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Cool Tools: Content & Interactivities

Cool Tools logoIdaho Digital Learning’s Cool Tools Blog Series wraps up with content and interactivity resources for all subjects. As an added bonus we have included resources specific to Social Studies, Humanities, Math and Science. We hope you have found this useful and informative. Be looking for future resource series.

Social Studies & Humanities

Math

Science

  • Elevators: Helpful Engineering Games
  • BiomodelChemistry and Biology Interactives.  Can be run on a tablet if “Jsmol” option is selected.
  • The Physics AviaryA free collection of games, tools and virtual labs for physics.
  • Code.orgUse free curriculum to teach students to problem solve, code,  and apply creative thinking within the context of science or math.  For further PD using code.org curriculum visit the Idaho Digital Learning PD Portal.
  • NASASearchable database of lesson content and activities.
  • ChemCollective Murder MysteryStudents play an Flash based free “murder mystery” game using their chemistry skills.  Complete with teacher resources and Interactive movies and clues to guide students along.
  • Kinetic CityInteractive Science simulations and games (good for Grades 1-6)  Check out the Nastro Virus!
  • Seer Training ModulesAnatomy/Physiology training modules from the National Cancer Institute.  Complete with graphics and quizzes.

Cool Tools: Assessment & Collaboration

Cool Tools logoIdaho Digital Learning’s Cool Tools Blog Series continues. This month we’ll be focusing on assessment and collaboration tools for any and all subjects.

  • Jeopardy Rocks – With this tool you are able to create a jeopardy game. Example
  • EdPuzzle – Add videos that give the ability to pause to insert teacher questions.
  • Blabberize – This is a fun tool that adds audio to images, making them speak.
  • Poll Everywhere – This is an instant polling tool. Smart phones or devices are required.
  • Answer Garden – Create a live poll where answers are returned in Wordle format. Example
  • MathEqualsLove Blog – Free Exit Ticket templates. Good for K-12.
  • Fakebook – This tool creates fake Facebook feeds. An unusual format for allow students to “show what they know”. Example
  • GoFormative – This site provides assignments so you can see what students are doing in real-time and provide feedback. Demo
  • Tozzl – This tool is similar to a shared Pinterest board for safe collaboration. No registration required. Only students with link and a password (provided by the teacher) can use.
  • Padlet – A content creation and collaboration space.
  • Google Apps – Share with emails on version and allow people to contribute instead of creating multiple variations of the same item.

Cool Tools: Study & Tech Tools

Cool Tools logoIdaho Digital Learning’s Cool Tools Blog is the beginning of what we hope will be a valuable set of digital tools. These resources cover a wide variety of information on assessment, collaboration and content, and focus on specific content areas, which include Math, Science, Social Studies and Humanities. First up, Study & Tech Tools!

Study Tools

  • Video Notes – All notes you type are synced with the video and time tag. Here is a demo of a Final Product.
  • Ninja Words – Ninja Words offers fast dictionary look up that guesses what you probably wanted if you accidentally spell the word wrong.
  • Creative Commons Attribution Examples – This site has examples of how to correctly attribute OER Resources.
  • Photos for Class – Photos for Class has an OER photo search that appends the attribution to the image when you download it.
  • Bibme – Bibme is a free online citation builder. Students can use this to help build their annotated bibliographies.
  • Google News Lab – Google News Lab is a Google tool specifically designed for journalists.
  • instaGrok – instaGrok is an interactive search engine that presents students with information by topic in multiple media formats. Students can take notes, journal, and even take a quiz on the content.
  • Wolfram Alpha – Part search engine, part calculator.

Tech Tools

Stay tuned for our next Cool Tools Blog: Content Tools

Idaho Digital Learning Professional Development Virtual Support

Our Idaho Digital Learning Professional Development team has launched a new Idaho Digital Learning monthly virtual support, called #OffroadPD, with strategies, videos, and resources for blended and online learning that support instructional technology integration. These support documents have been inspired by common questions and needs that our team has collected from our work with schools and districts around the state.  

Each month you will find an #OffroadPD Youtube video that will introduce the topic. Within the description of the video, you will find a link to a support document with a variety of resources for you to explore.

We would like to invite you and your team to join us in our Google+ Community, where we have an area dedicated to #OffroadPD virtual monthly supports, a place to connect with others around the state, and a place to ask questions to a community of educators who are incorporating blended and/or mastery learning into their classroom. Please feel free to share with any educator, who might benefit from this collaboration. Check it out here!

Starting February 1st, we will have a technology integration tip of the day posted in our Idaho Digital Learning Professional Development G+ Community.

Join us on Youtube and Twitter!

We are excited to share these resources with you all!

Feature Presentation

 

Archived Virtual Support ​

January #OffroadPD Video – https://youtu.be/jSnOXvlVSS4
January Virtual Support – Blended/Mastery

December #OffroadPD Video – https://youtu.be/rea0OvSyk18
December Virtual Support – Blended/Mastery

November #OffroadPD Video – https://youtu.be/EbpdkvgthEY
November Virtual Support – Blended/Mastery

Pathways to College and Career with Idaho Digital Learning

Pathway to SuccessBy Jeff Simmons

Idaho Digital Learning has worked hard to create college and career pathways for students by leveraging new and existing partnerships with colleges, universities, and career-technical programs. Middle school and high school courses focused on college and career readiness are also offered to students throughout the state to help them identify and prepare for the next step of their journey.

Preparation for college and career begins at an early age! Idaho Digital Learning currently provides courses such as Keyboarding, Pathways to Success, and Intro to STEM Careers to Middle School students. The focus of these courses is to help equip students with tools and skills they will need to be successful along their academic journey, as well as along their journey toward college or career. Over the past school year, Idaho Digital Learning has also partnered with one school district to begin offering this content to Elementary students. We are excited about the possibility of being able to extend this content into the Elementary grade level in years to come! High School students need preparation and guidance for college and career, as well. High School students enrolled through Idaho Digital Learning will find age appropriate versions of Keyboarding and Pathways to Success. Students in need of college and career focused content should also be encouraged to look into opportunities such as Dual Credit High School to College Transitions, Dual Credit Career and Life Planning, and Dual Credit Digital Literacy and Research Skills.

Students looking to get a head start on their post-secondary degree can take advantage of the iPath program. This program allows students to complete a scope and sequence of courses targeted to a specific college or university program of study. The goal of this program is to provide students course offerings that are intentionally aligned to a program of study, that their courses will transfer cleanly to the post-secondary level, and that they may make a smooth transition into that program after high school. Highly motivated students will find General Education Matriculation (GEM) courses that would provide them the opportunity to earn up to an Associate’s Degree by the end of their high school career.

Idaho Digital Learning is also proud to partner with Idaho Career-Technical Education to provide CTE Digital. The goal of CTE Digital is to provide all students equity of access to CTE programs. Web Development and Networking are two pathways currently available to students. We are continuing to build out program opportunities in other areas, as well, such as Business and Health.

We also realize that all educators need to be equipped with the tools, skills, and knowledge to help students along their journey to successfully reach college and career opportunities. Idaho Digital Learning is the proud state affiliate for the Collaborative Counselor Training Initiative (CCTI) courses. This content is targeted to any educator looking to better support student college and career readiness within their district, school, or classroom. These are just some of the ways Idaho Digital Learning has been working to provide equity of access to college and career readiness to all students throughout the great state of Idaho. We are proud to partner with our public schools to provide these opportunities!

Request For Information For Learning Management System

Request For Information For Learning Management System (RFI #2016-001) is available for download here.  Please email any questions to Lewis Huskey at lew.huskey@idla.k12.id.us.

Questions and Answers to the RFI are posted and available.  You can access the document here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5MDSvgHMfjuVzNEUHIwTUNMblE/view?usp=sharing

Computer Science Education Week: December 5 – 11

We challenge you to an Hour of Code!

It’s time for an Hour of Code! What is an Hour of Code? It’s a one-hour introduction to computer science where anyone can learn the basics. Check out the Hour of Code website at http://hourofcode.org/.

As we have done in past years, there is a prize category for Idaho Digital Learning staff. When you complete your hour, print the certificate of completion and give a copy to me or send me a digital copy. Your name will be added to the internal drawing for a $50 Amazon card.

If family is interested in participating they can enter the drawing here.

Every Idaho student, teacher, parent, and others who completes an “Hour of Code” through Code.org may enter into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card or an iPad mini! There will be four (4) gift card winners chosen across four categories; PreK-5th grade, 6th-8th grade, 9th-12th grade and Adult category (Administrator, Teacher or Parent) and one (1) grand prize winner of an iPad Mini chosen from all categories. Enter to win HERE.

As you participate & complete the Hour of Code let everyone know by using: #hourofcodeID

Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think. – Steve Jobs

Idaho Digital Learning goes to Washington DC

Dr. Cheryl Charlton and Dr. Sherawn Reberry take the podium at the White House
Dr. Cheryl Charlton and Dr. Sherawn Reberry take the podium at the White House

Idaho Digital Learning was invited to the Professional Learning Partner event with Code.org in Washington, DC because of the impact the organization is beginning to have on the implementation of computer science. Dr. Sherawn Reberry was invited to sit on a panel during the White House visit to discuss the regional implementation of computer science. Dr. Reberry takes a moment to answer a few questions about the event.

What did you do at the event?

We were able to listen to industry, government and education officials discuss computer science and the acceptance of computer science as foundational concepts for all content areas. We had the privilege of also meeting with Congressman Mike Simpson’s Education Liaison Solara Linehan. We were able to share the collaborative work being completed in Idaho around computer science.

Why was Idaho Digital Learning selected to attend?

Idaho Digital Learning is the Code.org Professional Learning Partner for the State of Idaho. We have been involved in collaboration and partnership with Code.org for the past three years. Idaho was the first state wide partnership for implementation.

What was the most interesting thing you learned about other Code.org programs?

Rural areas are prevalent throughout the United States. Other Professional Partners are working to design programs such as ours and there are opportunities to collaborate and share resources. We were excited to hear that Idaho was the first state to implement a hybrid model of delivering portions of this professional development for teachers and online courses for students. We are excited that we are working in partnership with Code.org to increase these offerings.

How do you feel this will benefit computer science in our state and nationally?

Code.org is sharing with Idaho and the nation the importance of students having a computer science background. Just as students understand the importance of chlorophyll to plant life, it’s just as important for students to understand how computers work. These different efforts are assisting in the understanding of the importance of computer science as a foundational course. Computer Science concepts can be integrated directly with current curriculum.   

Are there any fun facts you want to share?

Computer Science is officially accepted as part of STEM.

Is there anything else you want to tell the Idaho education community about this experience?

It takes all of us to move forward. Computer Science fundamentals is important for a 21st Century Education. Partnerships are important — work together in collaboration so that our students are the beneficiaries of the outcomes, ultimately creating a pipeline so that Idaho’s pipeline is aligned from K – 12 education to post-secondary education to industry.

Stop, Drop & Roll Through Digital Literacy

By Dr. Sherawn Reberry & Marita Diffenbaugh

Screen Shot 2016-08-11 at 8.40.36 AMThroughout our educational career we have become very familiar with the term, “Stop, Drop and Roll!” Why? Because it has been engrained in our minds since we were in kindergarten. This is an important skill, and even as adults, we remember and take this to heart.

Nowadays, students need a different type of “Stop, Drop and Roll!” They need a playbook for digital literacy. The Internet is a big wide world, full of great learning; but, unfortunately there are also pitfalls that can arise. At an early age, students are beginning to develop as digital citizens and some might call them, digital natives.

In today’s world, digital natives gain technical skills before entering kindergarten. They understand how to successfully retrieve and find information through digital means. We must question how to help students understand the validity and safety of using resources, websites, apps and social media. Web literacy leader, Alan November, explains how educational leaders should “craft a clear vision of connecting all students to the world’s learning resources” while modeling “the actions and behaviors that they wish to see in their schools.” For students, it’s not just about the validity of judgment, but it is also about replication of skills. Do our students know when to Google and when to use their own skill set?

As school leaders we have the responsibility of ensuring that students are engaged in an effective learning environment — whether that environment is face-to-face or online. Digital Literacy is a critical component of any learning environment. Digital Literacy, as defined by The American Library Association’s Digital Literacy Task Force (2011), “the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.” However, no matter the subject that is being taught it is important for students to know how to think critically and evaluate the digital world surrounding them. It is our job, as educators, to ensure that students are prepared for life in the real world, civically responsible and digitally literate.

“Stop, Drop and Roll” should now be aligned with our connected world to safeguard our students ensuring that they are prepared for life, civically responsible, and digitally literate.

  • Stop: always be critical of sites, tools, and conversations; know where you are at all times
  • Drop: what you are doing when it feels uncomfortable and know who to tell
  • Roll: move away from what you are doing and analyze the validity of the source

At Idaho Digital Learning we take careful consideration of all tools and resources that we ask our students to utilize. We encourage students to understand that the digital world provides a magnitude of opportunities when a positive and confident digital presence is sustained. From the beginning of a course through the final exam we employ design efficiencies as well as transparency with our teacher expectations. Our teachers are trained to be watchful for indicators that a student is struggling, not just academically, but also emotionally. IDLA encourages our teachers and students to employ the 4 C’s:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Creativity

The use of the 4 C’s is imperative for our students to emerge as literate digital citizens.

It is critical that our students are learning for themselves today, but also to be productive citizens in the future.

  • Critical Thinking will not only help our students grow with the world around them, but it will also help them understand when to “Stop” and reposition themselves now and in their future. Critical thinking will help them make adjustments while reviewing evidence, evaluating claims and learning the importance of rational decision making.
  • Communication skills will teach our students how to be global citizens. Understanding the outlying factors in how to communicate well, will assist our students in the knowledge of when to “Drop” from uncomfortable situations.
  • Collaboration is re-emphasized throughout the research (as read at http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/A-Guide-to-Four-Cs.pdf) that it is a critical skill to ensure the globalization of a connected workforce. As stated in the before mentioned document, “the collaborative culture…demonstrates how people working together can produce extremely inclusive and valuable resources.” Author James Surowiecki, for example, explains how we use the “wisdom of crowds” in the new economy by saying that “under the right circumstances, groups are remarkably intelligent, and are often smarter than the smartest people in them.”
  • Creativity is now a driving skill for the workforce. Previously, creativity was thought of as a secondary skill; however now it arising as a critical driver. Sir Kenneth Robinson, stated, “Creativity is as important in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status,” taken from http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/A-Guide-to-Four-Cs.pdf, page 23. Creativity is the skill that allows students to know when to “Roll”, move away from the source and analyze for validity.

The 4 C’s are closely interwoven. Today all four skills are critical components for forward movement in school and life beyond. The ability to innovate rests on many different skillsets and the ability to interweave those skillsets together.

Recognizing that we are all digital contributors means that educators are tasked with being intentional when providing opportunities for students to practice critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity online.

A Team Huddle could be a great strategy for implementing the 4 C’s into any learning environment. Gathering together with your team to listen, strategize and celebrate is common practice in sporting events. The “team huddle” involves a coach or a lead player that comes to the group with strategies for play, encouragement, and experience that serves to support the entire team. Players bring their questions, input and experiences, as well.

Educators and families can use a “team huddle” to support learners in the area of digital literacy, while activating the “Stop, Drop and Roll” message for how to navigate and contribute online. Some students might feel reluctant to share negative online experiences for fear that these trusted adults will remove the Internet from them, entirely. Conversations about how digital footprints can be permanent can result in some students feeling regret and fear from their past online contributions. Explaining to learners that “from this moment on” they can choose to demonstrate positive digital citizenship and bring hope to this kind of situation.

Looking for scenarios to work through with your team? Common Sense Education’s K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum offers educators, families and students guidelines, resources and connections with others around the globe that are working through many of the same digital dilemmas.

When creating your team’s digital literacy playbook consider weaving in “The YOU MATTER Manifesto” from Angela Maiers.

Screen Shot 2016-08-11 at 9.03.01 AM

http://www.angelamaiers.com/2012/01/the-you-matter-manifesto

Your team’s playbook can include the familiarity of “Stop, Drop and Roll” while supporting students for online emergencies and encouraging productive and positive digital citizenship.

  • Stop: always be critical of sites, tools, and conversations; know where you are at all times
    • Your actions define your impact
  • Drop: what you are doing when it feels uncomfortable and know who to tell
    • You have an influence
  • Roll: move away from what you are doing and analyze the validity of the source
    • You are the change

As our students move along their educational path into the world beyond high school they will have a skillset that will enable them to be digital contributors in a thoughtful, meaningful, and safe way. Formalized instruction helps to guide students’ educational experiences and doing this with a global outlook, can be a challenge. This is hard to navigate alone, we are better together. IDLA is comprised of a group of educators that prides ourselves in working together and sharing strategies for the success and safety of all students. Idaho Digital Learning serves our students but also reaches out to all districts in Idaho to join their team huddle and be part of the collaboration for online and blended learning.

References:

The NEA Guide to the Four C’s: http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/A-Guide-to-Four-Cs.pdf

Angela Maiers The You Matter Manifesto: http://www.angelamaiers.com/2012/01/the-you-matter-manifesto/

Team Huddle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huddle

Google Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum: https://www.google.com/goodtoknow/web/curriculum/

Fire Safety Reference: Stop, Drop and Roll

Alan November – Why Schools Must Move Beyond One to One Computing: http://novemberlearning.com/educational-resources-for-educators/teaching-and-learning-articles/why-schools-must-move-beyond-one-to-one-computing/