Welcome to Technology Class. This year we will include a wide variety in our curriculum. I will be following the Diocese of Covington "Educational Technology Curriculum Framework". While doing this we will cover topics such as Creativity and Innovation, Communication and Collaboration/Productivity, Research and Information Fluency, Critical Thinking, Digital Citizenship and Technology Operations and Concepts. Since I will be teaching all the students a variety of lessons will be used to reach the learning levels expected. We will be introducing, reviewing and working on mastering the variety of topics addressed in class. The student grade level will dictate what is expected.
Chromebooks are being used across the curriculum in the 5, 6, 7 and 8th grades. I am working with these students to better understand what their chromebooks will do and teach them how to use the product more efficiently and effectively.
I have discovered that many of our upperclassman are in need of just a Keyboarding 101 type class. They have expressed to me that they want and need to learn to type more accurately as well as with more speed. We will be dedicating a portion of each class for keyboarding and practice with the use of various online typing lessons and tests.
The younger students will start a form of keyboarding and letter identification as well as other projects that will introduce them to the computer and its capabilities.
I am striving to do some cross curriculum type projects. In other words coordinating with the various teachers to assign projects that can be worked on in the Technology Class. This will allow the students to make the best use of their time and show them the 'real life' use for lessons learned in the classes.
Finally, while we are using the Google products I will also be talking about and using Microsoft Word, Powerpoints and Excel. This will allow the students to understand, do a personal comparison and most importantly have them more prepared for what may come their way. Some students and parents have expressed an interest in this.
We have administered the STAR Test to each student K-4 during the their Technology Class time.
K-1 I have worked with the students on letter identification on the keyboard. We do keyboard 'scavenger hunts' to help them become familiar with the letters/numbers on the keyboard. In addition we have been working with website abcya! Keyboard Practice. We started with Keyboard Zoo which helps with Letter identification and then Letter Sounds which is the same only with the use of sounds. We have moved on to a matching cards type keyboarding exercise. All of these help them become familiar with the keyboard and their letters in addition to simple words. I am working with their teachers to coordinate our computer work the topics they are covering in their classrooms.
Grades 2 and 3
We are talking about the keyboard as well. I am working with them on proper posture and hand placement on the 'home keys'. We are now working on the 'dancemattyping.com' a program they have used in the past. Within the next few weeks we will begin working on projects such as powerpoint, etc. I am working with their Core Course Teachers to coordinate projects that tie in with their classroom topics and curriculum.
Grade 4
We started with 'dancemattyping.com' for keyboard exercises. I worked with them on proper posture and hand placement on the 'home keys'. This week we have switched and have started to use a program called 'freetypinggame.net' This site offers several keyboarding lessons as well as typing games. The students are now working on these lessons. Each class they do a timed lesson and the results show them words per minute and errors. I have started a contest between the classes. The highest score represents the class for the weekly competition. The name of that student is not revealed. The students are very excited about this. They can practice at home on this site as it is free and can be accessed from any computer. Also starting next week the top 5 students will be entered into a weekly contest.
We will be moving onto class projects as well. These will be based on Core Class topics and I will be coordinating with their teachers. We will be doing Powerpoints, Word and Excel.
Internet Safety K-4
I talked in depth with the students about internet safety. We watched a "Garfield" and "Faux Paws" video that are both great at conveying the topic of internet safety. The videos emphasize not sharing your name, your address, your phone number, your password, your personal plans. I also told them not to share a photo online or the name of their school. They were told to always tell if someone asks for this type of information or if anything else makes them uncomfortable while using the internet. I instructed them to tell an adult in the household.
Grades 5-7
After getting the results from a student 'exit card' they are wanting to learn to type with minimal error and more speed. More than 50% of the classes stated that this was 'what they knew least about'. We are now doing 'freetypinggame.net' with each of these classes. They have a 10 minute 'bell ringer' where they practice the keyboarding lessons that I assign. We are doing a timed test on one lesson each class period. There is a contest going on now with the classes. I am posting the highest score in each class without a name. The score is based on words per minute and errors. It is a class vs class competition for 'bragging rights'. They have responded well to this. In addition each week the top 5 students in each class will be entered into a drawing. They can win a gift card to Starbucks, Graeters, etc. I am thinking a $5 gift card. I am providing however, if any parents have a connection to local businesses I would welcome extra cards for the competition.
I am working with the students on proper posture and hand placement on the 'home keys'.
We did a 'tour of the Chromebook" learning what features is has to offer in addition to personalizing their 'wallpaper' on their Chromebooks.
This week we started a lesson on Research. We will have this topicas an ongoing lesson. I will include topics such as how to do a good web search, what are realiable websites, what kinds of websites are available, plagerism, etc. Also how to layout a research paper, include siting references etc.
Upcoming I will be teaching Cyber Safety with the students. I am working with the Edgewood Police Department in regard to this and following the guidelines provided by the Diocese of Covington.
I have other lesson topics as well. I am working closely with the curriculum framework from the diocese. Also I am in contact with the local high schools to see what is expected of the students. I am working to incorporate this into the lessons as well so that our students are prepared when they enter high school.
*Note: Since the 7th Grade Class doesn't have a schedule Library time this year I am making time at the beginning of each class to allow them to visit the library.
At this time the 8th graders are not in the Technology Class rotation.
September 28,2015
Note to 3rd grade parents: Today I decided to 'challenge' the students in the 3rd grade. I gave them the option to try a keyboarding exercise program I use with the 4-8 graders. I just challenged the 4th graders last week....and this week the 3rd grade classes. Most students participated. If they want to practice at home here is the site. There are lessons as well as typing games that are more advanced.