Skip to content

The Connected Classroom

“Information on and from Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis' Learning Division”

Tag Archives: HEC-TV Live!

Monday, March 18, 2013 The Science Behind Weather Forecasting

flickr creative commonsWe’ve all watched the local TV weatherperson & wondered just what they do to create the forecast they give us. What equipment do they use? What kind of training do they need? How do they determine when conditions are ripe for certain types of storms, whether temperatures will rise or fall, whether or not they should break into TV programs to provide a breaking weather update? What is the science behind forecasting?

Join HEC-TV Live! on April 4 to interact with St. Louis’ KTVI Fox2 meteorologist Chris Higgins to take a tour of his weather studio and find out what goes into creating a forecast.  The program will focus on two very different spring days of actual St. Louis weather—one with clear skies and temperatures in the sixties and one where conditions produced dangerous storms and tornadoes.  How were the forecasts created?  What technology was used to follow the changing weather conditions on that stormy day? What conditions forced the announcement of a tornado watch and later a tornado warning?  How does Mr. Higgins read that Doppler Radar and pinpoint where the tornado is located?  How does he take what he has learned and translate into understandable language for every TV viewer?  Enroll in “The Science Behind Weather Forecasting” videoconference by March 28 to find out the answers to these questions and more.

After enrolling for the program, you will receive pre-program materials that include website resources, information on the two actual weather days that will be used as examples during the program, and pre-program worksheets designed to get your students thinking about the topic of weather forecasting and creating questions they most want to ask Mr. Higgins.  If you wish to participate as an interactive school, be sure to note the deadline for returning these pre-program worksheets to us so we can incorporate your student comments and questions into the program.

Date:  April 4, 2013
Times:  10 to 11 a.m.  and 1 to 2 p.m. Central Time
Grade Levels: 4-8
Cost:  no fee, but please register online

Tags: , , , , , ,

Monday, March 19, 2012 Going Green: Back to Nature from HEC-TV Live! this April

Date:  April 12, 2012 | Times:  10-11:00 a.m. and 1- 2:00 p.m. CDT
Grade Levels: 4-8 | Videoconference Cost:  No Fee
Register: www.cilc.org, search for
HEC-TV Live! Presents Going Green: Back to Nature

Abstract:
Students will learn about the importance of watersheds and what to do to protect them as they participate in a lab activity to test stream water for macro invertebrates & water quality at the Little Creek Nature Area in Florissant, Missouri.

Description:
What are watersheds and why do they matter so much to the health of the planet? How can we know how healthy a watershed is? What are ways to test for water quality? What steps can we take to reduce man’s negative impact on a watershed and help it thrive? What steps can we take to help a watershed struck by a natural disaster? To investigate the questions and more, HEC-TV Live! invites your students to join us outdoors and in the lab at the Little Creek Nature Area in Florissant, Missouri, to learn more about what we can do to protect the watersheds that are so vital to the health of the planet.

During the program, students will participate in a two-part lab activity. Your students will interact with students from the Ferguson-Florissant School District who will join us on site in the lab at the Little Creek Nature Area along with teachers from the Ferguson-Florissant Outdoor Education Center at Little Creek and representatives from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Part 1 of the lab activity will focus on the process used to take water samples from a stream or pond to test for macro invertebrates living in the ecosystem. Together, students will identify samples of macro invertebrates collected from the waters on site, record the number of each type and analyze what these results may indicate about the health of the ecosystem.  Part 2 of the lab activity will focus on testing water for dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, ph and turbidity. Students at Little Creek will test samples of the water collected on site and interact with your students to analyze the results of those tests.

Members of the Missouri Department of Conservation will answer your student questions about watersheds, water quality, and ways we can help protect both. Preparatory materials both written and in video form, as well as handouts that will be used during the program itself, will be sent to you after your enrollment is confirmed for the program.

Archival Viewing:
Can’t join live?  No problem!  All HEC-TV Live! programs are archived on the station website, www.hectv.org and on the HEC-TV page on iTunes U for on-demand viewing. Archives are usually up & running about a week after the program’s original air date. For questions, contact live@hectv.org.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 An Inside Look at the Civil War: Using Primary Sources to Increase Understanding

HEC-TV Live! Presents An Inside Look at the Civil War: Using Primary Sources to Increase Understanding for grades  4-8th.

Date: March 8, 2012 | Times:  10- 11 a.m. and 1- 2 p.m. CST
Cost:  NO CHARGE | Please register for this interactive videoconference here.

Abstract:
Fighting in the Civil War—what was it like to participate in that struggle?  What can we learn about the War by reading from artifacts used during it and hearing from people and seeing places that experienced it?  Take an inside look at the Civil War using primary sources.

Program Description:
America in the Civil War—a time of conflict, strife, and worry.  What would it have been like to participate in that struggle?  To march as an infantryman? To ride in the cavalry? To use artillery on the battlefield? To build an ironclad? To attack a rail line?  What can we learn about this period of history by reading from artifacts used during it and hearing directly from the people and seeing the places that experienced it? You can find answers to these questions and more as you join HEC-TV Live! from Oakville High School with members of their History Club who have researched the primary sources they’ll share with you during the program.  Read from an artillery manual, hear a poem written by a cavalryman, learn from letters and images of the time.

In advance of the program you will receive copies of primary sources that will be used during the show along with some worksheets designed to get your students thinking about these sources and what they seem to tell them about participating in the War. The focus in this program will not be exploring all the historic details of the Civil War, but it will be to provide students the opportunity to think like an historian as they go back in time through the wonder of primary sources. Participating students will have the opportunity to ask the History Club questions about the documents and their research process as well as interact with Civil War experts on the topics related to those documents. Tim Gore (pictured right) will field questions from the far sites.

PLEASE NOTE: The free morning program and the free afternoon program will explore different areas of life during the Civil War. The morning program will use primary sources to tell us more about life as an infantryman, cavalryman and member of the artillery. The afternoon program will look into the importance of rivers and rail lines on the war as we explore a Missouri battle focused on an important rail line and learn about James Eads and his work on ironclads.

HEC-TV invites you to join us and bring history to life!

Tags: , , , ,

Thursday, October 27, 2011 Honoring Our Nation’s Heroes: A Veteran’s Day Tribute

HEC-TV Live! Presents Honoring Our Nation’s Heroes: A Veteran’s Day Tribute
Date: November 11, 2011 | Times: 10 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 2 p.m. CT
Grade Levels: 4-12 | Cost: NO CHARGE
Register by Thursday, November 3rd

Videoconference Description:
What is it like to be in the military?  What is it like to fight in combat and to return home from war?  What does it mean to have served your nation in its armed forces? On this Veterans Day, as Tim Gore of HEC-TV Live! remembers those who have fought and died for our country’s freedoms, take your study of the history of America in war to the veterans who fought in them.  Ask these questions and more as you interact with veterans from World War II, the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and the current war in Iraq/Afghanistan.

Take a step back into history with those who lived and fought during these important moments in American life. What was the mood of the country as America entered the war after Pearl Harbor? What was it like to be on the battlefield in World War II and to be a prisoner of war? During the turbulent 1960’s as Americans wrestled with the war in Vietnam, why did a young man choose to enlist and fight so far from home?  As America countered Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, how did one young Marine react to being on the front lines of that conflict?  What was it like to live in a foxhole, search enemy foxholes for soldiers and weapons, and to fight in a field of landmines?  And in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, what was it like to be a military policeman or to be tasked as part of the important support unit to promote troop morale?

HEC-TV Live’s focus in this program will not be exploring the historic details of a specific war or battle in that war, but it will be to provide students the rare and important opportunity to speak directly with those who have served our country in its armed forces and learn first hand what that means.

Program Objectives:

1.  The participant will gain a greater understanding of what it means to live and fight in wartime.
2.  The participant will interact with individuals providing primary source accounts of recent world events.
3.  The participant will meet people and hear stories from diverse perspectives.

Tags: , , ,

Monday, October 3, 2011 Distance Learning Open House on Tuesday, October 18

Are you interested in distance learning, but not really sure where to start? Have you been participating in distance learning events, but are interested in learning more? You & your colleagues are  invited to attend an Open House at Cooperating School Districts (1460 Craig Road in Creve Coeur) on Tuesday, October 18, 2011. This free event, taking place between 2 and 6 o’clock, is open to K-12 educators interested in learning more and videoconferencing, Skype and other online collaborations.

At this Open House, you’ll have an opportunity to talk to content providers*, other educators interested in distance learning, and you will have an opportunity to win prizes like an iPod, Starbucks gift certificates and more!

* Content providers currently scheduled to participate include:
• Robert Powell from the Challenger Learning Center- St. Louis
• Paul Steensland from the St. Louis County Library
• Ray Vollmer from Saint Louis University’s Adventures in Medicine and Science
• Tim Gore from HEC-TV Live!
• Amy E. Sklansky, St. Louis children’s author
• Roxanne Glaser and Shane Howard from Whirlidurb

Feel free to stop by when you are available; we will have light refreshments, conversation, and videoconferencing demonstrations taking place throughout the afternoon. We’re asking for attendees to RSVP so we can look forward to seeing you! Questions about the event? Contact Rebecca Morrison at rmorrison@csd.org.

Tags: , , , , ,

Friday, February 25, 2011 The Little Dancer Videoconference

Join HEC-TV Live! via videoconference from the theater at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA) in St. Louis for excerpts performed from Ballet Eclectica’s “The Little Dancer” on March 15th. Register with live@hectv.org for this interactive distance learning program.

This original story ballet features an artist who would like to fulfill the dream of Degas’ model for The Little Dancer, aged fourteen. The actual model, Marie, was never able to reach her dream to become a famous ballerina and perform all over the world. The artist in our story gives Marie the chance to accomplish her goal by painting her as a dancer into other art masterpieces from America – letting her “dance within” these works of art. The ensemble dancers are arranged by the Painter into a single unified work of art- bringing together harmoniously the forms of dance, art, and music.

Have your students experience the thrill of live dance performance in many styles including traditional ballet as well as modern and contemporary dance. Let them see American works of art come to life through dance. Have your students ask questions of the dancers and choreographers and find out what it’s like to be a student of dance.

HEC-TV Live! Presents Inside the Artist’s Studio: The Little Dancer
Date:  March 15, 2011
Times: 10 to 11:00 a.m. CDT or to 2:00 p.m. CDT
Grade Levels: Morning Program grades 3-8, Afternoon program grades 6-12
Cost:  NO CHARGE

The morning program is targeted to students in grades 3-8 while the afternoon program is targeted to students in grades 6-12.  The morning program is designed to give students an appreciation for dance and the artistic works displayed, to see the thrill of dance and the integration of the arts, to pique their curiosity about dance, and learn more about the satisfaction of reaching a goal through the hard work that goes into such a performance. The afternoon program will continue the above ideas and also give students an opportunity to explore the type of dance utilized in the program and the concept of choreography. We’ll also explore the concept of “story” to see how it is created through art, music and dance.

About the Dance Company
Ballet Eclectica, is one of two companies that train and rehearse at COCA. Founded in August 2005, its mission is to augment the educational opportunities and expand training to include public performances for ballet students at COCA. More information about COCA and Ballet Eclectica can be found at cocastl.org.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Thursday, February 24, 2011 HEC-TV Live! Presents Inside the Artist’s Studio: Metals & Woods

an artist @ work (Flickr Creative Commons)

On March 8, HEC-TV Live! invites you to join them for “Inside the Artist’s Studio: Metals and Woods.”

This interactive videoconference will give your students a chance to talk with an artist in his studio as he creates a finished piece in his chosen medium. As you’ll see in the information below, our morning program will feature woodworking artist Matt Keim, and our afternoon program will feature metals artist Robert Longyear. More details including related curriculum standards and learning activities can be found at the CILC web exhibit for the program. Interactive & View Only videoconference slots are available for the program. You may enroll by contacting HEC-TV Live! at live@hectv.org or calling 314-531-4455. Once enrolled, teachers will receive the program’s preparatory and evaluation materials. Register by March 3rd.

Go inside the artist’s studio at Craft Alliance in St. Louis as your students interact with metals artist Robert Longyear or woodworking artist Matt Keim.  Students will be able to interact with the artist as each creates a new piece.  They’ll be able to ask their questions about how the design is created, what tools are used and why, and see the final piece created.  We’ll explore the big questions:  Where do ideas for art come from? How is inspiration transformed into a piece of art?  How are metals and woods used to create works of art?  What techniques are available for the metals and woodworking artist?  If a student or two from your school has a metal or woodworked piece they’d like to share with the artist and discuss the processes they used to create it, please let us know.  The artists would welcome the opportunity to respond to student work.  Cost for the program is FREE.

The morning program will have students interacting with woodworking artist Matt Keim. The afternoon program will have students interacting with metals artist Robert Longyear.  More information about Matt Keim and examples of his works can be found at his website, http://www.keimartworks.com/.  More information about Robert Longyear and examples of his works can be found at his website, http://flypigeoncamp.blogspot.com/.

Tags: , , ,

Thursday, January 27, 2011 Survivor Stories Featured on Local News

As a follow up to my earlier post, KSDK aired a story about the Holocaust survivors’ videconferences held yesterday by HEC-TV Live! Click on the image below to see the piece.

Tags: , , ,

Thursday, January 27, 2011 Survivors of the Holocaust Videoconference

Tim Gore from HEC-TV LIVE! interviewed Holocaust survivors Wednesday.

We had a group from Incarnate Word Academy view the HEC-TV LIVE! videoconference from Cooperating School Districts yesterday afternoon. The topic: interviewing survivors in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.  One student from a Missouri school asked a survivor being interviewed if he had ever seen Adolf Hitler in person, and he replied no, not in person. He shared he had heard Hitler on the radio and seen him in newsreels. He also said there was an occasion when Hitler was being driven down his street and the interviewee, just a child, hid from the motorcade.

What a great learning experience for the videoconference participants!

Tags: , , ,

Friday, December 17, 2010 From Page to Stage: HEC-TV Live! Presents The Giver

Date: Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Times: 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Central Time

Grade Levels:  5-10
Cost:  NO CHARGE


“The Giver: From Page to Stage,” this free, interactive videoconference will give your students a chance to talk in depth with the director, designers, actors, and technical staff from Metro Theater Company on how they are translating the world of Lois Lowry’s novel to the stage for their upcoming production at Edison Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri. Lois Lowry’s Newbery Medal winning novel The Giver continues to be read and loved by thousands of young people each year.

In this final of a series of four HEC-TV Live! programs focusing on the novel (image above is from the third in the series- click it to watch!), students will have the unique opportunity to join us live from the stage of the Edison Theatre on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis where Eric Coble’s adaptation is being staged.  See the set. View a scene from the production.  How do you adapt the timeless story of The Giver to be “seen by an audience” rather than “imagined by a reader?”  How do you take a world without color and music from the page to the stage?  Meet director Carol North and members of the design team to discuss how the show came to life from the first phase of design to the final phase of implementation.  View the lights, the costumes, and the scenery.  Ask your questions of actors about how they formulated and performed their character.  How would you choose to illustrate the themes of the story through a stage design and directorial point of view?  Compare your ideas to those of the Metro Theater Company and Edison Theatre staff staging this new production.

You may enroll by contacting live@hectv.org or calling 314-531-4455. Once enrolled, teachers will receive the program’s preparatory and evaluation materials. Please register by December 22, 2010: provide your school name, teacher name, tech contact name, email, phone and IP address.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 722 other followers