TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Jun 5, 2016

Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive

 

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Digital Compass - Common Sense Media

Grades
5 to 9
5 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Digital Compass is an animated interactive designed to teach middle school students about digital citizenship. Each of the eight characters demonstrates a different topic such as cyberbullying...more
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Digital Compass is an animated interactive designed to teach middle school students about digital citizenship. Each of the eight characters demonstrates a different topic such as cyberbullying and Internet safety. Along the way, players choose different options. Some choices have positive results, and others have negative consequences. This tool is also available in Spanish. Find an Educator Guide for suggestions about how to use this tool in the classroom and PDFs for a Quick Start Guide and the Teacher's Guide. As of October 31, 2019 Digital Compass apps (iOS and Android) were retired. Digital Compass will be available on the web, through your browser.

tag(s): digital citizenship (83), internet safety (112)

In the Classroom

This site is perfect to incorporate into any digital citizenship lessons. Complete activities together on your interactive whiteboard while making appropriate and inappropriate choices along the way. Create a link on your class website or blog for use at home. Be sure to share Digital Compass with parents to use as part of their online safety discussions at home. Enhance students' learning and create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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That's Not Cool - Futures Without Violence

Grades
6 to 12
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Find tools to help you establish your digital line about what is or is not okay in your relationships at That's Not Cool. The site provides digital examples of controlling, ...more
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Find tools to help you establish your digital line about what is or is not okay in your relationships at That's Not Cool. The site provides digital examples of controlling, pressuring, and threatening behavior to raise awareness about and prevent teen dating abuse. Choose from different site resources such as videos, callout cards, and games to learn how to protect yourself online. Some of the topics shared are not appropriate for younger students. Be sure to preview!

tag(s): cyberbullying (40), digital citizenship (83), internet safety (112)

In the Classroom

Share a link to That's Not Cool on your class website for students to access from home. Be sure to share this site with parents so they can have a conversation about the topics found here with their students. Discuss topics on this site as part of your Internet safety lessons. Share this site with school counselors as a resource for teens facing online safety issues.

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PleaseDon'tCheat - Copyright - New York Online

Grades
5 to 12
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Explore the complex topics of copyright and plagiarism. Find information on identifying plagiarism, ethical concerns, and ways to avoid stealing others' material. Explore essential...more
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Explore the complex topics of copyright and plagiarism. Find information on identifying plagiarism, ethical concerns, and ways to avoid stealing others' material. Explore essential questions such as Why Should I Care?, What Does it Look Like?, and How Can I Use My Own Brain? Student tools offer tips for avoiding plagiarism such as correctly citing sources and learning proper phrasing. Teacher tools include videos and posters to help students explore this topic and understand copyright issues. View several videos in the digital ethics portion of the site that discuss the fine line between plagiarism and mashups, downloading, and music use. Some of the videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): copyright (40), digital citizenship (83), ethics (23), plagiarism (31)

In the Classroom

This site is a must-have in the toolbox for all secondary teachers. Bookmark and save this site to use for discussion questions and factual information on plagiarism. Share the videos on your projector or interactive whiteboard. View a video each week and discuss contents. View specific videos addressing concerns that arise in your classroom. Share this site with parents at meet the teacher (Back to School) night for their use at home. Share a link to the site on a prominent place on your class website or blog for student reference at any time.

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FBI - Safe Online Surfing - Federal Bureau of Investigation

Grades
3 to 8
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The FBI - SOS (Safe Online Surfing) Challenge offers activities aimed at learning about cyber safety. The site features six grade-specific "islands" for students in grades 3-8. Activities...more
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The FBI - SOS (Safe Online Surfing) Challenge offers activities aimed at learning about cyber safety. The site features six grade-specific "islands" for students in grades 3-8. Activities highlight various aspects of cyber security through educational games, videos, and other interactive features. Each island has either seven or eight interactive areas to explore--with a specific cyber safety lesson. Islands also have central characters and visual themes. For example, fourth grade features Ice Island, complete with falling snow and penguins. There is also a testing component to complete upon teacher sign-up of classes and completion of all grade level activities. Free sign up isn't required to use the online activities but is necessary to take the final exam as the site requires an access key.

tag(s): cyberbullying (40), digital citizenship (83), internet safety (112)

In the Classroom

Use this full site as a free mini-curriculum on cyber-safety, possibly using it in all grades at your school. For the blended learning class, enroll your class and assign students to complete the activities and exams for homework. Share SOS on your class website for parents and students to access at home. Display the site on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) and complete activities together as a class. Share with other teachers who are teaching units on online safety. Have students create a printed simple comic or rough draft with one or two characters using Printable Comic Strip Templates, reviewed here. Extend learning by using an online comic creator with ToonyTool, reviewed here, for one or two characters, or create a comic strip with multiple characters using Make Beliefs Comix, reviewed here, to show what they've learned about cyber-safey.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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YouTube Copyright School - YouTube

Grades
4 to 12
2 Favorites 1  Comments
 
This short animated YouTube clip shares specific copyright issues, focusing on reusing previously developed materials available on the Internet by uploading and presenting them on YouTube....more
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This short animated YouTube clip shares specific copyright issues, focusing on reusing previously developed materials available on the Internet by uploading and presenting them on YouTube. It begins with a written quiz on the right side of the page to assess prior knowledge and also to get viewers thinking about copyright issues. It presents the message that uploading copyrighted material onto YouTube can have serious consequences. It also explores the fact that, in addition to written and broadcast media, performances and other public presentations may also be copyrighted. It explains the concept of Fair Use in easy-to-understand terms and examples. It also points out that you may watch for people who misuse material and report any such items so they will be removed from YouTube. The video is hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then it may not be viewable.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): copyright (40), multimedia (43), plagiarism (31)

In the Classroom

Use this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge as you start your study of plagiarism on writing projects or copyright in general. Use it in art or music classes when discussing the use of "derivative works" or performance rights on music. Include this site on your class webpage for students and parents to access as a reference. To show what they have learned from this site, enhance or transform (depending on teacher requirements) class room technology use by challenging students to create an online infographic about copyright to share using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here.

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Jamendo - Sylvain Zimmer

Grades
K to 12
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Published under Creative Commons license, Jamendo offers a great variety of copyright-free music. This makes a great addition to your technology resource list as both you and your students...more
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Published under Creative Commons license, Jamendo offers a great variety of copyright-free music. This makes a great addition to your technology resource list as both you and your students can use this site to create soundtracks for videos, use music in podcasts, and just download music to play for students during activities. Once you click on a song that you want to play or download, there is a screen that asks if you would like to make a donation to the musician. This is completely optional and not required to download. However, it may help you to discuss ethical music practices and copyrights with your students. One thing to keep in mind when using this website is that to keep the music, computers must have downloaded permission from your district. If this is a problem and this is a tool you want to use, try talking to your technology department and/or your administration for special, educational permission.

tag(s): copyright (40), sound (74)

In the Classroom

Music teachers and content area teachers alike have a perfect opportunity to explicitly teach ethical use of internet materials and especially music. This discussion could spark a debate about plagiarism, patents or inventors rights depending upon the course that is being taught. Also, older students who are talented musicians could be encourage or just inspired to use Jamendo to post their own music from home for sale. Depending on district policies, this could be used as a take home lesson for upper level music classes.

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21st Century Information Fluency - 21CIF

Grades
3 to 12
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Students use the Internet for everything from research to purchasing music, but do they really know how to search effectively, critically evaluate information, and cite their sources...more
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Students use the Internet for everything from research to purchasing music, but do they really know how to search effectively, critically evaluate information, and cite their sources using ethical standards? The 21st Century Information Fluency website has a wide spectrum of resources for both students and teachers to learn and practice these skills. As High School students are required to do more in depth research and the topics they study become more complex, the need for information fluency/literacy becomes more important. This site includes tutorials, tools, and wizards for students to learn and practice the skills they need to navigate digital environments effectively efficiently and ethically. The vast array of content and information available can be adjusted for curriculum topics and the grade level of the students. There are also opportunities for professional development for teachers to improve their own information fluency skills. Don't miss the wizards to cite sources in various styles of documentation. Activities are aligned to ISTE's NETS-S standards. Begin by reading "How to use this site" and be sure to explore the many "kits." Some materials are for sale, but much is free. The site organization is confusing, so bookmark favorite areas to return easily! New to the site is a game called Bad Apple that helps you determine good and verifiable resources from those that are not.

tag(s): copyright (40), digital citizenship (83), plagiarism (31)

In the Classroom

This site is deep and robust and should be explored thoroughly before using it with students. As you approach a research project, plan to include some of these lessons as part of that project. Ideally, team with other teachers at your school/level to require consistent standards of research as taught through this site, but be sure you know which teachers and classes will help the students master them first! This is one to save in your favorites for repeat visits. Be sure to review the Bad Apple game with your class on a whiteboard or with an overhead projector.

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USPTO - United States Patent and Trademark Office - United States Patent and Trademark Office

Grades
3 to 12
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Visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to help kids of all ages learn about trademarks and patents, and the importance of intellectual property creation and protection....more
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Visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to help kids of all ages learn about trademarks and patents, and the importance of intellectual property creation and protection. USPTO features "collectible" cards of inventor profiles, activities at different levels - including videos about the paticulars of patents, trademarks, and more. In another video section are videos with age appropriate appeal, and titles like Driverless Cars, Bionic Limbs, Biofuels, Electronic Tattoos, and more. The invention and design focus of most of the activities makes for perfect STEM and "maker space" lessons. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): crafts (50), digital citizenship (83), inventors and inventions (71), sound (74), sports (78), STEM (259), video (256)

In the Classroom

Whether an elementary, middle, or high school teacher you'll find ideas for building model rockets and more. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector and start by viewing the video on the home page titled Extraordinary Innovations. Or, in your blended or flipped class have students watch the video at home and enhance their learning by using playposit, reviewed here, to take notes, make comments, or ask questions to document what they learned from the video. Be sure to have a small or whole group discussion about what they learned from the video using their notes & comments the next day! At the end of your lesson or unit on patents and trademarks, transform learning by challenging students to create a timeline for the invention of the snowboard, or motorcycles, or another topic of interest. Why not modify classroom technology and make this an interactive timeline with music, photos, videos, and more using Timeline JS, reviewed here.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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