DEN+Summer+Institute

240-662-2893 __stephen_wakefield@discovery.com__ || 817-470-7559 __anna_duerr-cw@discovery.com__ ||
 * **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** || **Contacts:** || Stephen Wakefield, Discovery Education
 * ||  || Anna Duerr, Discovery Education

**__Austin Independent School District Educator Participates in Exclusive Discovery Educator Network Summer Institute__**

//--Professional development opportunity focused on expanding participants’ educational technology integration skills--//


 * Silver Spring, Md.** (July 28, 2010) – Claudia Bedoya, a teacher at Pickle Elementary School in Austin Independent School District, along with 75 other educators from across the country, recently spent six days at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass. participating in an exclusive professional development event for __Discovery Educator Network__ (DEN) members July 18-23. The DEN Summer Institute was hosted by  __Discovery Education__, a division of Discovery Communications, whose networks include Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.

The DEN is a global learning community of more than 125,000 active educators who are passionate about using educational technology and digital media in the classroom to engage students in learning. Launched by Discovery Education in June 2005, the DEN fosters collaboration and helps educators share resources, ideas and classroom-tested strategies for engaging students in learning and ultimately improving academic achievement.

The DEN Summer Institute is an opportunity exclusive to STAR Discovery Educators—DEN members recognized for their efforts to share their insight and expertise with peers through activities such as trainings, workshops or presentations on how to integrate digital media and the latest educational technologies into classroom instruction. Bedoya is one of only 5,000 STAR Discovery Educators nationwide.

During the recent DEN Summer Institute, participants heard from a variety of speakers, including Peter Reynolds, founder of FableVision—an educational resource company dedicated to helping all learners discover their true potential. Educators also participated in hands-on workshops, collaborated with fellow educators on a variety of educational technology projects, and networked with their peers to share ideas and best practices. By the end of the Institute, participants had created numerous classroom-ready multimedia projects and learned a variety of new strategies and techniques for integrating digital content and educational technologies into their classroom activities.

“As a STAR Discovery Educator, Claudia has committed herself to engaging students through the use of digital media and technology,” said Discovery Education Director Lance Rougeux. “Now through her participation in the recent DEN Summer Institute, Claudia has gained new skills to apply and share with Austin Independent School District peers to improve student achievement.”

For more information about the DEN, visit __http://community.discoveryeducation.com__.

For more information about Discovery Education, visit __http://www.discoveryeducation.com__.

Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) revolutionized television with Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education. Powered by the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement. Already, more than half of all U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services. Explore the future of education at __www.discoveryeducation.com__.
 * About Discovery Education**


 * Photo Caption ** : Discovery Education Director Lance Rougeux (left) with Claudia Bedoya at the 2010 Discovery Educator Network Summer Institute in Waltham, Mass.
 * Photo Credit ** : Discovery Education