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Erin Hirsh

Going iPhone-less: Camps trying to ban gadgets while embracing technology | Jewish Tele... - 1 views

    • Erin Hirsh
       
      Why does screen time seem diametrically opposed to the values of camp? Is this a false dichotomy? What messages are camps like this communicating to children about technology? I wish we were searching for a way to help kids use screentime in moderation year-round . . . that would seem like a great gift to our children and community to me.
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    My children are all attending Camp Ramah in California and they are not allowed to use technology at camp either! (iPhones, cell phones, game bos, etc) They do have camper mail that parents email to the camp and the camp prints out. Their technological offerings are limited. This article does raise an interesting point. When we go camping as a family, we have ano technology rule as well. It is a time to connect as a family without the distractions of the outside world. Perhaps that is the goal of the summer camps as well. Thanks for posting this article!
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    I used to work at sleep away camp and I completely understand having the kids disconnect from technology for the summer, while at camp. If there is a serious issue, their counselors and the administration staff have direct contact with the camper's parents. Also, if they have access to a phone and a problem occurs with another camper, they will call home and complain to their parents and say they want to come home. By the time the parent reaches the camp and staff has had a chance to talk to the camper, the issue has been resolved already. This is especially true for middle school students who are constantly having "fights" with their friends. This has happened to me! Kol Ha'Kavod to the camps for not giving in to letting kids have electronics!
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    My two kids are at Ramah Outdoor Adventure in CO right now. I miss them so much. One more week. They have a similar policy. Now onto to the topic: I've also worked at camp before (Ramah and Camp Thunderbird) and we also didn't allow screens. The exception that Ramah makes though is for kids who have their bar and bat mitzvah training. They can use their screens for that. And they also told us the kids could have an MP3 player and listen to soft music if they needed to in order to fall asleep. It's very true that the phones would be abused at camp like mentioned above. I think I also could see the need to have like 12 IPads at camp for a special video making elective. It's not that the technology is inherently bad or something to always shy away from. For me, the technology ban is so the kids can connect with nature and not have anything holding them back like mentioned by Yvonne. Every year I lead a b'nai mitzvah camping trip at our Synagogue and I tell parents it's fine with me if the kids bring their screens, we just limit the time they can use them. But if it breaks, it's on them. One time a camper brought an expensive screen with them and it broke and I said oh well, that's what happens in the woods. While on the theme of screens: When my kids at home overstep their lines or are not the nicest to each other or whatever (they are really good kids), they get their screens taken away. We don't say no TV, because then they go to the IPad, or the computer, so we just say no screens period when they overstep. I do think this is an important topic though and but would like to see ways camp can integrate technology more. It's pretty cool I think that I can email my kids every day and look at pictures of them every day on photobucket. Thanks for the conversation!
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    Eliyahu, I am not sure how old your kids are, but we find it difficult to take away screens because our two oldest (15 and 17) have many of their school books, assignments, projects, etc on their tablets! It can become tricky. We do limit xbox, game time, movie time, etc, but the absolute no screen time becomes too difficult and therefore takes much more monitoring if they have overstepped the bounds!
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    Good point Yvonne. My kids are 12 and 8. As they get older, you're totally right that it really isn't realistic and hard to monitor. Saying no to every screen, especially if they have homework to do on it. That would be like shooting yourself in the foot and no one likes to do that! And even though screens are limited at camp, at least at ROA, the counselors can go to the staff lounge and log in when they have time at night to do so.
ikatro23

Free Kids' Books for Jewish Families - The PJ Library - 2 views

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    I think PJ Library does a great thing for the youngest generation by sending stories monthly. It starts them out at a young age being invested in Judaism. But it is not always books. Sometimes it is CDs as well! I know my son looks forward to receiving his book each month.
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    I also love the PJ Library. What a simple but profound idea! All our kids five and below get the books. My two kids get it too and when they were younger they actually looked forward to the books each month. On their site they actually go up until 8 and below. Age appropriate books and CD's. I think they also sent us a DVD one time. Very multi-media and worthwhile. In Tulsa, it's run through our Federation and it costs them $40 per child per year to sponsor it. Our families love it. One issue though: At our Synagogue we have a full time preschool with 110 kids. Very big for Tulsa and we have a long waiting list. Literally. NAECY accredited and 3 stars. It's a fantastic school. I supervise the preschool director and we have a great relationship. The rub is that of the 110 kids, only a handful are Jewish, like 8 or 9 of them. So we have 100 kids here in the building learning about the universal themes of Judaism all week long, 7:30-5:30, and they are not Jewish. It's not that they are trying to be Jewish. It's just that our program is so great. So when I asked Federation and the PJ Library if they could be included, they said no. Even if the Synagogue paid for it. Boo-hoo. I wish there was an exception that could be made and all kids who go to Jewish schools, whether they are Jewish or non-Jewish, could get the PJ Library. What do you think?
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    I completely agree with you, sort of. I think anyone who attends a Jewish school (Jewish or not) should be able to receive the PJ Library books. However, having worked for a little bit of time for the PJ Library in my area, the reason that they won't allow non-Jews to receive the books even if someone else pays for it, is because only a certain number of books are allocated per town that participates in PJ Library. If non-Jews receives those books, there is a chance that the Jews in your area will not receive the books.
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    I see what you are saying about running out of books and I've heard that same perspective from someone who worked for PJ Library when they were at the ISJL conference. But I think if Harold Grinspoon heard that they were concerned with running out of books, they could solve that problem pretty quickly. I understand that the children who go to our Synagogue preschool are mainly non-Jewish and I'm not saying they should become members or anything. Getting the book would be nice but they are okay with out it. Each fall I check in with my federation executive to see if there should be any updates for the PJ library list. It is so generous and it works!
Deborah Nagler

How Students Develop Online Learning Skills - 1 views

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    More and more, adult learners are finding the convenience and flexibility of online learning a match for their learning goals and busy lifestyles. Online degree programs, courses, and virtual universities targeting adult learners have proliferated in the past decade.
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    I agree with this statement in this article: "Online discussions with fellow students and the instructor are central to the learning experience." In the 5 C's, this would be all about collaboration, connectivity, and communication. If it's and art project, you could through creative expression in there too. If specific questions are asked too, customization would be the next step too. Having our class last night and yesterday afternoon really helped me see the big picture of where we are headed in this summer course. Surfing can be isolating, as can teaching, so the more we can increase communication with real people the better. I just signed up for a free quote from a car insurance deal online and not three minutes later, my cell phone rings with a service agent trying to get my business. How efficient is that...but kind of creepy too!
Lisa Vendeland

Give Children Tools for Reflection | Reform Judaism - 0 views

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    Yom Kippur tools that could be used with preschoolers and elementary kids. The make a mirror project I think would even be good to use with teens.
Deborah Nagler

Google Docs Story Builder - 1 views

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    March 10, 2013 | Leave a Comment Here is an interesting tool. Google Docs Story Builder is basically a short story telling tool with a video in a very exciting way. Without any registration you can start creating your story. Go to docsstorybuilder.appspot.com and click on Get Started.
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    This an amazing tool. I will use this with my students. Thanks for sharing it. It reminded me of paper bag midrash when you give a group a paper bag filled with objects and they tell a Midrash about some prescribed topic Jewishly related but they have to use all the props. Also, one thing my wife and I do is create back and forth poetry. She says a word, then I say a word, and you switch off. A good tool for students too and it's low tech.
Erin Hirsh

Mission/Vision - 1 views

    • Erin Hirsh
       
      This is a Jewish organization taking a whole different role in working with Jewish camps and technology - funny that it came up right with the articles about Jewish camps, education and technology. At the same time, it shares the same core mission as many Jewish camps and camp organizations like FJC.
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    Harold Grinspoon has done so much to help the Jewish people. Matching grants of 60 million, wow. PJ Library, the list goes on and on! What I apprecaite about Jcamp 180 and this site is that they work with all Jewish camps to make them more sustainable. This is a powerful model of Jewish unity. This type of program will help ensure Jewish continuity!
Deborah Nagler

What Are Some Advantages & Disadvantages of Collaboration in the Classroom? - 1 views

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    Classroom collaboration can take many forms. Teamwork, group projects, and team games all fit under the larger umbrella that is collaborative learning. Working with other students can provide children certain benefits but may also come with its fair share of costs. Collaborative learning should only be used with a firm understanding of its basic...
Rachel Rosenberg

'Start-up nation' Israel to help Jewish day schools go from textbooks to tablets? - 1 views

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    Another article about tablets being used in the classroom setting
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    Tablets will be the new spiral notebooks, every student will have them. Even in our Synagogue supplemental school, we are moving away from computers with keyboards and more in the direction of having tablets for the students to work on. Hebrew apps continue to get better and I hope one day our Jewish games will be as tech savvy as the best of the X-Box or whatever counsel games. We're on the right path but we are not there quiet yet.
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    Another benefit of using the tablet is that it isn't as likely to get left at school, like textbooks are now, they weigh less, so much less impact from those backpacks kids lug around with them all day and finally, when kids want to read or work on an assignment they easily can. Not just at a time or place where they are suppose to. I think having a flash card program on a tablet or hand held mobile device can be a great tool for Hebrew teachers to use also for vocabulary. Morah Rickey uses Quizlet for our class. So I agree with EK that we are on the right path in this respect.
missemily18

Passover Videos - 1 views

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    I use clips from this playlist with my students and families to teach and celebrate Passover. There is a wide variety of types of videos, I use different ones with different ages, but I share this link with the families, many times I hear that they share their favorites at their Seder!
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    Nice pesach video. I especially like the bling twinkle in that guys tooth around 3:48. How fun. Very good quality video too. Music helps people instantly connect. It levels the bar and makes the experience something everyone can really get into. I bet after seeing this video, families would be more willing to share their funny stories about their Seder. This kind of set induction helps break the ice and it's a fun way to start or deepend the discussion. I also use these types of videos too and they are very worth while. Thanks for sharing!
dinamaiben

Jewish Education | Facing History and Ourselves - 0 views

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    Jewish Education Program Since 1990, our Jewish Education Program has worked with educators and young people to connect the past to the present. Through the integration of history and ethics, this program promotes an understanding of how Jewish values can inspire students to combat prejudice with compassion and indifference with participation.
Moshe Vaknin

resource for Jewish educational materials - 1 views

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    'Miss' Emily Aronoff Teck is a Jewish Music Educator who believes wholeheartedly in the power of informal education and utilizes music as her tool of choice. Emily studied at Brandeis University and in Israel before graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a B.A. in Jewish Studies. Emily was awarded the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education in 2010. In 2012, Emily received a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Music from Florida Atlantic University. She is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Jewish Education from Gratz College. Emily's primary focus in her career is early engagement of young Jewish children and their families through developmentally appropriate, enjoyable and meaningful musical experiences. She has written and recorded 4 albums of music and was featured on a PJ Library song compilation. Emily is grateful every day for the fact that it is possible to make a living doing what you love, and is looking forward to developing new ways for young families to meaningfully engage with their Judaism. - See more at: http://www.jewishlearningmatters.com/A-Director-JewishLearningMatters-com-Emily-Aronoff-Teck-M-Ed-508.aspx#content
Erin Hirsh

| Behrman House Publishing - 1 views

    • Erin Hirsh
       
      It is so interesting to me that she was in a traditional Jewish camp environment and her impulse to increase the learning quality was to integrate technology - it shows how clearly of a different generation I am. It is also interesting to see how it made sense to Behrman House to bring the game out of that specific environment into those where we might more typically expect technology and Jewish education to intersect. 
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    I sent this out to my school famlies last week when behrman house sent their email out. I love this game. It's an innovative way to combine fun and Jewish values. When I play Jenga with my kids, I like to put Jewish values on each block and when they pick a block or remove a block from the tower, they have to say how the Jewish midah applies to their life or situation. I think it's also interesting to see how Behrman House is amping up their technology. Like I said in a previous post, they also have a new Online Learning Center as well. The new fad of technology is becoming the new norm.
Joshua Gischner

Playing Games With Jewish Education - 0 views

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    If kids love online gaming, why not connect it with their Jewish education?
Lisa Vendeland

Lesson 13: cooperative Learning with the Computer - 0 views

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    Learning by small groups of students who work together in a common learning task.
Lisa Vendeland

Cooperative Learning Techniques - 1 views

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    Different uses for pair-share cooperative learning. Helps with discussion skills, utilizes reciprocal teaching, organization skills, writing and problem solving in both the classroom setting and online.
Lisa Vendeland

Torah Tots - The Site for Jewish Children - All About the Hebrew Alphabet - 0 views

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    I have used many of Torah Tots.com 's content at home with DD. She likes the bright graphics and I find the content reliable and useful as well
Eliyahu Krigel

Future of Jewish Music and Playing Jewish Geography - 0 views

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    Check out Deborah's nephew rockin it in Israel. He is at Ramah Outdoor Adventure right now with my two kids. He's an amazing musician and we also look alike. But there's 15 years difference. I posted his picture on my facebook page. Have you ever met someone Jewish who looked exactly like you? Do you love playing the game Jewish geography? What if there was an app called Jewish geography and you could actively play it with people all over the world? This would be good for the Jewish community. Stick.com is kind of like that. Enjoy this great Jewish music!
Eliyahu Krigel

Technology and Jewish Education - 0 views

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    This is a great article about integrating the smartboard into your lessons. We don't have smartboards at the Synagogue (not yet) but they have one at the day school and at the federation. I've taught some classes before for adult ed at the federation and for kids at the day school and using the smartboard is quiet an experience. It is so much fun and really is the future. Typical story though: We have this family who donated a smartboard to the school but then wanted the smartboard to be used in the same class as their daughter who will be in first. But the director want's to have the smartboard in fifth grade so it can maximize student learning. Plus, the first grade teacher doesn't know how to use it and doesn't really want to incoorporate it into her classroom experience. If you were the director, would you put the nicely donated smartboard where the donor wanted it to go in the first grade classroom with their child or use it in another classroom entirely because that's what would benefit the school? Or would you humbly say no thank you to the gift because it has strings attached?
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    I would let the donor know that it is best suited in the fifth grade class. However, anytime any teacher wants to use it, arrangements would be made so that they could use the smart board. That's what we did in our religious school. The classes that would most likely use the smart board received it in their room. But if a teacher was doing a special project or needed use of the smart board, the classrooms were switched so that someone else could use it if need be.
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    Makes good sense to me. Giving gifts with strings attached really complicates the matter and everybody loses in my experience.
Deborah Nagler

7 Fun Ways to Use QR Codes In Education - 1 views

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    QR Codes Quick Response are so fun to integrate in classroom. Quick Response codes are bar codes with information. QR Codes can include contact information, websites, text, SMS, pictures and so much more. My students absolutely love using these in their activities. Here are some ways to Integrate QR Codes in Your Lessons 1.
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    These are very useful. I love the scavenger hunt idea. Also, in the comments, there was this great suggestion of having students write book reports or reviews and put the QR codes in the books in the library like a local book review. Another idea would be to put a QR code on each door of the school building and tie the curriculum the students are learning with the code. Or when the parents come and pick up at their child's home room, they swipe the QR code and get an update on their child, what was done today in class, and any other information needed.
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