Friday, December 2, 2005

Digital Librarian joins the GPB Team

Georgia Public Broadcasting has added a new member to its team to help create and manage a new and exciting resource for educators. Catherine Mukua has been hired as the Digital Librarian for GPB's new Digital Library. The Digital Library, launched in October, is a searchable collection of Digital Media which includes video, audio and other media from Georgia Public Television, Radio, State Government, and other Georgia organizations.

Catherine earned her masters degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central University, in addition to holding two bachelors degrees; B.A. Sociology/English literature and B.S. Library Science from Lucknow University and Banaras Hindu University located in India. Catherine also has a strong talent for language, as she can speak four languages fluently.

Catherine has worked as a professional librarian for over ten years, in Nairobi Kenya, Raleigh North Carolina and Jacksonville Florida before joining GPB in October 2005. Catherine looks forward to assisting Georgia educators with informational needs and using the digital collections/services at GPB.

For more information:
You may contact Catherine at
cmukua@gpb.org or (404) 685-2406

Thursday, December 1, 2005

GPB December Staff Feature: Patrice Weaver

When Hurricane Katrina roared ashore with tremendous force leaving a path of destruction, the number of calls for help was overwhelming with too few answers. Many individuals wanted to help, asking the question 'What can I do?' Patrice Weaver, Operations Manager for the Education and Technology Division at Georgia Public Broadcasting, is one person who instead of asking questions stepped up and created answers.

Upon receiving a request from Atlanta's City of Refuge, an outreach program dedicated to helping those in need within Atlanta, Patrice did not hesitate to take action from the very beginning. She spent the entire weekend following Hurricane Katrina at the City of Refuge shelter, helping evacuees from our neighboring states. Victims had little else than the clothes on their backs, often arriving without shoes or prescribed medications. Many had to swim from their homes and were lucky to be alive. Patrice helped register victims, who were often unable to provide required documentation, such as social security cards. Patrice worked with individuals to help them overcome these roadblocks to receive the assistance they so desperately needed.

When Monday came, exhausted from the weekend's events, her efforts did not stop. Patrice pooled her resources at work to initiate and organize a school supply drive for all of the children that would soon be pouring into the Georgia school system. With the help of other members of the Education and Technology Services division of GPB, she created and distributed a suggested donations list to all Georgia Public Broadcasting employees. Items ranged from markers and backpacks to basic hygiene items such as toothbrushes and underwear. After two weeks of collecting generously donated items from the building's employees, three full vanloads of supplies were delivered to the shelter for distribution across the state.

Patrice also rallied the members of the Education Technology Services division at GPB to travel to the Monroe Street Red Cross to donate blood at a time when supplies were running dangerously low. Though many individuals at GPB worked to help hurricane victims in various ways, Patrice helped bring some organization to those efforts allowing our helping hands to extend a little further.

NOVA ScienceNOW Café at GaETC

The GaETC conference came to town November 9th -11th. We, at Georgia Public Broadcasting, took this opportunity to hold a NOVA ScienceNOW Café at our booth on Wednesday morning. We served refreshments, had a guest speaker, and showed a video clip. The topic was a hot one - hurricanes. Lisa Mozer, the meteorologist with Fernbank Science Center, gave a riveting presentation all about hurricanes. Our viewers learned about the history of some of the biggest hurricanes, how hurricanes are formed, how they are named, and the different types. We then showed a NOVA video clip that first aired back in January of 2005. The clip covered what would happen to New Orleans if a big hurricane hit the city. It foretold the destruction of Katrina. We had a full house at our presentation and two lucky winners took home flash drives donated for raffle by NOVA.

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

2005 GAHPERD Annual Convention

Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

"Back to the Basics...Move," is the theme for the 2005 GAHPERD Annual Convention. The convention is scheduled for November 10-13, 2005, at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center with special guest speaker, Shirley Ririe.

GAHPERD is a nonprofit organization for professionals and students in related fields of health, physical education, recreation and dance. GAHPERD is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Georgians by supporting and promoting effective educational practices, quality curriculum, instruction and assessment in the areas of health, physical education, recreation, dance and related fields.

GPB Education Project Manager, Barbara O'Brien will be attending the conference and making a presentation in a session of the Dance Division. Barbara will be reporting on the collaboration between GPB, Brenau University Dance Department, and Richmond County Schools to record Georgia students and teachers as they participated in the two week residency with the Ririe Woodbury Dance Company.

For more information:
GAHPERD's homepage:

JapanFest 2005

JapanFest rocked at Stone Mountain, GA on Sept. 24-25, 2005. The weekend, a culmination of efforts by the Japan-America Society of Georgia, The Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, and the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, was the highlight of a month-long series of events designed specifically to promote understanding between Japanese and Americans in the Southeast. GPB's Irasshai staff celebrated in the cultural event, just one of many held across the country during the "2005: The Year of Languages!" campaign, by demonstrating the art of origami.

Former and current students put their Japanese language skills to good use with Irasshai's TV instructor and host, Tim Cook-sensei who was also present for the celebration. In addition to having their photo taken with Tim-sensei, students were able to watch traditional Japanese dances, martial arts demonstrations, participate in bonsai and calligraphy workshops, purchase knick-knacks, kimonos and handmade paper, and enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine. They also could view the products of more than 330 Japanese businesses located in Georgia that were on display. The five goals of the National Standards for Foreign Language Education (Communication, Comparison, Culture, Connection, and Communities) were all waiting to be met at this exciting event.

GPB November Staff Feature: Linda Johnson

We at GPB are fortunate and proud to have such an extraordinary staff. Because we have such amazing people working to provide you with the best educational resources available, we thought you might be interested in knowing about some of the incredible things they do.

This month we are featuring Linda Johnson, Elementary Education Project Manager, for her completion of the 2005 Portland Marathon. In preparation for the big run, Linda trained for eight months. Her training consisted of three to four runs per week (between 3-12 miles each time) and a long run on the weekend (starting at 6 miles and working up to 23 miles).

Time management and discipline were key factors in Linda's success, concentrating on staying well-rested, lifting weights, running, and making healthy eating choices. By the time Linda had completed her training, she had run over 800 miles.

When asked about the day of the race Linda said, "During the race, the first 13 miles were a piece of cake - I was very comfortable. At mile 15, the arch on my left shoe gave out and made the last 11.2 miles miserable." Even with unexpected challenges during the race, Linda pushed forward. "I highly recommend the Portland Marathon for anyone looking to run one - it was very well put together. I will never forget the feeling that came over me when the announcer at the finish line said, "And here comes Linda Johnson, all the way from Atlanta, Georgia!" and the crowd cheered me on."

We are so fortunate to have Linda on our staff, as she brings the same enthusiasm and dedication she has shown in her marathon training to GPB.

Monday, October 10, 2005

Hurricane Katrina: How GPB is Helping

Over the last month people all over the world have felt the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Those who were not directly touched by the hurricane have certainly heard the countless stories of displacement and loss from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama leaving them wondering what they can do to help. We at Georgia Public Broadcasting also got together to discuss what we could do to assist our neighboring states and those who have relocated to Georgia as a result of the damage.

Since the hurricane Georgia's school system has opened its doors to over 5,600 new students with the promise of more evacuated children to enroll. For this reason GPB Education organized a building-wide school supply drive with an overwhelming response. As children displaced by the hurricane with little else but the clothes on their backs continue their education here in Georgia, we wanted to do our part to insure that they would not be left without the tools they need in the classroom. In the last month van loads of supplies have been delivered to local shelters from our building for distribution.

In addition to donating school supplies, GPB Education also organized a trip to the Red Cross to donate blood. With the drastic and sudden increase in our state's population, resources like that of local blood banks have been stretched very thin.

Sunday, October 2, 2005

Irasshai's Family is Growing

This year's enrollment figures for Irasshai, GPB's Japanese language program, have been released for September 2005. GPB is excited to announce that the number of students registered for the program has increased by about 100 students over the last year. Registered students for the week of 9/2/05 totaled 513 (226 in state, 287 out of state), this is up from totals taken during the same week last year of 415 (168 in state, 247 out of state).

For More Information:
- Call the Irasshai Hotline at 1-800-883-7444 or 404-685-2811 in the Atlanta area.
- Visit the Irasshai website

Georgia Read More

It has been a year this month since the Georgia Department of Education implemented a literacy program aimed at 3rd graders entitled Georgia Read More. Since that time the series has proven to be a major success that is scheduled to continue for an additional year. Georgia Read More is a series of programs that promote literacy by having dignitaries and celebrities read a children's book aloud to a group of students. These readings are taped and broadcast on GPB Education Channel 430 for children and educators all over the state to view. The programs are also accessible for viewing via web casts, and DVDs distributed to Georgia's 1,200 elementary schools.

Guest readers include:
Kathy Cox
Mary Perdue
President Jimmy Carter
John Smoltz
Travis Tritt
Bill Elliott
Chief Justice Leah Ward-Sears

The Georgia Department of Education's Georgia Read More project is literacy initiative in collaboration with the Georgia Technology Authority and Georgia Public Broadcasting. Scholastic Books, Peachtree Publishers, and other publishing companies have provided books and copyright permission for this project.

Georgia Department of Education website

Download PDF flyer of Georgia Read More

Saturday, October 1, 2005

Sing

How do squeaky-voiced eight-year-olds become amazing singers? "Sing!" focuses on the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, which has worked out of two rooms in a basement for 15 years to create extraordinary music under the guidance of artistic director Anne Tomlinson. The film follows a group of children nervously auditioning for the limited spots in the chorus and dramatically shows their transformation from shower singer into choristers of exceptional vocal beauty. Through it all, they are typical pre-teens who also appreciate art and music in their lives. "Sing!" was a nominee in this year's Academy Awards short documentary competition, and was written and directed by Academy Award-winner Freida Lee Mock.
Tune into channel 410 for this special 30 minute presentation of "Sing!" on Friday, October 7 at 3 pm.

Georgia History 2006 Essay Contest: Georgia's History in your own Backyard

History surrounds us everywhere in Georgia in places like historic buildings, churches, battlefields, courthouses, cemeteries, even in the stories people tell. It is this abundance of history that led to The Georgia History 2006 Essay Contest topic of: Georgia's History in your own Backyard. This contest provides a chance for students in grades 4-12 to look around and discover what history can be found in their own neighborhoods.

The deadline to submit essays is December 12, 2005. Essays should be between one and two pages in length, with a maximum of 300 words.

Mail entries to:
Georgia Voyager Magazine
6063 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 101-A
Norcross, GA 30092

Essays can also be e-mailed to:
gvoyager@bellsouth.net

For more information visit gavoyager.com or call 800-243-6991

Friday, September 2, 2005

Join the DEN!!

You may be wondering about the DEN and what it represents. The DEN is the Discovery Educator Network, which is a global community of educators in the forefront of digital media in the classroom.

IF you

* use unitedstreaming regularly in your classroom, and you are interested in
exploring new ways to infuse the variety of digital resources into lesson plans
and classroom projects
* have seen how video clips can accelerate learning and help make abstract
concepts real
* are always seeking ways to make your classroom more exciting and your lessons
more effective
* want to communicate your enthusiasm to your fellow teachers
* are adept with digital technology and would like to share your skills with
others
* would enjoy being part of a select community of educators who share ideas and
best practices about the use of technology in the classroom
* would enjoy having the opportunity to attend educational conferences, serve on
advisory boards and give presentations about unitedstreaming and the use of
digital video in the classroom

THEN you are a perfect candidate for the Discovery Educator Network!!

Discovery Educator Network members will

* share ideas, insights, and inspiration with Discovery Educators around the
world
* have the opportunity to attend Discovery Education special events
* conduct at least four unitedstreaming presentations or demonstrations for
teachers in their own school districts each year
* participate in educational conferences and other professional development
opportunities
* be active users on the Discovery Educator Network discussion boards and online
community.

Discovery Educator Application


To apply to become a Discovery Educator, please fill out an application and email it to katherine_aiken@discovery.com . See details below:

Microsoft Word Document

Directions to ftp site

In the application, you will need to include the following:

- A one-page statement that addresses the following questions:
* What do you hope to achieve as a member of the Discovery Educator Network?
* What unique skills and experiences will you bring to the Discovery Educator
Network? How will this help other teachers?
* What methods or techniques do you feel are the most effective ways to integrate
technology resources into your curriculum. (Please be as specific as possible and
cite examples of technology integration and its impact on student achievement.)
* At least one example of a technology enhanced instructional resource you have
developed for the classroom.

Visit the Discovery Educator Network website. After reviewing your application, Katherine Aiken - Discovery Educator Network Field Manager for Georgia - will contact you, and she will provide further details about the program.

Think Math: Everyday Math Made Simple for Adult Learners

ALMA (Adult Literacy Media Alliance), the same organization who brought us TV411, is continuing to provide support to adult educators. With a grant from the National Science Foundation, ALMA has developed and produced TV411 Think Math DVD, a multimedia kit for teachers to make math relevant and fun for adult learners across the country.

ALMA's mission is to assist adults to achieve the basic reading, writing, and math skills they need to reach their goals. They create educational and entertaining television-based teaching materials that bring learning to the adults wherever they may be - in class, at work, or at home. They support teachers and social service providers through training and staff development workshops.

The TV411 Think Math DVD includes eight video segments from the TV411 broadcast series that show useful math lessons in everyday situations, lesson plans for educators of adult learners, worksheets that can be used in the class as well as for homework, and links to lessons and online games from the TV411 website. The math topics covered in this DVD are fractions, percentages, basic geometry, perimeter, ratios, rates, number patterns, and data analysis.

If you are an adult educator and would like a free copy of this multimedia kit, please call Linda Johnson at (404)685-2555 or e-mal her at ljohnson@gpb.org.

Thursday, September 1, 2005

NEW LOGO FOR IRASSHAI!

After ten years, the Irasshai logo is getting a facelift! The two characters in the original logo made their debut in the first episode of the videos series, Irasshai: Welcome to Japanese! in August, 1996. Since its inception, over 5,000 high school students and community learners have traversed the distance learning hallways of Irasshai, a three-year course in Japanese language and culture, and its logo was ready for a make-over. GPB's Jennifer Barclay, creator of the new design, is herself an admitted Japanese anime fan. "We were searching for a new look for our two-character logo," says Irasshai Program Manager, Kathy Negrelli. "Something that was appealing to a large audience and had a more modern feel. We are thrilled with the personal touch Jennifer added to our logo." The only thing missing from the new logo is a name for each character. Irasshai students will have the opportunity to help solve this problem by participating in a naming contest that will take place during the current school year.

View a larger version of the logo!


Look for T-shirts, buttons and other goods sporting the new two-character Irasshai logo soon!

Friday, August 5, 2005

GPB Honors Winners of 2005 Georgia Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators

Winners from of the 11th Annual Georgia Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators Contest were recently honored for their storytelling skills at a special ceremony held at Georgia Public Broadcasting's studios in Atlanta.

Twelve of the over 850 Georgia students, ranging from kindergarten to third grade, who entered their original illustrated stories were recognized. The four first place entries will move on to the National 11th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators competition. The contest is designed to challenge students to use their creative abilities to write and illustrate their own storybooks.

Georgia Public Broadcasting coordinated the Georgia regional contest in partnership with Reading Rainbow, Barnes & Noble, Innotrac and Holiday Inn. First place winners received free accommodations at Holiday Inn SunSpree Resorts. All winners received a book and VHS set from Reading Rainbow and a gift cards from Barnes & Noble; $50 for first place; $20 for second place; $10 for third place.

Nearly 250 contest participants, family members and friends attended Georgia Public Broadcasting's ceremony honoring participants of the Georgia regional contest where winners read their stories and were presented with prizes. After the ceremony was complete, children and their families were treated to lunch and an afternoon of fun and educational activities that included a special visit from Clifford The Big Red Dog.

The complete list of contest winners and story titles are as follows:

First Place:
Kindergarten: Raven Rose Balakonis, Eastman, "A Big Mess"
First Grade: Savannah Hillman, Hephzibah, "Sarah's Rainbow"
Second Grade: Emma Button, Lilburn, "Get Ready to ...Rumble"
Third Grade: Alex Buter, Marietta, "Never Run Away From Your Babysitter"

Second Place:
Kindergarten: Erin Machado, Roswell, "The Fight Over the Red Rose"
First Grade: Moriah Gibson, Stone Mountain, "Emma Goes to the Moon"
Second Grade: Hanna Geil, Kennesaw, "The Magic Closet"
Third Grade: Carlisle Vidourek, Fayetteville, "Animal School"

Third Place:
Kindergarten: Ramya Srinivasan, Roswell, "Sharing"
First Grade: Claudia Gaither, Athens, "Snowshine, The Snowfriend"
Second Grade: Blake Manuel, Stone Mountain, "Slow Poke the Turtle
Third Grade: Sarah Dobson, Ballground, "The Little Penny"

GPB: High Quality Resources, High Quality People

Since we began serving the Georgia learning community in 1994, the Education division of Georgia Public Broadcasting has continued to expand the programs and services we provide. We have grown from a small department operating a single ITV channel to a resource-rich organization providing programming and training through multiple satellite channels, open air television, and the Internet. In order to ensure that we are meeting the needs of teachers and students, GPB has assembled a team of professionals with the experience and expertise required to understand those needs and provide solutions. Take a moment to read about each member of our staff below and learn who can assist you with specific questions you may have about GPB programs and services.

The Leadership

Mike Nixon - Director GPB Education
Mike served as the Director of GPB's Information Technology Division for four years before assuming the directorship of GPB Education. His background in information systems and distance learning technology enables him to develop unique solutions for Georgia educators that maximize GPB's technological infrastructure while providing high quality resources for use in the classroom. Under his leadership, GPB Education has continued to expand our video streaming and webcasting capabilities, which provide video resources to schools via the Internet without the need for a television or VCR. Additionally, he has solidified partnerships with the Georgia Department of Education and a number of other education entities that have resulted in the development of programs and resources that impact not only classroom teaching, but also professional development for educators. You may contact Mike at mnixon@gpb.org or 404-685-2256.

Patrice Weaver - Operations Manager, Social Studies
Patrice came to GPB after 15 years in the classroom. Before getting her Masters Degree in Instructional Design and becoming an award winning social studies teacher, Patrice worked as a Chief Executive Officer and Fiduciary Accountant for 10 years. Both of these skill sets serve her well as the Operations Manager of GPB Education, where she is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the division, including the budget, broadcast and streaming services, and client services. In addition to supervising the division's other project managers, Patrice herself serves as the social studies project manager, responsible for evaluating social studies content for broadcast and maintaining the extensive Georgia Stories website. She has been Executive Producer on a variety of education multi-media projects and continues to conduct professional development trainings statewide. Patrice actively cultivates partnerships with other state organizations in order to serve the needs of Georgia educators. You may contact Patrice at pweaver@gpb.org or 404-685-2563.

The Administrative Staff


Gwendolyn Clayton - Administrative Assistant
Gwendolyn came to GPB from Atlanta Public Schools after managing a multifaceted computer lab with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Oglethorpe University. She is responsible for vital internal tasks that enable the project managers to most effectively serve our external clients. She supports the GPB Education staff logistically with all project needs, including purchasing, conference planning and preparation, and organization of internal meetings. Gwendolyn also manages required departmental documentation that allows staff to travel across the state and purchase supplies to meet the training needs of educators. You may contact Gwen at gclayton@gpb.org or 404-685-2548.

Jascenda Pasley - Administrative Assistant
Jascenda has been with GPB Education for four years, during which time she has become an indispensable part of our team. She is the person you speak with when you call the main GPB Education phone number, and she can assist you with placing orders for GPB original programs, finding the technical assistance you need for your satellite or video streaming equipment, and locating the appropriate GPB staff person to answer your content-specific questions. Jascenda also inputs all of the program information you find in our online program guide and assists the project managers in preparation for conferences and trainings. You may contact Jascenda at jpasley@gpb.org or 404-685-2413.

The Project Managers

Katherine Aiken - Language Arts, Foreign Language, ESOL
Before joining GPB, Katherine taught middle and high school for seven years in DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties. Outside of the classroom, she continued work in the educational arena by facilitating workshops, developing educational programming, and working with school districts across the country to deliver community-based initiatives. Katherine's combination of teaching experience and business savvy make her a unique asset to GPB Education, where she serves the language arts, foreign language, and ESOL communities. She is responsible for locating and evaluating programming in these subject areas as well as developing partnerships with outside organizations that benefit learners across Georgia. Additionally, Katherine helps to oversee GPB's TeacherLine professional development initiative and provides video streaming training to teachers, media specialists, and administrators. You may contact Katherine at kaiken@gpb.org or 404-685-2743.

Jeanne Allen
-Communications
Jeanne joined the GPB team in 2005 after graduating from the University of Washington with a double degree in Communications and Psychology. Jeanne serves as the Digital Communications Project Manager and is responsible for producing the monthly Pipeline E-Zine, coordinating design and production marketing materials, producing digital images, and creating other communications for GPB. Jeanne also works to educate and create awareness among teachers, media specialists, and administrators across the state about video streaming, programming, and other educational resources GPB has to offer. You may contact Jeanne at jmallen@gpb.org or 404-685-2418.

Rod Berry - Programming
Rod came to GPB Education from the world of database maintenance, where he worked to keep track of GPB's membership database for five years. Now that he's part of the Education team, Rod serves the crucial function of scheduling the programming that airs on Channels 410, 420, and 430. Rod is also in charge of seeking out new programming from vendors across the nation. If you have questions or concerns about the broadcast schedule, you can contact Rod. Also, if you would like to see more programming in a particular subject area, please let Rod know and he will do his best to acquire it for broadcast. You may contact Rod at rberry@gpb.org or 404-685-2649.

Linda Johnson
- Elementary Education Project Manager
Before joining GPB, Linda was a teacher for six and a half years. She most recently taught fourth grade in Cobb County for two and a half years. Prior to that, she spent a year in Mexico teaching English as a second language to middle school and high school students. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston and is currently working on her masters in middle childhood education with a concentration in mathematics at Georgia State University. Linda is the Elementary Education Project Manager, concentrating on science and mathematics initiatives. She can assist you with any questions you might have regarding science and math programming and professional development offerings. She can also provide you with information about the "COUNT ON IT!" math series for grades K-3 as well as the "Georgia Outdoors" program. Linda provides professional development training on using video streaming and multimedia in the classroom. In addition, she facilitates partnerships with other entities throughout the state that can serve Georgia educators and learners. You may contact Linda at ljohnson@gpb.org or 404-685-2555.

Laura Miller - Family Literacy, Ready to Learn
Laura came to GPB from WGBH in Boston, where she served as a member of the team that piloted Ready To Learn (RTL), public broadcasting's answer to the call for all children to begin school ready to learn. Laura has a Master's Degree in Education, with an emphasis in English, and experience working in various educational settings within the K-12 arena. Since joining GPB, Laura has served the Ready To Learn needs of the entire state through workshops for educators, parents, and caregivers. Additionally, she evaluates programming and oversees professional development in the areas of early childhood education, adult literacy, and family literacy. Laura further serves the needs of these communities through the facilitation of partnerships with other organizations to develop initiatives such as the Department of Education's Reading First project. You may contact her at lmiller@gpb.org or 404-685-2521.

Barbara O'Brien - Fine Arts
Barbara has been working in the fine arts community for her entire career. In addition to a wealth of personal experience as a dancer and choreographer, Barbara has an M.Ed. in education with an emphasis in dance. She has taught fine arts in classrooms from the pre-K through postsecondary levels, served as an artist-in-residence for various educational programs, and worked with such noteworthy Georgia organizations as the Fulton County Arts Council, the High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences of Atlanta. Since joining GPB as an Education Project Manager in 2003, Barbara has shared her fine arts knowledge with the larger Georgia learning community through the selection of fine arts education programming. She also provides professional development training for educators who want to integrate multimedia into classroom teaching of fine arts subjects. Additionally, Barbara facilitates partnerships between GPB and other organizations that further the cause of arts education in the state. You may contact Barbara at bobrien@gpb.org or 404-685-2545.

Irasshai

Lisa Hannabach
- Administrative Assistant for Irasshai
When you call the Irasshai Hotline (1-800-883-7444 or (404) 865-2811 in the Atlanta area), chances are Lisa's will be the first voice you hear. Although she has a B.A. in Japanese Language and Culture from the University of Hawaii and has lived in Japan for ten years, she promises to answer your Irasshai-related questions in English. As the administrative assistant for GPB's Japanese language and culture distance learning program, Lisa provides support to the Irasshai staff, acts as liaison between staff and enrolled schools, and facilitates the day to day operations of the Irasshai office.

Kathy Negrelli - Program Manager
Kathy comes to GPB with a Ph.D. in foreign language education from The University of Georgia and more than 20 years of teaching experience in Japan and in the U.S. ranging from elementary to university level. She has served on the team of Irasshai - GPB's high school distance learning course in Japanese language and culture - since its inception in 1995. She was an integral member in helping develop the Audio Interaction component of the course, as well as playing critical roles in the creation of Irasshai Explorer, the middle school course and i-irasshai, an interactive CD-Rom supplement to Irasshai. She currently acts as liaison between GPB and Irasshai subscribers across the nation, and is editor of the Irasshai Shinbun, a newsletter devoted to providing information and activities to facilitators and students of Irasshai.

Katsumi Suzuki- Program Coordinator of Irasshai
Katsumi came to the U.S. as a college student to major in English at Shorter College (Rome, GA). Her original plan was to stay in the U.S. for a few years until she graduated. During her last year of college, she went to visit a Japanese class at The University of Georgia. She was so excited to see American students learning Japanese, and she dreamed about becoming a teacher herself. She was encouraged to go to graduate school at UGA, where she studied foreign language education and taught Japanese in undergraduate classes for six years. She is one of the original staff who has been working for the Japanese distance course, Irasshai, since it piloted in 1996. She completed her Ph.D. in 2001 and is still enjoying teaching Japanese and coordinating the Irasshai program.

Sakiko Suzuki- Program Coordinator of Irasshai
Sakiko is originally from Kyoto, Japan and moved to the U.S. in 1997. She earned her Master's degrees in languages and cultures from Kansai Gaidai University and in comparative literature from The University of Georgia. She has been serving as a program coordinator of Irasshai since 2000 after having taught elementary school, middle school, and university both in Japan and in the U.S. Since 2000, she has been helping high students across the nation learn Japanese language and culture. Her 13 years of teaching experience in a variety of settings make her unique in her role as Distance Education Specialist in GPB's Education and Technology Division. She hopes that more students in the U.S. will broaden their worldview through learning the Japanese language and culture.

Even though the school year is coming to a close, the staff at Georgia Public Broadcasting is available to work with you on integrating technology into your classroom teaching practices. Contact any one of us to learn more about the resources we provide or to schedule training over the summer so that you can begin the 2005-2006 school year even better prepared to offer your students the meaningful learning experience they deserve.

Thursday, August 4, 2005

Letter from the Interim Executive Director:

Dear Educators,

As summer break comes to an end and back-to-school sales start, I find it hard to resist the urge to run to the store and buy some crayons, notebook paper and a cute new backpack. (I should mention that my daughter is now 27.) It just doesn't seem right for a school year to begin without brand new Crayolas.

At Georgia Public Broadcasting, we are excited to begin the 2005-2006 school year with our first exclusively digital issue of Pipeline. This new format will allow us to bring you the most up-to-date educational information without the limitations of a print format and save money to put into programs.

We value your input and want to remind you that your feedback is crucial to shaping the resources we provide to best fit your needs. If you have any suggestions or comments as to how this new format of Pipeline can be most useful to you, please e-mail Jeanne Allen, our Communications Project Manager, at jmallen@gpb.org. She will be happy to hear from you!

As always, we will continue to work with you throughout the school year to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom through technology integration. GPB Education brings you resources like video streaming, sample lesson plans, and professional development tools to supplement the important work you are doing in the classroom. We also provide tutorials on how to use the resources effectively such as topics like How to integrate video into the classroom. GPB Education has developed online course listings that comprise sequenced lists of video resources organized by course and relevance. Visit the online course listings located on the GPB Education homepage in the Teacher Toolbox to find the excellent resources to compliment your lessons.

All of us at GPB wish you a wonderfully successful school year for 2005-2006 and hope that our ongoing efforts to provide Georgia students and teachers with the highest level of educational resources will help you to make this school year one to remember fondly.

Nancy G. Hall

Wednesday, August 3, 2005

Satellite Startup Tips

1. If you've lost power to the Chaparral unit over the holidays:

* Power the Chaparral back on and tune the television to the channel used to view the Chaparral output.
* Ensure the satellite channel chosen is R7 AMC-3, Channel 14.
* Press the SAT/TV button on your Digicipher so that the SAT/TV light is lit in the display.
* The green Signal light should lit in the display.
* GPB Education programming will now be visible on the television set.

2. If your dish has been moved from AMC-3:

* Press the satellite selection button on the Chaparral remote.
* Scroll up or down using the up and down arrows in the center of the remote until R7 AMC-3 is located.
* Ensure that R7 AMC-3 is highlighted and press enter.
* When the "dish is motion" display disappears, press the time button on the remote and confirm that the dish is pointed to R7-14.
* Select channel 14 if it is not the channel displayed.
* See instructions above to receive GPB Education programming.

3. If the site has a green signal light and NO video:

* Contact the Convergent Media Systems Helpdesk at 800 877 -7805.

Additional Help:

If you have any additional problems operating your equipment, consult the satellite tutorial on the GPB Education website. If you still have questions, contact the help desk at (800) 877-7805.

Tuesday, August 2, 2005

Updates to GPB Education's Video Streaming

As the 2005-2006 school year begins, we want to remind you of a dynamic teaching tool you have at your fingertips - GPB Education's video streaming service.

The site contains:

* 40,000 + Video Clips
* 20,000+ Images
* Clip Art Gallery
* Blackline Masters
* Writing Prompts
* Teacher Features
* Calendar
* Quiz Center and more.

In the past, each school in Georgia used a generic username and password to access the unitedstreaming video content. Now we want to encourage you to use a unique passcode to create your personal username and password. Your personal account will automatically link to the larger school account.

The benefits of creating an individual account include:

* Chances to participate in self-paced interactive training modules
* Added ease when using the Quiz Center feature
* Ability to generate reports on individual video streaming use in addition to school and district use
* Opportunity to access existing product features and be prepared for new product enhancements in the future

You will still be able to

* Share Playlists with other members of your department, grade level and school
* Access downloaded video clips and images stored on your school's server
* Use all of the existing unitedstreaming features

We urge all schools to use their assigned passcodes so that GPB Education can keep accurate records of who is using the video streaming service and how often. This provides feedback on our training initiatives, allows us to troubleshoot problems at the system and building levels, and provides us with accurate data to justify continued support for offering video streaming to Georgia teachers.

At this time, we do not issue passwords to Georgia students. Please do not print the GPB video streaming login information on a course syllabus or post it on your school website or your individual web page. Sharing your personal login information with anyone who is not a Georgia educator violates the unitedstreaming user agreement. If you would like your school's passcode so that you can create your own individual username and password, please contact us at 1-888-501-8960.

Look for more video streaming information from GPB Education staff members as we host workshops at the following state conferences:

* COMO in October
* GaETC in November
* Other discipline-specific conferences.

If you would like to explore the GPB Education video streaming content, please contact us at 1-888-501-8960 to schedule training. GPB Education staff will be happy to conduct an orientation and offer ideas on integrating this powerful tool into your schools and classrooms.

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

GPB and DOE Urge Georgians to Read More

As every educator knows, a child needs a solid foundation in literacy to succeed in school and in life. In order to promote literacy and the importance of reading to young children, Georgia Public Broadcasting and the Georgia Department of Education have joined together to create the Georgia Read More initiative. The purpose of Georgia Read More is two fold. It allows state leaders, dignitaries, and celebrities the opportunity to support literacy awareness by reading their favorite children's book on camera, AND it drives home the importance of child literacy to students, teachers, and parents.

According to the U.S. DOE-funded Reading Rockets Project, the single most important thing families can do to help children become readers is to read to them every day. Each episode of Georgia Read More models reading for parents and children, demonstrating that reading together can be more than just a learning activity - it can be fun. Beyond simply reading aloud, it is also good practice for parents to talk with their children about the stories they have read, and to encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings about what happened in the book.

So far, four special people have given their time to share their favorite story with Georgia students, parents, and teachers in hopes of helping to promote literacy awareness in the state.

Kathy Cox - Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent Cox was the first person to volunteer to be part of the Georgia Read More initiative. She read her favorite story, The Princess Penelope, written by Todd Mack and illustrated by Julia Gran. The Princess Penelope tells the story of an ordinary young girl who imagines she is a real princess.

Mary Perdue - First Lady of Georgia
Mrs. Perdue joined the Georgia Read More initiative with a special reading of Miss Twiggley's Tree, by Dorothea Warren Fox. Mrs. Perdue read her story to a special group of young children at the Governor's Mansion in Atlanta. Miss Twiggley's Tree introduces readers to eccentric Miss Twiggley, who earns her town's gratitude after years of living in isolation.

Jimmy Carter - Former President of the United States
President Carter contributed to the Georgia Read More initiative by reading his book, Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer, to students at the Carter Center in Atlanta. This book for children of all ages describes how Jeremy makes friends with the baby Snoogle-Fleejer, which he first takes to be a monster.

John Smoltz - Atlanta Braves Player
John Smoltz, Braves pitcher and father of four, joined Georgia Read More effort to promote literacy by reading The Monster Who Ate My Peas, by Danny Schnitzlein. This story, which tells about a little boy who makes a deal with a monster to avoid eating his peas, teaches readers not to make hasty judgments, but to try new things.

Plans are underway to produce three additional episodes. The Georgia Read More series is currently scheduled to air on Channel 430. See listings for broadcast dates and times.

Saturday, May 7, 2005

Two Original GPB Science Series to Hit Air Waves This May

Three years ago, GPB developed two college preparatory science courses for use in schools that were unable to offer them due to insufficient staff or funding. The courses, entitled, Chemistry: A Study of Matter and Physics Fundamentals, have both been approved for high school credit by the Georgia Department of Education. Until now, these series have been available only through video streaming. Beginning this May, though, GPB is pleased to begin broadcasting the courses via satellite, so that even more Georgia schools will be able to take advantage of it.

The primary method of course delivery is through the 30-minute video programs featuring teachers presenting the material to students, demonstrations of principles and techniques, students asking questions and interacting with the teacher, and short assessments of the material. A certified teacher serving as an onsite facilitator for the class interacts with the students, sets up labs, and administers assignments and assessments for the course.

Physics Fundamentals and Chemistry: A Study of Matter will be available via satellite and the Internet for you to preview over the summer months; if you are interested in enrolling your students to take the courses for credit, please contact us at education@gpb.org or 404-685-2550.

Thursday, May 5, 2005

GPB Prints Its Final Issue of Pipeline Magazine

Traditionally, May is that special month when high school seniors the world over reach the end of the first phase of education and prepare to transition into a promising future either in college or the working world. This momentous transformation is symbolized by graduation, when students officially cross over from the realm of childhood into that of adulthood, prepared by years of learning and practice to face the challenges that await them. This May, GPB is celebrating a graduation of its own - Pipeline magazine is graduating from a limited existence as a paper publication to the boundless possibilities of the Internet.

Over the 11 years that Pipeline has been in print, it has seen numerous iterations, beginning as an eight-page black and white bulletin, developing into a sleeker 10-page color newsletter, and finally reaching its apex as a printed magazine: a 24-page color magazine complete with articles and broadcast listings. Now, Pipeline is taking a giant step forward, leaving the confines of its printed pages behind and taking up residence on the GPB website, where the expansive nature of cyberspace will allow for a multidimensional approach to sharing information with interested educators not only in Georgia, but anywhere in the world.

In addition to residing on the GPB website, the new Pipeline "e-zine," or electronic magazine is available to subscribers through e-mail. The e-zine arrives on the first of each month and offers a list of the month's articles along with brief descriptions. Each of these is linked to the full article on the website, so you can click through to continue reading.

With the additional space provided by the electronic format, Pipeline will now offer several regular features that you can look for each month. Every issue will have a TeacherLine section that offers information about current course availability as well as links to the online registration site. You can also find out where GPB will be traveling each month in the "Where We'll Be" section. For early education providers, parents, and caregivers, we will offer a "View and Do" section modeled after the Ready To Learn activities provided through PBS. And don't forget our new "Community Corner," where we will feature the information YOU share with us about what's going on in your school and community. Be sure to send pictures or video to accompany the stories you submit to pipeline_ezine@gpb.org.

In addition to providing more space and flexibility in terms of the magazine content, the switch from a print to electronic version of Pipeline also allows GPB to redirect a considerable amount of funding toward high quality programming and professional development opportunities for educators around the state.

Sunday, April 3, 2005

Have You Started Receiving YOUR Copy of the e-zine?

In February, GPB launched the electronic version of Pipeline. In addition to this hardcopy version, you may access all of the articles in an easy to navigate online format.

The new Pipeline e-zine (electronic magazine) will arrive directly in your email mailbox each month, so individual teachers as well as media specialists can have a subscription. Those who have already signed up should receive your copy at the first of each month; if you have not yet subscribed, fill out the online subscription form at on the Pipeline page. Anyone will be able to access the Pipeline e-zine online, but you will need to subscribe in order to receive the email version with time-sensitive updates each month.

The sooner you register, the more time you will have to ease into the transition to the electronic version while you still have your hard copy available. Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, Pipeline will be a completely electronic publication. The shift to a Pipeline e-zine will not only allow GPB to provide you with more timely, dynamic information, but the cost savings from printing and mailing will allow us to direct more dollars toward the purchase of high quality programming and the delivery of professional development training.

Saturday, April 2, 2005

GPB Offers A Look Inside Georgia Schools

In December, GPB told you about an exciting new project with Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox: a monthly television program highlighting best practices and sharing news about what's happening with education in Georgia. We are pleased to announce that the program, entitled Achieving Excellence: Inside Georgia Schools with Kathy Cox, began production earlier this year and is now available for viewing.

The program features Superintendent Cox and co-host Jane Robelot and is taped each month at the Georgia Public Broadcasting studios in Atlanta. Regular features of the program include interviews with education policymakers, original video productions sent in from students across Georgia, and a special segment called "Kathy's Corner," in which the Superintendent will take on difficult questions from students, teachers, and parents.

"This exciting new show gives us an opportunity to highlight the hard work going on in classrooms across Georgia, while sharing important and timely educational information with educators and the public," Cox said.

In the first episode, Superintendent Cox and Jane Robelot welcome Milken Outstand Educator Award recipients Susan Ralstin and Jennifer Couch for a discussion about the inventive teaching strategies they use to make a difference in their students' lives. The Superintendent and Chair of the Governor's Education Task Force Dean Alford talk about the importance of creating a dialogue between education policymakers and Georgia citizens to define excellence in education. Mrs. Cox accepts questions from a fifth grade student and a school principal, and Dr. Charles Fay shares the tenets of the Love and Logic philosophy. A video submission from the students at Brookwood High School offers information on how high school students can earn extra money. The show concludes with a request from the Superintendent and Jane Robelot to viewers to send in your questions, ideas for segments, and video submissions.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH TEACHERLINE

GPB has joined with PBS TeacherLine to bring you online professional development courses that allow you to earn 3 PLUs per course at a 57% savings. TeacherLine, developed through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, offers more than 80 research-based courses at every grade level from Pre-K through 12. The No Child Left Behind Act's standards for highly qualified teachers makes these courses - which include math, reading, technology integration, teaching strategies, science, and curriculum mapping - a necessary component of every responsible educator's professional development plan.

TeacherLine courses are available online, and are facilitated either locally or nationally by teachers holding Master's Degrees or higher. Courses are developed to fit in with teachers' individual needs. Assignments are due weekly, but you can choose when you go online to do them. You need to log into your course at least three(3) times a week to read articles, read, and respond to discussion boards.

Tuition for each course is $150, which covers facilitation and online course materials. Each course is worth three PLUs, which must be granted through your local school district. National courses may be taken for 2 hours of graduate credit, awarded by Adams State College, for an additional $90 fee per course.

Visit our website and click on the TeacherLine icon for more information or to register for courses.

GEORGIA HISTORICAL RECORDS ADVISORY BOARD

2005 Outstanding Archives Awards Program

Are your students creating projects using original historical records? Show them the value of their work!

The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board has two student award categories, grades 6-8 and 9-12. There are additional awards for educators and educational programs. You can obtain instructions and forms as well as view previous award winners at www.GeorgiaArchives.org; select "Who Are We" and then "Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board."

The submission deadline is June 1st.

GHRAB established the Outstanding Archives Awards Program in 2003 to recognize outstanding efforts in archives and records work in Georgia. By publicly recognizing excellent achievements, the Board strives to inspire others.

Get the 411 on Higher Education

Georgia Public Broadcasting was recently pleased to host Governor Sonny Perdue at our headquarters in Atlanta for the announcement of the Georgia Student Finance Commission's GAcollege411 program. GAcollege411 is an online mentoring resource that helps students and their families select a college, apply for admission, and develop a plan for financing higher education. The mission of GAcollege411 is to increase access to postsecondary education in the state of Georgia AND to simplify the tasks and processes related to planning, applying, and paying for higher education.

The site is organized into seven sections accessible through tabs across the top of the page:
- Career Info
- Student Planner
- GA Colleges
- Applications & Transcripts
- Paying for College
- GA College Savings Plan
- Adult Learner

Each of these areas provides students and parents with important information needed to ensure success in the many stages of education, from planning, applying, and funding to career choices after college.

Career Info

This section of GAcollege411 helps students to plan their college curricula by identifying majors that match career preferences. The Career Key survey solicits information about student interests and uses answers to assign Holland Codes, point values correlated to each of six personality types. The Student Career Matching Assistant takes students' Holland Codes, along with the answers to a few brief questions regarding your career preferences, and match them with a list of compatible careers. The matching assistant will also provide suggested majors for each career and the Georgia colleges and universities that offer them. If students prefer to examine all potential careers, GAcollege411 provides a list of careers grouped within broad occupational clusters. For each career, students may find a job description and breakdown of job tasks as well as information about the required experience, education, and training.

Student Planner

This section gives students the information they will need to plan their high school educations in order to meet college entrance requirements in Georgia. The Test Prep feature provides tutorials, interactive practice sessions, a Vocabulary Builder, techniques, and strategies to strengthen student academic skills in preparation for the ACT, SAT, and GRE exams. The Student Planner Timeline offers students a general guideline for the financial aid and college application process beginning with 8th grade and continuing through the senior year of high school. Beginning in July 2005, the High School Planner will allow students to track their high school coursework and compare it against the requirements of their colleges and universities of interest.

GA Colleges

This feature gives students several ways to evaluate the potential colleges and universities available to them after high school graduation. The Comparative View provides information such as student enrollment, student to faculty ratio, average financial aid packages, in-state tuition, and out-of-state tuition to help students and parents compare and contrast schools. The Campus Tours section gives an overview of each school, including photos, enrollment, admissions and financial aid information, a campus summary, and a lot more. The Matching Assistant allows students to choose colleges and universities according to specific criteria such as major, enrollment, financial aid availability, or percentage of students living on campus. The Distance Search enables students to search for schools near their home zip codes.

Applications & Transcripts

Rather than having to gather forms from countless organizations in order to apply for college admission and financial aid, GAcollege411 allows students and parents to find everything in one place. Students seeking financial aid are required to fill out a FAFSA form; students who have already entered their information into the GAcollege411 website will be able to transfer certain data to the online FAFSA application automatically. The Loan Application module allows students and parents to download application forms for student loans from the Georgia Student Finance Commission; online applications will be available soon. Students may also download applications for grants and scholarships. Beginning in July 2005, the College Admissions module will allow students to apply to the school of their choice online. As early as 2006, students will be able to send electronic transcripts along with their online admissions applications.

Paying for College
This section tells parents and students everything they need to know about paying for college. Financial Aid 411 gives a brief overview of the financial aid process, including types of available aid, eligibility information, and information about how and when to apply. Scholarships & Grants gives information about these programs and offers a search tool to help locate them. Additionally, sections on Savings Plans and Tax Savings tell parents and students about things they can do to save money for college. A special section called Tools & Calculators helps determine how much money students can and should borrow to pay for their higher educations.

GA College Savings Plan
This module provides an overview of the Georgia Higher Education Plan, a 529 savings plan that allows a state income tax deduction of up to $2,000 per year per student. These tax-exempt funds may be used to pay for thousands of higher education institutions. The site offers links to learn more about the program, sign up for an account, or manage an existing account.

Adult Learner
This section for nontraditional students seeking to begin or resume their higher educations will be available in July 2005. It offers information for students interested in obtaining their GED, career choice information, advice for first-time college students, information about restarting college, and information about financial aid for adult learners.

My 411
Students who choose to take advantage of the resources provided by GAcollege411 should be sure to utilize the My 411 module. Students can create special portfolios for career choices based on the information obtained through the activities in the Career Info section. They can also create Student Portfolios that document their achievements, awards, and activities throughout high school. There are also sections where students can save their top choices for colleges, review financial aid applications and status, and submit their personal profiles to recruiters at the schools of their choice.

Be sure that your students know that it is never too early to start planning for college. Encourage them to talk with their parents about GAcollege411 and to take an active role in determining the course of their higher educations today by visiting the site at www.gacollege411.com.

Friday, April 1, 2005

GPB Forms Network of Video Production Apprentices

Georgia Public Broadcasting serves all of Georgia through television, radio, and education. Our new Production Resource Development project combines GPB's expertise in the realms of television production and education to offer broadcast media students across the state the opportunity to gain valuable experience while at the same time creating high quality video content.

Noteworthy educational activity takes place across Georgia every day; unfortunately, GPB staff cannot capture video footage in unlimited locations simultaneously. In order to address this problem, GPB has created a network of higher education institutions with broadcast media programs to join us. We have divided the state into 12 regions, each of which contains at least one high school, college, or university with a broadcast media program. The following schools are currently involved in the project:

# Albany State University
# Atlanta College of Art
# Augusta State University
# Brenau University
# Chattahoochee Technical College
# Clayton State University
# Coosa High School
# Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School
# Emory University
# Fort Valley State University
# Gainesville College
# Georgia College & State University
# Georgia Institute of Technology
# Georgia Perimeter College
# Georgia Southern University
# Georgia Southwestern State University
# Georgia State University
# Rome City High School
# Southern Polytechnic State University
# University of West Georgia
# University of Georgia
# Valdosta State University

The top students from each school's program are selected to participate in the project as video production apprentices by utilizing their skills as journalists, videographers, and video editors. The apprentices first go on location to obtain video footage of educators and learners engaged in best practices and then use their school's production facilities to edit and shape the footage into finished video programs. Once the programs are completed, they are shared with the rest of the Georgia educational community via GPB satellite and video streaming.

This network serves the double purpose of providing valuable experience to broadcast media students AND creating timely educational programming for use by the classrooms GPB serves across the state. The Production Resource Development project offers the apprentices the opportunity to work with GPB's seasoned broadcast professionals, enhance their résumés, and earn money for their time. At the same time, the project allows GPB to maximize production of high quality video programs that both recognize outstanding education practitioners in Georgia and share successful strategies as professional development for other educators.

Since the inception of the Production Resource Development project in November 2004, GPB has recruited a team of more than 50 video production apprentices and completed 22 projects. Some of the events the network has covered include the USS Jimmy Carter kick-off, productions by the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts speech on the "Future of Space Exploration."

In addition to on-location production experience, video production apprentices have the opportunity to participate in special Tour and Train seminars at GPB once per semester. Apprentices from each participating institution are invited to Atlanta to tour the GPB production facilities and attend technical and editorial workshops designed to enhance their video production skills.

GPB has also invited the department heads from each school involved in the Production Resource Development project to join us for a Networking Day designed to promote inter-school collaboration and cooperation. This event will give the leaders of the broadcast education community across the state the opportunity meet one another, share education strategies, and develop potential partnerships to benefit their students and the larger learning community.

If your school has a broadcast media program and you would like to share this learning experience your students, contact Jake Shakhman at 404-685-2562 or jshakhman@gpb.org.

What's Happening In Your World?

Now that Pipeline is moving to a digital format, Georgia Public Broadcasting has almost unlimited space to share information about the goings on in communities around the state. We would like to extend an invitation to every school, system, and library to send us notices about educational events in your communities like science fairs, awards ceremonies, community lectures, etc., to be included in an ongoing section of the Pipeline e-zine called "Community Corner." Send us text, photographs, video, or any other information pieces that you would like to share with educators and parents in your community and beyond. Submissions may be sent to pipeline@gpb.org or Georgia Public Broadcasting at 260 14th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 - Attn: Amy Turner

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

GPB + ASO = Historic Duo

From September through December 2004, Georgia Public Broadcasting and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra engaged in a special project called "Instrumental Achievement." The project, which culminated in a video program available via satellite and the Internet, documents the instructional journey of a middle school music student and a master teacher over a six-month period of time.

The program features student violinist Chelsea Sharpe and her teacher, ASO violinist Ronda Respess in a series of lessons that provide insight into the:
- Process/progress of learning over time
- Importance of the relationship between a student and a teacher
- Selection of a teacher and the complex responsibility of the teacher's role
- Selection of a student and the guidance young musicians require
- Qualities and best practices that lead to efficient and effective learning experiences
- Preparation for the audition process
- Relationship between the student's private and public school music teachers
- Preparation of the student for the pressures of failure and success

Chelsea, a sixth-grader at Duluth Middle School, has been playing the violin for six years, the last two under the guidance of Ms. Respess.

GPB taped a total of six lessons for the project, beginning with Chelsea's introduction to the material she would need to learn for her All-State audition, and culminating with her performance of those pieces before a live audience. The progression of lessons captures Chelsea's musical development as well as the process of teaching and learning in the world of music. Interviews with Chelsea, her family, Ms Respess, and education experts about the audition preparation process are included in the documentary, giving viewers a greater understanding of the immense amount of time, effort, and discipline required to become a successful musician.

The final video, which will include selections from each of the lessons organized around specific learning themes, will be available to be recorded from satellite or downloaded via the Internet in the coming months. The video can be used by music teachers in both the public and private sectors, college and university faculty preparing pre-service teachers, students preparing for auditions, AND students and their parents discerning the possibility of a career as a professional musician.

The partnership between the ASO and GPB is generating a lot of excitement. "This collaboration... enables the ASO to extend its education reach beyond the Atlanta area to include all instrumental music teachers in Georgia and their students. We look forward to many more opportunities to work together," says Susan Merritt, Director of Education for the ASO.

In addition to the "Instrumental Achievement" project, GPB has also partnered with the ASO to make symphony performances available to listeners statewide through the GPB radio network. Tune in to GPB radio every Thursday at 8 PM and again Sunday at 10 PM to hear the world-class Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and interviews with renowned conductors, solo performers, and members of the orchestra.

Friday, March 25, 2005

Become a Regional Trainer

Regional Trainer Application PDF | DOC

GPB Education has been conducting professional development training for ten years now, and the number of educators we train continues to increase. In order to expand training capacity, we are seeking experienced educators - active or retired - to join our team of Regional Trainers. Regional trainers will be responsible for conducting and designing face-to-face and online trainings to be offered beginning in the 2005-2006 school year.

In order to become a Regional Trainer for GPB, you must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a valid Georgia teaching certificate, or have held one in the past five years (for retired educators)
- Have reliable transportation
- Be available to travel as necessary to satisfy training needs
- Participate in a Regional Trainer orientation to be held at Georgia Public Broadcasting in Atlanta during the summer of 2005

Regional Trainers will cover such topics as GPB Products and Services; Video Streaming; Multimedia Use in the Classroom (may be subject-specific trainings); Technology in the Classroom; and the use of original GPB programs (Georgia Stories, SALSA, Count On It, Georgia Outdoors, etc.) in the classroom. Trainers may suggest additional topics, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the GPB Training Coordinator.

Each trainer will be responsible for the training needs of a designated region, which may be a school district, select schools within a district, or multiple districts. As a Regional Trainer, you will have three training delivery methods through which to serve the educators within your designated region: onsite trainings, advance-scheduled training, and webcasts.

Onsite Face-to-Face Trainings -
As the designated trainer for your region, it will be your job to field any onsite training requests from the schools that fall within your area of responsibility, so you must be available to travel to accommodate those requests. Trainers will receive $30 per hour for each onsite training you conduct at a school, as well as reimbursement for travel* according to State of Georgia policies. Collateral materials such as handouts, pens, pencils, and calendars will be provided to the trainer by GPB.

Advance-Scheduled Trainings at State RESAs and ETTCs
-
Trainers may coordinate with a local RESA or ETTC to host a GPB training. This will encompass contacting the local training facility, setting a date, and then communicating that date to the GPB Training Coordinator, who will post the training information on the GPB website. Interested educators will register online and the GPB staff will pass the registrants' information on to the responsible trainer. Each Regional Trainer will be expected to conduct a minimum of three advance-scheduled trainings during the 2005-2006 school year; GPB would like trainers to offer additional dates over the summer if your availability permits. Trainers will receive a stipend of $200 for each advanced scheduled training conducted; these trainings will last 2 hours, plus the time it takes to setup and breakdown training materials. As with onsite trainings, travel costs* will be reimbursed and collateral materials such as handouts, pens, pencils, and calendars will be provided to the trainer by GPB.

Interactive Webcasts
- >
Regional Trainers will also be required to develop and conduct an interactive webcast training, to be included in the GPB Webcasting catalog.

Trainers will be asked to develop the training content, which will include a PowerPoint presentation and related electronic documents - handouts, images, websites, etc. Trainers will also be asked to conduct the training itself on-camera at the GPB studios in Atlanta. Scheduling of the taping is at the trainer's discretion, dependent upon your availability to travel to Atlanta. Trainers will receive a stipend of $150 for each interactive webcast produced, and will be reimbursed for travel expenses.* Additional stipends may be available for operating scheduled webcasts that have already been produced.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Regional Trainer, contact Jeff White at (404) 685-2555 or jeffwhite@gpb.org.

Regional Trainer Application PDF | DOC

* Travel reimbursement does not include overnight stays.

Tuesday, March 8, 2005

Practice Science Acrobatics with the Georgia Science Olympiad!

The new Georgia Performance Standards challenge Georgia teachers to make student learning more engaging and meaningful. For science teachers, activities like inquiry investigations and project-based assessment are important tools toward this end. There is now a special resource available to help Georgia science teachers develop lessons that draw on those tools: Georgia Science Olympiad (GSO).

Georgia Science Olympiad is an annual competition in which teams consisting of up to 15 students compete in 23 different events covering all fields of science, as well as some engineering and communication skills. Georgia's Science Olympiad program, the sixth largest state program in the National Science Olympiad, is divided into divisions for grades K-3, 3-5, 6-9 and 9-12. Activities vary depending on the division:
- K-3 division has in-school "fun days"
- 3-5 division has local tournaments
- 6-9 (B) division competes at regional, state and national tournaments.
- 9-12 (C) division competes at regional, state and national tournaments.

Currently, approximately 30% of Georgia middle and high schools participate in Georgia Science Olympiad. At the 2004 National Tournament at Juniata College in Pennsylvania, Georgia schools finished 1st and 4th out of 54 teams in the B Division and 22nd and 25th out of 54 teams in the C Division. This was the ninth consecutive year that Georgia produced a team that went on to win the national championship.

The National Science Foundation recently funded an evaluation of Georgia Science Olympiad to collect data and to determine its impact on students and teachers. Evidence showed that use of, or participation in, Science Olympiad events improved students' collaboration with peers, problem-solving abilities, ability to use scientific and technical equipment, self-confidence and self-esteem, scientific knowledge, and appreciation and understanding of the processes of scientific discovery and investigation. These results were observed both in students participating in the full competition and in students engaging in events used to supplement classroom instruction. More information about this research can be found at the Georgia Science Olympiad website.

Georgia Public Broadcasting is partnering with Georgia Science Olympiad to offer interactive webcasts for teachers interested in becoming GSO coaches. Recently, we produced webcast trainings on the Storm the Castle, Bridge Building, and Forestry events - and additional events are added regularly. Georgia Public Broadcasting's interactive webcasting allows teachers from all corners of the state to access high quality training on-demand.

Visit the Georgia Science Olympiad website or the GPB website to access the webcasts. For more information about getting involved in Georgia Science Olympiad, contact Dr. Milton Stombler of Georgia State University at (404) 463-9620 or mstombler@gsu.edu.

Monday, March 7, 2005

Become a TeacherLine Facilitator

Georgia Public Broadcasting has an immediate opportunity for teachers to help build Georgia's learning communities. GPB and PBS TeacherLine, an online professional development program for educators, are looking for qualified Georgia teachers with Master's Degrees in Math, Language Arts and Technology to facilitate online courses - and earn $1000 for it.

Are you interested in becoming a GPB TeacherLine Facilitator? Here's what you need to know before you sign up:

- TeacherLine facilitator trainees participate in a comprehensive three-step training program, which offers them different perspectives, helpful resources and unique methods for facilitating courses.
- All potential facilitators must attend a face-to-face one-day workshop, which will take place in Georgia and in some cases by phone. Goals of the Workshop are:
- Meet other facilitators trainees from Georgia
- Become familiar with the TeacherLine program and its components
- Address navigation and usability issues within:
- TeacherLine Web site
- TeacherLine courses and Blackboard software
- Begin discussion of online learning and facilitation
- Upon completion of the Orientation Workshop, facilitator candidates enroll in the six-week Online Facilitator Training (OFT) course where you will work with an experienced online facilitator trainer to learn more about online facilitation. Goals of the course:
- You will be able to explain, interpret and apply strategies for initiating and supporting the development of an online community, and for delivering content online.
- You will invest 5-7 hours per week for 6 weeks in this course.
- The OFT is based on the Concord e-Learning model. For more information please visit www.concord.org.
- Facilitator support does not end after the six-week course. You can participate in a support course made just for you- the Facilitators United Network (FUN) course. Facilitators can go to the FUN for ongoing support, resources, new ideas and discussions, how-to tips, a Mentoring program for newly trained graduates, an annual online event, and newsletters with updates from PBS TeacherLine.

To register for the next Online Facilitator Training and start earning money for helping your fellow teachers, contact Monica Thornton at 404-685-2418 or mthornton@gpb.org

Letter from the Interim Executive Director:

A new conversation about education has begun in Georgia. In late January at Georgia Public Broadcasting and in schools across the state, parents, students, educators, civic leaders, business leaders, and politicians gathered to talk about student achievement and how we define education excellence. GPB is proud to be a partner with Governor Perdue, Superintendent Cox, the State Board of Education, and the state's education organizations in facilitating this important dialogue about education, accountability, and outcomes. The energy and excitement here at GPB was clearly evident, and I hope infectious. We need every citizen, and especially every educator and every parent, thinking about and working toward education improvement in the state.

The conversation is continuing with additional statewide discussions as well as local and regional discussions planned with the Governor's Education Finance Task Force, chaired by State School Board Member Dean Alford. However, your input is important. You can be a part of the discussion by visiting the Investing in Education Excellence web site (IE Squared - IE2) and emailing your comments. Your comments will be shared with the Governor's staff, the Board of Education, and the Superintendent.

Georgia Public Broadcasting is committed to meeting our mandate to be a partner with the education entities in our state. We strive to meet your needs and support your efforts with our extensive resources. Of course, to be successful, GPB needs your feedback on our current services, and we need your ideas about how we can support educators and students in the future as technology becomes even more important in the delivery of education - - anytime, anywhere.

Over the past 10 years, our efforts have been focused primarily on elementary and secondary education. We are beginning to reach out to the higher education community through focus groups, surveys, meetings, and other tools to identify ways that we can support and promote higher education. We also want to build on higher education's efforts to work with PreK - 12 educators in the state. By making our resources available to them and sharing their valuable content with schools statewide, we can continue to grow the resources available to teachers and students of all ages and achievement levels.

Please feel free to contact us with your comments and suggestions about our programs and services. We value your feedback, and we need your ideas to be an effective resource and advocate for you. Thank you for your support and your work on behalf of the students of our state.

Friday, March 4, 2005

Three Cheers for Cheerleading

GPB and Prep Sports Plus are pleased to bring you the 12th Annual Georgia High School Association Cheerleading Championships. Since its inception in 1994, the State Cheerleading Championships has continued to garner increased participation across Georgia, with more than 200 schools currently vying for the state title. The 2005 competition was held on February 5 at the Columbus Civic Center, and Prep Sports Plus was there to tape it! The program, entitled Prep Sports Cheerleading 2005, is broken into 6 episodes - one for each classification:
- Episode 101 - Class A
- Episode 102 - Class AA
- Episode 103 - Class AAA
- Episode 104 - Class AAAA
- Episode 105 - Class AAAAA
- Episode 106 - Co-Ed Classification

Each 45-minute episode features the full 2 and a half minute performance from every one of the 16 schools per classification. This is the first time EVER that viewers around the state have had the opportunity to see their team's full performance on screen! Tune in to see any of the following three presentations on Channel 430:
4 PM, Wed., 03/02
1 PM, Thurs., 03/03
2 PM, Fri., 03/04

Look for other great Prep Sports Plus programs featuring Georgia high school athletics to begin airing on Channel 430.

Thursday, March 3, 2005

Bright Beginnings... Promising Futures

On behalf of Bright From the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning and its partners, you are cordially invited to participate in a premiere early childhood education event, Bright Beginnings... Promising Futures. This exciting conference will be held at the Hilton Atlanta from March 21-23, 2005, and is designed to build upon the vision of last year's Southern Stories Conference.

Concurrent workshops will address issues within each of the following areas:
- Physical development, health, and nutrition
- Strengthening families
- Parent involvement
- Early intervention, special needs, and inclusion
- Social-emotional development
- Professional development
- Research and collaboration

The conference is open to all early education professions working in State pre-K programs, Head Start, child care centers, family child care homes, child care resource and referral agencies, academic settings, and other agencies designed to serve children and families. For more information about Bright Beginnings... Promising Futures or to register, please visit www.decal.state.ga.us.

World's Largest Concert Celebrates Education with Heart

As you know, March is Music in our Schools Month (MIOSM) - and Georgia Public Broadcasting is kicking it off with the LIVE broadcast of the 2005 World's Largest Concert on March 10 at 1 PM. For 21 years, the World's Largest Concert has been one of the highlights of MIOSM. Since 1985, the WLC has reached viewers worldwide with a powerful message from young musicians about the importance of music education.

The theme of the 2005 World's Largest Concert is "Music: The Heart of Education," and the concert program is filled with familiar favorites of school children across the country:
# "Cross the Wide Missouri," a traditional American folksong
# "Down by the Riverside," an African-American spiritual
# "Home on the Range," a traditional cowboy song
# "Music of My Heart," a ballad by Diane Warren
# "The Start Spangled Banner," our national anthem
# "This Land is Your Land," an old favorite by Woody Guthrie
# "Younger Generation," a special tune by Ira Gershwin and Aaron Copland

The program will be performed at the Moran Theater in Jacksonville, Florida, and will feature the Jacksonville Children's Chorus and the St. John's River City Band. To assist teachers in preparing your students to participate, the National Association for Music Education (MENC), the sponsor of the WLC, has created The World' s Largest Concert Teachers' Guide with reproducible students music and piano accompaniments, lesson plans, and activities. The guide may be downloaded from the MENC website and may be reproduced and shared with your students. If you'd like printed music and a rehearsal CD complete with orchestral arrangements, you may purchase those directly from MENC at the site above.

Spend time with your students this month exploring all of the ways that music has touched their lives and enriched their learning experiences. And don't forget to tune in the World's Largest Concert on Channel 420 on March 10!

Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Special Offer for Teachers

Georgia Public Broadcasting and the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust have joined together to share lessons from the Holocaust with the 21st century students and teachers in Georgia. As part of this collaboration, GPB recently aired an outstanding new PBS program entitled Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State. In order to help Georgia teachers to use this program in the classroom and to provide a meaningful context in which to set discussions about the Holocaust, GPB and the Georgia Commission are offering free copies of a special discussion and resource guide. The guide for Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State provides background on the series, suggestions for using the series in the classroom, discussion questions, guidelines for teaching about the Holocaust, and a timeline complete with historic photographs. If you would like to receive copies of this guide to use with your students, please contact Jascenda Pasley at jpasley@gpb.org and provide her with your name, school name and mailing address, and the number of copies you require.

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Just Who Can Use Video Streaming, Anyway?

Since August 2001, Georgia Public Broadcasting has made programming available not only through its satellite network, but also via Internet delivered video streaming. More and more Georgia public school classroom teachers are becoming familiar with video streaming, but there are other entities in Georgia which may access to our over 26,000 video clips at no charge.

ELIGIBLE ENTITIES

- Independent Schools - accredited Georgia independent schools can apply to us for a username and password at no cost. We ask that independent schools send us a letter from the principal or headmaster on school letterhead requesting a username and password and providing the contact information (name, school phone, and email address) of the media specialist or technology specialist who will be responsible for disseminating the username and password to the faculty. Enclosed with the letter should be evidence of the school's accreditation.
- Public Libraries - public libraries may contact us at 1 (888) 501-8960 to obtain a username and password. According to our video streaming user policy, usernames and passwords may not be freely disseminated to students (for example, they may not be posted on a computer station in the media center), so public librarians may wish to designate one or more computers as video streaming stations, and keep those stations logged in throughout the day.
- Technical Colleges - media specialists or technology specialists at Georgia 2-year and 4-year technical colleges may request a username and password for their faculty, and for use in the media center. We ask that technical colleges, like independent schools, send us a letter from the school administration on school letterhead providing contact information for the media or technology specialists, as well as evidence of the college's accreditation.
- Home Schools - parents and teachers who have established a licensed home school may request a username and password. Home schools must be registered with their local school district superintendent. A copy of such registration, along with a letter of request, a description of the home school (number of students, teaching format, etc.), and current contact information should be sent to Georgia Public Broadcasting.
- State Educational Agencies -organizations such as the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers, and the DOE's Educational Technology Training Centers have usernames and passwords to use when training teachers; individual agencies such as the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia also have access. Similar agencies not currently using video streaming may contact us at 1 (888) 501-8960 and request a username and password.

INDIVIDUAL USERS

- Media Specialists - Each school is assigned one password that may be used by all teachers at that school to access the GPB Education Video Streaming Portal. This password, which may be obtained by calling GPB Education at (888) 501-8960, may be used by multiple users simultaneously.
- Teachers - GPB is now offering individual passwords to teachers so that you can create playlists of your favorite clips for easy recall and playback. Each teacher may use either the school password or his or her own password to access streaming resources, however playlists are only accessible to the owner of the account. Teachers wishing to create a playlist to share with other teachers should create that playlist under the school's account; private playlists may be created under the teacher's personal account.
- Students - Students are allowed access to the content available through the GPB Education Video Streaming Portal, but are NOT allowed access to the login information. Because of copyright liability and the sensitivity of some materials, only teachers and media specialists should have access to the username and password.

When assigning independent research that requires students to search for streaming resources on their own, teachers or media specialists should always log in themselves, rather than sharing login information with students. Once logged into the site, students will be able to conduct searches without any further need of login information.

If you do not know your school username and password or would like to create an individual account, please feel free to contact GPB for assistance. All written requests for video streaming access should be sent to: Georgia Public Broadcasting Education and Technology Services 260 14th Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30318 ATTN: Jascenda Pasley

Tuesday, February 8, 2005

Slavery and the Making of America

GPB is proud to present a new PBS series, entitled Slavery and the Making of America, which will air February 10 and 17 at 8:30 AM on Channel 420. This four-hour documentary, according to scholar Dr. James Horton, makes it clear that slavery was essential to virtually every aspect of the creation of our nation. Dramatic recreations from the perspective of slaves capture the struggles and triumphs of unsung heroes such as Harriet Jacobs, John Punch, and Robert Smalls, among many others. The series addresses the physical and psychological abuse that composed the daily life for those who didn't escape and shows that they were not passive victims, but survivors who refused to concede their culture, character, or spirit to the system that persecuted them.

Slavery and the Making of America is complemented by two extensive educational websites. The first site, located at www.pbs.org/slavery, expands on the program's content and enhances its impact through oral histories of former slaves, photographic collages, a multimedia timeline with links to interactive quizzes, maps photo essays, and more. The second site, located at www.slaveryinamerica.org, provides previously inaccessible resources, including narratives, literature, maps, essays, lesson plans, and historic images.

Sunday, February 6, 2005

Earn PLUS Through GPB and TeacherLine

Georgia educators have become familiar with the high quality originally produced and Annenberg/CPB professional development programming GPB provides. We are pleased to announce that we now offer access to PLU (professional learning unit) credit-bearing courses through our partnership with PBS TeacherLine, which offers online solutions for teacher professional development.

TeacherLine, developed through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, offers more than 80 research-based courses at every grade level from Pre-K through 12. The No Child Left Behind Act's standards for highly qualified teachers makes these courses: which include math, reading, technology integration, teaching strategies, science, and curriculum mapping: a necessary component of every responsible educator's professional development plan.

TeacherLine courses stand apart from other online courses not only because they are approved for PLU credit by the U.S. DOE, but also because they:
- Assure research-based instructional design
- Deliver standards-based content from recognized experts in the field
- Blend in-person and online instruction geared towards educators in the classroom
- Create learning communities
- Model best teaching practices with classroom video segments
- Provide authentic tasks with real-world applications
- Select best teacher resources such as lesson plans and essential questions.

TeacherLine courses are available online, and are facilitated either locally or nationally by teachers holding Master's Degrees or higher. Courses are developed to fit in with teachers' individual needs. Assignments are due weekly, but you can choose when you go online to do them. You need to log into your course at least three(3) times a week to read articles, read, and respond to discussion boards.

The decision to include TeacherLine in your professional development plan will have tangible results beyond your own increased knowledge of content and teaching strategies. A recent study from Hezel Associates and the Education Alliance at Brown University showed that schools in which at least ten percent of the teachers participated in TeacherLine courses had statistically significant achievement gains over schools that did not use TeacherLine. These gains were measured both in state report cards and standardized test scores.

Tuition for each course is $150, which covers facilitation and online course materials. Each course is worth three PLUs, which must be granted through your local school district. National courses may be taken for 2 hours of graduate credit, awarded by Adams State College, for an additional $90 fee per course.

Courses currently scheduled for March include:
- The Smart Chalkboard: Using the Computer for Dynamic Presentations K-12
- Data Analysis and Probability for Grades K-5
- Curriculum Mapping II: Intermediate Curriculum Mapping K-12
- Fostering Cooperative Learning, Discussion, and Critical Thinking in Elementary Math (Grades 1-5)
- Integrating the Internet into the K-2 Language Arts Curriculum
- Using Multimedia to Develop Understanding