"Have you read The Paperless Classroom with Google Docs by Eric Curts? If not, you should. It is a great way for Google schools to harness the power of Google for sharing documents, and establishing a workflow for students to turn in work for teachers to grade and return in a paperless environment. I love it. In fact, I liked it so much that I decided to pay homage to it with a version that is dedicated to doing the very same thing on the iPad using just the Google Drive app."
"How do these teachers find and then evaluate the games that they use?
The most common way of learning about any educational tools is from peers. While face to face networks are limited by the number of interactions with people in one's grade, school, or conferences, online professional learning networks have become invaluable."
This looks very interesting. The potential is huge for students to develop apps for the Android platform. How can apple beat this one if they have locked down their apps store? The great thing about App inventor is that it looks like it has been modelled on Scratch 'Blocks' of building scripts. My Grade 5 and 6's (some whiz kids lower) would love to get their hands on this. The potential for them to develop their own apps for perhaps an Android tablet or smart phone is enormous. Rich and authentic possibilities for learning. Have DEECD made a wrong choice in going with the ipad?
Texas Computer Educators Conference. Use the schedule to find presentations with handouts. Free stuff and links. Look at slide shows. Select by key terms, topic, grade level, etc.
# Grade online assignments in a single step!
# Get reporting and analysis on student performance!
# Works with Google docs
# Email students their scores.
# Designed by a teacher, for other teachers!
This binder is an attempt to collect and organize Digital Citizenship resources by age (grade level). Often when we think of Digital Citizenship, we only think about the safety aspects of it but being a digital citizen is much more than just being safe. The nine elements of Digital Citizenship as outlined in the book Digital Citizenship in Schools by Mike Ribble and Gerald Bailey are:
Digital Etiquette
Digital Communication
Digital Literacy
Digital Access
Digital Commerce
Digital Law
Digital Rights & Responsibilities
Digital Health & Wellness
Digital Security (self-protection)
Source: http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html
If you would like to collaborate on this binder, please send the email address that you used when signing up with Live Binders to stmcomputers@gmail.com.
"Planet Nutshell produces short animated videos to explain products, services, and concepts. One of their series of videos is all about the Internet and Internet safety for K-12 students. The series is called NetSafe and it has 17 episodes that were produced for the Utah Education Network. The videos are labeled with grade levels so that students in high school don't watch videos designed for K-3 students. "
"Each CS First club is based on a real world theme and consists of about 10 hours worth of lessons and activities. The different club themes offered aim to attract and engage students of varying backgrounds and interests. All our materials are targeted at students in 4th - 8th grades (or between the ages of 9 - 14), and are free and easy to use."
"There are many apps that do promote critical thinking-and often extended critical thinking and learning at that. These aren't clinical "critical thinking building" programs either, but rather often enjoyable exercises in strategy, tactics, and problem-solving thought. In this post there is a collection of 25 of these critical thinking apps. Most are for grades 8-12, but several are for students as young as kindergarten."
"Meridian is an electronic journal dedicated to research and practice of Information and Communication Technology in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Meridian features research findings, practitioner articles, commentary, and book excerpts by educational researchers, technology designers, classroom teachers, and authors who wish to share and expand teaching and learning experiences with computer technologies in K-12 classrooms and beyond."
From the University of Wisconsin comes this set of rubrics for the following topics
Cooperative Learning Research Process/Report
PowerPoint/Podcast Oral Presentation
Web Page and ePortfolio Math, Art, Science
Video and Multimedia Project
Creating Rubrics
Writing Rubrics for Primary Grades
Game and Simulations Web 2.O
"A collection of rubrics for assessing portfolios, cooperative learning, research process/ report, PowerPoint, podcast, oral presentation, web page, blog, wiki, and other web 2.0 projects."
Thanks for sharing this Tony.
Looks very interesting - Python reminds me of Microworlds.
Might look into running a lunchtime programming club for grades 5-6.
Although still trying to get a Minecraft Club started! - unfortunately my school techs don't know Minecraft and although it has been on their 'to do' list from last year limited time makes it really hard for them to get it up. :-(
Cheers - Chris Trimnell
"ScratchJr is an introductory programming language that enables young children (ages 5-7) to create their own interactive stories and games. Children snap together graphical programming blocks to make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. Children can modify characters in the paint editor, add their own voices and sounds, even insert photos of themselves - then use the programming blocks to make their characters come to life."
Thanks for sharing this link John.
I have recorded my interest with the developers to keep me informed.
I love using Scratch with my grade 4s.
As you'd know - the new Digital Technologies curric emphasises programming, so Scratch Jr will be a welcome addition.
Seems as though currics around the world are picking up on kids programming.
Cheers - Chris Trimnell