Sharing is Caring: Two Tech Tools You Can Use in Your Library or Classroom Today (Post #3)

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Photo Credit

In this issue:
Shake Up Learning
Ditch That Textbook
The Google Teacher Podcast
Spotlight: Be Internet Awesome
Bonus Content: Peardeck

As a not-so-recovering information and educational technology junkie, I follow MANY blogs on a wonderful site called Feedly. It allows me to categorize websites and blogs, and then it  automatically curates the latest updates from people that I follow into one large list. For today's post,  I want to make everyone aware of two bloggers  that are well-known and respected in the ed tech world. Matt Miller (of Ditch That Textbook) and Kasey Bell (of Shake Up Learning) have devoted their careers to the latest in teacher training with a technology lens. Both are Google Certified Innovators, and their sites are top-notch. They both share generously, post regularly, and produce quality content that is always timely and relevant to any subject area. Kasey's "Dynamic Learning Framework" matches the tools of technology with powerful learning, allowing educators to re-think their lessons to be more student-centered, reflective, and creative. Matt's focus is on evaluating technology as a tool to enhance learning, gently encouraging people away from the tired old textbook into more authentic learning experiences.

In their own right, these blogs would serve any subject area, and I highly suggest taking a look around at what they have to offer. Kasey Bell is a former middle school ELA teacher, and Matt Miller is a former high school Spanish teacher, but their focus is on good teaching, regardless of the subject matter. What caught my eye this week was actually on their joint venture, The Google Teacher Podcast  (recently re-named from The Google Teacher Tribe). The podcast is an extension of both blogs, and it too is worthy of some serious attention. The link above will take you to the show notes of their podcast, in which they detail the features surrounding Be Internet Awesome. She gives a quick rundown of where to find it (see link), what it is (a tool to teach internet safety to students), and how valuable this tool could be for educators (Quite! See below for full write-up). What follows is a description of this teaching tool for students of elementary to lower middle school age.

SPOTLIGHT:
For elementary to middle school computer (or English Language Arts) teachers, there’s a must-see curriculum from “With Google” that teaches students ages 7-12 all about digital citizenship. The product, Be Internet Awesome is a platform that offers a myriad of pre-made lesson plans, an interactive video game called Interland, posters, internet tips, and “Ready-to-teach Google Slides” made with Peardeck, an amazing tool that enhances powerpoints to be more interactive.

In her study “School Librarians as Technology Integration Leaders: Enablers and Barriers to Leadership Enactment,” Melissa P. Johnston (2012) states, “Students are being bombarded with information in both their academic and personal lives and it is the responsibility of school librarians as educators to prepare students for their future” (p. 4). Furthermore, the AASL Framework (2007) promotes the “safe, legal, and ethical creating and sharing of knowledge products.”  Be Internet Awesome can go a long way toward helping educators teach students how to be internet-savvy.

The various concepts of Be Internet Awesome are as follows:

  • Be Internet Smart: Share With Care
  • Be Internet Alert: Don’t Fall for Fake
  • Be Internet Strong: Secure Your Secrets
  • Be Internet Kind: It’s Cool to be Kind
  • Be Internet Brave: When in Doubt, Talk it Out


As “Technology is transforming not only access to information, but also the skills students need to interact with and utilize it as well” (Johnston, 2012, p. 20) it is incumbent on teachers and librarians alike to utilize curriculum such as Be Internet Awesome to teach both character education and internet safety. It is truly a wealth of resources, already curated and created to use in the classroom today, fully aligned with ISTE standards.

As a Bonus Feature, Peardeck is one of my favorite tools to enhance presentations for students. Its interactive features allow real-time student responses to questions or input. It is also useful for polling ideas/opinions as well as vocabulary instruction. From exit tickets to mid-lesson check-ins, this tool is indispensable.  In addition, Peardeck has a relatively new “Flashcard Factory” which allows students to collaborate on slides to draw and create sentences out of new content. It has become one of the most valuable tools I use for teaching and learning. It is worth trying out if you haven’t already; there is even a free trial.

I know these tools will make your teacher-librarian heart happy. Hit the comments button if you have any questions!


Resources

Johnson, M. P. (2012).  School librarians as technology integration
     leaders: Enablers and barriers to leadership enactment. School
     Library Research, p.15.

Johnston, M. P. (2012). Connecting teacher librarians for technology
     integration leadership.  School Libraries Worldwide, 18(1),
     pp. 18-33.



Comments

  1. ElaynaHFebruary 6, 2020 at 2:04 PM

    I love that you added information about Peardeck. Any helpful sites, tips, tricks, etc. are greatly appreciated. I also think the BeInternet Awesome program is a great way to teach students how to properly use the internet especially in today's society when everything is so social media heavy, and most research is conducted through the internet. It did not completely surprise me when I read somewhere that most students don't even know how to properly do research at the high school age. I feel like it needs to be focused on even more now than ever.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda MackayFebruary 6, 2020 at 5:02 PM

      Peardeck is so much fun! The google slides add-on has free templates, so there is a ton you can do with it just with the free version. If you want Flashcard factory or student-paced learning, you need to go pro.

      Delete
    2. Rachel WilsonFebruary 7, 2020 at 4:09 AM

      Linda,
      My teacher-librarian heart is doing flips! Thank you for sharing such an abundance of resources and making me aware of even more bloggers to follow. I am really looking forward to investigating Feedly and Peardeck more as they seem like something that can benefit me as well as the students in my classroom. I have been playing with concept of digital citizenship with my second graders and think that Be Internet Awesome would be great to look into.
      I think your resources really tie in to the ELA curriculum, but also to any content area, as you mention. The resources your shared also seem very practical and realistic in the real world of learning in and out of the school environment as they seem beneficial to the 21st century learner.
      I also love your newsletter image-so creative!
      Rachel Wilson

      Delete
  2. Eric BakerFebruary 8, 2020 at 1:21 PM

    Sharing may be caring but Be Internet Awesome may entice me to be selfish and have kids play Interland in the library (or perhaps I could show the computer teacher... maybe). Games are often they way to kids' hearts, or in this case brains. The fact that is got props from the ISTE folk makes it even more desirable.

    Administrator: "Are they playing a game?"
    Me: "It follows International Society for Technology in Education standards."

    The best thing about something like this is the conversations it will spark. Kids will question why they made mistakes and we'll be there to fill in the blanks. Or even better, kids we taught will teach other kids.

    ReplyDelete

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