Cyber Savvy - things Parents, Pupils and Teachers should be aware of

Digital Citizenship is the combination of technical and social skills that equip people to live and work in our  highly technical, modern world. Digital literacy is an essential component in raising confident, connected, and actively involved life long learners.





The below site provides some useful links to things we may already understand but may need more information about http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/05/a-must-have-list-of-resources-on.html

A Guide to creating Infographics using Piktochart

This is a great infographic outlining the different steps you need to follow to set up your own infographic.
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/08/teachers-visual-guide-to-creating.html

Exciting Teaching and Learning Approaches to use in 2014 by Kelly Walsh

This article is taken from the Emerging EdTech website.

The Future of Technology Integration in Instruction Lies in Engaging and Empowering Teaching Methods Like These.

As we head into this new year I’m excited about the many instructional means and methods that educators are using technology to facilitate in 2014′s classrooms (both physical and virtual!). As the 2nd decade of the 21st century rolls along, the scales are undoubtedly tilting further in favor of embracing the benefits that technology can bring to instruction, and away from frustration and resistance.

Let’s explore some of the powerful instructional approaches that technology is helping to make possible, or bring to a new level, in classrooms and schools across the world.

In public and private schools of all shapes and sizes the world over, inspired teachers are working with their students using different types of devices, and various methods of access, to use teaching and learning constructs like these. All of these will see expanded use in 2014 and countless students will be engaged, delighted, inspired, and successful as a result.

1. Student Created Content

The powerful moment when a student shows you something they made for an assignment – a persuasive presentation, a digital booklet, an animated report, a video they shot – is tremendously rewarding. The things that just about anyone with a little time, patience, and access can do with the today’s digital tools are pretty incredible.

Think about what students learn and experience when they create their own digital content. They often have to access and curate materials and put together a flow or layout. They have to delve into the subject that they are creating the content about and learn the application they’re using to create it. When they are done and they share their work, their sense of accomplishment and purpose can be a beautiful thing to behold. And they can experience it over and over again as they share their work with others!

Learn More: Student Created Content is an Exciting and Inspiring Learning Tool that Teaches Many Skills

2. Collaborative Learning

Working collaboratively is a vital 21st century skill – most workers need to collaborate to some extent or another at points in their work lives. Our ability to collaborate via digital tools expands every day thanks to a seemingly endless array of Internet based applications that enable us to do things like edit documents as a team, communicate face-to-face no matter where we are, use interactive whiteboards that allow for simultaneous edits, and so on. Digital collaboration in learning activities is not only a fun, engaging way to learn, it opens up possibilities that haven’t existed before, and prepares students for success in the evolving work place.

Learn More: 6 Free Online Collaborative Interactive White Boards – 2012 Update

3. Active Learning

While everyone has their own learning style, there is no arguing that applying what you learn – doing something with it – helps to iron out the kinks and reinforce learning, no matter what your fundamental learning style is. Isn’t that much of what Active Learning is about? Whatever types of active learning you pursue (Project Based, Experiential, Constructivist, Experiential, etc.), there are countless free tools available to today’s student and educators via the Internet that can be used in active learning class work and assignments. Get engaged, have fun, and create something while you apply what you are learning!

Learn More: Flipping the Classroom Facilitates Active Learning Methods – Experiential, Project Based, Problem Based, Inquiry Based, Constructivism, Etc.

4. Personal Learning Networks

While the PLN would seem better suited towards older students, the fact is that when kids engage with each other via social media sites like Instagram or Snapchat, they are using and evolving their own Personal Learning Network. The idea of taking this to a higher level by purposely curating knowledgeable experts in fields of interest should be encouraged as students work through high school and even more so throughout their higher education experience. Combining the ease of access via the Internet with the wealth of available expertise and the fundamental concept of ‘networking’ makes today’s PLNs rich with rewarding, interactive learning and collaborating possibilities. Teachers are benefiting more from Personal Learning Networks every day as well.

Learn More: Use Digital Tools to Create and Grow your Personal Learning Network (Video)

5. Mobile Learning

Mobile Learning has never been more ubiquitous and empowering than it is today. As the world’s population embraces the power, availability, and wide spread use of the smart phone, the tablet, and emerging devices like Google Glass and other wearable technology, we have information at our fingertips (and other sensory interfaces) in ways barely imaginable in the past. Teachers and students are benefiting from this every day, and it is encouraging to know that when educators create digital content, the likelihood of it being available to a student any time, any where is very high.

Learn More: Understanding Mobility and its Impact on Learning

6. Competency Based Learning

How cool is this? If you can prove that you know something, you can get credit for it, and move on to a higher order of learning! Adaptive learning technologies have made competency based learning one of the most exciting evolutionary steps in the learning process, and the awarding of credentials, in centuries. This concept can be applied in day to day learning using a growing array of adaptive learning tools like Moby Max. How the concept will be applied to degree completion is being vetted at a higher level by forward thinking higher education institutions like Western Governors University, while the US DOE and regional accreditors wrestle with how competency based learning will fit in with accepted institutional accreditation practices.

Learn More: Meeting Students Where They Are Profiles of Students in Competency- Based Degree Programs

7. Social Learning

Bandura’s Social Learning Theory posits that “people learn from one another, via observation, imitation, and modeling”. This holds for digital networking as it does for traditional face-to-face social interactions. Many of today’s digital learning tools and techniques incorporate a social element. While we want all students to develop the confidence to speak up in front of others, being able to ‘raise a hand’ via digital communications can be a first step for the shyest of students. Additionally, while we need to continue to emphasize to our students the importance of direct human contact, it’s hard to deny that the reach of Internet empowered social networking is pretty amazing. You can tap into leaders in every industry, and easily connect with countless professionals in any field. The learning and sharing opportunities are endless.

Learn More: 7 Reasons To Leverage Social Networking Tools in the Classroom

8. Flipped Teaching and Learning

This targeted use of blended learning techniques has been gaining steam in the media this year, with new stories almost every day about teachers and schools who are trying it out. Flipped instruction has so many potential benefits, it just makes sense. Hopefully educators continue to embrace it and brush off the unfortunate tendency the media has to try and paint new ideas as nothing more than ‘trends’. Flipped teaching really isn’t a new idea – it’s a repacking and relabeling of many existing known and accepted teaching methods and ideas, and that’s a good thing.

Learn More: Mentor Mob Flipped Classroom Playlist

About K. Walsh

Kelly Walsh is Chief Information Officer, and an adjunct faculty member, at The College of Westchester in White Plains, NY and is the founder and author of EmergingEdTech.com. As an education technology advocate, he frequently delivers presentations on a variety of related topics at schools and conferences across the U.S. 

Using a blog to support communication

I'm a great fan of blogging and as this very busy educational year draws to a close (and not a moment too soon), I thought I would share one really simple and effective blogging idea.

Every year a number of staff take our grade 10s to the Cederberg where they hike with staff and on their own; they cycle along country roads; challenge themselves on the banks of the Clanwilliam Dam and work with school children at Elizabethfontein in the Northern Cederberg . At Sanddrift and Jamaka they learn a range of skills and contribute to the upgrading of the environment in which they find themselves. We have named this journey the Bishops Epic. The boys experience a wide range of activities which test them physically and mentally and allow them to appreciate the landscape as well as the people and the history of the area.

Obviously the boys' families want to follow the journey and so we use this blog to communicate. Internet access is not always possible and the staff have limited access to technology. They do, however, have their cell phones and so we set up the blog so that it will automatically upload an email (with photo attachment) as a post on the blog. We chose to have a proof reader supervise the posts before accepting publication. Making possible a simple posting process worked really well. 16500 hits!

Digital Tools : On-Line Games that Inspire Building and Exploration

• By Tanner Higgin Graphite

Tanner Higgin is Senior Manager, Education Content, at Common Sense Media, creator of Graphite ™, a free service for educators in search of the best apps, games, and websites rated for learning. This post is one in a series collaboration. Games included here have received high ratings on Graphite by educators and by the editorial staff at Common Sense Media. Go to Graphite to read full reviews of games and how teachers use them for learning in class.

Sourced from: 

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/11/beyond-minecraft-games-that-inspire-building-and-exploration/

The success and popularity of Minecraft in and out of classrooms is no surprise. It’s one of the best examples of the potential of learning with games because it embraces exploration, discovery, creation, collaboration, and problem-solving while allowing teachers to shepherd play toward any subject area.

But Minecraft is not the only game of this kind. Take a look at some of these.

1. Garry’s Mod 

Garry’s Mod (GMod) is a sandbox game like Minecraft but instead of building and exploring, students use a fun physics engine that simulates things like gravity and mass. They also use a virtual toy box of assets from Valve Software’s popular games. The tool is a step up in complexity from the elegant simplicity of Minecraft, but with Garry’s Mod,students are exposed to physics concepts while having madcap fun.

2. Kerbal Space Program

Kerbal Space Program has a robust physics engine too, but it’s more focused than Garry’s Mod. Players purchase rocket parts, put them together, and then see if they can get a ship into orbit, to one of two moons, or even to another planet. These aren’t easy tasks, so play is focused on trial and error testing, and, like Minecraft, seeking help from the community is part of a successful strategy.

3. Sound Shapes 

Sound Shapes is a visually stunning platform puzzle game set to a rich musical soundscape. Even better: students can create and share their own levels – like interactive sheet music — using sounds and objects unlocked by playing the platform game. It’s an accessible entry point into musical composition as well as game design, and provides an experience that builds on the creativity of Minecraft while offering something wholly unique for music lovers.

4. DIY

For creative kids who want to get their hands dirty, check out DIY, a site where students can find things to build, instructions for how to build them, and ways to share their creations with others. All projects are aligned to 50 skills that run the gamut from outdoors to indoors, and feature various challenges to complete and cool badges to earn and display.

5. STENCYL

Computer programming is a great next step for students who love to mod Minecraft or toy around with the redstone resource (which simulates basic logic and circuitry). One solid entry-level tool is Stencyl, a game creation program focused on codeless, cross-platform game making. By snapping blocks of code together, students can create games that can be published and played on a variety of platforms including mobile phones.

6. CODECADEMY

Codecademy is a web-based, self-paced site that teaches actual industry-standard languages like PHP, Javascript, Python, Ruby, HTML, and CSS. While students don’t create publishable games like they would in Stencyl, their learning is purpose-driven and contextualized, e.g. JavaScript for web development or Ruby for app development. And students do get to see their code’s output directly onscreen.

Minecraft has introduced a lot of youth to games as well as the critical thinking, problem solving, and creation skills necessary for self-motivated learning. The games and sites on this list have the potential to extend that learning, providing fresh outlets for self-expression in the digital world and beyond.