Category: Tech Tip - MRS PRIESTLEY ICT

Digital Technologies Curriculum within the junior school

4/23/2019

With the 2020 Digital Technologies Curriculum coming into play, it is important that we are building those skills with our students from a early age. Some teachers are scared of using technology within the classroom, and think that this only means uses devices to undergo this.

But the digital technologies curriculum with Year 0-2 students can be broken down into simple explanations and integrated into other curriculum areas. This blog post shows you a few of my resources that you can use in the classroom, with your teaching practice or with students.

Last year I created this slide deck for a staff meeting in my Junior Team with a recording of it attached above. This is just a youtube of the slide deck if you prefer to listen rather than read. The slides show how easily you can break down those tricky key terms in your practice or classroom.

Above are two plans that I created for my team also. The first plan is a junior devices ICT use LTP that provides ideas, tips and links to a range of things that can be taught in the classroom in all ICT areas.
The second plan is a junior coding LTP that provides ideas, links and resources for teaching coding in a junior classroom.
Both of these are in pdf form but can be moved into google docs form. Please do not share these files without permission - you are welcome to share the link to this post. Both of these were created by myself and full credit needs to be left at the top if in use.

There are plenty of other resources available including more that I have created in this folder link (pictured above). These include specific examples to the Digital Technologies curriculum that can be used in your classroom.
When sharing, please share the link to this post when sharing the links. Please do not recreate any of the information or planning you find - both of these were created by myself and full credit needs to be left at the top if in use.

Google Docs - a helpful pdf

2/24/2019

Google Docs is great for using in the classroom for both teachers and students. It has huge opportunities for collaboration, ease of use and making connections to others across the world. It is an online version of a similar app - Word, but with the data and app save online in the 'cloud'.

At my school I am introducing and implementing work using Google apps in class. A part of this is unpacking google drive and the apps that go along with it. This is a pdf I created that unpacks a little bit more information on what it looks like, the tools and how you can use it.

Check out this easy to read pdf attached below. It just provides you with quick snippets to show you an insight on how it works. Great for those who are unsure on how complicated it can be or how to use the tools.

how_to_use_google_docs.pdf
File Size:	1912 kb
File Type:	pdf

Morning routines

1/31/2019

First day of school today! Back into the swing of things with my brand new 23 Year 3 students. Such a great feeling meeting those new people who will soon spend all day in my classroom.

Beginning of the year is always vital for building routines and getting those set in place for your class. This builds a strong foundation for all that you do in class, with one of mine being our morning routines! I have always used this template as a morning routine greeting to get students excited and up to date with coming to school on that day.

I use a Google slide deck to share the above information with my students everyday!
Each day has a slide with:
-a fun GIF
-date
-message
-bitmoji sticker for fun
-other short notes with information that could relate to students or their parents that come in

I find that my students rely on this to be shown in the morning and love coming in to view the GIF or the Bitmoji sticker! A great way to build routines and share notes for everyone coming in in the morning. They then go off and find an activity or something set up that I might have for the morning.

To make yourself a copy of this template to use in your classroom click here. Simply update your own items to the template and you're away!

Be internet awesome

1/29/2019

Google is amazing! They have so many apps that are perfect for use within education that really enhance learning opportunities within the classroom. Google apps for education can transform learning activities and help students create, collaborate and extend the walls within.

Alongside this Google has a great 'Be Internet Awesome' programme to help students gain the skills to be safe when using the Internet. Be Internet Awesome teaches kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence.

Be Internet Awesome is broken down into five sections:
1. Be Internet Smart - share with care
2. Be Internet Alert - don't fall for fake
3. Be Internet Strong - secure your secrets
4. Be Internet Kind - its cool to be kind
5. Be Internet Brave - when in doubt, talk it out

These five sections make up the programme to teach students about internet safety. The programme takes you on a tour through each of the different sections where you complete activities and games to learn the skills. Its named Interland.

At the end students can even get a certificate for completing their journey or digital badges! Teachers, there is a curriculum to guide you and your students along the journey with a pledge that can be sent home to continue the conversations at home too.

Check out all the information about it here on Google.

How can you use Bitmoji in your classroom?

1/11/2019

Bitmojis the latest faze to sweep the internet and of course classrooms! What is Bitmoji you ask? Bitmoji is this cute little avatar that you make of yourself and generates hundreds of pictures with sayings, actions and quotes that you can use! Ideally you make the Bitmoji character look like yourself. But you can customize it in any way with hair, makeup, skin, clothes and even body shape!

I've done a post before on some of the ways I use Bitmoji in the classroom but really wanted to focus on how others use it in this post! If you're interested in reading it find the link here. It shares some of my own Bitmoji resources that I have made and how I use it in the classroom.

So here we go.....How others from across the world use Bitmoji in their classrooms! Thanks to the educators for their ideas!

The kids make their own Bitmoji and we hang it in the hall for the year and their articles they write or draw or anything I’d their we display goes under their picture. We graph their point in AR (accelerated reader) and there person is their marker.

I made some “Caught being good” tickets before Christmas. The kids loved them!

I print them onto stickers to use as feedback etc - have previously only done it for writing but branching out this year.

I use them in my Google slides that I use for Morning Meeting. I also use the “Nailed it!” one above my posted objectives.

I’m planning on using them in my self assessment rubrics this semester!

Bitmoji flexible seating expectations
Bitmoji display on listening
Bitmoji class jobs
Bitmoji introduction sign
Bitmoji when to interrupt group time display

Thanks Mr J's learning space for the ideas and picture examples.

There are so many ideas out there that you can use, download and purchase that can fit into the look or activity you are trying to complete. Bitmoji is so easy to use but if you're stuck, keep an eye out on my youtube channel for a Bitmoji video coming soon!

Check out some of the Bitmoji resources I have in the VIP access area also!

you can screen record! tech tip

1/1/2019

Did you know you can screen record on an iPad? This makes documenting and sharing student learning so much easier! Gone will be the times of having to have a buddy record on another iPad whilst you do you learning on another.
This is such a great tool for students, teachers and educators but you need to make sure your iPad is up to date. Follow the simple instructions on my photo above to get started!

How to make your desktop fancy! tech tip

1/1/2019

I recently figured out how you can make your desktop folders fancy using powerpoint, shapes and colours!
So easy to do and you can make them look however you want to.

Check out my youtube tutorial which shows you really quickly how you can make them look fancy and interesting. Click on the picture for the youtube link!

google drawings! tech tip

12/31/2018

Google Drawings is an amazing tool part of the Google Apps for Eduction. There are so many ways you can use Google Drawings in your classroom for both teachers and students. Have a look at this Tech Tip which shows you the benefits and some examples of how you can use Google Drawings!

google classroom! tech tip

12/31/2018

Check out this Tech Tip - all about Google Classroom! So many benefits and ways it can be used in your classroom to make your life easier!

Find the pdf here.

Voice typing! TEch Tip

12/31/2018

Did you know google has this amazing tool called VOICE TYPING which is built into google docs and google slides. It allows you to voice type and dictate your ideas into your work, without having to type! You can even edit, format and add punctuation with your voice too! This tool has so many positive impacts for the classroom and yourself as a teacher!

Check out the Tech Tip to easily show you where to find the Voice Typing tool!

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