Equal Access to the Digital World

Educators and administrators have added technology responsibilities to their daily “to-do” lists to prepare students for a globally linked world that is saturated in technology.  Professor Scott McLeod (2009) highlights the fact that for students to communicate, collaborate, and problem-solve they must be “information savvy, technology literate, and globally aware” (171). These skills can be developed in every style of learner if they are provided with equal access to the digital world.

In Dr. Dale McDonald’s article, Equal Access to Digital Learning, he states, “if digital learning is to empower and support students, it must include three key components: technology tools, digital content, and high quality instruction.” He continues by explaining, “technology is the mechanism through which content is delivered on Internet access devices. Digital content is the academic material presented in interactive and adaptive applications. High quality instruction must be guided by a teacher who provides access to challenging content, feedback, assessments, and individualized instruction to enable all students to reach their full potential.”

It is important to keep in mind that a well-planned and supported vision is needed for educators and administrators to effectively provide equal access to the digital world for all students. Case studies have shown schools that consistently use technology throughout all grade levels are lead by administrators who “have a clear vision for the school with wide-range goals, are inclusive in decision making, and set high expectations that are communicated to stakeholders” (Schrum & Levin, 2009, p. 161). A school that teaches twenty-first century skills, creates flexible learning environments, and has a leader who supports “change, is one that will respond, evaluate, and reflect effectively” (p. 172) to meet the needs of all students.

References:

McDonald, Dale,P.B.V.M., PhD. (2014, Apr). Equal access to digital learning. Momentum, 45, 68-69. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1541545013?accountid=3783

Schrum, L., & Levinm, B. (2009). Leading 21st Century Schools: Harnessing Technology for Engagement and Achievement. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin.

Educational Value of Social Media

            Students in the twenty-first century enter classrooms with a different set of tools for learning. School supplies such as paper, pencils, notebooks, and textbooks are being replaced with technology, such as laptops, iPads, and Chromebooks. To keep these students engaged, educators must design their classrooms around technology and prepare interactive lessons using technology. In today’s classrooms, educators and students need technology to connect, create, communicate, and collaborate with each other as well as with the rest of the world online. The tool to develop these skills in the classroom is social media.

            Social media allows students and educators to “be connected.” Shantal Marie Scott explains in her journal article, “being connected refers to one’s level of self-directed access to the wealth of knowledge that exists in the world… outlets to the greater world that foster this connection… are cellular devices, Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, YouTube, Linkden or one of the many other applications that exist to connect people with knowledge.”

            Twenty-first century learners view the world from a social perspective, equally for learning and for entertainment. Social media sites provide ways for students to participate, contribute, and collaborate with others around a specific topic. These sites allow others to build communities where information is openly shared and discussed. Social media links also allow students to instantly connect with other people, resources, and sites.

            Even in first grade, students need technology to become interested and stay engaged in their learning process. These digital learners are not afraid to use technology and enjoy using interactive games to learn and review concepts. Websites such as GoNoodle.com create energetic ways for children to exercise their bodies and their brains. For all subject areas, iPad apps can be used to introduce and reinforce basic concepts in fun, interactive ways. WebQuests can be used to teach students about a particular concept while requiring them to investigate, collaborate, communicate, and problem solve.

https://twitter.com/elisadclark

            A Nutrition Expedition is a WebQuest designed to teach first graders about healthy eating and healthy living. Through preselected sites, students connect to age appropriate games, videos, and links related to nutrition. WebQuests allow even the youngest students to safely navigate technology while learning curriculum concepts. They also provide a way for parents to connect to what their children are learning.

            Twitter is another form of social media that allows parents of younger children to visualize what is taking place during the school day. Although Twitter can be accessed by anyone, the purpose of my Twitter account is for parents to have access to snippets of the school day. The site provides links related to nutrition, gardening with children, and kid-friendly foods for parents to read and view while reinforcing learning at home. This Twitter account is a way social media provides a way for young learners, educators, and parents to “be connected” inside and outside of our classroom.

References:

Scott, S. M. (2012). Go ahead ... be social: Using social media to enhance the twenty-first century classroom. Distance Learning, 9(2), 54-59. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1034600860?accountid=3783

A Nutrition Expedition WebQuest

Calling All First Graders!

Click to Begin WebQuest

Q: How do you make a milk shake?   

A: Give it a good scare!                           

Q: Why aren't bananas ever lonely?   

A: Because they come in a bunch!

Q: Why shouldn't you tell an egg a joke?  

A: Because it might crack up! 

Speaking of food, our school's dining hall needs your help! The fourth graders are going on a field trip and they have to take their meals with them. The dining hall does not have enough people to make all of the food for the trip! The head chef asked for help and I volunteered you! Since you have been learning about the five food groups, healthy snacks, and healthy exercises, I knew you were the perfect people to help. With three other classmates, you will prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack for the first day of the fourth graders' trip! They also need a few exercise ideas to keep their hearts healthy. Click on the WebQuest link and you will find all of the information you need to synergize with your team! Thanks so much for your help! Good luck planning healthy snacks, exercises, and meals! The fourth graders will be so impressed!

Educational Value of Animoto

Animoto allows teachers and students to combine information, pictures, music, and videos into one project. This educational tool is a great way to engage students in the learning process. Animoto is very user friendly for teachers as well as students.
This Animoto Project was created to teach my first graders how to "Eat a Rainbow" of healthy foods. For the first part of the project, the children will work in groups of four to plan a weeks worth of fruits and vegetables to eat. For every day of the week, the groups will find a fruit or vegetable to represent each color of the rainbow. Planning sheets will be provided for each group. A sample of the planning sheet is in the video project.
The final part of the Animoto project was created with my current group of first graders. I chose to use only their voices for privacy reasons. The children worked in teams to create fruits and vegetables out of paper to represent the colors of the rainbow. Then the groups displayed their art work in a rainbow pattern on our carpet. The idea behind this part of the video project centers around the hope that as a first grade, the children could actually plant a rainbow garden of food to tend and harvest during part of the school year.

Please click on the link below to view the full Animoto project.
http://animoto.com/play/jXyibwxUj1tEz0d112oYjg

Educational Value of Wordle

During our Morning Meeting this week, I asked my first graders, "What do we need to be healthy?" Since we have not started our nutrition unit yet, I wanted to see what words "popped" into their minds. I asked them to answer with only one word. This apple word cloud represents their thoughts. Looks "Nutritious and Delicious!"

Displaying information in a word cloud format provides a fun visual for students to "see their thoughts" on paper. The number of times the words appear represents the number of times the same answer was given. Printing and posting student generated words on paper around the classroom also creates a specific "word wall" resource for children to use while learning about a particular unit or subject. In this case, my students will have their "healthy" words to reference throughout our Nutrition unit.