Diary of a Techie Chick: internet safety

Showing posts with label internet safety. Show all posts

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:

Edmodo
Google Forms
Weebly

The Global Digital Scrapbook Project (gdsp2013)

App / Tool of the Week ... Edmodo

I bet you are wondering what is Edmodo and why should I use it. Edmodo is a secure platform that brings your classroom into the 21st century. It allows your classroom and resources to be accessible to students 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Edmodo is designed to get students excited about learning and mirrors a social network. It also makes it easy for teachers to create a blended learning experience while teaching 21 century skills. Edmodo offers engaging, easy-to-use apps that integrate seamlessly and personalize learning for every student.

Edmodo is all about connections. It allows teachers to build a powerful network that connects them to students, parents, administrators and publishers. It makes assessing students knowledge simple to track with student progress. Teachers can get the pulse of the class through polls, quizzes, discussion, and more. Edmodo can be accessed through your computer's browser or the app for a mobile device. There are over 23,000,000 user from around the world using Edmodo.

Useful Slideshow on how to use Edmodo

Getting Started:

Create your account
Complete your profile
Create a group
Invite students and peers

Share resources, lead collaborative discussions, give assignments, quizzes, polls and more

Install Apps

Engage students, inspire creativity, assess learning

Follow and participate in communities

Connect with educators from around the world
Connect with me - https://www.edmodo.com/mrs-wilsons-class
Discover great resources

Best Practices for Social Learning:

Do not post group codes publicly
Lock group codes after all members have joined
Monitor posts

Set up notifications

Use read-only status when useful
Encourage students to select unique passwords
Set expectations

Now to answer the question "Why should I use it?" My answer is WHY NOT!

Stand UP don't Stand By.....

Scan this photo with Layar.

I am currently working on making a video, slideshow, and Augmented Reality campaign for my middle school students. Step 1 was to have all of the 300+ students at LMS color and personalize shoes. Using the color page from the colAR app students were instructed to personalize their shoe to help stand up to bullying/cyberbullying. Next I had the students come see me and get their picture and or video taken with their shoe using the colAR app. With the app the shoe became 3D and started to dance around. For this to happen you must use the colAR app.

Now to pull it all together, I am creating a wall in our school that is interactive. My goal is to remind students that they are Standing Up and not Standing By to bullying/cyberbullying. I have picked a few shoes that I am adding an Augmented Reality component to. In order to view a video or a slideshow of all 300+ students and their shoes you will need to scan the shoes with the Layar app. I will also be adding ways students can stand up and not stand by to bullying. The goal is to make this wall as interactive as possible and to help students Stand Up and not Stand by.

To view one of the slideshows scan the attached photo with the Layar app.

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.

Standing Up

colAR App

Watch the teaser trailer:

Seeing A Different Kind of Reality...

Google Glass has made a wave of excitement by introducing Augmented Reality. I was introduced to Augmented Reality during the MACE conference's by the keynote speaker. I found it very intriguing and just had to learn how to create this different kind of reality. I did a little research and found a company LAYAR that offeres a augmented reality reader and creator that was free. Being a teacher free is the best price for my classroom.

You can use any type of image, artwork, picture, and etc... as the TRIGER image for your Augmented Reality the only catch is that it will need to be digital. Which means if it is a drawing or artwork of some kind you will need to take a picture of it or scan it. I first tired it out with 2 digital pictures of myself and overlaid a link to my classroom website, Tweeter feed, a slideshow, and a YouTube video. I used the LAYAR creator to make my Augmented Reality. After I had published my new campaign I was able to use the LAYAR APP to view my new reality.

Changing Presentations:

After I taught myself how to use the LAYAR creator I had my students create a presentation to overlay on top of a picture I already had them. My goal was to have it look like they were holding their presentation.

Example:

Original Picture

When scanned with the
LAYAR App she holds an
interactive presentation.

Tip:

Make your trigger object is digital. (Take a picture of it or scan it.)
You have to verify your email account before you publish and make your Augmented Reality live.
Test your campaign before others try to scan your trigger image, just to make sure it is all working.

Digital Posters .... Glogster Edu Style

For the month of October I had my Keyboarding Class create digital Posters to either inform people about Internet Safety or Cyberbullying. We used Glogster Edu to create some very interactive digital posters. My students had to research their topic either Internet Safety or Cyberbullying. Then they had to create a digital poster over their topic. Below is the the Glogster I created to introduce the assignment.

Student Created Glogs:

Tech Tip:

Have your teacher account created before you have your students set up theirs.
If you are a Google Apps School have your students login with their Google Account.
Have examples on how you would like your students to create their digital poster.

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

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:

SimplyK12 Wedinars and Shared Resources - Search for Glogster
Youtube - Search for Glogster EDU
Glogster EDU resource Library - Download
Take a Tour of Glogster EDU
Resources for Glogster EDU on my classroom website

Glogs I've Made:

Tech Tip:

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.
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.
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

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:

Keyboarding Practice

Internet Safety/Cyberbullying

Your Digital Footprint

Lesson/Activities by Katie Ann