Showing posts with label cyberbullying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cyberbullying. Show all posts

Take a Stand & Lend a Hand in 4D ......

Take a Stand & Lend a Hand in 4D ......


I am really into bringing learning to life and make connections with people.  This year I am promoting an Anti-Bullying campaign in 4D.  I asked my students and staff to help me by capturing our building taking a stand and lending a hand.  We had a week where everyone participated in spirit days.  On Tuesday "It was NO Sweat to stand up to bullying".  On Wednesday was National Blue Day, students wear blue to support standing up to bullying.  On Thursday we wore our Team colors to show we stand as a team against bullying.  On Friday we wore Red & Black to show we wanted to stop violence. During the week the technology students researched websites that they thought would help bring awareness to bullying and cyberbuylling.

We purchased a banner and asked everyone to sign it.  I used this banner and added an augmented reality twist to it.  When you scan the banner you will have an interactive experience.  I am currently going through all of the content to add to the interactive experience.  The augmented experience is live.  All you have to do is either scan the banner or a picture of the banner.  I will be adding more content to the experience in the next few days.


Take a Stand and Lend a Hand in 4D ~ Coming Soon!

Take a Stand and Lend a Hand in 4D ~ Coming Soon!


The week of October 6th - 10th is Bully/Cyberbully awareness week.  During the week I asked our homeroom/AB classes at LMS to take pictures or create video clips how we can Take a Stand and Lend a Hand to Bullying/Cyberbullying. My technology classes did some research and come up with websites that help with internet safety and leaving a positive digital digital footprint.  Those websites will be added to our project.

During the Bullying/Cyberbullying week I asked all students 5-8th and staff to sign a banner I had put up.  My goal is to make the banner 4D.  When you scan the banner or a picture of the banner you will get an interactive experience how you can Take a Stand and Lend a Hand to stop Bullying/Cyberbullying.

I will post our Take a Stand and Lend a Hand campaign soon.  Be ready it will knock your socks off.  Thanks to an amazing staff and LMS students!

Growing and Connecting via a Global Project ....

Growing and Connecting via a Global Project ....

Winning LOGO Design
I attended several teched conferences, workshops, and webinars right before school started this year.  They inspired me to create a global project.  I am really big into scrapbooking and thought how cool it would be to have a living digital scrapbook that students could use to share their stories.

I decided to use Edmodo as my platform to connect, collaborate, and to share my dream for my global project. The Global Digital Scrapbook Project for 2013-14 was then born.  I created my goals and posted the outcome I wished to achieve with this project.  I needed a sign-up form for those who decided to join me on this journey so I created a simple Google Form that I shared with anyone and everyone who would listen to me.  By the end of October I had 75 schools from around the world that joined me in this amazing journey.

Within our Edmodo Group I created several small groups for students to use to post, collaborate, share, and connect with the other students that were participating in the project.  The students can post into groups such as art, economics, culture, school life, and etc....  My favorite group is the Spanish-English group where students can share and learn either in Spanish or English.  I did create yet another Google Form for students to fill out and and request to join the small groups.

This project has been a huge learning experience.  When I started the project I had to be the trainer to the teachers that joined in.  Most of them didn't really know how to use Edmodo or had never used it before.  I created little video clips to help those that needed it among answer tons of emails and messages.  I would like to think it has been a success since it is now February and the communication within the small groups seem to be running smoothly.

Some of the ways I've used Edmodo beyond just communicating with the thousand plus students and teachers was holding a LOGO submission for our project.  Students submitted their LOGO designs and then I created a Quiz so that kids could vote on their favorite design.  I used the Quiz feature because I could add an image to each choice.  I also post the "Page or School of the Week" and I am able to see how many times that link has been clicked on.  This helps to know if the participates are looking at what I post.  Teachers in the project also post polling questions and discussion questions within the small groups.  Students then receive either a grade for journaling or participating.  We are trying to teach the students not to type in Text talk, write in complete and proper sentences, and digital citizenship all at the same time.

Now the goal is to get all of the schools to add something to the Global Digital Scrapbook.  Again most of the teachers have not used the website creator I am using to host our scrapbook so I have to put on my trainer hat again.  The goal is to have a completed Global Digital Scrapbook by May.  I have faith that this will too happen.  It takes time to get a thousand plus people all on the same page and understanding what is needed so keep an eye on the project as it grows daily.

Tools Used for the Project:


The Global Digital Scrapbook Project (gdsp2013)



App / Tool of the Week - colAR....

App / Tool of the Week - colAR....

This past week the students at LMS colored a shoe to show that they were going to stand up against Bullying and Cyberbullying. What they didn't know was that shoe was magical.  With the app colAR that shoe came to life.  It is taking us a little longer that I had hoped to photograph or video tape each student with their shoes.  I am currently compiling all of the photos and videos and will have a video clip of the LMS students Standing Up Against Bullying.



Keep any eye on this project by visiting our Standing Up page on our Global Digital Scrapbook.

Watch the teaser trailer:





My Recap of Edmodocon 2013.....

My Recap of Edmodocon 2013.....


I bet you are asking yourself what is Edmodocon.  EdmodoCon is an entire day of short professional development sessions on a variety of topics on using technology in the classroom and is sponsored by Edmodo broadcasted in a webcast.  I was just one of the 25,000 educators from 170 countries enrolled for this one of a kind conference.  There were several viewing parties, where educators got together and participated virtually as group during the conference.  I myself was a party of one.

During the conference I learned a lot about Edmodo itself.  In the past I used Edmodo here and there with a small group of students.  Listening to how others have used this powerful online tool inspired me to totally embrace all of what Edmodo can do.  I didn't realize how powerful the groups can be within Edmodo.  During the conference I kept hearing how kids love to earn badges.  During one of the breaks I created Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, and keyboarding badges.  I plan on creating more and defining how to earn them later this week.

In the past I knew about the folders but I wasn't very organize when I uploaded my stuff to the library.  During another little break I was able to organize the items I already had thanks to a teacher I was in a chat with and started adding new items that were shared in the community.  I didn't have to upload items if someone else already shared it what a concept.

I am wanting to do Flipped Instruction with my students so the Edmodo platform just became the right choice for me.  I love the idea that I can connect with classrooms from around the world.  Having everything in one place, assignments, quizzes, videos, and etc... will just make my life a whole lot easier.

I am also taking "The Challenge" to apply at least one thing I have learned from Edmodocon.  I looked at the list of all that have signed up for "The Challenge" and I was 23rd on the list.  For the first 500 people who participate in the whole process by completing "Th Challenge" form and completing the form they will share October 1st, will win $100 in promotional Edmodo Store Credit to install and integrate apps in your groups.  I am kind of motivated and would love to have the GoAnimate app for all of my students.

I use Google Docs in my classroom I had no idea that I could incorporate my already created Google Forms/Docs/Spreadsheets and etc... within Edmodo.  This discover with the help of yet another teacher I was chatting with during the conference made my heart sing.  You can also embed items.  So if you have embed codes they should work wonderful within Edmodo.  There was so much information shared I have picked a handful of my favorites to share with you.

My Global Project thanks to Edmodocon 

Resources:

Tips:

  • Make folders in your "Library".  Keep organized!
  • Join groups/communities that fit your needs.
  • Lock down your groups.
  • Use the widget to help turn items on and off with in your groups.
  • Use the Filter to help filter posts.
  • Modify your notifications to fit your needs.
  • Make connections within Edmodo.

Standing Up ....

Standing Up...



Today was wear Blue Day and stand up against Bullying & Cyberbullying.  As part of my curriculum I teach students about cyberbullying and ways we can stop it.  Since October is national bullying and cyberbullying awareness month my tech classes started a campaign to get other students to stand up against cyberbullying and wear blue on Oct 1st.

If you would like more information on how you can Stomp Out Bullying and Cyberbullying visit the StompOutBullying.org site.


Glogster Edu

Glogster Edu


I've shared a few web tools that I love such as Symbaloo and Pinterest.  These web tools are great for organizing and sharing.  Glogster EDU on the other hand is great for creating or producing content.  If you do a search for just plan Glogster you will get the version that is open to the world.  Glogster EDU is especially for education use and I highly recommend this version if you are going to use it with students.


What is Glogster EDU?  Glogster EDU is online collaboration tool a.k.a. a web tool for teachers and students to be creative as they express their knowledge, ideas, and skills.


Teachers can register for a free single user account.  There is a down side with a single user account, you can't have any student accounts under the teacher.  They do have different levels of teacher accounts which you can have student accounts under the teacher account.  Having a teacher account with student accounts allows the teacher to moderate student work without asking for the link of each glog or waiting for it to be published.  The teacher can also recommend glogs to the students.  Students can also view other student glogs within the online classroom as soon as they are published.


Students can also make free singer user accounts.  Again the down side is the teacher can't see what is going on until the student shares the glog.  The student also needs to be 13 years or older to have an account.  If the student is under the age of 13 he/she will need to have a parent/guardian permission.


Resources for Glogster EDU:





Tech Tip:

  1. If you choose for each student to create their own free account keep a list of their user names and passwords, just in case they forget it.
  2. If students create their own free accounts make sure they either make their account with a nick name or maybe a first name and last initial. 
  3. Before you have your students start using Gloster EDU make rules and talk about Internet Safety, Cyberbullying, and their Digital Footprint.




Teaching Technology to K-2 Grades

Teaching Technology to K-2 Grades

To help my teacher friends find resources on what and how to teach technology to kids in grades kindergarten through the 2nd grade I made boards on Pinterest and a webmix on Symbaloo.  I have also made some resources as well.


With technology so enriched in our daily lives it is very important that we teach our kids how to use the tools properly and effectively.  Even kindergarteners can be taught letter recognition and build proper keyboarding skills.  It is also important for kids to learn the proper technology vocabulary.  So when they are needing help they don't say that thinging on the watch-a-call-it is not working.  It will also save time and frustration for all parties. 


If you would like my lesson on teaching keyboard to grades k-2 visit my TPT store or my Teacher Notebook store.


Symbaloo Webmix:
http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/teachingtechtok-2




Pinterest Boards: