Discovery Education Now Accepting Registrations for 2011 Spring Virtual Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Stephen Wakefield, Discovery Education
240-662-2893
stephen_wakefield@discovery.com

Emily Embury, C. Blohm & Associates
608-839-9806
emily@cblohm.com

–Rushton Hurley of Next Vista for Learning keynotes free professional development event on April 30 focusing on integrating educational technologies into classroom instruction–

Silver Spring, Md. (March 9, 2011) – Teachers and administrators worldwide are invited to join online and in-person on Saturday, April 30, 2011, for the Discovery Educator Network Virtual Conference. Sponsored by Discovery Education, this Spring’s Virtual Conference theme is Think Outside the Book. The high-quality, free professional development seminars scheduled for this event focus on providing attendees the skills and techniques they need to combine digital content and educational technology to maximize each resource and improve student engagement.

The Spring Virtual Conference is presented by the Discovery Educator Network (DEN), a global community of educators supported by Discovery Education. The largest professional learning community of its kind, the DEN empowers educators across the country through both online and in-person activities that facilitate the successful implementation of educational technology and digital content in the classroom.

Keynoting the Spring Virtual Conference is Rushton Hurley, director of educational nonprofit, Next Vista for Learning. Dedicated to making learning more engaging, Next Vista for Learning focuses on helping students start strong with any topic they study through the application of digital content. During his remarks, Hurley will discuss how educators can effectively leverage digital content and educational technologies as classrooms transition from static textbooks to exciting digital curriculum.

In addition to Hurley, the Spring Virtual Conference will feature presentations from DEN Gurus and other nationally known Discovery Education speakers. These informative sessions will cover a variety of relevant topics, such as differentiating learning with digital content, integrating new Web 2.0 tools into instruction, and maximizing participation in the DEN for optimal personal and professional growth.

“I consider Discovery Education’s Virtual Conferences ‘must attend’ events,” said Gail Braddock, educator at St. George’s Independent School in Germantown, Tenn. “This event provides great keynote speakers who offer a vision for the use of digital content in the classroom, plus meaningful breakout sessions that convey useful techniques and strategies for using educational technology, which I can apply immediately to my classroom instruction.”

This exciting event will be delivered via webcast to conference attendees worldwide. In addition to attending the Spring Virtual Conference online, participants have the opportunity to attend in-person regional events hosted by the DEN Leadership Councils. Those attending in-person gatherings will participate in the online presentations, as well as breakout sessions presented by local STAR Discovery Educators.

“Discovery Education is pleased once again to be presenting the 2011 Spring Virtual Conference,” said Scott Kinney, Senior Vice President of Global Professional Development, Policy & Education Outreach. “Through the Discovery Educator Network and events like this, we are proud to support educators in the United States and around the world as they transition to digital content as their core instructional tool.”

For more information about the Discovery Educator Network Virtual Conference or any of the in-person regional events complementing the conference, including schedules and registration information, visit http://links.discoveryeducation.com/infoDENVirtCon.

For more information about Discovery Education and the Discovery Educator Network, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Discovery Education
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.

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