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In this October 2008 issue:
Wisconsin Election Resources | Soundwaves Radio Contest | Into the Book Web site Award
Interactive Media Specialst | Money Smart Week | Upcoming Conferences | Ukraine Visitors
MARC Records | DTV Explained | News Archive

Whad'Ya know...about elections? Not Much!

With countless hours of Radio, TV and Internet election advertising dominating the airwaves, we provide facts and tools to help you and your students examine this deluge of campaign ads. The 30-Second Candidate: A toolkit for analyzing campaign advertising features downloadable worksheets and lesson plans, all of which are indexed to Wisconsin Academic Standards.

Students will learn to separate the "30-Second Candidates" from the real candidates!
Check out the website!

Nothing about the issues facing the candidates and American voters in 2008 is black and white, and issues affecting our youth are at the forefront of almost every debate. With these You Decide activities, students can explore both sides of an issue, put their own critical thinking to work, and discuss pros and cons with classmates. In the end, perhaps your students will ask different — and better — questions than those presented here: www.kqed.org/w/youdecide

Address American History and Civics standards and help your students participate in the election process with these elementary and secondary resources from PBS Teachers. Invite your students to share their opinions, track candidates and explore issues with new Web-based tools, many of them already available at WisconsinVote.org. www.pbs.org/teachers/vote2008

And for your youngest students, KidsVote, and Kids Win! Wisconsin students from kindergarten through third grade will get a practical lesson in democracy by participating in Wisconsin KidsVote 2008.

This mock election allows younger students to cast a ballot for characters from their favorite PBS Kids shows! After the votes are tallied, WPT will broadcast a full day of programming featuring the winning candidates.

The students get a taste of what voting means, and it gives them a chance to see the results of the electoral process. E-mail kids@wpt.org for more information! www.wpt.org/kids

Ready, set, create!
Earning statewide recognition,exploring creativity, learning about the varied aspects of mass communication, and simply having fun—these are just some of the reasons to encourage students around Wisconsin to send an original entry to the Sound~Waves: Wisconsin Youth Radio Festival.

The entry deadline for this year is:
January 31, 2009. As always, the Educational Communications Board and Wisconsin Public Radio await the many imaginative entries that students submit. Winning entries will be awarded $100 cash and some may have the opportunity to go to Wisconsin Public Radio’s Madison studios to reenact and record their program with the help of profes-sional staff. The winning entries will then be broadcast on Wisconsin Public Radio in the Spring of 2009.

Aparna Subramanian, Project Assistant for the annual Sound~Waves: Wisconsin Youth Radio Festival says, “Sound~Waves has been a great vehicle for students to express themselves as well as to learn about careers in broadcasting and content creation in the field of communications. We’d like to increase the value of student participation. To accomplish that, teachers should start early to think about how an audio project might fit into their curriculum for the year.”

With the annual Sound~Waves contest deadline for entries nearing in January of 2009, now is the perfect time to give students a head start by integrating the Sound~Waves program into a variety of curricula.

Using electronic media, one idea might include students recording a monthly podcast in response to a classroom theme. Student entrants will also learn more about what makes a good audio program, including sound effects, dialogue, character, and suspense which enrich subjects
like language arts, music education, and science.

Says Subramanian, “Students should learn about using the computers they have at their disposal to make the best possible recording for their Sound~Waves entry.
With a digital entry, they can more easily manipulate, improve and distribute it. Quality entries might be incorporated onto kids’ Internet radio sites and possibly be available worldwide.”

In addition to digital media, there are other subjects in which Sound~Waves can be integrated.
In the field of language arts, students can write and perform an original work or adaptation. Producing a documentary or dramatizing a significant event could be woven into a social studies or science curriculum. Creating and performing an operetta could integrate elements of music education.

Sound~Waves: Wisconsin Youth Radio Festival gives Wisconsin schoolchildren in grades 3 through 12 a chance to experiment with the universal medium of radio. For complete information on the upcoming 2009 Wisconsin Youth Radio Festival, visit http://www.ecb.org/soundwaves for program updates. Now is the right time to get your students involved!

Try out the great online reading activities for students and learn more about the Parent's Choice award at www.ecb.org.

How long and in what areas have you worked in the field of education?

I have worked in the field of education in various settings for over ten years. Initially, I worked as a tutor and mentor in the Madison Metropolitan School District before becoming a Special Education Resource Teacher in the Minneapolis Public Schools. I have also worked in educational technology at UW-Madison with Educational Portfolios and Career Services. Most recently, I developed and co-directed an outdoor orientation program at UW-Madison for incoming students. I have a cross-categorical special education certification and a master’s in curriculum and instruction.

How do you think your prior experiences will help you in your new role as Interactive Media Specialist?

I have a strong background in curriculum and interactive media development in diverse contexts. The skills I’ve acquired in these areas, coupled with my recent experience in program development, will support my work at the ECB by allowing me to develop and utilize technology in new ways in order to better support teachers. I enjoy the challenge of creating innovative and meaningful content that engages learners from diverse backgrounds.

What are some of the challenges that you feel schools will face as they implement datacasting?

The biggest challenge that schools will face with datacasting is the initial system set-up, which is why the ECB has designed implementation materials that provide step-by-step instructions to support the implementation process. In addition to our support materials, we also provide technical support to make the implementation process more user friendly. Once the system is up, receiving and utilizing datacasts is straightforward. I’m excited to join the team at the ECB and look forward to supporting Wisconsin educators!

October 12-18, 2008, is Money Smart Week Wisconsin (www.moneysmartwi.org), an initiative to help all Wisconsin residents increase financial knowledge.

In support of Money Smart Week Wisconsin, the Education Services division of the Educational Communi-cations Board is proud to air programs that educators can use to bring awareness of financial literacy to their students.

Don’t miss the following programs that air during Money Smart Week Wisconsin!
(For broadcast dates and times, visit www.ecb.org/education/MoneySmartWeek.htm, or refer to your Parade of Programs.)

Financial Fitness (Grades 9-12)
This four-part series shares strategies for staying financially fit.

The ‘E’ in Me; the Entrepreneur in You (Grades 9-12)
With this series, students assess their financial potential to start a business.

Electric Money (Grades 7-12)
Electric Money examines how the digital revolution has transformed the financial world over the last 50 years.

Biz Kid$ (Grades 6-12)
Biz Kid$ teaches the basics of saving, budgeting, and giving back through real-life stories of inspiring kids and adults!

What’s Up in Finance? (Grades 7-12)
This half-hour program is in a reality show format. Young people must tackle money matters and plan for financial security.

Money Track (Grades 11-adult)
A public television series that looks at investment strategies and financial planning. (not listed in Parade of Programs)

For more information on these and other educational series, visit:
http://www.ecb.org/education/MoneySmartWeek.htm

WEAC Conference – October 30-31, 2008
Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI
ECB Presents:
Professional development resources, new educational series, & prizes

2008 WAFLT Conference – November 6-8, 2008
Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appelton, WI
ECB Presents:
World Language Assessment: Get in the Mode!

Ukrainian educational officials visit the ECB!

ECB recently hosted a delegation of education officials from Ukraine through the Open World program. Open World introduces leaders from post-Soviet states to American institutions, & works to develop a network of American and foreign leaders who collaborate on joint projects.

Gene Purcell & Peggy Garties spoke with the delegation about ECB's and the Education Division's mission and projects, and they toured the Operations Center with Jim Blaubach. The Board Room looked like the UN for the afternoon, with a simultaneous interpreter capturing every word!

MARC Records Available for Download