Tech Can Teach

Digital Citizenship Resources     The resources provided this week were very helpful in regards to understanding digital citizenship.  I found that the Google Digital Citizenship and Safety Course was extremely beneficial for informing my instruction and/or current practices in my classroom. It was very easy to navigate, and the information was easy to understand. This resource allowed me to understand the importance of creating strong passwords, as well as how to protect my students against hackers and other online threats, which I try to discuss with students each school year.       These resources did prompt me to think differently about how I/ my school approaches digital citizenship. I found that it is important that we approach digital citizenship in and engaging way, so that students do not feel that it is a lecture, but rather an opportunity for them to have fun while learning to stay safe online. Now, more than ever, it is vital that students...

Current Digital Citizenship Practices After reviewing the 9 elements of digital citizenship , I have reflected on my current practice in regards to these elements. These practices are described below: Digital Access:      Since my school is aware that not everyone has access to technology, they have provided students with 1:1 Chromebooks so that they can complete their distance learning assignments as needed. At the beginning of each school year, my partner teacher and I provide our students' families with a survey that asks various questions, including whether or not they have Internet access outside of school. We then determine the best options and alternatives available for these students who do not have access to technology at home, so that they are still receiving the opportunity to meet specific goals and skills throughout the year. Examples include providing them with hard copies of homework assignments and/or allowing in-person students to borrow Chromebooks to co...

  Mote This week I have been becoming more and more familiar with the Google extension, Mote . Mote  lets you easily add voice notes and feedback to shared documents and assignments.  How I have been using this tool: I have been using this tool to comment on students' assignments and provide them with oral feedback while distance learning. Other uses for this tool include recording videos and/or creating Slides and inserting audio. This has been very helpful when explaining information to students that I have sent online, or simply just incorporating more audio components into their assignments.  Changes I would make in the future: In the future, I would like to test and see if students could also download this tool to provide voice notes and feedback on their assignments. This would allow me to assign activities for them in which they need to provide their responses via Mote. I could also attempt to use this on shared Google Slides, so that I can assign each st...

  ChatterPix x Flipgrid ChatterPix is an easy to use app that allows people to create fun  greetings, playful messages, creative cards, and more. This app can be used with Flipgrid, so that students can share their videos and information with peers. This is a great way to keep learners engaged, and they can have fun in the process! How can this be used in the classroom? - Create book reports - Assign students to famous/ historical people and have them create an informational presentation - Have students describe a specific animal and it's habitat and/or facts about the animal Benefits of using ChatterPix: -  All students can report and/or tell a story or summarize events and information in their own personal space. - Students can collaborate with one another in fun and engaging ways. - It is quick and easy to use.

What is Newsela? Newsela is an online education platform that serves K-12 students. This is free for educators and students, and can be accessed either online, via Google Classroom, or by printing onto paper. The content provided within the articles on Newsela are aligned with most state standards. How can this be used? Newsela can be used to provide content extensions for most subjects. Articles are easy to find and are all aligned with national and state education standards. I typically use this tool when implementing literacy and/ or science assignments. I find that it helps me differentiate instruction according to my students' independent needs.  Useful features this tool provides include: - Access to content at five different reading levels - Activities and reporting that support instruction - Integration with multiple learning systems (Google Classroom, Clever, Microsoft, Schoology, etc.) Changes for future instruction: I can continue to use Newsela to provide students with ...

Seesaw Seesaw is a technology platform that teachers and students can use to demonstrate learning and increase engagement. Seesaw is a free app that allows students to display and share their thinking and/ or learning in creative ways. Useful tools students can choose from: Drawing Tool  – Students can display their learning through writing or drawing.  Record Tool   – Students can record themselves discussing and/or explaining their thoughts and reasoning regarding the skills they are learning.  Sharing  – Students can share their thoughts and/ or finished work with other students. Student work can also be sent home to parents. Students can use Seesaw to analyze, explain, and think critically about their learning. This is an engaging app that captures student knowledge in a variety of ways, which are ultimately based on student choice and learning preference. It encompasses all levels of the TPACK framework, and student products can meet different levels of the...

Lexia Lexia  is a school- wide online learning site that helps with students' development of oral language, reading, spelling, and writing skills for students. Students receive student-driven and teacher-directed personalized instruction when using Lexia, which can greatly benefit their learning.   Students work independently through individualized learning activities.  All students can work at their own pace. Educators are informed when students need help and/ or support. How Lexia can be used in the classroom: - Promotes targeted, individualized instruction - Blended learning opportunities, if needed - Offers students some choices and interactive game- like questions - Offers teachers useful data and additional resources that cater to students learning needs What Lexia provides for educators: - Formatively assess students without traditional testing - Provides individualized instruction for students to help meet them where they are - Provides resources that can be ...

  What are Breakout Rooms? Breakout rooms provide students with opportunities to meet in small- groups to  discuss their learning and work through problems and/or ask questions together. Students can use this tool to critically think about their assignments and information, and then share their findings or understandings with the rest of the class when they return from the Breakout room. How can these be useful? Students can think about the differences and similarities between the groups discussions and questions Allows students who typically do not share aloud to feel more comfortable sharing with others in their rooms since it is a smaller, more relaxed setting Provides time for collaboration and communication between students Other applications that work well with these rooms: - Socrative - Jamboard - Flipgrid - Zoom - Google Meet

Kami Kami has been a lifesaver during Distance Learning!  Kami is a free digital classroom app that can transform any already existing document into an interactive and engaging learning experience. Kami can be integrated into Google Classroom, Schoology, and Canvas. Uses for Kami : I currently have students Kami when I am uploading worksheets or paper assignments to Google Classroom. Students can then open these documents in Kami, either type, highlight, or write onto it, and then turn it in on Google Classroom. This helps during Distance Learning, since I am not able to physically hand students papers to complete. Changes I could make in the future: In the future, I could try to use Kami in more collaborative ways with students. I could potentially have students use Kami to complete different parts of an assignment.

What is Jamboard ? Jamboard is a collaborative Google extension that acts like a whiteboard.  When using Jamboard , teachers can allow students to access the board, or only allow them to view it. All templates can then be saved within your Google Drive, so that they are easily accessible when needed. Uses for Jamboard : - Helps students organize their thoughts - Give feedback to others - Use sticky notes to help direct focus How can educators use Jamboard ? Jamboard is a great way for educators to implement visual thinking routines. Educators can solve problems, write notes, or model thinking using their template. They can also add graphics and include captions to create engaging activities that can be shared with students. Students can then collaborate and display their thinking on the template.