enhance your classroom programs and inspire your students.  Visit my blog in the coming weeks to learn more about our mission!

Who is on the dHL contact list this month?  Here is a short list of the connections I plan to make in the next few weeks to provide even more VC opportunities for you and your students!

Agriculture:
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Dairy Farmers of Ontario
Everdale Organic Farm and Environmental Learning Centre

Canadian National Parks:
Alberta Tourism Parks and Recreation
Cypress Hill Provincial Park, Alberta & Saskatchewan

Publishing Companies:
Penguin Books Speakers' Bureau

U.S. National Parks:
Biscayne National Park, Florida
Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado
Death Valley National Park, California
Everglades National Park, Florida
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Washington DC
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon
Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska

Until next time . . .

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

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