Wednesday, October 23, 2013

K-5 Technology for Sept-Oct 2013


Image: Emily Haddon
CHVE Technology

What are students doing in technology?  Each month, come here to take a peek.  
The tools students use: CHVE Links.


TO DOWNLOAD THE BEST MATH FACT PRACTICE ON THE PLANET, CLICK HERE (free for CHVE students)


iPad app of the month: GoogleDrive

My new favorite feature is the camera access.  If a teacher wants to make a piece of paper accessible to students, the GoogleDrive app "scans" the document with the camera and automatically converts to PDF, ALL WITHIN THE DRIVE!!!  Huge time saver.  In seconds, teachers can give students/parents access to any document, text-book page, student work, etc.,  Huge applicational value for students as well...read about 4th grade below.


Other posts:
  • Learn more about experiences with 5th Graders using a Chat Room.
  • Learn more about why we should not shy away from doc sharing in Google Drive. 

Technology activities for Sept-Oct, 2013

Kindies
  • Learning how to use a track pad by making their name on the refrigerator.  
  • Use Starfall to develop phonetic awareness. 
  • Listen to Robert Munsch at TumbleBooks (funniest children's books by Robert Munsch read by the author himself...other stories available, too)
  • Explore ABCya and RedFish.
1st Grade
  • 5-Frames: In an effort to support common-core math, students work on understanding base 10.  This is a simple site, but their job is to complete this site without ever counting.  When you hold 3 fingers up, you see a representation of 3 without needing to count.  K-1st students are not often solid in this concept.  Using concrete ways to develop this thinking is fundamental in understanding math. 
  • Dance Mat:  Students learn how to position their hands for proper typing technique. The doc cam is used to model positioning.   Students close their eyes and see if they can find the 2 keys with the bumps.  Their job is to complete Stage 1. 
  • Explore TumbleBooks.
  • Education City: Students are learning how to do math activities involving number sense.  Then they check their progress on the class "score-board" giving them immediate feedback on how they did.  Anyone can have access to the scoreboard, but it is password protected so just let me know and I'll set you up!  I print out scores from specific activities and give them to their teacher (this month's print-out: Cash Only).  Students are also using EdCity to have math fact races using the ever-popular, Play Live feature.  Click here to gain access to Education City at home (there's a password after 4:30pm).  
2nd Grade
  • With our new STEM program, students engineered ways to generate wind with Lego's.  They document their creations by taking photos through the Wixie app on the iPad's or through the Wixie web-app. Many had time to describe what caused their wind device to work through: oral recording, painting, or writing all embedded within Wixie.  Students by now should all know how to get into Wixie at home. If they have forgotten their password, feel free to let me know and I'll give you the details!
  • Dance Mat Mondays:  Complete the first 2 stages.
  • Education Cityclick here to gain access at home.  This month's goal: number sense.  The student works on several assigned activities dealing with this concept. Their work syncs with the scoreboard giving them immediate feedback on their performance.  I print out scores from specific activities and give them to their teacher (this month's print-out: Cash Only).  If a parent or teacher ever wants access to the scoreboard, please let Mr. Krulish know and he will give you directions.
  • Make a Ten.  If you were to "flash" 7 fingers at your child, could they tell you right away that you were holding 7 fingers?  If not, they do not have a solid understanding of the base10 concept.  Practice with this site is great for building that understanding.
  • AR: A subscription-based site that checks a student's reading comprehension and
    provides an immediate score.  Students were read the story, "Click Clack Moo, Cows that type" (Love this story, cracks me up).  They login to AR and take a quiz. This is not accessible at home.
3rd Grade
  • The first 8-minutes of every class, students practice their typing skills with Dance Mat.
  • Badge Project: Students are working on their first tech project: In their GoogleDrive, they write a few sentences about themselves...things that represent what makes them proud of who they are.  They learn a few tips and tricks about word-processing in Google Docs, insert their own drawing, make a huge mess of their formatting and fix it.   The message we constantly use here is, "Hopefully you will come across a problem that you can't solve.  That's when technology gets fun" 
  • When they finish their writing, they use a web-app to build their badge.  This requires transferring .jpg files to and from their GoogleDrive, "sharing" them with me for a final check, print, color, and hang on the wall.  A video was made of this process so students can work at their own pace.  Come check our room out...looks amazing!!!
4th Grade 
  • The first 8-minutes of every class, students practice their typing skills with Dance Mat.
  • Programming with Lego's: With our new STEM program, in small groups, students
    build bird-robots using Lego's.  They document their creations by taking photos through the GoogleDrive app
     on the iPad's (this lends itself to a discussion on responsible web behaviors).  Then, they figure out how to use Lego's WeDo software to program their birds to perform a variety of tasks.  Finally, students will learn how to add an app to their GoogleDrive account to build a presentation that demonstrates what their Lego bird-robot can do.
  • Badge Project: refer to "Badge Project" in 3rd Grade.
5th Grade
  • The first 8-minutes of every class, students practice their typing skills with Dance Mat.
  • Badge Project: refer to "Badge Project" in 3rd Grade.  Many 4th graders and most 5th graders worked on this independently or collaboratively.
  • Graphing: To support the Science Fair, students learned how to use Spreadsheet in GoogleDrive to create graphs.  First, through document sharing and partners, they built a "Form" to "share" a survey to the class.  Students learned how data and graphs are automatically populated, then used this data to manually create their own graphs.  We tried to use my favorite web-based graph making site (a .gov site), but due to the government shut-down, we had to adjust the activity as the site was down.  



Sunday, March 17, 2013

Elementary Students, Google Drive & Document Sharing: Do they mix?



CHVE Technology

Lately, many conversations are abound regarding cyber safety concerns with elementary students using GoogleDrive. Specifically, the sharing features of documents. 



Google Drive affords classrooms to collaborate and build content anywhere.   Students are also granted free access to sharing their work.  We are a K-12 district where Google Drive is used sporadically from the Elementary level through High School.  This potentially lends itself to some challenging issues:

We were working on a project that involved a sharing feature in Google Drive.  One student pulled up her account and noticed in her gDrive a document she did not create (she was in the "shared with me" files).  She opened the doc up and saw a paragraph written with a bunch of mumbo-jumbo phrases.  At the very end was the word, F***

She was mortified (4th Grader).  She felt awful, was a little embarrassed, and was quick to defend her innocence.  I proceeded to console, and made sure she "deleted" the document (which doesn't really delete…but elementary kids don't know that). I proceeded to have a great chat with the class.  We covered several points:

1.  Just because you have the power to do so, should you (Google makes it incredibly easy to "share" docs, but is that always appropriate)?  With great power comes great responsibility (No good preach should be without Spider Man lines).  Kids don't realize that by sharing a document, they no longer have full control over that document…it's important to think carefully about what you choose to share.
Even if permissions are set to restrict editing, nothing can stop a kid from making a copy…I don't tell them that little nugget though.

2.  Good news for the student: Anything created in the Drive is permanent and has a trail.  If you are worried about being accused of something inappropriate, we can almost always figure out who created documents and when.  We can even figure out down to the minute when an offensive word was written.  In the case of the f-bomb, we discovered the recipient of this word was intended to be an older sibling at a Middle school.  The older sibling had a friend who created this document.  The friend thought he was sharing it with his buddy, but accidentally selected his buddy's younger sibling instead.  I immediately let our principal know and she called the middle school right then.  I handed her printed evidence and she went rolling.  Because of the time-stamp we could help the middle-school counselor determine what period the student was in and therefore the teacher.  Consequences were taken and parents were immediately notified and made aware of actions.  I then shared this story with every 4th and 5th grader at our school.  We didn't have a single incident for the rest of the year.  I think it's so important for these issues to happen at the elementary level so that tragedy is avoided later; case in point (I shared this with every 4th-5th when it was relevant…takes about a month with our tech rotation):

A friend of mine had a daughter in High School who posted something she thought was silly on YouTube.  Turns out it bordered on being racist.  A college she applied to found her YouTube posting and denied her admission to that school.  She was mortified, more embarrassed than anything else as she was an A student.  The lesson: EVERYTHING YOU CREATE, CAN AND WILL BE FOUND.  I am constantly asking them, is it worth not being accepted to a school or program you are excited about just because you thought something you posted would be hilarious?  I also frequently remind them, if your parents were standing right behind you, would they be pleased with what you were doing?  I let them know that everything they create here at this school will be found by potential programs they are interested in later.

This year we had another issue.  Minor, but still…we use it as a great opportunity to discuss ramifications and the impact on the local community.  I met with about 90 parents and discussed all of these events and all of it's surrounding issues.  We preach loudly and often about how this is the time to learn about these issues so they don't later make a costly decision later.  We have an amazing principal who is very proactive with parents and continues to preach this message.  We have been very transparent.  Whenever there is an issue, parents, kids, and teachers all know about it.  Parents are very supportive.  One of the keys to success in this building is that no student is ever sent to work on laptops independently.  There is ALWAYS a teacher/adult checking for on-task behaviors.  If kids know their decisions have ramifications, it makes a huge difference.  

I've worked in several different types of schools ranging from affluent to high free & reduced lunch ratios.  Regardless of the environment, the mentality is always the same: immediate consequences, transparency, communication to students and parents about the ramifications, and teacher attentiveness.  At one school, I was fortunate enough to get an ex-elementary student who was then in middle school.  She came back and talked to many of my tech groups about an incident she was involved in.  She was part of group working on a tech project.  The group faced a suspension hearing for decisions 1 group member made.  It was so impactful, that as she talked you could hear a pin drop.   The elementary students were amazed after listening to an all powerful middle-schooler.  I will continue to find brave souls from middle and high schools interested in coming to talk to our elementary kiddos about ramifications they've experienced in light of being thoughtless with Technology.

Every year there is always an issue.  Which is GOOD, elementary school is the time to explore.  But it's important to remain vigilant in being loud and transparent.  Kids feel it differently when someone they know has experienced a negative impact.  The lesson becomes tangible, relevant.

I think the biggest mistake we can make as Elementary Educators is to take the easy road by simply denying access.  This Is The Time to Work It Out.  Later is too late.  If we don't start now, we are performing a disservice.  Yes, it's a more challenging road, and it can be uncomfortable, and for that matter, we are not paid to pursue it…but it's the right road to travel.

Most importantly, by keeping kids from the Drive, they miss out on amazing learning experiences.  Kids have so much fun learning!  They build collaboratively, learn to use the side-bar chat box as a learning tool, and are never limited to where they can learn and be productive.  The world is a playground, why not take advantage with proper guidance?  Their going to get out there anyway, why not try to show them what to watch out for?



Monday, February 11, 2013

Technology for Feb, 2013


Image: Emily Haddon


CHVE Technology

What are students doing in technology?  Each month, come here to take a peek.  The tools students use: CHVE Links.


TO DOWNLOAD THE BEST MATH FACT PRACTICE ON THE PLANET, CLICK HERE (free for CHVE students)!

Want to buy your child a computer and need a recommendation?

Read about experiences with 5th Graders using a Chat Room.

For the month of: February, 2013

Kindies - began exploring subtraction iPad apps: (list coming shortly)

1st Grade
  • Dance Mat Mondays!  
  • Education City: click here to gain access at home.
  • Wixie: Many have finished their first digital book!  We have used the web-based version and the free iPad app to work on these (although, it is a bit sluggish).  Many have started finishing.  To see who has posted their project, check the password-protected page by clicking on "Secret Library".  Ask your child what the password is.  If they have forgotten, you can ask me.
2nd Grade
  • Dance Mat Mondays
  • Began 2 days with Math Lines
  • Education City: click here to gain access at home.  Goal: self-monitor: Students look at the assessment and find a score they would like to improve.  Their work syncs with the scoreboard giving them immediate feedback on their performance.  If a parent or teacher ever wants access to the scoreboard, please let Mr. Krulish know and he will give you directions.
  • Wixie: Many have finished their digital book!  We have used the web-based version and the free iPad app (although, it is a bit sluggish) to work on these.  Many have finished.  To see who has posted their project, check the password-protected page by clicking on "Secret Library".  Ask your child what the password is.  If they have forgotten, you can ask me.
  • Make a Ten.  (higher levels for more advanced students)
  • Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions here.  It is an AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Multiplication/Division (most 2nd graders used the +/-...but it's still in beta mode).  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.
3rd Grade
  • Dance Mat Mondays
  • Arcademic: Peer-to-peer gaming that practices math facts (and other skills).  Discussed the "why's" of not using personal information.
  • Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions here.  An AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Multiplication/Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.
  • iPad's: used PicCollage and GoogleDrive apps to learn how to build projects and store FINISHED works in your own Drive.
4th Grade 
  • Dance Mat Mondays
  • iPad's: used PicCollage and GoogleDrive apps to learn how to build projects and store FINISHED works in your own Drive.
  • Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions here.  An AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Multiplication/Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.
  • iPad app math fact practice: Math Ninja
5th Grade
  • Dance Mat Mondays!
  • Finished the iMovie, Colony Project and shared with multiple classes.  Click here to read more about the process of the project.  
  • Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions here.  An AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Multiplication/Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.
  • iPad app math fact practice: Math Ninja


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Technology for January


Image: Emily Haddon



CHVE Technology

What are students doing in technology?  Each month, come here to take a peek...The tools students use: CHVE Links.

Want to buy your child a computer and need a recommendation?

Read about experiences with 5th Graders using a Chat Room.

For the month of: January, 2012

Kindies - began looking at how Education City can be used to keep track of your scores.
1st Grade
  • Dance Mat Mondays!  
  • Education City: click here to gain access at home.
  • Wixie: Finishing our book project with Tumblebooks ...stay tuned to see where you can view them! (Students looked at the section on Non-Fiction and Videos to investigate something they are curious about.  After taking notes, the students followed a template on how to build an online book in Wixie.  
2nd Grade
  • Dance Mat Mondays
  • Began 2 days with Math Lines
  • Education City: click here to gain access at home.  Goal: self-monitor: Their job was to look at the assessment chart of their Education City activities and find a score they would like to improve.  Their work syncs with the scoreboard giving them immediate feedback on their performance.  If a parent or teacher ever wants access to the scoreboard, please let Mr. Krulish know and he will give you directions.
  • WixieThis week, most students finished working on their Non-Fiction books from the information they gathered researching a Tumblebooks topic.  We will link all "books" to a page where others can see what they have created.
  • Spent one day using a new program: Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions have been added to GoogleDrive via the Learning Links.  It is an AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Addition/Subtraction, and Multiplication/Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.
3rd Grade
  • Dance Mat Mondays
  • We finished the book poster's created in ComicLife.  We do not have access to a color printer for all so we learned how to "hollow" out the color.  We printed our documents and colored them in.  Get ComicLife at home for $4.99 on your iPad!  Or click here to download it for $30 to your computer (30 day free trial).
  • Spent one day using a new program: Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions have been added to GoogleDrive via the Learning Links.  It is an AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Multiplication and Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.
4th Grade - Mrs. Yoffe 
  • Dance Mat Mondays
  • Began a ComicLife project: Researched the history of Valentine's Day and added that information as part of a creation of Valentine's Day cards.  Goal: for students to learn how to think of their Google Drive account as a flash-drive so as to store non-web based projects.  This allows for greater mobility and security.  Get ComicLife at home for $4.99 on your iPad!  Or click here to download it for $30 to your computer (30 day free trial).
  • Spent one day using a new program: Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions have been added to GoogleDrive via the Learning Links.  It is an AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Multiplication and Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.
5th Grade - Mrs. Chavez - A GREAT WEEK...
  • Dance Mat Mondays!
  • Continued our VERY successful research project on colonies that involves the use of chat rooms.  Click here to read more about it!  Many students began recording on iPad's this week and used the iMovie app to edit ($4.99 at home, cost at school: $2.49).
  • Spent one day using a new program: Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions have been added to GoogleDrive via the Learning Links.  It is an AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Multiplication and Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.