Nathan Grams, a teacher from Prairie River Middle School in Merrill Area Public School District, recently joined more than 100 fellow educators from around the world for the 2018 DEN Summer Institute (DENSI), an immersive, week-long professional development experience. A global community of education professionals supported by Discovery Education, the Discovery Educator Network (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 15-20 at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC.
DENSI 2018 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 and strategies for integrating the latest technologies and digital content into classroom instruction.
“We are very proud that an educator from our district was selected to participate in DENSI 2018, and our community is inspired by his commitment to using the latest technologies and digital content to help all students reach their highest potential,” said Superintendent Dr. John Sample. “The students of Merrill Area Public School District will benefit tremendously from the new approaches to using educational technologies Grams has taken away 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.
“Nathan’s selection for DENSI demonstrates his outstanding leadership and commitment to using the latest technologies and innovative teaching strategies and techniques to improve student achievement,” said Lance Rougeux, vice president of learning communities and innovation for Discovery Education. “His participation in DENSI 2018 will help increase student engagement across Merrill Area Public School District and support the district’s effort to prepare all learners with the critical skills they need to succeed beyond the classroom.”
In addition to hearing from education experts, Grams 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. Grams also collaborated with fellow educators on a variety of educational technology projects, and shared ideas and best practices with his peers.
After participating in the DEN Summer Institute, Grams will return to Merrill Area Public School District equipped to help his peers transform teaching and learning with new strategies and techniques for integrating digital resources into curriculum and instruction.