TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Feb 19, 2017
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
Fair Dealing Decision Tool - Council of Ministers of Education, Canada
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): copyright (85), digital citizenship (139), ethics (37), plagiarism (60),
In the Classroom
Include this site as part of your digital citizenship lessons. Explore together what is the acceptable use, and what is not. Enhance classroom technology use by having students create online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as PicLits, reviewed here, or transform class tech use with a multimedia poster using Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or Adobe Express for Education, reviewed here, to demonstrate the acceptable use of published work. Be sure to include a link to this tool on your class web page for student use at home.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Creator Basics - YouTube
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): creativity (186), social media (75), journalism (113), video (456),
In the Classroom
View videos with a projector or on an interactive whiteboard before assigning multimedia projects. Include a link to the videos on your class web page for students to view at home. Set up a video chat time for one of these YouTube videos using a tool such as Watch2Gether, reviewed here, to discuss the video lesson. Be sure to share with your school's journalism teacher for use with writing and video projects.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CodeChef for Schools - Directi
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): computational thinking (56), critical thinking (185), problem solving (407), coding (129), competitions (20), STEM (353), computers (162),
In the Classroom
Coding is an excellent way to teach critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Use this site as homework, a center, or in a lab setting. The site offers different levels, so differentiation is built in. Explain to students that coding is a critical skill in today's world filled with technology and will also be a valuable skill in the job market. Many jobs that will require coding do not yet exist. Put a link to this tool on your class website, blog, or wiki. Encourage advanced students to enter the monthly competitions offered on CodeChef.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Seven Digital Deadly Sins - Guardian Weekend Magazine
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): professional development (530), digital citizenship (139), social media (75),
In the Classroom
Be very careful if using this in a classroom as there are discussions of items not appropriate for general consumption, and may be more appropriate as inspiration for discussing the main "sins" in your classroom. At a minimum, be sure to view and screen portions of the site for appropriateness before sharing with students. Have students create an online graph using ChartGizmo, reviewed here, to analyze their digital usage. Share ideas and reflections comparing the positives of digital media versus the negative impacts. Exchange information from the site with your colleagues and school counselors as part of any professional development or discussions about the use of social media and digital tools. Share with parents who have concerns about their student's digital usage.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Toolkit for Digitally-Literate Teachers - University of Southern California Rossier School of Education
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): digital citizenship (139), media literacy (136),
In the Classroom
Although geared toward teacher professional development, use the list of skills and tools to create formative or summative assessments. Have individuals or groups of students research the topic of digital literacy using the site and then create presentations using some of the online tools suggested. Share with your administrators and other staff members.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Thinkuknow - Crown
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): digital citizenship (139), internet safety (210), professional development (530),
In the Classroom
Before you begin work with any tool on the Internet, educate students with the most important lessons, keeping safe! Choose the age group and follow the lessons together as a group on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Continue discussions on your class blog. Add parents to your blog so they can reinforce lessons on Internet safety. Then it is time to introduce the Appropriate Use for Technology permission form, and this will now make sense to kids. Bookmark this site on classroom computers so students can refer to the information. Be sure to offer as a tool for parents to review and reinforce at home. At your technology night, have this up on your projector screen while parents are entering, so all get a needed reminder. Be sure student technology clubs examine and understand the concepts. Have the student technology club make their own videos introducing safety concepts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kodable - Surfscore, Inc
Grades
K to 4This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (247), engineering (199), logic (326), problem solving (407), computers (162), STEM (353), coding (129), computational thinking (56),
In the Classroom
Use this tool to learn basic coding skills. Students will quickly catch on to this program when allowed to experiment while viewing their results. Kodable is great for differentiating for students with different abilities and learning styles. Set Kodable up as a learning center and have students work in pairs to complete the challenges.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Digital Learning Day - Alliance for Excellent Education
Grades
K to 12tag(s): modeling (13), digital storytelling (300), digital citizenship (139), preK (423),
In the Classroom
Celebrate Digital Learning Day in your school by sharing this site and ideas for digital learning both in and out of school. Suggest to your PTO/PTA that they host a family digital learning evening on or about the same date. Bookmark and save this site to find digital learning ideas throughout the year and to plan special events for a midwinter Digital Learning Day celebration. Share with colleagues as a resource.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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