In October, Montana first lady Nancy Schweitzer visited Allison Bakken's fifth-grade classroom in Townsend to learn how she was using Discovery Education video streaming to teach a multimedia lesson on black holes in outer space.

Bakken, who recently completed a master's degree from Walden University on using integrated technology in the classroom, has been using streaming from Discovery Education to teach science, math, health and art lessons.

The day of Schweitzer's visit to Cecelia Hazelton Elementary School, Bakken showed and discussed digital, video clips from the Internet on the three main kinds of black holes.

"The students each did reports. They could watch video clips," Bakken said. "It's inquiry-based learning. It requires them to use technology."

The students also learn how to find good sources of information, she said.

The Discovery Education Network offers more than 8,700 educational videos to those using its service, and more than 87,000 content-specific video clips, according to their Web site.

Bakken finds the service invaluable, particularly teaching in a rural area, where students don't have easy access to major museums and research libraries.

"I did extra training to become a STAR educator," learning how to use Discovery Education in the classroom and share it with other teachers. She is one of just two STAR educators in Montana.

"I'm an advocate of using technology in the classroom," Bakken said. "It opens the eyes of kids in rural areas to the world around them."

Bakken is also enthusiastic about being part of a network of 88,000 teachers globally who are sharing teaching ideas and lesson plans.

"You collaborate with teachers from all over the country," she said.

Reporter Marga Lincoln: 447-4074 or marga.lincoln@helenair.com