Integrating Programming with Core Curriculum -- THE Journal Computer Science | Feature Integrating Programming with Core Curriculum There has been a steady and growing call for more students to learn computer programming. As they try to answer that call, some educators are looking beyond stand-alone lessons or separate programming classes and integrating coding into their core curriculum. By Jennifer Roland10/03/13 There has been a steady and growing call for more students to learn computer programming. As they try to answer that call, some educators are looking beyond stand-alone lessons or separate programming classes and integrating coding into their core curriculum. Beaver Country Day School (BCDS), a private school for students in grades 6-12 located just outside Boston, launched a school-wide coding initiative this academic year to help prepare their students for a new world of work and to, they hope, encourage more students to study computer science in college. Geometry was his first target when he looked at creating lessons.
10 Specific Ideas To Gamify Your Classroom - 10 Specific Ideas To Gamify Your Classroom by Mike Acedo In today’s classroom, educators are constantly required to mold their teaching methods to give students the best opportunity to succeed. It is not only imperative for students to learn the required material, but also critical that students gain a sense of confidence toward their work, and find motivation to expand their learning. However, this can be difficult for some students, who may struggle in traditional, lecture-based class styles. We’ve talked about designing your classroom like a video game before. Though some teachers may use game-based learning, such as having students play games like Little Big Planet (featuring Sackboy, pictured above), Minecraft or Civilization to reinforce content, Gamification uses game elements such as challenges, feedback, levels, creativity, and rewards to motivate students to learn, and master concepts. How To Gamify Your Classroom: 10 Specific Ideas To Get It Done 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
How to Use the Seesaw App in the Classroom - Teacher Hints & Tips The Seesaw App – Instagram for your Class The Seesaw app is described as a student-driven digital portfolio. But, from the stories from our Instagram followers, it is much more than that, plus, it’s free! Seesaw empowers students of any age to create, reflect, collaborate and share. “It’s like Instagram for the class! In an age where, as teachers, we are swamped with new apps, teaching programs, teaching resources, digital technologies, curriculum documents etc, it’s often hard to work out what to try and what is not worth the time and effort! When I asked our Instagram community about the Seesaw app, I was bombarded with messages about how they currently use this app and how helpful it is in their day to day teaching. So, I present to you some hints, tips and benefits to using this amazing free resource in your classroom. How to Save on Printing Using the Seesaw App “You can use worksheets and the drawing tool instead of printing them! Seesaw App Classroom Activity Ideas Peer Feedback
Cómo iniciar a un niño en la programación desde cero En todo el mundo hay niños y niñas que están aprendiendo a programar, y de hecho ahora en diciembre se celebra uno de los principales eventos en todo el mundo para promover esta materia. Hoy queremos adentrarnos aún más, y como complemento a nuestros consejos y recomendaciones para aprender programación a niños y a adultos, vamos a hablar de cómo iniciar a un niño/a en la programación... desde cero. Las herramientas y el software se han modernizado a esta nueva etapa de la programación, y con todo ello la metodología y las propuestas también deberán adaptarse a la enseñanza de esta nueva materia. ¿Qué programas o plataformas utilizar? ¿Cómo hacerlo? Hoy te explicamos cómo iniciar a un niño en la programación. Un vistazo atrás No hace muchos años que el campo de la programación era exclusivo del mundo más profesional. Los tiempos han cambiado, y la sociedad se ha ido adaptando a ellos. Lo que la programación aporta a un niño/a El recorrido en el pasado está claro. Propón, crea.
8 Ways to Level Up Game Based Learning in the Classroom Game based learning in the classroom should not be worksheets with points. It should be engaging and exciting. Here are eight ways to level up game based learning. Because, face it, many educational “games” fall short. Some games are computerized worksheets. What works in game-based learning? Certainly, we can memorize using games, but we can do better. But for those who don’t trust stories from the classroom, a body of research is growing around what makes a good game for learning. When my students studied good games with University of Alaska Southeast Masters Students in the Gamifi-ed Project, we were astounded to find how few games were engaging and used good teaching. 8 Great Ways to Level Up Game Based Learning in the Classroom The most innovative education “app” on the planet is the innovative educator. 1. College Professor Lee Sheldon (and former Star-Trek script writer) shares his method of gaming his college classroom in The Multiplayer Classroom. 2. Dr. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
10 Ways to Use Google Docs in the Classroom As a teacher, you probably know about Google Docs. You’ve probably even been using pieces of it for years! But there’s a lot more to it than just sharing documents and having an easy, cloud-based solution for your classroom. Over the years, I’ve gotten to learn about some pretty sweet features that have made my life as a teacher easier. These functionalities are built into Google Docs, and they are fantastic. 1. Why start from scratch when you could use a well-designed template? 2. How many times you are working on a Google document and you can’t type anymore because it says there is no Internet connection? 3. Despite being the most powerful online word processor, Google Docs doesn’t make it easy for users to directly save images embedded in the content (nope, copy and paste doesn’t work in most cases). 4. For those who don’t know, back in September, the official Google Docs blog announced several updates, one of which was the old Research tool being replaced by Explore. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Scratch Jr. Tutorials for Primary Students Last week, I encouraged you to participate in this year’s Hour of Code. I know that guiding a classroom of students through an hour of programming can sound intimidating, particularly if you aren’t experienced in it yourself. The secret is to do as I have – admit to yourself that you know nothing and your students are smarter than you. Any grade level can do the Hour of Code. Take Sam Patterson (@SamPatue), for example. I haven’t had a chance to jump in to Scratch Jr. yet with my students this year, but watching Sam’s tutorials makes me want to try it tomorrow. UPDATE 11/18/14: For even more Scratch Jr. activities and video tutorials, check out the “Teach” section on the Scratch Jr. website. If you’d like to access some more resource for teaching kids to code, check out my Programming for Kids Pinterest Board! Like this: Like Loading...
10 Innovative Ways to Use ThingLink in the Classroom by Susan Oxnevad It starts with an image. Define the image through multimedia. Present ideas. Pack it full of content. Create links to amazing sites. Design Your Digital Self Create an avatar and connect with Your Digital Self through multimedia. Answer and Essential Question Embrace research, learn through multimedia, draw, create and design as you construct knowledge to answer an essential question. Connect to the Common Core – Dig Deeper The Gettysburg address has been wordled here to display the most frequently used words. Define Vocabulary Vocabulary development is an attainable goal that extends across all areas of the curriculum. Extend the Walls of Your Classroom Teachers and students can extend the learning by posting messages, holding online discussions, and working with ThingLink images through Edmodo. Design Awesome Homework Plan and Implement a Collaborative Project Provide Built-In Tech Support Share Books on a Pinterest Board Grab a book jacket and bring a treasured book to life.
iMovie - All about apps in YOUR classroom! Creating assemble, construct, create, design, develop, formulate, write Students can use iMove to construct video reports dealing with core curriculum. For example in a Social Studies class students could use the iMovie movie presets to create video reports. Evaluating appraise, argue, defend, judge, select, support, value, evaluate Students could use iMovie to take and defend a position on a controversial historical figure such as John Brown. Analyzing appraise, compare, contrast, criticize, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, test In a Mathematics class students could create video projects that would examine everyday objects found on a school as examples of slope. Applying choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, schedule, sketch, solve, use, write Students could employ iMovie in a Physical Education classroom to illustrate proper technique in shooting free throws. Understanding Remembering
Teacher led Hour of Code lesson plans - by grade and subject Now that tens of thousands of educators have tried the Hour of Code, many classrooms are ready for more creative, less one-size-fits-all activities that teach the basics of computer science. To help teachers find inspiration, we collected and curated one-hour teacher-led lesson and activity plans designed for different subject areas for Hour of Code veterans. Elementary School Scratch Animate Your Name Ages 8 to 16. Programming, Creativity, Web-based. Students will animate the letters of their name, initials, or favorite word using Scratch! Scratch Hide and Seek Game Ages 8 to 16. Scratch Dance, Dance, Dance Ages 8 to 16. ScratchJr: Can I Make a Spooky Forest? ScratchJr: Can I Make My Characters Greet Each Other? ScratchJr: Can I Make the Sun Set? My Robotic Friend Ages 5-18. Conditionals with Cards Ages 8-12. Binary Baubles Ages 8-18. Bomberbot Hour of Code Activities Ages 8-12. STEM Projects Ages 5-18. Rock, Paper, Scissors Ages 10-15. Kodable fuzzFamily Frenzy Ages 5-9. Middle School
Learn Moore Stuff | Laura Moore-NEISD Instructional Technology Specialist The Ultimate Guide to Using iPads in the Classroom Congratulations! Your school district or principal has just decided to use iPads in your school. But how do you make sure this new technological tool enhances learning, while tying in with your lesson plan—and doesn’t just provide another way for students to spend too much time playing Candy Crush or connecting with friends on Snapchat? Image from Flickr via Sean MacEntee Why Use iPads in the Classroom? Before we explore the many different ways educators can use iPads with their students, let’s first talk about the benefits of giving students hands on access to this technology. Since iPads were released in 2010, numerous studies have examined the impact of their usage in schools. Although many teachers appreciate the advantages their students gain from using iPads, they are also very conscious of remembering that the devices are simply tools—the cart, if you would, and not the horse. Becoming Familiar with the iPad Integrating iPads in the Lesson—The Pedagogy Wheel Customize and Use Your iPad