The latest installment of WLIW21 New York Public Television’s award-winning education series LEARNING CURVE features highlights from the third annual “Teaching & Learning Celebration” event co-sponsored by public television stations WLIW21 and Thirteen/WNET. Thousands of teachers gathered at the Hilton New York on March 7 and 8 for this “World’s Fair” of education to get inspiration from world-renowned experts — and each other — about the importance of science and the natural world in today’s classrooms, as well as current buzz words “21st Century Learning Skills.” Half-hour segments will air over two consecutive nights, Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 30 at 7:30 pm, and feature interviews with organizers and attendees, including celebrity speakers, teachers, parents and students (see below for details). Series hosts Lisa Jandovitz and Pat Halpin were on location at the event.

Tuesday, April 29 at 7:30 pm: The first half-hour includes interviews with featured speakers from the two-day education conference focused on science and global awareness and how educators can bring the skills they learn here into their classrooms. Interviews include Astronaut Barbara Morgan, President and Founder of the Partnership on 21st Century Skills Ken Kay, Executive Director of The George Lucas Educational Foundation Milton Chen, Globe Trekker co-host and world traveler Megan McCormick, and PBS History Detective Gwen Wright, plus special moments on location with lovable sloth Snook of It’s A Big Big World. Episode one also features this year’s Chase “Multimedia in the Classroom” award winners. Honored at the event, 10 teams and their schools received a $1,000 cash prize from Founding Sponsor, Chase, for their innovative multimedia-based projects. This episode will air Sunday, May 4 at 11:30 am and Saturday, May 17 at 1:30 pm on Thirteen/WNET.

Wednesday, April 30 at 7:30 pm: The second half-hour centers around three ways the third annual “Teaching & Learning Celebration” inspires innovative teaching in the classroom. First, follow a group of students at the Sagamore Middle School in Holtsville, New York as they prepare their submission for the 2008 Chase “Multimedia in the Classroom” competition. More than 80 schools from across the tri-state area compete for the award, which celebrates the achievements of teachers and students who are transforming learning environments through technology. Celebrated author book signings are a popular event highlight amongst educators; see how a notable author offers inspiration to the Great Neck School District, when author Lucy Hawking speaks to fifth graders about her book George’s Secret Key to the Universe, co-written by her dad, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. Episode two concludes with a spotlight on one of the event’s exhibitors, Cold Spring Harbor Labs and their Dolan DNA Learning Center (DNALC), the world’s first science center devoted entirely to genetics education. President of CSHL Dr. Bruce Stillman and Executive Director of DNALC Dave Micklos speak about the wonderful expansion of the DNALC with the Harlem DNA Lab, a 1,200 square-foot classroom at the John S. Roberts Educational Complex in East Harlem. First opened to students on March 3, 2008, this satellite facility provides hands-on experiments for students as well as professional development training for teachers. LEARNING CURVE visited Harlem DNA Lab on opening day to interview instructors and witness the enthusiastic student response to this new educational resource.

An encore presentation airs Sunday, May 4 from 9 – 10 am on WLIW21. For more highlights from the “2008 Teaching & Learning Celebration” event, visit www.wliwcelebration.org.

LEARNING CURVE: Teaching & Learning Celebration 2008 is the eleventh program in WLIW21’s local series exploring important issues in education. The series was recognized in 2006 with a Bronze Telly Award and a Press Club of Long Island Media Award, and named “Best Public Affairs Program/Series” in the 2004 New York State Broadcasters Association’s awards. For more information, visit www.wliw.org/learningcurve.