I think it is important to start all of my students, even the 5th graders, at the very beginning, since they have never used Google Earth (at least in my Tech class). Project #38, Introduction to Google Earth, would be the most appropriate lesson to teach to all my classes, 1st through 5th, so they can get confident with the basics before moving on to more difficult, but fun, stuff.
K-5 Internet Researching – Stay Safe and Smart While Surfing!
Stay Safe and Smart!
I think there are a number of important points to teach students when it comes to surfing the Internet.
- When you post on the Internet, the whole world can be watching! Remember the rules about talking to strangers, they also apply when surfing the Internet. To stay safe, stay in your neighborhood and don’t share personal information!
- When you post on the Internet, be on your best behavior! Manners Rule and so does being NICE (but never forget rule #1)!
- When you search for information on the Internet, you want it to be relevant and truthful, so it is important to be an Internet Detective and investigate whether the website is reliable.
Online Drawing Tools
The drawing tool that I used was artpad.art.com. I have to say that I am not the most talented of artists, but this image does somewhat inspire me to want to visit the real thing.
Other online art tools are:
Here’s one that I did using Graffitti Creator
Digital Quick Stories: Storybird
I used Storybird to write a story. Storybird provides beautiful art. You choose the artist and let the art inspire the story. Mine is not really a story, but more of an ode to reading. Enjoy!
Blogging: What’s It All About?
Blogging= Year-long activity
start in September in Tech technology by showing students how to use their blogging tool
students can even continue to blog over the summer
What to use blogs for:
- Reflection e.g., have students read article and then reflect on it
- Journaling
- Analyzing
- Collaborating
- Commenting/Feedback
- Publishing e.g., Wordles, AudioBoo, Animoto
- Book review
- Differentiation using videos, images, pictures
- Sharing of thoughts through engaging and exciting way
Start with big overview
Can start by showing video “Blogs in Plain English”
Have conversation about blogs – online etiquette and issues
- Discuss privacy/safety issues = digital citizenship conversations
- no personal info e.g., first and last name
- no pictures of self – use of avatars
What does blogging teach students
Online safety/digital citizenship = teacher must review every post/every comment and content teacher needs to get involved in reviewing comments/post
Discussion with students:
- Review what a blog is – show the students some examples (your own blog)
- Writing skills – have to emphasize that the blog needs to be written well/good grammar, title of article summarizes what the article is about, correct spelling, short, pithy sentences, three paragraph structure
- proofreading
- plagiarism
Have students sign a blog agreement (Scholastic.com – Blogging Rules – can print out and use as poster on wall to remind students) before they start blogging akin to an acceptable use agreement
- Get in a conversation with students about each of the clauses contained in the agreement – the clauses cover big ideas of digital rights and responsibilities.
Blogging Platforms
Kidblog (one of the most popular)
- very private
- has a lot of tools (formatting, to insert widgets) for students to use
Assessment of Blog
Rubrics (Scholastic Rubric) – share with students – let them see what you are going to be grading them on
Troubleshooting Blogging
Hotlinking: drag and drop a picture from another server to blog
- Impolite to hotline from server
- Make sure that you can use the picture before you save it
- Always save picture to computer
Can only quote 10% of a person’s blog on your own
- even giving a person credit when quoting more than 10% is illegal
Takes a long time to make a blog post = students need to know that
Blogging is very much about being yourself/writing in your own voice
Blogging is easier than it sounds and it is harder than it sounds
Ready To Learn!
I am about to embark on a fun adventure, learning about various tools to integrate technology into the curriculum. I am sure that it’s going to be extremely overwhelming, so I am just going to go with the flow, explore and then when it’s all over, figure out which tools and lesson plans will be suitable for my students.
KRSLibrary 