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Even with these tools, scaf­fold­ing is nec­es­sary.

1. Con­tent Comes First Be clear about how stu­dent projects will be eval­u­ated

2: Choose and Defend A Par­tic­u­lar Pre­sen­ta­tion For­mat Once stu­dents know what they want to com­mu­ni­cate, they can begin dis­cussing the clear­est means for com­mu­ni­cat­ing their ideas.

The fol­low­ing are sug­ges­tions for keep­ing stu­dents engaged in a project and account­able for their time with computers:

ask What are you try­ing to learn? or What are you try­ing to com­mu­ni­cate? or What are you work­ing on as a writer? Those ques­tions get answers like I want to know more about the horses that Civil War gen­er­als rode or I want to con­vince peo­ple that Justin Bieber is the best singer ever or I’m try­ing to describe the character’s actions. When you ask about learn­ing and com­mu­ni­ca­tion, you are sig­nal­ing that the con­tent is more impor­tant than the tech­nol­ogy.

Stu­dents set time-bound goals. Once stu­dents have a plan, they break the project into smaller tasks that can be fin­ished in 10– to 15-minute chunks of time. Have stu­dents write the spe­cific tasks on Post-it notes. Post-its are set beside the com­puter. On their Post-its, stu­dents fin­ish the sen­tence, “In the next [x-amount of] min­utes, I plan to…”

Every teacher is taught that back up plans are a must.

1. Computer breaks - if possible, have a laptop or netbook available for use

2. Internet goes down - see computer breaks.

First… lets take a look at the free  (or almost free) resources provided below

1. Khan Academy As the site states… watch, practice… learn almost anything. There are over 3,100 videos in multiple STEM areas

You also may wish to look for videos or activities using the Common Core at any level of math by exploring Khan’s Common Core Page.

One of the best ways to share the responsibility for Common Core is for teachers to design interdisciplinary Project Based Learning units. In addition to serving as an authentic purpose for the math and ELA skills in the Common Core, PBL, no matter what content area is the focus, promotes the acquisition of critical thinking skills needed by students

No matter what subject area you teach, determine how you can integrate both math and writing into your project.

Here are some key messages around internet safety that I believe all students should be aware of. Most of these are tips I share with my students with some ideas from Susan McLean. Always ask an adult if you’re unsure of anything when you are online. Don’t sign up for sites that are 13+ if you are not old enough (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram etc). Remember YAPPY (the personal information you should not share online) – Your full name, address, phone number, passwords, your plans.  Don’t add people as online friends unless you know them in real life or have parent permission. Never arrange to meet an online friend without talking to a parent. Remember that you cannot believe everything you read on the internet and you can’t trust everything online friends tell you. Choose sensible names for usernames, email addresses etc.  Talk to your parents about what you’re doing online and let them know when you’re going on the internet. Know what cyber bullying is and tell someone if you think it’s happening to you. Cyber bullying is when someone picks on you, annoys, embarrasses, or threatens you over and over again using technology, such as the internet or a phone. Protect your digital footprint: don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want all your friends, family, teachers and future employers to see. Treat others online the way you’d like to be treated.

Here are ten no nos to avoid as you teach with technology.No no: Don't have your back to your participants

No no: Do not make a shadow on the whiteboard or screen with your hand or body.

No no: Don't project a small and/or crooked image

The Digiteen™ Project is a global hands-on project for middle and early high school students, (typically Grade 6-9, 11-15 year old)

This project studies digital citizenship with students researching current topics, writing a collaborative report on a wiki, and performing and documenting offline action educational projects to promote effective digital citizenship at their local schools. The purpose of the project is to educate on and promote effective Digital Citizenship and responsible online choices as well as immersing students into an educational community for learning and collaborating.

Finally I found the Science Chat #scichat on Tuesdays and the 6th grade teacher chat  #6thchat on Thursdays.  Both of those chats were full of like-minded teachers who had some basis in what I liked and wanted to learn.  Both are moderated by some pretty incredible people who are very dedicated to helping others learn...I give them all kudos and respect.