Discovery Press Web United States

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Silver Spring, Md. (June 30, 2014) - Discovery Education invites all educators across North America to get back in gear for the new school year and avoid the "summer slide" with the Discovery Educator Network (DEN) Summer School. Launching August 1, this month-long initiative will provide educators with new tactics and strategies for transforming teaching and learning with digital content and educational technologies. Supported by Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content for K-12 classrooms, the DEN is one of the largest and most active communities of tech-savvy educators passionate about teaching with digital media, sharing resources, collaborating and networking.

Throughout the month of August, each day of the week will be dedicated to introducing new digital tools and resources educators can use to create authentic, engaging digital learning environments for students. Every Monday, educators can discover the creative and effective ways their peers have been implementing 21st century technology through Spotlight on Strategies (SOS), a weekly blog series that features simple integration strategies for using digital media.  Teachers and administrators are also invited to join the Discovery Education Summer School webinars each Monday at 7:00pm EST, which will explore in greater depth the topics covered in the SOS blog series.  Interested educators may register for the webinars by visiting dlc.com/desswebinar.

Each Tuesday, educators will learn through a series of insightful presentations, how to maximize the impact of Discovery Education's full suite of digital solutions in the classroom. These presentations, conducted by the experts from the organization's Support team, will highlight the latest content, features and resources now available in Discovery Education products and services.

On Wednesdays, the Discovery Education team will highlight the DEN's community programs, which connect educators with their most valuable resource - their peers in the education field.  The DEN community programs allow members to stay active all year long and collaborate with one another through social media channels, engaging reading materials, podcasts, and radio programs.

"Throwback Thursdays" will highlight the DEN team's favorite archived events, allowing participants to tune in to the DEN's flagship professional development events such as the semi-annual VirtCon and the annual DEN Summer Institute (DENSI).

Fridays will feature a "Digital Challenge," encouraging educators to dive into Discovery Education's digital content offerings. Through a series of five steps that include videos and step-by-step guides, educators will learn how to build effective learning experiences for students that utilize the very best resources and strategies from Discovery Education. Participants will see how they can use Discovery Education resources as an integral part of their daily lessons, differentiate instruction with digital media, and develop an understanding of the resources available for students.

"I'm looking forward to spending the month of August with the DEN and to showing my students that learning doesn't have to end on the last day of school," said Dacia Jones, Area Instructional Facilitator, Durham Public Schools. "I plan to connect virtually with other dedicated educators and to gain valuable insight on how I can continue to evolve my classroom practice through the thoughtful integration of digital content."

A global community of education professionals, the DEN connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing, and inspiration. As one of the largest professional education learning communities, the DEN has impacted more than one million educators worldwide. In 2011, researchers from the Harvard Graduate School of Education conducted a study of the DEN to determine how it has impacted educators' professional development and their use of technology in their work, finding that 90% of study respondents believed their participation in the DEN had tremendously or very much supported their professional growth.

"The summer is a crucial learning period for both students and educators; we are thrilled to provide a valuable forum for educators who are eager to build their skills and create dynamic digital learning environments for their students," said Lance Rougeux, vice president of learning communities at Discovery Education. "The DEN is committed to connecting educators with their peers, helping them to meaningfully integrate digital content into everyday classroom activities, and to ultimately advance student achievement."

For more information on the DEN Summer School, visit http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/tag/de-summer-school/.  For more information about other Discovery Education products, services and initiatives, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind.  Available in over half of all U.S. schools and primary schools in England, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.