Common Sense Media Lessons and How to Teach Them

Since our school system adopted Common Sense Media in lieu of i-Safe, I have tried teaching it a couple of different ways. The website features videos on these and other topics:

1. Digital Citizenship
2. Cyber Bullying
3. Communicating Online
4. Digital Etiquette
5. Movie Reviews
6. Following Your Digital Trail

The first year I taught we all watched a couple of videos together, discussed them, and created group posters to hang in the hallways.

The next year I tried something different. I gave all of the students headphones and allowed them to select their own videos to watch with a partner at a computer. The students loved selecting their own videos, but they watched all sorts of videos on high school levels to elementary school so that it resulted in all of them having different experiences with online digital citizenship learning.

I love the variety in teaching and aiming to perfect a lesson. Here's what I will try next. We will all watch a video together (they are all only two to five minutes long) and then I will direct them to a choice of a about five videos. Now, a few might stray a watch some of the enticing high school videos, but they can also log on at home and watch. I'll let you know how it goes!

Verizon App Challenge Certificate

We will have to work a lot harder next year if we truly want to make a real stab at the Verizon App Challenge. As it stands now we only received a certificate of participation. It's a start! And here is a sample of the student-designed I.D. badge. It was a good idea and with all of the mobile devices out there, I would love to see it come into fruition. Here's to next year and starting earlier!

Check Out A Nook!

Did you know that your child can check a Nook out of the library?

Nook e-readers are available for check-out this semester at IMS. Students may pick up a Nook Permission and Acceptable Use Form at the library desk.

Students can check out books to read on the Nook, conduct Internet research for classes and check out the apps. Chess and crossword puzzles along with read-aloud books are some of the apps that can be enjoyed.

Whole classes are using the Nooks as well, so most students have learned how to check out books. The username is their lunch number and the password is their six-digit birth date (012000).

We hope to see you soon in the IMS library!

All Guys for BYOD!

Digital Learning Day!

 

 

Yesterday we hosted Bring Your Own Device Day in the library and six guys attended. They were loved their prizes! They chose three earbuds - orange, blue and green - a box of mints, and a book!

 

The guys want to make this a weekly gig. I think it has something to do with their great prizes!





Tidbits...

The IB school at Shades Valley is in the library today speaking about engineering.

Did you know that undergraduates at Auburn majoring in engineering have a 100% success rate in getting into medical school? It makes sense! Just think about what orthopedic surgeons do with inserting working parts into knees, shoulders, and arms!

On another note, I am so excited to have won a CBS News One Class at a Time Grant for $1,000!

I will be purchasing four Flip Video Cameras for the library for student and teacher projects! The students are going to love them!

Digital Learning Day

Digital Learning Day is February 6, 2013!

Get ready for events like BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and digital learning. The purpose of Digital Learning Day is to bring awareness to and celebrate learning with technology.

Here's a great blog to read more about Digital Learning Day and technology:
http://blogs.techsmith.com/for-educators/digital-learning-day-and-techsmith/

Downloadable Fablevision Poster for Digital Learning Day - Print and give to your teacher to display!