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INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY

CONTACT: Justine Mrsich, 714-573-0899 ext. 237 justine@echomediapr.com

EDUCATION TASK FORCE REPORT FINDS INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY MUST BE EMBRACED TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR 21st CENTURY ECONOMY
UC Irvine Extension Expert for Technology in Education Available to Explain Why More Online Tools and Devices Need to be Incorporated into Everyday Curriculum As students return to classrooms for a new school year, questions are being raised by education experts about how well theyre being prepared for careers in the 21st century economy through the use of technology. A recent report from the California Department of Educations Education Technology Task Force recommends that educators should use smart phones and other electronic devices to prepare and educate students. Computing technology is changing the face of education and the task forces report provides recommendations on how to improve the adoption of technology for students and educators to address these challenges. Angela Jeantet, director of education and business programs at UC Irvine Extension is responsible for the development and growth of continuing education programs to support teachers in California and the U.S. through distance education. She oversees the Virtual Teacher Certificate Program for UC Irvine Extension one of the only online programs of its kind which addresses the skills and knowledge required by educators to successfully teach in virtual schools and in online and blended learning environments.

Digital learning is here to stay and UC Irvine Extensions new Virtual Teacher Certificate Program is helping educators engage students online to build their critical thinking skills for the 21st century. This program is timely and unique because it gives teachers the skills they will need to maximize the benefits and advantages of online learning. Angela Jeantet, director of education and business programs at UC Irvine Extension.

Jeantet is available to address several of the issues, benefits and challenges related to adopting technology in schools. She can also provide details about issues raised in the Education Technology Task Forces report, which are addressed by the curriculum of the UC Irvine Extension Virtual Teacher Certificate Program. These issues include: How teachers can adapt their classroom instruction to an online or blended environment Helping teachers to apply social media and technology to todays learning environments How teachers can measure student performance online and increase student engagement

About UC Irvine Extension University of California, Irvine Extension is the continuing education arm of UC Irvine. Through thousands of courses and programs offered on campus, online and on site, UC Irvine Extension helps adult learners reach their career advancement and personal enrichment goals and is celebrating 50 years of providing universally accessible, university-level learning to local, regional, and global communities. Learn more at extension.uci.edu, or join us on Facebook at facebook.com/uciextension.

About the University of California, Irvine Founded in 1965, UCI is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UCI is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange Countys largest employer, UC Irvine contributes an annual economic impact of $4.2 billion. For more UC Irvine news, visit www.today.uci.edu. To schedule an interview with Angela Jeantet, director of education programs, UC Irvine Extension, contact Justine Mrsich at 714-573-0899 ext. 237 or at justine@echomediapr.com. ###

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY

CONTACT:

Justine Mrsich, 714-573-0899 x 237 justine@echomediapr.com

HOW CAN EVENT PROFESSIONALS THRIVE IN TODAYS COMPETITIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT? University of California, Irvine Extension Instructor and Event Expert Available for Media Interviews
The Meeting and Events industry contributes more than $260 billion annually to the U.S. economy, through more than 1.8 million corporate and business meetings, trade shows, conventions, congresses, incentive events and other meetings, according to the most recent study by the Convention Industry Council (CIC). As a result of this rapid industry expansion, the demand for event professionals with expertise in industry is projected to continue to grow at a rate of more than 40 percent through 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. UC Irvine Extensions Meeting and Event Management Specialized Studies Program is designed to address the training and management competencies required for a successful career as an event or meeting professional. Susan T. Lee is a producer and director of special events, and a UC Irvine Extension course instructor. She offers the following tips to event professionals who seek to advance their careers: TIPS FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN EVENT PLANNING: Distinguish Yourself As a Professional: The definition of an Event Professional is important. To avoid creating chaos around an event, it is important that professionals get the education and experience to anticipate alternatives and contingencies in the industry. Additionally, targeting a specialty area and becoming an expert in that area allows the professional to provide a greater contribution to the administrative team. Enhance Your Ability to Create S.M.A.R.T Goals - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, & Time-bound: Be specific about your long-term career objectives and measure your professional traits to ensure that you will be successful in your area of focus; then set achievable, time-bound, relevant goals Become a Member of a Relevant Trade Organization: Expand your networking contacts, find new job opportunities, and gather credible recommendations from other industry professionals. Obtain Certification: The most recognized certifications are the Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) offered by the International Special Events Society (ISES), and the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) issued by the CIC. Each organization has different requirements for certification. Most require a certain number of years of experience, a completed training program, and passed certification exams. Expand Your Current Knowledge about Event Trends and Resources: Pursue continuing education or training to expand your knowledge about basic planning and production processes, and to stay up-to-date on industry documents used for managing events.

Lee will teach Event Administration and Stakeholder Management, a core course in the Meeting and Event Management Specialized Studies Program, in the 2014 winter quarter. The five-week online course will begin February 10, 2014, and examine the capabilities required for effective and efficient management of events and organizations of all sizes and type. Lee, M.A., M.B.A. has been a creative producer, writer and director of special events, entertainment and meetings for over 15 years working with such clients as Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Company, Hard Rock, Animal Planet, Queen Mary, Wounded Warrior Project, Life Changing Lives, Childrens Miracle Network, The United States Government, Mitsubishi, Ernst & Young, Isuzu, U.S. Senior Golf Championship, Citrus Bowl and many others. She is highly acclaimed in diverse industries supporting arts & entertainment, corporate, sporting, government and philanthropic endeavors and has won six national awards.

About UC Irvine Extension: University of California, Irvine Extension is the continuing education arm of UC Irvine, serving nearly 40,000 students globally and offering more than 3,200 classes annually on the UC Irvine campus, online and at employer sites throughout California and worldwide. Since 1962, UC Irvine Extension has served Orange County with programs and classes to help adult learners reach their career advancement and personal enrichment goals, and remains dedicated to providing broad access to the resources of the University for the benefit of the public, both through University Extension certificate and specialized studies programs and a broad range of free and open educational resources including UC Irvine OpenCourseWare. Learn more at http://extension.uci.edu, or join us on YouTube or Facebook. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UC Irvine is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange Countys largest employer, UC Irvine contributes an annual economic impact of $4.2 billion. For more UC Irvine news, visit today.uci.edu. ### To schedule an interview, contact Justine Mrsich at 714-573-0899 ext. 237 or via e-mail at justine@echomediapr.com.

MEDIA INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY

Media Contact: Justine Mrsich, Echo Media Group (714) 573-0899 ext. 237; justine@echomediapr.com

LOCAL TEACHER TRIUMPHS OVER STRUGGLES, TRANSFORMS STUDENTS LIVES THROUGH UC IRVINE EXTENSION GATE PROGRAM
Mother and Educator Impacts Hundreds, Returns from Global Outreach Trip to the Philippines WHAT: Local teacher Ding-ay Tadena first enlisted in the UC Irvine Extension GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) Specialized Studies program to help find solutions for her son. Born with Noonans Syndrome, he would complete his homework, but fail to turn it in. She watched his interest in school diminish each day, as he finished sixth grade with two failing grades. However, on Tadenas first day of class at UC Irvine Extension, she found answers to her pressing questions. She learned new educational strategies and was given opportunities to create her own usable lessonswhich would tremendously benefit her struggling son and many others who cross her path. While Tadenas initial interest in the UCI Extension GATE program was personal, she also applied it to her professional careerteaching Honors Geometry and Algebra I to students at Hawthorne High School. Although her students are not GATE students and Hawthorne High School has been on the Program for Improvement for the last six years, she applied the strategies and inspirations gleaned from the program to her academically disadvantaged and troubled students. Tadena has been able to exercise the knowledge in differentiation and integrate her Geometry and Algebra lessons in different disciplines, including: Arts, Engineering, Criminology, TV Ads, Acting, Dance, Games, Computer Games, Legos, and more. She is also doing team teaching with a special education teacher where 30 percent of their students have disabilities, who are fully mainstreamed and not identified by their disabilities - very few high schools are in this format. She is applying the same GATE strategies to teach these students and Common Core State Standards are fully implemented with it. As for Tadenas son, thanks to his mothers loving efforts and strategic assistance, he earned a spot on his schools honor roll last year. Today, Tadena is proud, happy mom and thriving, fulfilled teacher. Educator Uses GATE Strategies to Help Her Son, Local Students and International Teachers and Students RESULTS: Through Tadenas strategies, her students became highly engaged and very few ditched classes. All of their Benchmark exams scored far better than most classes in her school. She currently has the least number of failing students (less than 10%) compared with her records over the last year. Overall, she noticed an extremely significant change in the way her students learned Geometry and Algebra achieved a lasting, positive impact on their learning abilities, based on their grades and test scores. Tadena has shared her successes with the administrators and received the go-ahead to pioneer her own research study using her classes. INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH: Recently Tadena traveled to the Philippines and piloted the GATE strategies she learned, in one district and in a private university. She trained six teachers aspiring to come to the U.S., sharing the knowledge and skills she developed through

the UCI Extension GATE program. Tadena also reached out to the ATI (an Indigenous Minority of Boracay Islands) and has expressed to their leaders her intention to help educate not only the children, but the adults as well for them to combat ignorance and poverty. Videos and photos are readily available from Tadenas trip. INTERVIEWS: Interviews are available with the following individuals: CVUHD students from Tadenas class, to discuss her impact on their learning and their lives Tadena and her son, to share their story of overcoming struggles with a mothers inspiration UC Irvine Extension course instructors, to highlight tenets and details of the GATE program Hawthorne high school administrators, to talk about the tangible results of Tadenas teaching methods ABOUT UC IRVINE EXTENSION GATE PROGRAM: Known for its exceptional GATE programming, the UC Irvine Extension Gifted and Talented Education Specialized Studies program provides options with focused professional development sessions, individual courses and entire certificate programs aligned with the California Association for the Gifted (CAG), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and state standards for excellence. At UC Irvine Extension, this program also provides K-12 teachers with the latest strategies for curricular differentiation and helps them gain the ability to provide instruction that is balanced between theory and application. MEDIA: For media interviews please contact Justine Mrsich at 714-573-0899 ext. 237 or justine@echomediapr.com.

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