Although the official week for Hour of Code is over, the fun doesn't have to stop there! It was amazing to see students who are rarely engaged in their learning begging for just another minute to work on code. I have heard rave reviews from both students and teachers who participated in this event, so why not keep the momentum for computer code going? In addition to the resources that can be found on the code.org website, there are dozens of resources available for all different types of experience levels. Many of these resources have free student accounts available, so students can save their progress.Here are just a few:
If you'd like to learn more about coding and how you can use it in your classroom, there is a growing number of resources for this. Edutopia has a collection of articles and discussions about Coding in the Classroom that you can find here. Edudemic also has a collection of resources for teachers entitled "Coding in the Classroom: 16 Top Resources."
If you're still not convinced, check out this infographic from Kodable:
Did your students try the Hour of Code? If so, please comment below with your thoughts. As always, if you have any questions or need help getting started, please contact a tech coach.
I use Google Classroom to quickly and seamlessly push out announcements, websites, files, surveys, tests & discussion questions. It makes collection of digital files effortless and subplanning a breeze from any computer anytime, anywhere.
The students like it because they can use their devices, it syncs with their calendars, and they can submit files without being logged onto a school computer. Grades and comments can be set to pop up as notifications on their phone or iPod. In addition, there is the option of posting questions to the stream when something is unclear.
Teachers in our district across all disciplines are already taking advantage of this EASY to use tool. Google keeps it simple, and that is why it works.
SMASD Departments with current Google Classrooms are:
- Science
- ELA
- Music
- Computer Programming
- Foreign Language
- History
- Health
- Extracurriculars
Keep in mind that you aren't limited to Google file types.
Any file or link can be distributed and collected through Classroom!
For this weeks post, I have decided to post links to some helpful "cheat sheets" that I got from the Custom Guide website. These sheets provided a lot of information from - parts of the screen, shortcut keys, and specific instructions for many basic, fundamental commands. Please take the time to check out these links for the programs that you use the most. I think you will definitely find them beneficial!
Chances are that your students will never get to take a field trip to Antarctica or have a Holocaust survivor visit the classroom. However, you can still bring these kinds of experiences to your classroom through Skype. Skype is an application that can be used to connect to others using live video and audio on a computer, tablet, or iPad. This tool can be used across all grade levels and subjects and the best part is that it's free and easy to use. Teachers can plan to take virtual field trips, talk to experts, and collaborate with other educators from all over the world.
The first step is to create or log into an account by visiting this link: https://education.microsoft.com/ If you already have any kind of Microsoft account, you will be able to use that log-in. If you need help getting logged in or creating an account, please contact a tech coach!
Here you'll have several options for how you'd like to search based on the way you plan to use Skype in the classroom:
Play Mystery Skype: This one is my favorite! Classrooms from around the world pair up and try to figure out where the other class is located during the Skype session. Students learn about asking strategic questions, geography, other cultures, mathematics, and more and they get to take charge of their own learning! Check out the video below to see a Mystery Skype session in action.
Talk with a Guest Speaker: You can find an expert or other educator who will speak to your class through a Skype session. This could be anyone from an author to a historian to a scientist in Antarctica! You can search for speakers based on the age group and subject you teach and bring the experts right into your classroom!
Take a Virtual Field Trip: One of the best parts about the Skype Virtual Field Trips is that they're free! You can visit zoos, museums, other countries, and more. Again, you have the option to search by age group and subject.
Skype is a great tool for collaborating on exciting projects with educators all over the world and it makes learning memorable for your students. You can also search lesson plans on the Microsoft in Education website to see additional ways educators are using Skype in the Classroom.
If you have any questions or would like help setting up a Skype session for your classroom (you'll need access to a microphone and webcam), please contact one of the tech coaches. If you've already experienced Skype in the Classroom, please tell us about it in the comments below!
