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Creation Lens: Exploring the World, Discovering God - Update
ITEST completed the second phase of the project in 2012 and uploaded lessons for grades Pre-K and 5 – 8. Currently there are 397 lessons available online for free download. Since January 2009 there have been over 1/3 of a million downloads.
Let us know how you used the downloaded lessons by clicking on the “Recommend” button on the site above. We need input from teachers who are using these supplementary lessons/modules in the classroom and in home school venues.
We invite you again to visit this site www.creationlens.org and we welcome your comments. This site will open in a new window.
Creation Lens: Exploring the World, Discovering God
New Marketing Strategies: Visits to Catholic Elementary Schools
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| Above left: Cyndi Hasten, Principal of Assumption Parish School and Sr. Marianne. Above right: Cheryl Harness and Gregg Sturgill, Principal of St. Francis of Assisi School |
Even in the “Digital Age” where Twitter, Facebook and texting seem to have the upper hand in spreading the message, we still hear that personal contact often trumps electronic or print media. Many times that is true. We decided to test this out with one of the marketing strategies we devised for Exploring the World, Discovering God (EWDG), our faith/science lessons,(Pre-K-Grade 8), concentrating on grades 5-8.
Starting on the local level aided by a grant from the Our Sunday Visitor Institute, grantor of the entire project, Cheryl Harness, ITEST’s executive assistant and editor of EWDG Grades 5-8 lessons, and Sister Marianne, RSM, Associate Director hit the road! Armed with delicious pastry rings for each school from a local bakery, colorful bookmarks, brochures, a sample lesson from the program and a lot of enthusiasm, they “cold called” four to five selected Catholic Elementary schools one morning each week. After identifying ourselves we presented the pastry gift first and then asked to see the principal to briefly describe our faith/science lessons.
Since late January we have visited over 30 schools and have been received graciously by principals and staff. Even though we have blanketed the schools with information about the project through e-mail and hard copy correspondence, nothing seems to have “awakened” interest in the program more than this particular strategy. Or, maybe it was the pastry rings!! In a short 10-15 minute period we were able to describe the program and how it could benefit the students and teachers in that elementary school.
At the same time we offered to do a 45 minute presentation/workshop for the teachers and staff on the program itself, showing how it could be used most effectively in their school.
ITEST 2012 Fall Conference
“An Open Forum on Early Human Life Issues: A Constructive Dialog”
Here is what the St. Louis Review wrote about our recent conference:
Click here
ITEST 2011 Fall Workshop Archive
Cyberspace Safety for Teens in an Age of Facebook, Twitter and Texting
Below are the presenters from the Fall 2011 Workshop. They have been converted into Acrobat PDF files. You may download any individual presentation or a zip file (20.5mb) containing all the presentations
The Presenters and Topics:
Digitally Enhanced & Socially Detached:
The Power and Influence of the Internet click to download - 232kb
Travis Smith, PhD, LPC, Program Director, LifeStar of Eastern Missouri
Addiction: Window into the Brain click to download - 10.6mb
Franz J. Wippold, MD, Washington University School of Medicine
The Mind of the Predator click to download - 2.3mb
Bart Niedner, President, Resource Forge, LLCThe Internet = Cyber Safety and Security Overview click to download - 1.62mb
Mike Schottenhaml, IT Manager, St. Vincent de Paul National CouncilProtecting our Kids on Cyberspace click to download - 6.72mb
Detective Jim Karase, St. Louis County Police DepartmentClick here to download zip file - 20.5mb of all 5 presentations