This Week in Technology

This has been an exciting week in the computer lab!

Lower Elementary classes watched the next episode in the online adventures of Hector and his Friends.  We learned about how to determine if someone is trustworthy or not, and ways to tell the difference.  We identified adults that are trustworthy, like policemen, teachers, and our parents.  We also colored illustrations for a storybook version of the video to add to the classroom library.

Middle Elementary classes learned about computer viruses!  Computer viruses make the computer "sick", so it stops working quickly, and sometimes will not work at all!  We learned that viruses spread quickly, with the use of glitter and a fun outside game!  Then we learned how to prevent the spread of computer viruses - by using  antivirus.  Antivirus is like soap for the computer; just like we wash our hands to prevent the spread of germs, using antivirus can prevent unwanted programs from spreading to the computer.

Upper Elementary classes also learned about computer viruses, malware, and trojans.  We played a fun outside game to learn about how antivirus tracks down and stops computer viruses.  We also learned important terminology and reinforced our knowledge with a computer game on Netsmartz Kids.  Next week we will learn about password safety and avoiding and preventing cyberbullying, in preparation for our Gaggle accounts!

Middle School classes reviewed basic skills for typing papers for class.  We reviewed how to create documents, format, use spelling and grammar check, and save documents.  We also talked about various ways to store our documents to bring them in, particularly using the Digital Locker in Gaggle, and how to turn them in using the Homework Drop Box features.  We reviewed how to open documents from our Digital Locker, both in Microsoft Word and using Zoho docs.

Seminar has started creating their own short presentations to share their knowledge of cyberbullying with students in Lower Elementary classes.  Each presentation will include a definition of cyberbullying, tips for preventing cyberbullying, and instructions for students to follow if they are victims of bullying online.  Students have used various tools to create these presentations - puppets, Pivot Stick Figure, Pixie, MS Word, and Scratch were all used this week!  We will continue working on our presentations next Wednesday, and I hope we can present them soon after Fall Festival.

This week the Robotics Friday Group is working hard on building four different robots.  We are creating the RoboGator, two different types of ShooterBots, and a Strider (spider) bot.  Last week we learned how to program our robots to move, make noise, and display various things.  This week we will combine these previously acquired skills with sensor programming so that our robots can interact with their environment.

Thanks to all students for another great week!

This Week in Technology Classes: Elementary

This week, elementary students continued learning about being safer online (and offline, too!)

Lower Elementary: 
Students in Beth's and Tulie's classes watched the first video in Hector's World's "Your Personal Information Online" series.  We watched as Ranjeet, the crab, started using his brand new computer.  Along with Ranjeet and Hector, we learned why he should never put his real name and address online, and made our own unique nicknames for when we go online.  The kids did a great job coming up with nicknames that were fun (and funny!) and safe.

Middle Elementary: 
Students in Emily's and Keri's classes reviewed the video we watched last week with some Webville Outlaw Riddles.  The Webville Outlaws help students understand the types of dangerous people we might run into online, and how to deal with them.  After our review, students explored the Netsmartz Kids website, filled with fun activities to reinforce online safety.  We will continue our online exploration of the Netsmartz Kids site next week, when we will also learn about tips to avoid getting a virus on our computer!

Upper Elementary:
Students in Betsy's and Kim's classes also reviewed last week's Webville Outlaws, and then reinforced our safety lessons by playing a fun, online game called "Clicky's Quest".  In "Clicky's Quest", students took on the role of Sheriff Clicky, capturing the Webville Outlaws and advising others on how to be safer online.  Students had a lot of fun, and we had a chance to review not only online safety rules, but also reviewed what a web browser is, typing in a URL, navigating a website, and developing our hand-eye coordination by using the keyboard and mouse.  Within the next week or so, we will begin activities using our Gaggle accounts to learn and reinforce our online safety and responsibility lessons.

Challenge: Where does the word "robot" come from?

Last week I issued a challenge to the middle schoolers currently in the Beginner Robotics Friday Group.

Where does the word "robot" come from?  Who coined the phrase? When was it first used?  What language does the word come from, and what does it mean?

Edit:  OK, here's the answer, for all of you who are wondering!  The word robot comes from the Czech word "robota", meaning servitude or forced labor; also it could be used to describe a serf or peasant.  It was first used by Karel Capek in his play Rossum's Universal Robots in 1920.  (Source: http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201104226)

This Week in Technology Classes: Middle School

This week middle schoolers accessed their Gaggle accounts for the first time this year.  We reviewed the importance of password security, and created brand-new passwords for the year.  We reviewed e-mail and the Digital Locker, and introduced Zoho docs and the Homework Dropbox.

1.  E-mail:  Students can use their Gaggle accounts to email other students and teachers in the Community School district.  Students can send emails to parents/guardians if desired (I'll simply have to whitelist parent emails so they'll go through).  Students reviewed the selections available as we read email, the steps and options when we write an email, and how to reply, reply-all, and forward messages.  We also reviewed some basic email etiquette.

2.  Digital Locker:  The Gaggle Digital Locker is an online storage space available for student use.  Any kind of file can be stored in the locker (but the same rules of appropriateness for school apply, as always!).  This is an ideal place for students to store files for homework, as it is available from any computer with an Internet connection.

3.  Zoho docs:  Students can access Zoho docs through the Digital Locker, allowing them to create, edit, and save files online, including text documents, word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and images.

4.  Homework Dropbox:  Students can use the Homework dropbox to turn in homework digitally, saving paper, reducing lost homework, and hopefully simplifying the process for everyone involved.  As we begin using this system more in class, students will be more fully introduced to the process of turning in homework online.

This year, middle school students will be utilizing our online tools more frequently in classes, and we hope they will find it an easy and enjoyable way to augment the learning process.

Next week, students will begin activities to introduce/review online safety and netiquette.  We will use our Gaggle tools to complete activities to reinforce these lessons in a fun, engaging way, and to prepare students to use these tools for classroom assignments.

This Week in Technology Classes: Middle and Upper Elementary

Our first unit in Technology Classes this year is all about being safer online.  We will be concentrating on Internet safety and netiquette until after Fall Festival.

This week, students in Middle and Upper Elementary Classes have been learning about online safety through the Netsmartz program (created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children).  We learned the four rules of Internet safety:

1.  I will tell my trusted adult if anything makes me feel sad, scared or confused. 

2.  I will ask my trusted adult before sharing information like my name, address, and phone number. 

3.  I won't meet face-to-face with anyone from the Internet. 

4.  I will always use good netiquette and not be rude or mean online.  

We watched a funny cartoon called "Router's Birthday Surprise", and were introduced to the rules.  We played a fun classroom game called "Which Rule is it, Anyway?", in which we considered some real-life situations and decided what we would do if faced with that problem.  We also listened to songs to reinforce our basic safety rules for online and real-world safety.

Our study of the basic rules of online safety will continue through next week, with more fun games and activities.  Students will then move on to more advanced topics (password safety, preventing cyberbullying, avoiding viruses/malware, etc.) in the following weeks.

Students did a great job during our safety discussions - they were engaged, excited, and full of great ideas!

PS - Parents/Guardians: Be sure to check out the Netsmartz Presentation for Trusted Adults, available for download on this page!  It is full of great information and tips to help keep the kids you love safer online.

Happy New (School) Year!

Good morning!  I am so excited to be back at Community School for another exciting year!

This week students in Middle Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School classes have reviewed the Computer Usage Agreement.  (The agreements can be found online in our Family Handbook - pages 22-24.)  We reviewed what the rules are, and we talked about why these rules are important.  Parents will need to return a signed form so that students can use computers here at school.  I've already gotten many of the forms back, so thank you!  Please try to return these forms next week.  (Students in Lower Elementary will receive their forms on Monday, so please try to return theirs by Monday, Sept. 19.)

Students in Upper Elementary and Middle School also learned about Gaggle accounts.  If parents provide permission, students will be given an account that will allow them to participate in several kinds of online communication with classmates and teachers here at school, including email, forums, chatrooms, and a social wall (kind of like Facebook).  Students will also be given online digital storage lockers and access to online document creation tools, so that they can create, save, and access work from any computer with an Internet connection.  One of the best features of the Gaggle accounts is the safety we can offer - these accounts are only accessible by users in our school network, and are monitored by teachers here at school.  Gaggle provides online tools that kids enjoy using in a safe environment.  It's a little like training wheels on a bike - if students can learn how to use their Gaggle accounts appropriately, then when they are older, and using accounts as young adults and adults, they will be safer, more knowledgeable users.  A permission slip for Gaggle was also sent home this week.  Please try to return it by Monday, September 12.

If any one discovers that their form has been misplaced, I have extras in the Computer Lab.  Please feel free to come by to get one at anytime!

We have a lot of great activities coming up this year, so I hope everybody is as excited as I am for a new school year!