2015 DISCOVERY EDUCATOR NETWORK SUMMER INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS NEW STRATEGIES FOR CREATING DIGITAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS Elizabeth Hillman, Discovery Education240-461-3053elizabeth_hillman@discovery.com – 2015 Discovery Educator Network Summer Institute Helps Educators Connect, Collaborate, and Share Resources and Ideas – Silver Spring, Md. (July 20, 2015) – Discovery Education’s Discovery Educator Network (DEN) recently hosted 128 educators from across the U.S., Canada, and United Kingdom for the 2015 DEN Summer Institute (DENSI), an immersive, week-long professional development experience. A global community of education professionals supported by Discovery Education, 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. The six-day professional learning experience was held July 12-17 at American University in Washington, D.C. DENSI 2015 featured a number of interactive seminars and hands-on workshops designed to support educators as they combine the latest technologies and digital content to create authentic digital learning environments that engage students and improve achievement. In addition, DENSI provided an opportunity for participants to connect, collaborate, and share resources, ideas and strategies for integrating the latest technologies and digital content into classroom instruction. “DENSI gave me the unique opportunity to learn from, collaborate, and network with other enthusiastic educators from around the world who share my passion for incorporating digital resources into classroom instruction,” said Kristen Davis, a teacher at Jay Elementary in Florida’s Santa Rosa County School District. “I am excited to share the new, creative strategies and techniques for integrating technology into classroom instruction with my colleagues at Santa Rosa County School District so even more students can benefit from this great professional learning opportunity.” Participation in the DEN Summer Institute is open to educators recognized by Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, as STAR Discovery Educators. STAR Discovery Educators are active members of the DEN and proven leaders in transforming teaching and learning. The DEN is the largest and most active professional learning network of its kind. During the DEN Summer Institute, educators heard about the latest trends in education from a variety of noted experts, including Trace Dominguez, Host of TestTube’s DNews, Discovery Digital Networks; Hall Davidson, Senior Director of Global Learning Initiatives at Discovery Education; Steve Dembo, Director of Social Media Strategy and Online Community at Discovery Education; and Dean Shareski, Community Manager at Discovery Education Canada. In addition to hearing from education experts, attendees participated in a series of interactive workshops led by the Discovery Education professional development team and other DEN members about creating digital content and integrating mobile and web-based tools into instruction; collaborated with fellow educators on a variety of educational technology projects; and shared ideas and best practices with their peers. “The talented group of educators who participated in this year’s DENSI demonstrated their leadership and commitment to enriching students’ learning experiences through innovative technologies and instructional strategies,” said Lance Rougeux, vice president of learning communities and innovation for Discovery Education. “I’m confident the skills and knowledge they have gained from this opportunity will increase their students’ engagement and achievement, and better prepare them with the critical skills necessary for success beyond the classroom.” After participating in the DEN Summer Institute, educators will return to their schools in the fall with numerous classroom-ready multimedia projects as well as new strategies and techniques to integrate digital resources into curriculum and instruction to transform teaching and learning. For more information about the DEN Summer Institute, visit https://www.discoveryeducation.com/what-we-offer/community/connect-with-the-den/den-summer-institute.cfm. To learn more about the DEN and Discovery Education’s other services and initiatives, visit www.discoveryeducation.com About Discovery EducationDiscovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional development, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 3 million educators and over 30 million students, Discovery Education’s services are in half of U.S. classrooms, over 40 percent of all primary schools the UK, and more than 50 countries. Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase 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.