izzit.org News

New Release - Inventing the Future

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:27:00 +0000

Apple computer company. (And their amazing Macs, iPods, iPads, and iPhones.)

Wireless internet.

Can you imagine what life would be like today if the people who’d come up with those ideas hadn’t been able to get the money to transform their ideas into reality? Imagine life without those things?

I can’t. And likely your students can't, either.

Entrepreneurs and venture capitalists have transformed our society time and time again. People with ideas…and people who bet their money on those ideas. Our new DVD, Inventing the Future, focuses on those two groups of people, and helps your students understand the system of risks – and rewards – that fuels innovation and leads people to change and enhance our everyday lives.

Discover how Steve Jobs and Mike Markkula (Apple Computer), Sandy Lerner, Len Bosack, and Don Valentine (Cisco Systems) created two companies that have greatly impacted our lives today.

Want to see how this DVD aligns to National or your state education standards? Go hereand plug in Inventing the Future, your grade level and subject area, and which standards you want to investigate. The correlating standards will be shown to you.

Teacher of the Year winners!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:12:00 +0000

Congratulations to all of our Teacher of the Year winners and the runners-up!

As you can see, our winners are classroom teachers from all across the United States, from Pennsylvania to Washington. On average, they’ve taught for 13 years in their current schools. Most of them hold advanced degrees, including one doctorate. They teach a variety of subjects and grade levels, from English & Composition, Social Studies & History, Government & Economics, to Business Education and Mathematics.

Many of our winners enjoy spending time with their families and pets. Other top hobbies include reading, running, cooking, and traveling. More unique pastimes listed were genealogy and blogging, and one of our winners is also a professional singer who shares his name with a very famous (though a different genre) professional singer.

Though they varied on their favorite izzit educational videos, there were several titles repeated as favorites: “Unintended Consequences: EminentDomain,” “Pennies a Day,” and “2081.”

Our winning teachers use izzit DVDs in their classrooms because not only do the videos present complex concepts clearly, but they also make the concepts real and relevant to their students. Our teachers also like using them to meet common core standards of exploring/discussing themes in multiple formats.

The runners-up won $150, a complete library of izzit educational DVDs, lifetime PLUS membership, and an izzit fleece/hoodie. In addition to that, our winners receive a $2,000 prize (instead of $150) and will be presented with The David and Annette Jorgensen Award for Excellence at a formal awards banquet on June 19, 2013 in Chicago, IL. This is an all-expenses paid trip for each winning teacher.

We look forward to meeting our winners in Chicago in June!

Newly Available: When Horses Fly

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:22:00 +0000

Attention: Get our new video, When Horses Fly, here: http://www.izzit.org/products/detail.php?video=when_horses_fly

Just 150 years ago it took months to travel from New York to California by covered wagon. But in today’s globalized world, communicating with virtually anyone on the planet is a matter of touching a button, and traveling from New York to California takes a mere five hours.

Enter one of the most important inventions of our time - the jumbo jet. And enter two bold entrepreneurs who sought out business partners in a most unlikely place. Come along as 47 prize-winning thoroughbred race horses journey halfway across the globe and marvel in the fact that somewhere a horse is in flight every day of the year. Learn how airfreight, more than just a way to get consumer goods in a hurry, is a global platform from which unique business partnerships are born.

Teacher of the Year Contest - One Week Remaining!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:28:00 +0000

Our annual Teacher of the Year Contest ends next week on Thursday, February 28th. We're giving away more than $10,000 in prizes, including cash, trips, DVDs and more!

Make sure to go over to www.izzit.org/contests today to submit your entry!

New DVD - 2-for-1 Special

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:26:00 +0000

We've just released Risk and Reward, a new teaching unit about the beginning of venture capital and the rise of Silicon Valley as the tech center of the U.S. It focuses on the stories of Atari and Genentech and is great for teaching about business, economics, entrepreneurship, technology, and American history.

For a limited time we are offering our popular DVD about space entrepreneurship, Everyone's Space, as a free bonus for any teacher who orders Risk and Reward, as their free video selection.

Visit www.izzit.org and order your DVDs today!

The Singing Revolution - Still Available!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:25:00 +0000

We had a glitch on our website starting yesterday afternoon that was not allowing teachers to order The Singing Revolution. We still have copies of this DVD available and the problem has now been fixed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Teacher of the Year Contest - Only 6 Weeks Left!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:40:00 +0000

Our annual Teacher of the Year contest ends February 28th. We will be selecting 5 winners who will each get $2,000, a trip to Chicago, and other great prizes. We will also choose 5 runners-up who will get $150 and other great prizes.

Don't forget to go to www.izzit.org/contests to submit your entry today!

The Singing Revolution is Back!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:31:00 +0000

Last year when we offered 3,000 free copies of this powerful and inspiring full-length documentary about Estonia’s struggle for freedom, we were out within a week!

This year we’ve made a deal with the producers to offer another 5,000 copies of The Singing Revolution free to U.S. teachers. This Educational Version of the film includes 2 additional discs of bonus material with lots of primary sources and 25 teacher-created lessons plans covering history, geography, music, art, character education, and more. You can check out the Teacher's Guide and Lesson Plans here.

Make sure to get over to www.izzit.org to order your copy today before we run out!

Merry Christmas from izzit.org!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:38:00 +0000

Due to the holiday our office will be closed December 24th and 25th, as well as January 1st. Customer service will be available December 26, 27, 28, and 31 from 8am to 6pm EST. January 2nd will resume our normal days and hours.

We wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Pups of Liberty - izzitKIDS

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:09:00 +0000

So far Pups of Liberty: The Boston Tea-Bone Party has been a hit! We just wanted to remind all of those who have ordered the DVD that we also have a special section on our website that has lots of content for teachers and students. It's in our izzitKIDS section and includes an interactive map and timeline, information about the characters, and behind the scenes information and artwork.

Also, don't forget to tell all your colleagues that they can order their free copy too at www.izzit.org. And for your non-teacher friends, they can purchase the DVD at a special introductory price of $15.00 here.

For those of you haven't yet ordered Pups of Liberty, what are you waiting for? Here's another short clip so you can see what you're missing:

Kindle Giveaway Winners

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:58:00 +0000

Our Kindle Fire Giveaway has come to an end. Thank you to all of you who followed us on Facebook and Twitter or signed up for izzitPLUS! We are happy to announce our four winners:

Don't forget that our Teacher of the Year Contest is also still going on until February 28th. Five winners will receive $2,000, a trip to Chicago, and more great prizes! We will also choose five runners-up who will receive $150 plus additional prizes. Go here to submit your entry today.

Pups of Liberty: The Boston Tea-Bone Party

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:28:00 +0000

We've just released our newest DVD, Pups of Liberty: The Boston Tea-Bone Party.

This is our first DVD specifically designed for grades K-6. It is an animated film which introduces students to the people, places, ideas, and events that led to the founding of the United States of America. The Boston Tea-Bone Party tells the story of the founding of the Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea Party, but with the real people of history portrayed by cats and dogs.

Here's a clip:

Along with this release, we've also created a new section for our website called izzitKIDS. Within this section are interactive features for students to learn more about the story and how the film was made. Check it out here.

And don't forget to go order your copy of Pups of Liberty: The Boston Tea-Bone Party!

Kindle Contest - Ends Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:06:00 +0000

Don't forget that our Kindle Fire giveaway ends Saturday, December 1.

On that day, any registered izzit.org members who have ordered a DVD this school year and are also following us Facebook or Twitter or are izzitPLUS members will be automatically entered to win.

We will be choosing 4 winners: 2 izzitPLUS members, 1 Facebook follower, and 1 Twitter follower.

So that means if you are an izzitPLUS member who "Likes" us on Facebook and follows us on Twitter, you will have 3 chances to win!

So don't delay; start liking and following us ASAP to have a chance to win!

Current Events - Now FREE!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:20:00 +0000

As of today our daily Current Events articles and discussion questions are now FREE to all registered izzit.org members! For the past year we have charged $3.00 per year for access, but due to feedback from teachers and our desire to provide this useful resource to as many teachers and students as possible, we've decided to open it back up for free.

All current izzit.org members who have a free account or a Current Events account have been sent an email explaining this change in more detail.

You can access the daily Current Events by going to the "Current Events Lessons" section of our website. Note: you must be logged-in to view them. On that page and on your "My Account" / "Edit Account" page you can also choose to receive daily emails with a summary of the day's articles. If you have any questions about Current Events, please feel free to contact us at currentevents@izzit.org.

We also still do offer the izzitPLUS membership for $9.95 per year which, along with the ability to order a new DVD every 30 days after leaving feedback and other benefits, includes access to the "Student Zone" where your students can get online to view the Current Events.

We hope you all enjoy using the daily Current Events in your classroom!

New DVD - Another 2-for-1!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 04:50:00 +0000

Our 4th new DVD of the year, Who Owns What?, is now available on our website.

Through November 30th, if you order Who Owns What?, you will also receive our popular DVD, Eminent Domain as a free bonus!

If you've already ordered your free DVD for the year, consider signing up for izzitPLUS for only $9.95 per year and you can order a new DVD every 30 days after leaving feedback. That way you can get all our new releases (at least 4 more this school year!).

NCSS - Seattle

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:37:00 +0000

We're in Seattle this week at the NCSS Conference. If you're here, make sure to stop by our booth (Section A, Booth 713), say "Hi," and get a FREE DVD!

UPDATE:
Here's our booth. At 9am on Friday we'll start giving out all those DVDs!

The Storm

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 14:07:00 +0000

We hope that all those affected by the massive storm that hit the eastern U.S. last night are safe.

Due to major power outages in New York City, where our email servers are based, we are presently without email service. Therefore, if you have emailed us with a question, we apologize for not being able to respond promptly. We are still available on the phone at 888-242-0563 and we'll be here until 6pm EST today to answer any questions you may have.

Coming Soon - Pups of Liberty

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:17:00 +0000

We've had a number of teachers contact us recently looking for DVDs that are appropriate for elementary students in grades K-4. Until now we've mainly focused on producing videos for middle and high school students. That's about to change.

In December we will be releasing our first DVD produced specifically for the lower grades. It is called Pups of Liberty: The Boston Tea-Bone Party. This short animated film tells the story of the Boston Tea Party, but with the real people of history portrayed by cats and dogs. It's a great way to teach young students about the ideas and events that led to the founding of the United States. Along with the DVD we'll also have a new section on our website called izzitKIDS which will include interactive features for students.

After this initial release, if there is a good response, we're hoping to begin producing more videos like this one. So make sure to tell all your friends and colleagues who teach in elementary schools to check out izzit.org in December!

Teaching Resources

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Did you know that on our website we list additional resources for all of our DVDs?

On the right side of each DVD's page there is a "Teaching Resources" tab that includes links to websites, videos, and articles that can provide you with more information on the video's topic or be additional resources for your lesson.

Check it out the next time you use one of our DVDs in class!

New DVD! - The Paradox of Progress

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:11:00 +0000

We've just released our 3rd new DVD of the year, The Paradox of Progress. This teaching unit examines the idea of "creative destruction," focusing on how FedEx has innovated and changed the way people send things. It is a great DVD for teaching Business, Economics, and Technology.

Here's a sample of what you'll see:

Visit www.izzit.org today to order your FREE copy! If you've already ordered your Free Annual Video this year, consider upgrading to an izzitPLUS membership for only $9.95 per year. Then you'll be able to order a new FREE DVD every 30 days after leaving feedback. Learn more at www.izzit.org/join.

2-for-1 Special Extended!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:22:00 +0000

Due to the overwhelming response we've received for our 2 new DVDs, A World of Money and Too Much Money, we've decided to extend our 2-for-1 special for one week. If you still haven't gotten your copies, make sure to log-in and order by Saturday, October 6th. Also, don't forget to tell all your colleagues to sign up and order their own copies too!

2-for-1 Special - Only 3 Days Left!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 20:13:00 +0000

Our 2-for-1 special for A World of Money and Too Much Money ends Saturday, September 29th. If you haven't ordered your copies yet, make sure to do it today!

Here's a sample of what you'll be getting:

2013 Teacher of the Year Contest

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:09:00 +0000

Along with our Kindle Fire giveaway, we have also begun accepting entries for our 2013 Teacher of the Year Contest.

We are looking for innovative and exciting ways to use our DVDs, Current Events, and other materials to get students thinking critically.

We will be selecting 5 winners and 5 runners-up.

The 5 winners will receive:

$2,000
An all-expenses paid trip to Chicago, IL
A Lifetime izzitPLUS membership
A complete set of izzit DVDs
An izzit fleece jacket or hoodie

The 5 runners-up will receive:

$150
A Lifetime izzitPLUS membership
A complete set of izzit DVDs
An izzit fleece jacket or hoodie

We will be accepting entries through February 28, 2013. Click here to read the complete contest rules and submit your entry today!

Win a Kindle Fire!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:27:00 +0000

We're giving away 4 Kindle Fires! All you have to do to be eligible to win is either:

Be an izzitPLUS member (join here)

Any U.S. teacher who is an izzitPLUS member or a Facebook or Twitter follower as of December 1, 2012 and has ordered a DVD from izzit.org since July 1, 2012 will automatically be entered to win one of four Kindle Fires. Read the Official Contest Rules on our website.

Click the icons below to sign up or follow us today and have a chance to win!

Shipping Day!

noreply@blogger.com (izzit.org) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:10:00 +0000

Thursday at izzit.org is shipping day. Today we are packaging up and sending out more than 8,000 DVDs that were ordered last week!

We love staying busy, so keep those orders coming! Don't forget that our 2-for-1 special for A World of Money and Too Much Money ends September 29th.