Hour of Code 2014

Posted on November 20, 2014 | Comments Off on Hour of Code 2014

Teachers,

The Hour of Code week is quickly approaching! This year it will be December 8th through 12th. The purpose of the Hour of Code (HOC) is to expose students to programming and let them see how easy it can be. “Once students see what they can create right before their eyes, they’re empowered to keep learning.” More information here (pdf).

HOCI would like to come into your classroom and teach students how to program. Ideally I will need an hour, but will take as little as 30 minutes if that’s what’s available.

If you are interested, let me know. I’ll stop by to see what time that week works best for you and your class.

Sincerely,

Christopher

Comments Off on Hour of Code 2014

Posted in Communication & Collaboration, Critical Thinking / Problem-Solving / Decision-Making, Students, Teachers

Wired Wednesday: Open Session

Posted on November 19, 2014 | Comments Off on Wired Wednesday: Open Session

Hello everyone,

During today’s Wired Wednesday we will have an open session. No agenda, just time to work on practicing using instructional technology or learning from each other.

blogIdeas for coming:
– Explore applications that help you enhance teaching/learning strategies
– Set up and explore Schoology gradebook
– Set up quizzes on Schoology
– Create student mock-up presentations using Educreations/uPad or another application
– Explore using Casper Focus for classroom management
– Investigate Nearpod or a different application that you’ve never tried.

Each session is worth 1/15th of a credit (1 seat hour).

Please bring your laptop and iPad.

Meeting Dates (3:30-4:30) Location: 200

November 19
December 3, 17
January 21, 28
February 18
March 4, 18
April 1, 22
May 13

Christopher

Comments Off on Wired Wednesday: Open Session

Posted in Communication & Collaboration, Creativity & Innovation, Critical Thinking / Problem-Solving / Decision-Making, Wired Wednesday

Tech Crew: 11/04

Posted on November 4, 2014 | Comments Off on Tech Crew: 11/04

Tech Crew met today and worked on these items.

– tech_crewWe discussed taking care of class room iPad crates, folders, tags, etc.
– We nominated Maddie as our secretary.
– Stressed the importance of ignoring iPad updates. It breaks uPad.
– Add folders to classrooms with new students (Hubbard & Steinke)
– We added more of our photos to http://earthtree.org/tech-crew/

We meet each Tuesday in the conference room during their 1st recess. More info: http://earthtree.org/tech-crew/

4th Grade
[nggallery id=3]

5th Grade
[nggallery id=4]

6th Grade
[nggallery id=5]

Comments Off on Tech Crew: 11/04

Posted in Communication & Collaboration, Community Outreach, Critical Thinking / Problem-Solving / Decision-Making, Digital Citizenship, Tech Crew

Wired Wednesday: Casper Focus

Posted on October 29, 2014 | Comments Off on Wired Wednesday: Casper Focus

Teachers,

You are invited to attend Wired Wednesday this evening 3:30-4:30 in Colin’s room.

We’ll be exploring classroom management application called Casper Focus. This application enables you to open applications on your student’s iPads (including websites). It also enables you to lock those applications in place so that students aren’t able to move from app to app. This can be done whole class or individually as needed, but only one application/website at a time.

If you plan on attending, please do the following IF possible. If not, no worries, come anyway.

C-F1. Install Casper Focus from Self-Service
2. Bring your iPad.

NOTE: You will only have self-service if you are either new to the building or have had your iPad reset since summer.

Comments Off on Wired Wednesday: Casper Focus

Posted in Wired Wednesday

Welcome TIS Tech Crew Members!

Posted on October 28, 2014 | Comments Off on Welcome TIS Tech Crew Members!

Teachers,

Thank you so much for encouraging students to sign up for Tech Crew. We had our first and largest membership meeting yesterday. We had nearly 30 students crammed into to TIS Conference room! AND we have a great balance of girls and boys. We also have representation for EVERY CLASS. 🙂

tech_crewPlease allow Tech Crew Members check Schoology at least twice a day. I’ll assign tasks through Schoology.

Their first assignment is to count iPads at the end of the day. I know you have someone else doing this, but the redundancy will help to confirm the placement of iPads. I’ve also asked the Crew to take a photo of themselves for our website. Please let them do this during a convenient time.

Here’s a tutorial on how to upload photos/videos to Schoology. As the Crew and I create tutorials, we’ll add them to the right-side of www.earthtree.org, under TIS Tech Crew. http://goo.gl/VMEYx5

Crew Members should ALWAYS model good digital citizenship. Let me know if you see any non-examples. I’ll talk to the student and call their parents to let them know that their child may be uninvited if they aren’t able to maintain good digital citizenship consistently. I’m sending home letters to Tech Crew parents regarding their child’s role and expectations.

I’m changing the meeting times for 4th grade. We meet each Tuesday in the TIS Conference room at the big table. We meet during recess time.

  • 5th Grade 11:35-11:55
  • 4th Grade 11:55-12:15
  • 6th Grade 12:00-12:25

Mr. EarthTree

Comments Off on Welcome TIS Tech Crew Members!

Posted in Digital Citizenship, iPads, Tech Crew