JANUARY 2016

New Virtual Field Trip To Warm Springs
Learn about FDR's retreat throughout his presidency

Our latest virtual field trip is now available through the GPB app on iPad and on the web at gpb.org/virtualfieldtrip . You will need to request a login  to get started. If you have a login for the Georgia Studies digital textbook, that login will work for the virtual field trip series.  Warms Springs serves as home to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Little White House and the natural springs that were historically used for treating polio. Students can take 360-degree tours, watch videos and hear interviews with experts, and view historical photos. For more information, email us at education@gpb.org.

2016 Educate Georgia Summit Set To Take Place At State Capitol
Learn how to register

State officials, educators, parents, and business and community leaders will converge on Capitol Hill January 25-26, 2016 to discuss the future of education in Georgia. State Representative Valencia Stovall (D-Lake City) will host the two-day Educate Georgia Summit at the State Capitol during the 2016 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly. The summit will also feature the State of Education Luncheon with keynote addresses from Governor Nathan Deal and State Superintendent Richard Woods. Click to learn more and register to attend. 
Are You A Digital Innovator At Your School?
2016 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators 
Program is 
accepting applicants

PBS is excited to announce the fourth annual Digital Innovators Program for tech-savvy K-12 educators. The program recognizes educators nationwide who are incorporating digital media in classrooms and serving as leaders in educational technology.  Over the course of the 2016-17 school year, PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators will be part of a robust professional learning community that will foster new ways of thinking, while leading the way in using technology to drive student achievement. Fifty-four applicants, one from each US state and territory, will be designated as Lead PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators and will also receive a three-day, all-expense-paid trip to Denver, Colorado to participate in the PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Summit and the prestigious ISTE Conference from June 25-27, 2016. Plus, each Lead PBS Digital Innovator will receive a Samsung Galaxy® tablet. 

Applying is as easy as 1-2-3! Simply create a short video, answer two essay questions, and complete the online application by February 8. Click for more information!
Get Coding With PBS KIDS ScratchJr
New app sparks kids' creativity while teaching them how to code

Available for both iPad and Android tablets, the free ScratchJr app caters to children between the ages of five and ten and helps them produce interactive stories and games while learning coding basics. Familiar faces from hit series that children know and love like WordGirl, Peg + Cat, and Nature Cat come to life as they connect colorful programing blocks to make them dance, move, jump, and sing. Click to learn more!


NFL PLAY 60 Challenge
Get your students moving

The American Heart Association and the National Football League, working with Discovery Education, have joined forces to amplify the NFL PLAY 60 Challenge's reach and impact by inspiring physically active lifestyles in schools and homes nationwide. With a custom set of lessons, videos and interactive activities, students will have the tools they need to get the necessary 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

Teach your students the impact of physical activity on health and wellness with these fun, interactive lessons and family activities. Aligned to National Physical Education Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and state standards for grades 6-8, these lessons allow educators to relay the importance of daily physical activity and provide an engaging, hands-on experience to bring critical content to life.  Click for details.

EdTech Tips
EdTech Tips: Teachers' 10 Must-Have 
Chrome Extensions

Because of the rapid evolution of technology, new terminology is often introduced so quickly you are left without a clear understanding of its meaning. Apps, extensions, add-ons...the list of confusing words continues to grow. Simply put, applications (apps) are types of software that allow you to perform certain tasks. Extensions, a type of add-on, exist to make web browsing easier. Still unsure? Think of it like this: Google Chrome is an app, and an ad blocker is an extension that enhances the browsing experience. Now that we have gotten that cleared up, we have compiled a list of 10 Chrome extensions that will save teachers time (and possibly a headache or two!).
PBS TeacherLine's Winter Term Starts Soon
Facilitated courses scheduled to begin January 13th and February 17th

Looking for a fun, flexible, and collaborative professional learning opportunity? As a brand teachers know and trust, PBS TeacherLine offers courses that make learning truly come alive. These courses include tools for integrating technology, peer interactions, interactive lessons, and authentic tasks with real-world applications. Whether you choose to work on them in your classroom after school or in the comfort of your own home, PBS TeacherLine courses are as convenient as they are respectable. To ensure a spot in your desired class, it is suggested that you enroll at least 10 days prior to the course date.  PBS Teacherline also offers SELF-PACED courses. Most only cost $49 and some are free. You can explore content, watch videos, complete interactive labs and take self-assessments at your own pace. These self-paced classes that focus on the principles and practices of teaching are perfect for sparking new ideas, expanding skill sets, and energizing classrooms.

For more information, visit TeacherlineSoutheast.org