2nd Graders Keyboarding!

Keyboarding has been moved down to begin in 2nd grade starting this year.  With more technology being integrated earlier into elementary classrooms it is essential keyboarding skills are started correctly and at an earlier age.  Students have started the typing program Type to Learn and are loving it!  Upper elementary/lower middle school grade levels should soon begin to be able to see the effects of starting the typing program earlier!

Summer Updates to Google Tools

Below is a good, concise version of the summer updates to Google Tools courtesy FreeTech4Teachers.com.  Most exciting is Google Classroom, which will make it easier for teachers to distribute and collect assignments from students.  We are currently testing it out with a few teachers at the high school.  "Suggested Edits" will be a benefit for teachers and students as well as an edit can be made to a document by another user but is not final until approved by the owner.  Click here for PDF version

HMS Advanced Technology Class

Mrs. Yoder and I are co-teaching an Advanced Technology course at the middle school.  We are excited to introduce a group of students to some new technology for our building including: coding, Scratch animation, stop animation, digital photography, audio editing with Audacity, and Digital Citizenship.  We are using Blogger to house our class website, feel free to visit it to see what we are doing at http://hmsadvtech.blogspot.com/p/videos.html.  We are having "Follow-Up Fridays" for our students to complete self-reflections of their activities that week.  Reflection is an important part of learning and growth that is often pushed to the side or looked over.  Here is a great website for reflecting in learning for students as well as teachers: http://www.teachthought.com/learning/44-prompts-merging-reflective-thinking-blooms-taxonomy/.  Check out this very interesting video linked on our class blog about "Teens & Tech":

Study Jams-Elementary

Study Jams (http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/index.htm) is a scholastic website for elementary students to review math and science concepts.  It would work great for independent practice or to learn a new concept.  Study Jams provides a video lesson, and then a quiz review with immediate feedback for the students.  The students will love the karaoke songs that go along with the lessons!

HS iPad Rollout

Hesston High School students were handed a brand new iPad Air their first week of school.  Students created a school Apple ID and began downloading Apps including the iLife Suite, iWorks Suite, and Notability to name a few.  Mr. Rhodes spoke on the importance of appropriate use and care of the iPad.  Students have already begun creating with their iPad in several classes this week!