Helping Colorado Educators and Students Discover the Treasures
of the Library of Congress

AAM-Colorado Newsletter • Edition 9 • January 2007

• Librarian Days 2007: Educating the Digital Learner
  
• Spring 2007 Workshops for K-12 Educators
• AAM-Colorado teams with Rocky Mountain PBS
• AAM-CO Highlights for 2006
• American Memory Across Colorado
• AAM-Colorado Events
• AAM-Colorado Staff and Fellows Update

Special thanks from the Librarian of Congress, Dr. James Billington

At the recent AAM Directors meeting Dr. James Billington, Librarian of Congress, thanked the AAM-Colorado staff for their participation and contribution. 

In his letter to director Peggy O’Neill-Jones, Dr. Billington said:

“As the Library embarks on the successor to An Adventure of the American Mind, Teaching with Primary Sources, please know that the role you played in developing a network of educators committed to using primary sources in the classroom will be the basis for this new initiative, which will eventually reach all 50 states.”  

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LIBRARIAN DAYS 2007 – Educating the Digital Learner:
21st Century Learning, Literacy and Thinking - February 23 & 24

On Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24, 2007, An Adventure of the American Mind – Colorado, in conjunction with the Auraria Library and the Denver Newspaper Agency, will host the third annual Librarian Days. This two-day event offers educators from across the state of Colorado the opportunity to learn about the Library of Congress’ American Memory web site and instructional applications for using digital resources in the classroom.

Instructional support professionals such as librarians, media specialists and instructional coaches throughout Colorado are invited to attend a full day of presentations free of charge on Friday, February 23 and bring a teacher of their choice. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. AAM-Colorado will provide substitute reimbursement for up to 100 instructional teams. Educators who do not require a substitute are invited to attend on a space available basis. Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) is tentatively scheduled to speak. Friday’s Librarian Day will be held in the King Center Concert Hall (KC 145) at downtown Denver’s Auraria Campus.

In addition to Friday’s Librarian Day, all Colorado educators are welcome to sign up for one or two half-day sessions on a variety of topics on Saturday, February 24. Saturday’s sessions are also free of charge and will take place at the Auraria Campus. Lunch will be provided by AAM-Colorado and available in the Auraria Library. Enrollment on Saturday is limited to room capacity. Please see the schedule for topics, times and locations at:
http://aamcolorado.mscd.edu/libday.htm.

All Librarian Days participants should park in the Tivoli lot at Auraria Parkway and Ninth St. or the Parking & Transportation Center garage at Seventh St. and Lawrence Way in order to obtain complimentary parking passes. A map of the campus is available at: http://aamcolorado.mscd.edu/Librarian_Days_Map.pdf.

A drawing and raffle will be held on both Friday and Saturday. Prizes will include USB flash drives, laminated printouts of primary sources, and much more!

Registration begins January 4th and forms are available at http://aamcolorado.mscd.edu/libday.htm. Substitute reimbursement forms are also available at: http://aamcolorado.mscd.edu/substitute_teacher_request_form.pdf. Spaces fill up quickly, so register early to sign up your team for participation on Friday and to ensure availability for the half-day sessions you would like to attend on Saturday. Please fax or e-mail the registration form to AAM-Colorado. To learn more about Librarian Days 2007, call 303-352-4945 or e-mail aamcolorado@mscd.edu.

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FREE Spring 2007 Workshops for Colorado K-12 Educators

AAM-Colorado Spring Workshops are coming up quickly, with Online classes beginning January 15, and Face-to-Face classes beginning January 27. Workshops are offered at no charge to any Colorado K-12 educator.

The AAM-Colorado Face-to-Face workshop series will be offered on three consecutive Saturdays, during each of the following weeks this Spring:

• January 27 / February 3 / February 10
• March 3 / March 10 / March 17
• April 7 / April 14 / April 21

The AAM-Colorado Online workshop series will be offered during the following schedules this Spring:

• Monday, January 15 through Saturday, March 10
• Monday, March 12 through Saturday, May 12, week of March 18 - 24 off

Participants may take the Face-to-Face or Online workshop series for a total of 24 contact hours (21 workshop hours and 3 hours homework). This format entitles participating educators who complete Series I, II, and III to receive the American Memory Certification, possible licensing renewal credit, up to $240 in Digital Resource Certificates, an American Memory USB Flash Drive complete with AAM-Colorado Workshop materials and digital primary sources, and the eligibility to apply for a $1,500 Technology Acquisition for their school.

Workshop participants who seek three online graduate credit hours earn 45 contact hours (21 workshop hours, remainder online), the American Memory Certification, possible licensing renewal credit, up to $450 in Digital Resource Certificates, an American Memory USB Flash Drive complete with AAM-Colorado Workshop materials and digital primary sources, and the eligibility to apply for a $1,500 Technology Acquisition for their school. Graduate credit is awarded through University of Colorado at Denver or Adams State College. There is a tuition charge of $210.00 ($70.00 per credit hour) for graduate credit.

For more information, see the AAM-Colorado Spring workshop schedule at: http://aamcolorado.mscd.edu/schedulespring2007.htm

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AAM-Colorado teams with Rocky Mountain PBS

AAM Colorado and Rocky Mountain PBS Present “Teaching with Media and Primary Sources” Workshops: AAM-Colorado will team up with Rocky Mountain PBS to present three free one-day workshops designed to introduce the Library of Congress’ American Memory web site and the Rocky Mountain PBS TeacherLine to all K-12 Colorado educators. Analyzing primary sources such as text, documents, images, audio and video and using secondary source video from Rocky Mountain PBS will be demonstrated and discussed. The workshops will be held on January 23, 2007 at the Rocky Mountain PBS offices in Denver; on February 13, 2007 at Colorado State University in Pueblo; and on February 27, 2007 at Mesa State College in Grand Junction. More information can be found at our web site at http://aamcolorado.mscd.edu.

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AAM-Colorado Highlights for 2006

ADVENTURE OF THE AMERICAN MIND TEAMS WITH JEFFERSON COUNTY
The Jefferson County School District and AAM-Colorado plan to implement a program “to improve teachers’ appreciation for and knowledge of traditional American history through intensive, on-going professional development” after the Jeffco district received a three-year, $950,198 Teaching American History grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Read more about the partnership at: http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/artman/publish/aamco_twv3062106.shtml.

TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION APPRECIATION
AAM-Colorado is making a difference in Colorado Schools. In 2006 AAM-Colorado provided Technology Acquisitions to 110 schools in 28 districts across the state. Dr. Douglas Price, Superintendent of Clear Creek Schools, had this to say after participating in the workshops.

“Wow! I don't know how to thank you and all of the AAM-CO folks
other than to put this equipment to good use for our Carlson Elementary School students and staff. I will pass your notification along to Ms. Tina Rinehart, Carlson Elementary School Principal, and the Carlson staff.

I would also like to thank you and the AAM-CO staff and instructors for allowing me to participate in this enjoyable and enriching learning
experience. You've personally enriched my life and with the equipment you are sending us, you'll touch the lives of countless more people. You have certainly made my holidays just that much more enjoyable.” 

Participants who have completed all three workshop series allow their school to apply for a $1500 technology acquisition.  Each school may apply for up to $3000 in technology provided that at least two educators have completed the program. On average, AAM-Colorado gives away 30 technology acquisitions per semester.

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American Memory Across Colorado

Although AAM-Colorado is based at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, its purpose is to serve the state of Colorado. AAM-Colorado workshops have reached outside the Denver metropolitan area and across the state, taking place in Grand Junction, Alamosa, Durango, Cañon City, Colorado Springs, Longmont, Loveland, and Greeley.

AAM-Colorado workshops may be scheduled on-location with a minimum of 15 participants. To find out how your school or district can participate in AAM-Colorado workshops, contact us at aamcolorado@mscd.edu or 303-352-4945.

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AAM-Colorado Events

Colorado Council for the Social Studies: Dr. Laura McCall, Professor of History, Susan Joseph, Visiting Professor of Education and AAM-Colorado Director Peggy O’Neill-Jones are scheduled to present “Discovering, Inquiring and Applying Digitized Primary Resources in the Classroom” at the Colorado Council for the Social Studies conference on March 9, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center in Denver.

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AAM-Colorado Staff and Fellows Update

AAM-Colorado Staff:

AAM-Colorado is pleased to welcome Daria Macaluso as our new Administrative Assistant. Daria is responsible for communicating with registrants for our workshops, providing information and materials and for assisting with the planning and logistics for this year’s Librarian Days Event. A graduate of Metro’s Technical Communication Department, Daria brings a variety of experience to the project by tracking the program’s budget, student employees and contributing to AAM’s web site and online newsletter.

AAM-Colorado Fellows

AAM-Colorado Fellows continue their activities on behalf of our program. Michelle Pearson hosted a special on-location AAM-Colorado Workshop for Adams District 12 in November and will make a presentation on “Social Networking,” as well as teach a workshop called “Lincoln’s Letters” during the upcoming Librarian Days Event in February; Donna Levene taught a Workshop for Loveland’s Thompson School District and will present the “Library of Congress American Memory” at Librarian Days; Mary Johnson will host the “Historic Newspaper Project” during Friday’s Librarian Days presentations and hold a workshop on “Mastering American Memory…and More” on Saturday; and Cindy Stout is busy preparing our collaboration with the Jefferson County School District’s Teaching American History Grant project partnership.

• Mary Johnson (Education Consultant, former Library Media Specialist with Eagleview Middle School, Colorado Springs, Academy School District 20, former Library of Congress American Memory Fellow, AAM-Colorado Alumnus)
• Donna Levene (former Library Media Specialist with Overland High School, Cherry Creek School District, former Library of Congress American Memory Fellow)
• Michelle Pearson (History and Language Arts, Hulstrom Options School, Adams 12 School District, AAM-Colorado Alumnus, former White House Historical Society fellow in Pre- Collegiate Education)
• Cynthia Stout (Project Director for Teaching American History Grant, former Curriculum Content Specialist for Secondary Social Studies Education, Jefferson County School District, former Library of Congress American Memory Fellow

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AAM-Colorado Spring 2007 Workshops are Coming Soon!
Contact AAM-Colorado at 303-352-4945 or aamcolorado@mscd.edu
for details about enrolling in AAM-Colorado Workshops. Please do not respond to this e-mail. Instead, use the contact information below.

An Adventure of the American Mind - Colorado
Metropolitan State College of Denver
PO Box 173362, Campus Box 35
Denver, CO 80217

Phone 303-352-4945 • Fax 303-352-4987
E-mail aamcolorado@mscd.edu • Web http://aamcolorado.mscd.edu/