Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2024. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Unlock the power of copyright-friendly images in student projects! In this engaging workshop, we'll explore innovative ways to integrate visually stunning, legally compliant images into your lessons. Dive into the world of digital literacy and learn how to equip your students with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate copyright laws and make ethical choices when using images. We'll introduce you to three amazing online tools brimming with high-quality, copyright-friendly images that are perfect for enhancing student projects and presentations. Discover how to leverage these resources to enhance your lessons while fostering critical thinking about copyright and fair use. As a result of this session, teachers will 1. Identify and learn how to utilize copyright-friendly images. 2. Explain copyright concepts to students. 3. Integrate copyright-friendly tools into lesson plans. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): copyright (44), images (263)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from January 2024. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Misinformation is rampant online. As educators, how can we prepare students to navigate this landscape? In this interactive workshop, participants will explore techniques for leveraging fake websites to build essential media literacy skills. Join us to explore this engaging approach to promoting digital citizenship and critical thinking. Leave equipped with practical strategies for developing media-savvy students through authentic learning experiences that incorporate analyzing fake websites. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Evaluate fake websites and identify specific indicators of misinformation, such as biased language, questionable sources, and misleading visuals. 2. Learn strategies for responsibly incorporating fake websites into instruction to foster critical thinking. 3. Plan to implement activities using fake websites in instruction. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): digital citizenship (85), media literacy (109), professional development (385)

AI offers exciting opportunities to transform assessment practices. View this collection to find education-specific AI tools to create engaging, practical, formative, and summative assessments for your students. Some examples of AI tools for assessment creation include tools to help develop rubrics, feedback, reports connected to your learning objectives and standards, quizzes, portfolios, and more.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (177), assessment (147), Formative Assessment (74), quizzes (90)

Hey! That's Mine! is part of the TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series reviewed here. It provides helpful resources and standards-based activities to teach students how to avoid plagiarizing information. Included resources are videos, games, and learning modules. In addition, there are several sources for creating citations. The extension activities share ideas for teaching the basics of citing resources to students as young as kindergarten.

tag(s): citations (33), plagiarism (34), Research (87)

"Dewey" Know How to Find Information: Finding Nonfiction Resources in a Traditional Library Format is part of the TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series reviewed here. This article shares background knowledge and activities to teach students how to efficiently use the Dewey Decimal System to search and find nonfiction resources for research. Resources include book suggestions, videos, and online learning suggestions. Activities provide ideas for teaching about the Dewey Decimal System through tech and non-tech methods.

tag(s): reading strategies (96), Research (87)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

As digital media increasingly replaces traditional media, students must have the skills to think critically about these new types of texts. Media literacy - the ability to skillfully read and write in a wide range of message forms - allows students to identify themes and issues emerging from popular culture and has related standards that have been incorporated across content areas and grade levels nationwide. Join us to learn more about this information age survival skill. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the importance of teaching media literacy in the classroom; 2. Explore media literacy resources; and 3. Learn to use the five key questions of media literacy when planning lessons. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): media literacy (109), professional development (385)

As educators, we must teach our students how to make sure the resources they are using are reliable. This collection includes information and resources related to checking sources and determining if a source is reliable and credible.

tag(s): evaluating sources (29), media literacy (109), Research (87)

Discover resources in this collection for your students to use to curate resources. Curation means selecting, collecting, organizing, and presenting content. Curating is especially helpful when researching a topic but always useful to help students to keep information systematically arranged. We have included resources for all grades.

tag(s): curation (32), organizational skills (88), Research (87)

Tales from the Griots - Mali Empire is part of the TeachersFirst Help! I lost my media/library specialist collection found here that features topics and resources that focus on integrating research with technology. This resource begins with introducing the Mali Empire that existed in Africa for over 400 years and continues with additional background information. Following the background information is a list of book suggestions and videos that include suggested classroom teaching ideas. The included extension activity suggests comparing and contrasting the Mali Empire with other civilizations.

tag(s): africa (148)

Votes for Women - The 19th Amendment is part of the TeachersFirst Help! I lost my media/library specialist collection found here that features topics and resources that focus on integrating research with technology. Information begins with a short introductory paragraph about the 19th Amendment and extensive background information. The Activities section shares suggested book lists, primary sources, and a WebQuest research project. Continue down the site to find Extension activities that incorporate research skills into additional classroom opportunities such as debates and documentary creation. Ideas found on this resource include correlation to ISTE and AASL National School Library Standards.

tag(s): 1900s (72), constitution (96), women (151), womens suffrage (52)