Group items matching

in title, tags, annotations or url

Short screencast on how to set up YouTube for schools and filter only educational videos to your school.

"This website is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The Safe Schools Toolkit explores the detailed characteristics of the National Safe Schools Framework, providing case studies and an online audit tool to pinpoint the areas of priority."

Another article for gauging where schools, educators' pedagogies sit in relation to using technologies. Do we offer students opportunities to develop good citizenship behaviours using technologies? Is education and learning in a rut in some schools? A real thought provoking article?

Elana Leoni Director of Social Media Strategy and Marketing @Edutopia, edcamp organizer Author's Note: Thanks to Joe Manko, Liberty Elementary School principal, for inspiring this blog post during an impromptu edcamp at #SXSWEdu this year. For an example of a School trying to create a connected culture through Twitter, follow Liberty Elementary's hashtag and jump into the conversation.

The use of WeChat as a tool to build a community of learning is featured in this post via an interview with Head of Elementary at Beijing BISS International School.

An elementary school in our district recently got 30 iPads and asked for some advice implementing them with students and teachers. In addition to suggesting some starter apps, I recommended that we have conversations with kids around the appropriate use of these devices. While almost every child has used an iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, the exciting learning opportunities these mobile, Internet-connected, media creation devices create also open the door to new challenges. Cyberbullying or inappropriate web publishing happens more through the camera than regular computer use does; the mobility of the device combined with the reality that multiple users are using the device with no personalized, password-protected, network-tracked accounts makes it more challenging to keep track of who is doing what with the device or that the device itself is safe.

An answer to the question, "In the 21st century, what does a school librarian do?" I found this very interesting to read but overwhelming too. The school librarian is expected to be able to do so much, however I feel if we take one or two aspects at a time and slowly developed these, our confidence and interest to pursue others increases.  I am going to give this article to my colleagues to read and reflect upon at my next TL meeting.  I look forward to hearing their responses.

"That was the question I asked my students this fall and the answer I got surprised me. Students increasingly aren't going to the premium information services we've set up for them through our school library. They might not even be inclined to go elsewhere on the Web. Instead they often turn to Apps for their information. From The Elements to NASA, from National Geographic to the National Science Foundation there is a wealth of credible content in the App Store, but if students are using this information in an academic setting how do we help them correctly document and cite these sources? "This is a case of technology being ahead of the Modern Language Association," said my colleague Stephen Freeborn, longtime English teacher, but together with our school librarian we found a work-around hack that gets the job done."

"We are thrilled to announce the release of our entire Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum as a set of eight interactive, multimedia iBooks Textbooks, available for free in the iBooks Store. As schools implement 1-to-1 programs, increasing student access to technology at school and at home, it's more important than ever to teach digital citizenship skills."

"People complain that they want privacy, and then they put all their information up on Facebook. Thus, hacking is ultra-easy. I have seen teenagers post pictures of their first credit card, then a month later their new college student I.D. These kids are so excited to have signs of growing up, but as we grow up our lives need to be more private to guard from hackers. Now I am a culprit of being very relaxed about my online privacy, meaning, I have the same password for multiple sites, I use my high school name as my clue, and the name of my high school is on Facebook somewhere. So hack away, I look forward to meeting the person who decides to take up my identity!"

"Following small-scale trials, Korean officials are reportedly moving forward with a plan to install remote management software on students' smartphones. iSmartKeeper is an app that restricts what services and apps students have access to. With the app installed, teachers have the ability to lock phones down in one of six modes. Educators can choose to lock all of the phones in the school, allow only emergency calls, allow only phone calls, allow calls and SMS, or turn off specific apps. The idea is to prevent distractions in class, and iSmartKeeper can also allow access to only a single app, ensuring that educational apps can still be used as teaching aids."

"Released last year, Reimagining Citizenship for the 21st Century report (produced with the financial support of the Hewlett Foundation) outlines the practices and dimensions of citizenship today, within the context of 21st century learning. This new model, with the interconnecting aspects of civic literacy, digital citizenship and global engagement, provides a kickstart to the important conversation of how we can help schools and communities make 21st century citizenship a reality for all students. In addition to outlining the new vision for 21st century citizenship, the report also provides examples of promising practices of 21st century citizenship in and out of school, and recommendations for policymakers and educators."

"Perhaps that makes the 55-year-old teacher sound like a dinosaur. What he discovered is, after all, one of the most obvious realities shaping education policy and parenting guides today. But, as Loewy will clarify, his revelation wasn't simply that technology is overhauling America's classrooms and redefining childhood and adolescence. Rather, he was hit with the epiphany that efforts in schools to embrace these shifts are, by and large, focusing on the wrong objectives: equipping kids with fancy gadgets and then making sure the students use those gadgets appropriately and effectively. Loewy half-jokingly compares the state of digital learning in America's schools to that of sex ed, which, as one NYU education professor describes it, entails "a smattering of information about their reproductive organs and a set of stern warnings about putting them to use.""

"Teachers in Cherokee County Schools feel it is vitally important to teach children about the issues our digital world presents as we use technology in the classroom. But teachers cannot do it alone, parents can reinforce what students learn in School by practicing safe Internet use at home. These web resources will help you learn more about being a good digital citizen and how to keep children safe online."

"Nine out of 10 parents believe their kids should be taught about mobile phone and internet safety in school, a new study says. More than a thousand parents were asked about their child's mobile phone use and issues relating to cyber-safety and cyber-bullying by Sweeney Research."

"Social media and online communication opportunities are important and can have a positive impact on all elements of the teaching and learning process, the school and learning community. We see teachers and other professionals creating networks to share ideas and resources, children and young people crowd source ideas and information. They seek and receive feedback on their work while parents engage more fully with teachers, their children and the school. Furthermore, even if we feel too old or too busy to engage with social media ourselves then we, as teachers, must still be able to model appropriate, safe and positive use of social technology for our learners and the wider learning community."

A blog post discussing Internet access in Australian schools.

Described by Christine Love as "a spiritual sequel of sorts to Digital: A Love Story", Don't Take It Personally, Babe, It Just Ain't Your Story is a visual novel that puts a huge emphasis on the way technology has led us to talk to one another differently, while also tackling the usual issues that visual novels styled in this way delve into. You are a new literacy teacher at a high school who is plunged into the lives of your pupils - wherever you like it or not. The school sneakily keeps tabs on pupils by allowing teachers to see all the private messages sent via the local Facebook-style service. Hence, while the main story is playing out, messages will constantly ping in the corner of the screen, and you can keep track of everything going on between your students.

"This collaborative mind map has been created by the staff at Pukekohe North school. The staff are starting to explore what digital citizenship might mean not only for the students; but for the staff, the institution of the school and the wider community. You can view the map here. "

Links on the school web-page - an example.