The 1st Annual TETN Team Challenge, a project based learning event and video conferenceseries,utilized collaborationsbetween the Texas Education Telecommunication Network (TETN) and Regional Education Service Centers to reach schools throughout the state. Through video conferences with experts and classroom team collaborations, students created a marketing campaign for a fictional product. TETN provided connections to experts throughout the course of the project and a panel of industry professionals to evaluate student performances for the final project.

In the end, Edinburg CISD put together an impressive campaign that utilized print, radio, television, and internet media to promote a fictional tablet computer.

Their exceptional content is highlighted at http://www.tetnplus.net/teamchallenge

Upcoming State-Wide Video Conferencing Programs

Careers in Forestry

January 31, 2012 9:00-9:50 AM

Audience: Middle School and High School Students

Region 7 will be connecting with representatives from Stephen F Austin’s Forestryprogram on January 31st, 2012 from 9:00am-9:15am. We’ll explore education requirements, career opportunities, recommendations for preparing in high school for this field, and give students the opportunity to ask questions to our guests. This is a FREE videoconference opportunity for schools who are a part of their local ESC videoconference service agreement.

Click here to register for this program. Additional information can be found on our website by clicking here.

Tuesday, Jan. 31 - 10:00-10:45 AM CT & 1:00-1:45 PM CT

A View of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

Target Audience: Grades K-12

Join Connect2Texas provider National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame contained in the grounds of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Learn how it began over a century ago, and how it has changed in 2012. The rodeo is legendary with its stock, events and activities.


To register select the desired time below.

10:00-10:45 CST or 1:00-1:45 CST

For more information contact Lori Hamm-Neckar, Distance Learning Technician at Region Eleven Telecommunications Network (RETN).

February 2, 2012 - 10:00am - 11:15am

Reading Discovery featuring Mrs. Bush’s Story Time

Audience: Grades 4-8

Once again The Education Department of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum will be hosting a free videoconference entitled, “Reading Discovery featuring Mrs. Bush’s Story Time.” This storytelling event is for 4th – 8th grades. Join us in an interactive presentation of Mrs. Barbara Bush reading to students.  Free books of the chosen book are given in the order of registration (first come, first served) and verified school participation.  Registration will close Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Registration form is located at the bottom of this email. 

The program will be available 3 ways.  Please complete the registration form for any of these 3 methods!

• By Videoconference (you must be a member of your region’s videoconference network service)
• By Live stream (we have a limit of 100 computers that can connect statewide-please combine classes if possible-we will inform you if we are over the limit)
• By viewing the recording after the event via an internet stream

Please note:In order to be considered an “interactive” site, you must choose the videoconference option and you must submit up to 5 questions on the registration form by Thursday, January 19, 2012. Have your questions ready before filling out the registration form. All interactive sites will be notified of their questions chosen by Thursday, January 26, 2012.Most sites will be “view only”.

Participants should select the appropriate link below to register: 

Reading Discovery with Barbara Bush (Please complete a registration form for each method or time of viewing.)

Non-Texas Resident Reading Discovery with Barbara Bush

 If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Taylor, Erate/IVC Content Administrator, for Education Service Center, Region VI.

February 3, 2012 - 9:00-9:45 AM CST

Animal Weather Predictors

Audience: Grades K-8

Before science allowed humans to begin predicting changes in weather patterns there were natural sources of information that we looked to. Animals! In honor of Groundhog's Day, this program will look at how we can observe various animals and learn about changes in weather and seasons.

Register: Click here to register

Pre-program and Post-program guides will be available upon request. Contact  Scott Patterson at (214) 428-5555 ext. 8 or Sciencecast@natureandscience.org  for this additional information.

February 16, 2012 - 10:30-11:30AM & 12:00-1:00PM

A Conversation with John Adams

Audience: Grades 2-8

The Education Department of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum will be hosting two free videoconferences entitled, “A LIVELY & REVOLUTIONARY CONVERSATION WITH AMERICA'S SECOND PRESIDENT, JOHN ADAMS”. This storytelling event is for grades 2nd-8th. Join us as the historical figure of John Adams, portrayed by George Baker, will present his views of the nation, history and family life in a humorous and inspiring tale as the father of American Independence and the second President of the United States. Learn memorable lessons in early American politics.

To register complete the form here. For more information contact Kimberly Taylor, IVC Facilitator, at Education Service Center Region VI.

Visit the "Student Programs" page to see past program offerings.

Professional Development Opportunities

February 1, 2012  4-5 PM ET

Grip Young Readers with Nonfiction History 

Audience:  teachers grades 3-12, therapists, administrators, staff developers, parents, and pre-service teachers.

Join Dr. Myra Zarnowski as she interviews Jim Murphy and Andrea Warren, authors of nonfiction history for children.

Discover

• how a person-centered view of history allows readers to "zoom-in" on intriguing individuals and "zoom-out" to examine the setting in which they lived.
• The significance of the "lessons of history" from authors who write about them.
• more about how these authors research, write, and think about the past.
• inside information to share with your students about each author's latest books!

 To register click here. The registration deadline is January 30, 2012.

February 22, March 22 - 4:00 – 6:30 PM CT

House Bill 2038 - Concussion Training

Audience: athletic trainers, athletic directors, coaches, administrators, school nurses, and health care professionals

Texas House Bill 2038 requires each school district and open-enrollment charter school with students who participate in athletic activities to appoint a concussion oversight team. This team is required to establish a return-toplay/practice protocol following a force or impact believed to have caused a concussion. Each member of and anyone who appoints members to the concussion oversight team is required to have training on concussions. This requirement includes athletic trainers, athletic directors, coaches, school administrators, school nurses and other health care professionals.

Click the desired date below to register.

February 22, 2011

March 22, 2011

National and International Collaborators

Don't miss this exciting opportunity on May 3, 2012 from 6am EDT to 6:00pm EDT (UTC -4) to interact with schools from around the world. The schedule of VJ Teams and content themes is now posted on the website. This is your students' chance to interact with VJ teams as an interactive presenting site around a particular content theme in front of a live global audience!

This year's VJ Teams and content themes are: 

• Exotic Presentations from Asia to America, led by National Dali High School, Taiwan - for students ages 12+
• 2012 Olympic Games, led by Carpenter's Primary School, UK - for students ages 5-14
• Here, There and Everywhere, led by Clyst St. Mary's Primary School, UK - for students ages 9-11
• Student Collaborations: Creating World Music, led by Bolles School, Florida, USA - for students ages 12-17
• Wonders!, led by Burghill School, Hereford, UK - for ages 9-13
• E-medica, Ways To Learn Together, led by Secondary Medical School, Split, Croatia - for ages 12+
• Improving the Health of our Waterways, led by Pennsylvania, USA - for ages 5-18
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, led by Weaver Lake, Minnesota, USA - for ages 9-11

How to Register to Be a General Participant Site: Just one easy step!! 
1. Please go to: http://www.megaconferencejr.org and create your account to register as a general participant site or login with your existing account. (Note: If you registered last year, you may login using your username and password from last year. However please be sure to update your information by clicking on the links at the top of the form.) 

How to Submit an Interactive Presentation Proposal  
1. Please register for Megaconference Jr at  http://www.megaconferencejr.org (see paragraph above). 
2. Review the posted schedule using the "Schedule 2012" tab. All times are listed as UTC -4. To see what your local presenting time would be please use the Time Zone Converter at: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
3. If you would like to be an interactive site with one of the VJ teams and give a presentation related to that theme, go to the "Interactive Proposal Submission Form" tab at the top of the Megaconference Jr. website. Complete the form by selecting the VJ session of your choice under the "VJ Team" pull-down menu. When you have completed the other required fields, click "Submit". You will be notified of acceptance of your presentation by March 10, 2012. ** There are a limited number of interactive spots for each content theme time block so be sure to sign up your school to get involved ASAP. ** 

How to Be a View Only Site
Sites do not need to register if they only want to view the live webstream on the day of the event. Details on how to view the live stream will be posted closer to May 3, 2012. 

Timeline: 
General Registration Opens and Call for Interactive Proposals - January 18, 2012 
Deadline for Interactive Proposals - March 3, 2012
Notification of Proposal Acceptance - March 10, 2012
General Registration Closes - April 5, 2012 
Testing and Rehearsals - January through April 

Also, be sure to sign up for the Megaconference Jr. list-serv at to stay tuned for all the most recent announcements about this year's event. To subscribe, go to: http://www.megaconferencejr.org/content/contact-information

January 27, 2012 10:00-11:00AM. CT or 1:00-2:00PM CT

History in the First Person: Lessons from the Holocaust

Audience: Grades: 7-12

Register at http://cilc.org/search/content-provider-program.aspx?id=4382

Take your study of the Holocaust and World War II to individuals who survived both.  Interact with Holocaust survivors from WWII.  Learn what it was like to live in fear and danger both before and during the war and live with hope and opportunity after being liberated.

To register follow this link to the cilc site,  http://cilc.org/search/content-provider-program.aspx?id=4382

How To View the Program:

1. Via videconference--We have interactive and view only videoconference slots available for student groups to join the program. For videoconference participation, we must have you enrolled no later than November 10. Contact us at live@hectv.org.

2. Via Internet--All our HEC-TV Live! programs are streamed live via the station website, http://www.hectv.org, on the program day. To receive curriculum materials designed to help you prepare your students for the program, just e-mail us prior to the program at live@hectv.org.

Read Around the Planet 2012: A Celebration of "NEA's Read Across America"
February 22 ­- March 7, 2012
Sponsored by Polycom
http://www.twice.cc/RAP

TWICE invites you to participate in a celebration of reading using videoconference technology! Classes can participate in English, or a variety of other languages, or special education. Classes share skits, raps, original poetry/writing, songs, game shows, and more. Many ideas for connecting to your curriculum are shared in the teacher packet.

TWICE provides a matching service for point-to-point videoconferences between schools. Teacher matching is done based on your registration information. Participating schools are responsible for making the connections work successfully.

This project is open to all K-12 students in public and private schools. The school must have access to IP (H.323) videoconference equipment to participate (i.e. Polycom, Cisco/Tandberg, LifeSize, Sony, etc.).

Questions?
Questions please contact Sue, Polycom Sponsored RAP Coordinator:
sue@twice.cc

February 28, 2012  8AM – 10AM CST & 11AM - 1PM CST

Penn Hills High School Presents The Tuskegee Airmen

Audience: Students Grades 6-12

They were the first African American aviators in the United States Armed Forces. These brave men overcame segregation and prejudice to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II. The Tuskegee Airmen’s achievements, together with the men and women who supported them, paved the way for full integration of the U.S. Military. 

In January, Lucas Films, will premiere its highly anticipated movie Red Tails, an epic story about these heroic pilots who despite tremendous adversity flew with distinction and gained the admiration and respect of the bomber squadrons they were bound to protect. 

February 9 , 2012 - 10 AM & 11:30AM ET

The Positive Effects of Football on Racial Equality

Audience: Grades 6-12

On Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 the Cleveland Browns will be hosting a panel discussion in recognition of Black History Month.  The discussion, “Personal Reflections: The Positive Effects of Football on Racial Equality,” will be moderated by Pro Football Hall of Fame President/Executive Director, Steve Perry.  The panel will include Cleveland Browns alumni: Walter Beach, John Wooten, Dick Schafrath, Reggie Rucker and Sam Tidmore. The event will include individual introductions and reflections along with a question and answer portion and is scheduled to run one hour.

The Browns are teaming up with the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Educational Outreach Program to bring this program to students nationwide via video conference. The video conference session, for grades 6th-12th, is being offered as “limited interactive” and free of charge.  This session will fill quickly, so make sure to take advantage of this wonderful educational opportunity and register your school today.  For more information or to schedule your connection, contact us at EducationalPrograms@ProFootballHOF.com.

February 22 & 23, 2012 - 9:15 AM - 10:30 AM & 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

Pro Football Hall of Fame - Black History Month Seminar

Audience: Grades 6-12

This year's seminar will feature Hall of Fame teammates Len Dawson and Bobby Bell. Dawson, a quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. Bell, a standout linebacker/defensive end, was inducted in 1983. Both men played with the Kansas City Chiefs during the 1960s when they won Super Bowl IV. The Chiefs received notoriety as the first pro football team to fill more than half of its roster with African American players.  Don't miss out on this unique educational seminar as Dawson and Bell share their unique stories about this historic moment in professional football history as well as other life events on and off the football field.

The videoconference sessions, for grades 6th-12th, are being offered as “limited interactive” and free of charge.  These sessions will fill quickly, so make sure to take advantage of this wonderful educational opportunity and book your school for one of the four sessions offered. For more information or to schedule your visit, contact us at EducationalPrograms@ProFootballHOF.com.

KC3 Kids Creating Community Content International Contest

The KC3 (Kids Creating Community Content) Contest is seeking elementary audience sites for final student presentations. The elementary program listed below will be offered FREE to school sites who have registered and completed an equipment test.  

One class will be scheduled for each program.  To view available dates and times and to register go to: http://www.cilc.org/calendar_event_detail.aspx?id=353&categoryid=9

KC3 Student Project Samples from CILC on Vimeo

Interested in developing an international video conferencing partnership. Visit http://www.ja.net/communities/schools/ videoconferencing/usukpartners.html and fill out the form. JANET, the United Kingdom's Research and Education Network, will help you facilitate introductions abroad.