Students are being introduced to lower level computer programming. We are going to start taking small steps into computer programming, academic computer programming vocabulary, and different ways we can code and program. The first step in GATE was to bring out the Sphero robots. Our class was lucky enough that Donors Choose and Sonic's Limeades for Learning helped to purchase a few of these robots for our class. Sphero robots come with several apps that all teach programming in different stages.
Students explored the robots and became familiar with their functions as we roamed around the room, played Sphero-tag, and set them up to jump ramps. We still have a lot to learn, but the kids are definitely already excited about future lessons and working with the robots!
For a little bit of a better quality of video, you can go to Monday's class animoto video here: https://animoto.com/play/apOFIwGqEjiD0fUzgw0HvA
I cannot tell you how much fun Mrs. Fitzsimmons and I had today! What a blast! We Mystery Skyped with Wisconsin, Missouri, Alabama and Texas classrooms around the United States! Students used US maps and atlases to decide the best possible questions to ask the skyping classroom as well as to answer the questions they asked us. Groups each had a google document open on iPads so that we could effectively communicate between the groups. Today was filled with fun, lots of map work, social studies academic vocabulary, and technology! Can't wait to do it again!!! Watch the video above, or click the following link to see a higher resolution version of our Skype video !
Students in the 5th grade came together for a fun reading project. We combined a language arts curriculum with app smashing and aurasma. Students were put into small groups and assigned to read a single chapter and summarize that chapter as a group. They then chose the technology tool of their choice to act as an avatar for their group summary. Students seemed to congregate mostly to Telegami and ChatterKids. Once students made these summaries using iPad apps, they then imported those presentations into Aurasma and attached them to a poster they created that represents their chapter. Students had a great time collaborating, reading, sharing and using technology. Enjoy our video which shows off the project!
I was asked by the school board to speak at the November 3rd 2014 school board meeting. I talked to principals, board executives, and the general public about all the amazing things we have been doing in the GATE program and the direction I want to take technology integration for the district. Board members became students as they learned about #augmentedreality #appsmashing and the coding curriculum we are planning for the year. Thank you for inviting me and allowing me to share the amazing direction Dewey Public Schools is headed! I am proud to be a part of it!
GATE students enjoyed skyping to Great Britain with the Night Zookeeper today to learn about creative writing. The night zookeeper runs a website www.nightzookeeper.com where students use their imagination to create creatures to live in the zoo. Students write stories about their creatures and then publish them to the website. The website also offers interactive games that my students (and both my children) have really loved! The night zookeeper interacted and talked with them. He pushed them to be creative and think outside of the box. Loved it! We will definitely meet with the zookeeper again!
Middle schoolers not only app smashed, but added a green screen component. Students created one "explain everything app" and another "telegami app video" and merged them together using "do ink". Students then imported that creation into iMovie to edit and enhance their creations! Some even chose to export to another app such as youtube, vimeo or display their work using Aurasma. We are talking about a 5 layer app smash! That is super impressive for week 2 in this new curriculum!
Tomorrow GT students will be going on a virtual field trip with Mrs. Bankston's class to Great Britain.
The Night Zookeeper is a school project turned digital experience that inspires children around the world. We are excited about this project!!!
Students have been working hard learning about Augmented Reality in class. They know big words such as marker, QR code, overlay, aura, Aurasma, and trigger image.
This week we added a new fun word to our word wall.... "app smash". App smashing is when you layer apps together to produce a final product. Students are now learning about other apps they can use to create presentations or verbal essays about data. Once they are familiar with these fun presentation apps, they will then be able to use them as an overlay ontop of a marker!
What smart and technological kiddos we have! We grow more tech savy each week!
Here is a video my students created using an app called Telegami. These 6th graders thought they were pretty funny when they made an avatar to represent me and put me right next to an avatar that represented my husband:
