Reading Review: Part B

Following last week’s blog, I went on a search to gather resources for cyberbullying, coding, and applications for iPads.  Here is what I found:

 

Cyberbullying

Patchin, J. (n.d.). Cyberbullying videos to use in presentations. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved from https://cyberbullying.org/videos

The Cyberbullying Research Center has a wealth of information for teachers and parents.  There are tips to identify, respond, and prevent cyberbullying.  The American based research center goes out to schools to discuss these issues.  In the link that has been provided, Patchin shares his experience on the best way to get through to the children.  Part of his presentation involves showing students a video on cyberbullying.  Clips for various age groups are displayed as well as some questions to help get the discussion going.

 

BC Ministry of Education. (n.d.). BC’s digital literacy framework.  Digital literacy. Retrieved from BC Ministry of Education website https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/kindergarten-to-grade-12/teach/teaching-tools/digital-literacy-framework.pdf

The Ministry of Education document outlines the digital education for BC students.  With each of the six framework characteristics, digital literacy goals are given to a particular grade range.  One of the categories is digital citizenship.  It is further broken down into different areas such as internet safety, respectful relationships and communication, cyberbullying, and ownership of digital works.  It is helpful to see all the different responsibilities that come with technology.

On a side note, I included this resource because I feel it can be overlooked.  When searching through the BC Ministry of Education website, I tend to look at the new curriculum as a guide for teaching.  It addresses digital citizenship, but not in the exclusive detail that this document provides.

 

Coding

Canada Learning Code. (n.d.).  Teachers learning code.  Retrieved from http://www.teacherslearningcode.com/en/home

Teachers Learning Code is a great starting point to get introduced to the world of coding.  There is a manual to help teachers understand what is involved and the key concepts in programming.  Furthermore, the guide explains some of the tools in the Scratch program.  In addition to the handbook, there are cross-curricular lessons that are geared towards primary and intermediate level students.

 

BCTF PSA and Computers Using Educators of BC. (2017). Code BC. Retrieved from http://codebc.ca/

Code BC is a collection of resources to help teachers with the new curriculum.  The site is a network of BC teachers that have added lessons and links that can be rated by users.  There are resources for different grade levels as well as varying technical skills.  For schools that lack technology, there are lessons to teach students how coding works without the use of a computer.

 

Applications

Simpson, K. and Heubach, R. (n.d.). App Reviews. Class with apps. Retrieved from http://classwithapps.com/cat/apps/

The site is a page of apps that have been reviewed and approved by two elementary teachers.  Each application has a brief description and an explanation with pictures of how the program functions.

Reading Review: Part A

There is much to learn when it comes to digital technologies.  The constantly changing tools and improvements make this an ongoing struggle.  I have grown up with paper and pen.  Thus, I am perfectly comfortable to continue with the old ways.  However, it is no longer about my comfort, but the skills students need in an increasingly digital world.

With the growing presence of technology, digital citizenship has become an important topic.  In practice, elementary schools have banned or blocked sites deemed inappropriate such as You Tube and Facebook.  However, the affects of social media use outside of school can be felt in the classroom among students.  The influence of cyberbullying has had a significant impact on a student’s emotional state that can affect academic performance.  Avoiding the use of networking sites does not guide students in proper conduct.   Additionally, it does not prepare them for their future lives and careers.  A foolish act caught on tape could spell the end of one’s employment.  Learning to navigate digital platforms and being socially responsible is important to the success of students’ education and future.

The new BC curriculum has incorporated coding as part of the student’s education.  Unfortunately, many teachers and myself included lack the knowledge to teach students how to create a computer program.  I would like to know the basics of coding and how to effectively teach it to students.  One of the road blocks to this is deficient technology.  My school has a class set of iPads, but no desk tops or lap tops for students.  As far as I know, coding programs are for computers.  How can teachers work with the technology they have to meet the curriculum demands?  I would like to know more information to be a resource for teachers who feel lost in this area and introduce students’ to this skill.

Lastly, I am interested in finding new applications that can help students learn in engaging ways.  As a teacher-librarian, I want to be seen as a source of information for teachers.  Guiding colleagues through the latest programs to integrate into the curriculum can encourage collaboration for the benefit of the students.  With technology all around, many of the children get excited to use digital equipment.  Incorporating iPads into the curriculum can foster more interest in academic subjects.

Keeping up with the latest digital technology is no easy feat, but one has to start somewhere.  Teaching students to become digitally responsible citizens is as essential as lessons involving the newest technology or application.