Technology Update: Middle School

Students in Middle School classes are doing some fun, multi-tool projects in Technology classes. We are focusing on finding exciting ways to share information and being able to use multiple tools on the computer or the iPad to accomplish our goals.

In Seminar and Katrina's Class, students are creating multimedia presentations of their own original hero stories.  Students are using programs of their choice, including Keynote, iMovie, Power Point, Story Creator and others to create these presentations.  Students are including photos, pictures they've drawn or edited themselves, music and sound effects, or videos in their presentations.  All students will present before February 7.

In Emilie's and Linda's classes, students are creating short (3-5 minute) films.  Their films must be related to something they've done in school - perhaps a public safety announcement about the playground, a short computer adventure, a film about mummification, a retelling of a Greek myth...so many choices!  Students are working in small teams and will create their film using iMovie and the iPads.  Individual students may also create short "trailers" or commercials.  I hope to have a "film festival" before spring break; students can share their films on the big screen in the lab!


We're doing very exciting projects in the computer lab!

Fun with iPads

Today the Surfing Penguins are doing fun reading and writing activities with the Super Why iPad app.

Technology Update: Oyster Catchers

Today, in celebration of Thanksgiving and eating a lot, we fed the OmNom in riveting games of Cut the Rope! (It also helped our mousing skills and used our puzzle-solving skills.)

Technology Update: Surfing Penguins

Today the Surfing Penguins enjoyed activities on our brand new computers!

Tag Reader Time

Students in Ruth Ann's and Sharon's classes enjoyed reading with Tag Readers today!

Bat Detective

In honor of Halloween, several classes were able to do a special "citizen science" activity online during Technology Class.  Students learned about bats, listened to recordings of bats, and familiarized themselves with the project. Then they listened to recording data, categorizing it for use by the scientific community.

Students listened to the calls from Romania and the Transylvania region. Per the website: "Transylvania is a part of Romania, where the Romanian Bat Protection Association have been responsible for involving more than 100 volunteers in the collection of thousands of hours of acoustic recordings from microphones attached to cars driving over 50,000 km around some very bumpy roads! These data make up a large part of the calls in Bat Detective."

Do you want to try it? Visit http://www.batdetective.org to begin your own spooky journey.

Technology Notes: Surfing Penguins

Today lower elementary classes enjoyed activities to reinforce number sense and improve fine motor skills. We started with Dora's Number Pyramid Game, a game focused on putting numbers in order. Then students enjoyed the Blue's Clues Ghost Hunt, a game of hide-and-seek on the computer! What a fun and educational day!

Beautiful, Bedazzled Bots

Today was the first day of Beginning Robotics: Girls' Group. We built these rover style robots and decorated them. Here are some pictures.

Power Point lessons

This week, middle school students made their own slide shows about topics they wanted to share. They did a great job! Here's Katrina's class hard at work!

Super Star Power Update!

Middle Elementary and Upper Elementary classes have been doing a great job in Technology classes - and they've earned TONS of stars!  In fact, Keri's class will redeem their first Star Power Prize (10 minutes of free time for the whole class!) this week, and all other classes should be redeeming next week!  Way to go!

Class star counts will restart after redemption, and they will be able to continue earning stars and the much coveted "free time" throughout the year.

(Free time is time when students may do any school appropriate activity on the computer.  This includes drawing pictures, playing games, looking at pictures, watching videos...and other fun! Students are still expected to exercise their best judgement and listen to instructions from any adult supervising in the lab.)

Email Accounts for Students

I have an important announcement for Upper Elementary and Middle School Technology classes:

This year upper elementary and middle school students will continue using Gaggle tools in technology classes.  Due to technical difficulties beyond the control of the school, we will not be using Google Apps in Education. 

These tools may also be used for regular classroom activities, as deemed appropriate or useful by the classroom teachers. Gaggle accounts are a safe, but fun, way for children to learn the proper way to use many typical online productivity and communication tools. These accounts are monitored by adults, to help ensure students' safety.  

Students and parents can find a handy how-to guide for basic use, along with FAQ and Troubleshooting guide, online at http://www.communityschool.net/gaggle_info.html 

If you’d like more information about the Community School Gaggle accounts, or to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your child’s use of these accounts, please contact the Technology Teacher.

New forms and a hard copy of the Gaggle How-To instructions will be coming home to students this week. 

Thank you! 

Music Robots

Today in beginning robotics we did something new - we built music robots! We made robots that sing a song, played percussion instruments, and even a trumpet bot (pictured below). We also learned an advanced programming technique!

Narwhals Rap about History

Here is the video Katrina's class created last week during Technology class.  They did a great job.  Enjoy!

Reading with Technology

This week, the Surfing Penguins enjoyed using the Tag Readers during Technology time. We explored books and played games to help improve our letter skills and grow our vocabularies!

Mesopotamia Rap Music Video

This morning, the Narwhals came to the computer lab excited to try something new. They'd learned a neat rap song in social studies and wanted to make a music video. So, we popped out the iPad, downloaded the song, opened the Video Star app, and started making the video. Taping completed today, and our directors will be completing edits on Monday for a pre-Fall Festival debut on this blog! Here are some sneak-peek photos I snuck around to take as they rehearsed, planned, and shot their video.

Star Power Update

Students in Middle and Upper Elementary classes have continued to do a great job being positive and helpful in class. Students have impressed me this week with their polite words and great questions!  Here are the Star Power standings for this week: 

Oyster Catchers: 97 / 165

Harp Seals: 108 / 180

Hammerheads: 107 / 150

Barnacles: 105 / 165

Coral Creators: 106 / 180

Key: (# stars earned / # stars for reward)

They continue to impress and delight!  Great job!

Carnegie Cyber Academy

This year, students in Upper Elementary and Middle School classes are learning about cyber safety at the Carnegie Cyber Academy.  Students have created their own username and password, and have enjoyed doing in-game activities during Technology classes.   Here's a page where you can read more about the game and see a demo video.

We will be continuing to use the site for classroom activities in the computer lab, but many students have also expressed an interest in continuing the activities at home.  If parents wish, the game portal can be downloaded to the computer at this link:  http://www.carnegiecyberacademy.com/login/  Login information must be entered in order to download the game.  Hey, students: Remember, always ask your parent/guardian before downloading anything onto the computer!  When they are ready to login, students should know their username and password, and the group code is com-8149.

A download-free way to continue the Carnegie Cyber Academy activities at home is by playing the online games and activities related to the Cyber Academy safety game at this link:  http://www.carnegiecyberacademy.com/funstuff.html

Visit the Caves in Lascaux

Middle School students started the year learning about ancient cave paintings and early civilizations. One of the great "virtual field trips" was to the caves in Lascaux in France.  Students used these paintings as a springboard for ideas for their own cave paintings now displayed in the middle school classrooms.  To see this awesome cave painting tour, go to: http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/?lng=en#/fr/02_00.xml

Beginner Robotics Day 3

In day 3 of this group, students built a new robot from plans. Each group had a slightly different build. Students selected the builds from the following choices: Robogator, Strider, Shotroller, and Shooterbot. All groups completed the build, and some made an introductory program. We will do more programming practice next week in the morning, and hopefully build some musical robots in the afternoon. We are having a special lunchtime discussion of robots in history, and their impact on the world during our next group meeting as well.

Star Power Update!

Students in Middle and Upper Elementary classes have continued to do a great job being positive and helpful in class, both to me and to each other!  Here are the Star Power standings for this week:

Oyster Catchers: 67

Harp Seals: 75

Hammerheads: 67

Barnacles: 70

Coral Creators: 79

They continue to impress and delight!  Great job, guys!

Technology Update: Middle School

This was a good week in Middle School Technology classes. 

Students in Emilie's and Linda's classes learned about online searching and citation.  We learned that you should always carefully consider your sources - are they credible or not?  We also learned that you should be a detective and look for facts in at least 3 places to make sure they are accurate before using them in our papers. Students discussed various types of files and information you can find on the internet - videos, interactive activities and games, sound and music files, text, newspaper articles, blogs, vlogs, maps, pictures...and more!  We learned that no matter what it is, if we use it for our paper we have to list it as a source in our bibliography.  We learned the format for citation and how to do a hanging indent on Microsoft Word.  

Students in Katrina's and Seminar classes started this year's cyber-safety activities on Carnegie Cyber Academy.  They will use these games and activities to learn and practice safe skills online, in a fun, game-like format.  Students created online accounts and know our group code, so they are welcome to visit the game anytime they wish. (Many students expressed a desire to continue playing the game on their own time!) We will revisit the game and online activities periodically throughout the year.  

This week, forms were sent home from the Technology Program to Middle School families.  The first form is the Computer Usage Agreement.  Students reviewed this document in class with the teacher.  Please read over the agreement, discuss with your child, and return it to the school signed by both the student and a parent/guardian.  The second form is about our Google Apps in Education accounts.  These accounts will include email, chat, calendar, online storage, and other useful Google tools to help students complete academic assignments.  We will discuss proper use of these tools in class.  These accounts are administered by the Technology Teacher.  Please review the information and return the signed form before Fall Festival.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me!  

Technology Update: Middle Elementary

This week students in Team H2O had great classes! We did a lot of reading on the computer. We learned that ebooks (electronic books) on the computer can be really helpful and fun to read! Students were able to login to their new Raz-Kids accounts and read some books in their library. Students alternated between listening to books, taking quizzes, reading themselves, and decorating their Raz rockets!

Surfing Penguins Pictures

Today in the computer lab, the Surfing Penguins played Curious George games and activities.

We also took pictures. Here they are!

Tag Readers

On Monday mornings, I visit Early Learner classrooms with the Tag Readers and books. Here are some pictures of some Sleeping Learners and Terrific Turtles enjoying the Tag Reader activities.

Robert the Artistic Robot

Today one pair of students in the Beginner Robotics group built and programmed a drawing robot! I'm so impressed! When a pen is attached, he draws a neat spiral pattern. Check out this awesome picture:

Computer Forms Going Home This Week

This week at Gatherings, various forms from the Technology program are being distributed to parents.

Parents of Early Learner students received a Tag Reader information sheet, explaining the Tag Readers and providing a list of books in our library.  No action is required from parents in this age level - but if you have questions feel free to email me!

Parents of Lower and Middle Elementary students are receiving a copy of the Computer Usage Agreement.  Students have reviewed this in class, and should be able to understand the concepts within.  Please review with your child, have your child "sign" to the best of their ability, and sign yourself, then return to the school.  You can return to the classroom teacher, to me, or place in my mailbox in the main office.

Parents of Upper Elementary students are receiving the Computer Usage Agreement and a Google Apps in Education permission form.  We use the Google Apps to begin learning about online communications in a fun, safe environment.  These accounts are administered and monitored by the Technology Teacher.  Students in this age group will likely be receiving the accounts in November, and using them for classroom activities in the computer lab, such as composing and sending emails, online chat and IM, making a blog and/or video log (in a safe way!), and using online storage and sharing tools.  This is a great way for these students to practice the online safety rules we learn about and reinforce classroom lessons by sharing and collaborating. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.  Please review the forms with your child, sign the forms, and return them to your classroom teacher, to me, or place them in my mailbox in the main office.

Thank you!

This Week in Technology

This has been an educational and fun week in the computer lab!  We sure have been busy!

Students in Early Learner classes enjoyed visits from Karen with the Tag Readers!  This week students especially enjoyed Go Diego, Go!, The Little Engine that Could, Ariel's Adventures Under the Sea, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, T-Rex's Mighty Roar, and Dora Goes to School. 

Students in Lower Elementary classes had their first visit to the computer lab on Monday!  Students had class in small groups (4-4-3).  Each group spent about 25 minutes in the lab.  We learned the names of devices commonly found in the computer lab (included monitor, keyboard, computer, mouse, printer, headphones, camera, and speakers).  We read Arthur's Computer Disaster, and learned that we should always ask an adult before using a computer, always follow directions about when it is ok to use the computer, and always tell an adult right away if something goes wrong on the computer. Finally, students were able to enjoy a few minutes of playtime on the computer at NickJr.com.

Students in Middle Elementary had a busy classtime!  We learned a new word: device.  A device is a mechanism or electronic equipment that does a specific task.  Students had a great time naming devices, and came up with some good ones!  Examples include: blender, iPad, Computer, iPhone, clock, DS, mp3 player, remote control, and printer.  We then learned another term: peripheral device. A peripheral device is a device used with a computer that enhances the computing experience.  Examples are things like speakers, monitors, the mouse, headphones, or flash drives. We learned how to sort peripheral devices into three groups: Input device, Output device, and Storage device.  Then we started learning about how to stay safe online with FauxPaw the Techno Cat.

Students in Upper Elementary are learning about online safety and responsibility at the Carnegie Cyber Academy!  (http://www.carnegiecyberacademy.com/index.html) This fun format for learning encourages students to complete lessons and activities to reinforce important lessons about safe and responsible communications, avoiding and ending cyberbullying, and making smart choices online, in a fun, game-like format. Students will register for an account (as part of the CS group - no name or identifying information shared!) and download and install programs on the computers in the lab with my supervision and direction.

Students in Middle School learned about formatting documents, how to search for information online, and citation of online resources. Students created a sheet of information about themselves that utilized various formatting. We watched the Google Digital Literacy video entitled "Detecting Lies and Staying True", and discussed smart search strategies like reviewing a website, checking up on the author(s), and finding multiple sources that agree with each other to fact-check.  Finally, we learned how to cite online sources.  Just in case they forget, here's how:

Last Name, First Name. (not always available; if not provided, skip)

"Title of Specific Page."  Title of Website. www.URL.com/specificpage  Date of access (DD Mon YEAR)

Or here is a completely made up example (courtesy of Katrina): 

"Asteroid to hit Earth Today." NASA. www.nasa.gov/news/notreal.html  13 Sept 2012

Whew!  That's a lot of hard work!  I'm super proud of all the students for their hard work and attention, and look forward to next week's classes! 

Star Power!

This year, students in Middle Elementary and Upper Elementary classes are trying a new way to earn free time.  This new method is called Star Power!

As students do positive things in class - participating in discussions, following directions, helping friends, using kind and respectful language, etc. - they will earn stars on their star cards.  As a class, they have a star goal to earn 10 minutes of free time.  Free time can be used to do any appropriate activity of their choice, including games, drawing, videos, music, and more! As individuals fill their star cards, the cards will be replaced and the full star card will be placed on the "Wall of Fame".

Current Star Power earnings:

Andrea's Class: 28*
Tulie's Class: 52
Keri's Class: 40
Kim's Class: 55
Betsy's Class: 55

I'll keep updating the Star Power boards to keep classes and parents updated on our awesome progress!

*short class this week  :-) 

Pivot Stickfigure Animator

In our first classes of the year, we have used a free software called Pivot Stickfigure Animator.  It is a simple program that allows users to create short animations using stick figures.

Students asked that I provide the download link, so here it is:  http://pivotanimator.net

Kids, remember the rules we learned about online safety - who do you need to ask before you download that program?  :)  If you said "A trusted adult" you are right!  Preferably the trusted adult who owns the computer you are using.

pivotanimator.net

Bonus tip: make sure as you download that you unselect the extra free software if you don't want it.

Beginner Robotics: Day 1

Today we had our first meeting of the first robotics group of the year! The students divided into four pairs, and each group built a simple rover. This afternoon they were given programming challenges related to movement. Next week we will cover sound and display blocks, complete challenges combining these skills, and add sensors!

We had a great first day! I can't wait for next week!

Welcome Back! & Rule Review

Hello, everybody!  Welcome back for another fun year of learning in the Computer Lab!  This week all classes are learning/reviewing our technology rules.  

The computer lab rules are as follows: 

1.  Always treat classmates and teachers with respect, and use a respectful tone with any person you encounter in the computer lab.   

2.  Please be mindful of websites you visit.  Do not do things on the computer that are inappropriate for school time.  

3.  Always ask a teacher’s permission before you use any kind of equipment. Do not willfully damage equipment. Use equipment only as instructed.

4.  Do not disrupt other students’ opportunity to learn.  This includes, but is not limited to, such actions as: distracting other students or the teacher by poking, hitting, or yelling at them. 

5.  Although it is ok to ask for help, or to work together on some projects, please do not copy another student’s work.  

Various forms, such as the Computer Usage Agreement and information about programs and accounts your child may be using as part of our Technology program, will be going home in students' Gatherings packets later this month.  Students in Elementary classes will begin the year with computer safety, and being safe online.  Middle School students will begin the year learning how to do basic tasks (format papers, online research, save and print) in support of classroom assignments.  

I'm so excited for the new school year!  We're going to have a great year of learning and fun! 

Strawberry Festival Today and Tomorrow

Hello, everybody!

Today and tomorrow is our 32nd annual Strawberry Festival. Make sure you stop by Elmwood park to try our tasty strawberry treats! Remember that all sales benefit Community School! So come on down and try some strawberry shortcake, strawberry smoothies, chocolate dipped strawberries, strawberry jam...and so much more!

See you there!

We've started our Programming Unit

Hello, all!  I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing Spring Break!  I've very much enjoyed being back.

This spring, students in Middle School classes are learning the basics of programming! We are using Scratch, a free program available online, to learn the basic principles of building programs like games, ecards, simulations, and so on.  Students have already started learning about creating sprites and stages, modifying looks, adding motion, and using control elements like "if.." statements, loops, and key presses/clicks.  I think (hope!) the students are enjoying our programming classes, and finding the challenges to be intriguing and interesting.

So far, students in Middle Elementary have been using Lego Digital Designer, a program that allows users to build with virtual Lego blocks on the computer, as a warm-up prior to starting programming.  We've reviewed some of our important basic lessons, practiced following directions, and become more accustomed to the idea that there is not a "right" way or a "wrong" way to solve a problem - that sometimes we use our own approach and method of thinking to reach the same conclusion.  Next week we will start using Scratch!

Students in Upper Elementary are doing a couple of different activities.  Students in Kim's class are creating new, exciting inventions!  We have already drawn designs of our prototypes on paper with pencil.  We are currently creating prototypes using spare materials found in the classroom.  Students will then draw their creations on the computer using Google Sketch-Up, a 3D drawing program.

This week, I was especially happy to welcome back our travelers from Bolivia!  It is great to see their happy, smiling faces again.  I can't wait to hear all the exciting stories of their adventures.

Three Free Online Puzzle Games

Here at Community School, we strive to use technology as a tool, and not just as a toy.  But sometimes it is fun to cut loose and play a game!  However, even in gaming, there are lessons to be learned and skills to be developed.  I'd like to take this opportunity to share a few games with you that are appropriate, fun, and full of opportunities to think and learn. (And, here's a plus, they can be played for free online!)

Cut the Rope:

This game, made popular on iPhone and Android, has made its way to the big(ger) screen.  You can play through two boxes of 9 levels for free online (at this time).  The object of this game is to slice through the rope with your mouse and deliver the candy to the Om-Nom. (He's an absolutely adorable, globby green monster with a serious sweet tooth!)  You collect stars by making the candy fall in such a way as to touch the stars on the way to Om-Nom.  Puzzles start easy, but get progressively harder to solve as you continue. This game can be played at cuttherope.ie (it is optimized for Internet Explorer 9, but can run on almost any current web browser) and is available in a trial version and a paid version in the iTunes App Store.  I would say this game is best for ages 7 and up, as children younger than that may lack the fine motor skills to execute the puzzle solutions.

Pursuit of Hat:


Pursuit of Hat is a cute little puzzle game in which a stuffed blobby guy keeps trying to get his hat back.  Because he is a stuffed critter, he can pull off his limbs (and even his body) to push buttons, move platforms, and make him small enough to fit in tight spaces and get to his favorite purple hat.  Though limb removal is not at all gruesome (it is rather cheerfully rendered, in fact), this is probably best for ages 7 and up.  This game has beautiful graphics and is a lot of fun to play.  It is available as a free download from the Google Chrome Web Store, and can also be played online at http://www.bigdino.com/game/272/Pursuit-of-Hat.


Isoball 3:


Isoball is one of those games that's simple to play but difficult to master.  Your goal is to get the ball from point a to a hole in the floor by using blocks to build a path. This game starts easy but gets harder as you advance.  This game gets very tricky very quickly.  While there is absolutely nothing objectionable in the graphics or gameplay, this game may be frustratingly difficult for young children, so I'd recommend it for ages 8 and up.  This game is available for download in the Google Chrome Web Store, and can also be played at http://www.gimme5games.com/play-game/isoball-3.  It is available for download (trial and paid version) in the iTunes app store as well.


These are three games I have found to be cute, kid-friendly, brain-powered games.  What do you think?  Do you have any fun activities you enjoy doing on the computer during your leisure time?  Let me know in the comments!

"Hooray for Books"! Month Activities

Here at Community School, March is "Hooray for Books!" month.  This month we are reading, reading, reading!  And the Computer Lab is no exception!  

Our Early Learner students were the first students to use our brand new Tag Reader Dr. Seuss books!  They explored The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?, along with other books such as Disney's Tangled and Go Diego Go! Underwater Mystery. 

Students in Lower Elementary classes enjoyed a fun, literacy filled, computer class this week.  Students had 20 minutes with the Leap Frog Tag readers to read books of their choice from our extensive (recently expanded!) Tag reader library!  Students favorites included Dora Goes to School, Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat, Scooby Doo's Shiny Spooky Knights, and Spongebob Squarepants Tour de Bikini Bottom.  Students also read  my favorite Dr. Seuss book with me!  We read Fox in Socks, paying special attention to words that rhyme.  After reading the book, we went to the Seussville website, where we played the online "Fox in Socks Rhyming Game", in which we found rhyming words to save Mr. Knox from falling into the gooey blue goo.  

I look forward to doing a lot more reading activities in the Computer Lab throughout the month of March!  

Radio Programs on the Way

Students in the middle school are wrapping up their 1940s radio programs before they travel to Atlanta next week.  This has been such a fun, exciting project. While they are touring Civil War battle grounds and learning about the Civil Rights movement, I will burn their creations to CDs.  Students will then be able to listen to their recordings and share their recordings with each other!

Notes from Middle School classes

We've had some fun, exciting classes in Middle School classes, lately.  For two weeks, we learned how to create exciting Power Point presentations.  We learned how to add pictures, text, transition effects and sounds, animate objects, and add colors and designs to our slides.  Students created some very nice presentations, and really enjoyed sharing with their classmates.

Middle school students are now doing some voice recording and mixing.  Students in years 1-3 are creating a "radio program" in conjunction with their current Social Studies reports on events of the 1940s.  Students will record their voices announcing "breaking news", and then insert it into the middle of a 1940s radio program.  Their recordings also include an advertisement for an item invented in the time period that students wrote in  English class.

Students in Seminar are recording and mixing their own podcasts (informal, informational sound or video files) about a topic of their choice.  Topics include how to dance, using technology, successfully avoiding zombie attack, funny Harry Potter jokes, the cheese cast, and how to win a video game. These projects should be completed within a week or so.  (Students leaving for Bolivia will be able to contribute sound recordings, and their partners will handle the mixing.)

I hope all the students are enjoying using the computer to create and edit sound files!

New Robot Challenge

Hello!  

Unfortunately, no one found the answer to the first "Name that Bot!" Challenge.  The robot in the picture was the "LifeHand" robot.  This robot made waves in the medical community when it was attached to an amputee and could be moved via "thought" and send touch information back to the brain!   

See more:   http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2009/12/02/tech-robot-hand-mind-control.html

There is a new robot picture up on the window!  I'll give you all a hint: it is a commercially available robot for use in office environments, for telecommuting.

Anyone who thinks they know the answer, just let me know!  

Robot Challenge and News

I have posted some new things on the windows in front of the Computer Lab!  

One is a "Name that Bot!" Challenge.  Think you can figure out what robot that is in the picture?  Submit your answers to me!  Everyone who gets it right gets a small prize.  Every now and then, expect to see a new "Name that Bot!" Challenge waiting in the window! 

Also, I'll be posting news, articles, and information of interest to robot lovers.  Right now come by to read an article about a fascinating new robot hand that is moved by the brain, and a history of automatons (like the one in the hit movie, Hugo!)  

Photos by Lower Elementary Students

Students in Beth's and Tulie's classes went outside and took pictures this week.  We used the Fisher Price Kid Tough cameras.  Students first learned about camera safety and use, and were given some tips to help photos come out great.  I think this is a group of natural photographers!  Here is a sampling of their amazing work: