Technology and Learning

Digital safety is a topic that is so important.  Teachers and parents need to have continuous discussions about appropriate use, online safety, cyberbullying and being careful with searches and web browsing.  Below is a list of resources for parents to access and use for discussing things with your children at home about this.  Teachers are doing this on a daily basis, since technology is used daily, and is such a valuable learning tool.  Students will only continue to have more exposure as they get older and move on to college and careers later in life; this is something that is not going away, and the discussions need to continue.  There are some really great resources here, videos to learn more about online pieces, and overall great tips for helping all our students become better online citizens. Common Sense Media - This website has created amazing resources on Digital Citizenship and has many videos for parent use in keeping kids safe. Privacy and...

I have had a few opportunities in the last couple of weeks to talk to parents and staff members about use and misuse of a variety of technology tools.  Since we ARE an iPad 1:1 K-12 district, it's crucial that our parents are aware of the things that can and can't be done on the iPads, and the things that are and aren't appropriate.  Although we put restrictions on K-6 iPads, where we limit adult content, etc., we are NOT at home with the students.  SO if parents are going to have ZERO filter on their internet at home, there are still plenty of things that kids can get to!  I am going to try and create and help out in this area by continuing to inform parents as much as I can via social media but also posting things on the website.  The MORE parents know, (whether they choose to USE the information or not), the better chance they will be able to stop exposure for their kids.  I was searching the other day and came across this and it's SO SO true!  Wh...

I TOTALLY forgot to link the items that Megan, Lakes Country Gal, talked about regarding new items they were going to order for Maker Space.  Here is the list: 1. STEAM Lesson Plan Kits 2. Spark Fun Inventor's Kits 3. Root Robotics These look SO SO amazing:)!  Starts a Donors Choose or Fundraiser for these buggers! Take care Mrs. I:)

Yesterday I had my monthlyish tech integration meeting.  We (other tech integrationists from surrounding communities) gather together at Lakes Country in Fergus Falls and chat away about many issues.  Some are frustrations, some things are problem solved, but MOST importantly it's a SUPPORT GROUP for ME!!!  I think that at times people wonder, "What does Holly do all day?  Really, she doesn't have THAT much to do!"  You're RIGHT, quite honestly, there are days that I have NO idea what's going to take place that day, which is MOST days.  Some days I AM bored, which means our technology is working - YAHOO!  BUT, other days just fly by and I haven't a clue how the day is done.  My job entails many things; fixing iPads, deploying apps, troubleshooting iPads, working with Google Drive and all things Google, dealing with Macbooks, laptops, printing, websites, connecting things, etc.. the list really is endless as there is SO much that I have to try to "...

Here are just a FEW of the many many websites available for coding.  I have probably talked about some of these before, but here is a list again:) Hour of Code - https://hourofcode.com/us/learn Scratch - https://scratch.mit.edu/ Tynker - https://www.tynker.com/dashboard/student/#/dashboard CodeAcademy - https://www.codecademy.com/#!/exercises/0 Code Avengers - https://www.codeavengers.com/ Code Combat - https://codecombat.com/ Kahn Academy Coding - https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming Tech Rocket - https://www.idtech.com/online Happy Thursday all Mrs. I:)

  I have been digging back into my Google Drive and have rediscovered some GEMS - check them out;) 1. Unite for Literacy - This website has books that are easy to access and can be read to your kiddos.  Easy to use and super friendly! 2.  Mentimeter - If you have ever wanted to give a poll to an audience, classroom, etc.. and see immediate and interactive responses then this is for you. Create a presentation, choose your questions type, then choose present and you will see a code for them to go to the website and punch in.  Responses will start showing real time. Check it out - 3. The Kid Should See This - There are always those students you have every year in your classroom that are curious in nature.  They want to learn and learn and absorb more.  This site would allow for some of that.  Search by content area or just search by category.  The videos found on here are pretty neat! 4. What's Going on in This Picture ...