John R. Sowash is a former Michigan HS biology teacher and principal who has been helping teachers use technology to improve instruction for many years. One way he has been doing so is by writing a fantastic blog about all things Chromebook. Bookmark it and enjoy learning!
21Things4Students is Project-Based Curriculum for Grades 5-9, supports MiTECS competencies
21Things4Students is Project-Based Curriculum for Grades 5-9, supports MiTECS competencies
The REMC Association’s 21Things4Students (21T4S) project just keeps getting better! Over the summer, the project-based website was updated and moved to its new URL https://remc.org/21things4students.
21T4S provides free activities to integrate technology into middle school (grades 5-9) classroom curriculum. It’s a valuable tool to help students build knowledge and acquire 21st century technology skills. Students also learn to be safe and secure while online.
“This learning with technology resource provides teachers with project-based activities to help students build technology knowledge and skills for the 21st century,” according to Carolyn McCarthy, Project Manager and Educational Technology Consultant, Shiawassee RESD.
- The 21 Things are “21 big ideas” such as Basics that features tips and shortcuts for various computing devices, browsers and operating systems, along with email etiquette.
- My Digital Life that explores digital learning preferences, customizing and overcoming barriers with technology, and getting organized.
- Other student favorites include: Digital Footprint, Cyber Safety, Search Strategies with a special Quest about Fake or Real News, Troubleshooting, Digital Storytelling, and Computational Thinking to name just a few.
Each of the 21 Things is broken down into smaller learning units called Quests. There are over 145 Quests and each includes an Introduction, Key Vocabulary, I Can Statements, Steps with Tutorials, Student Checklist, and Quiz. Teacher resources include lesson guides for each Thing, digital badges and awards to use, accommodations suggestions, bank of assessment questions, and an Index to content and activities.
21Things4Students has been awarded the Seal of Alignment by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). The site is managed by a dedicated team of Michigan educators and advisors who provide annual updates. REMC Association Project Managers Melissa White or Carolyn McCarthy provide day-to-day content management. Feel free to email Melissa or Carolyn if you have questions or need additional assistance with 21Things4Students.
Grasshopper Coding lessons now available via browser
On October 8th Google announced that their app Grasshopper, created for students to use to learn to code, now can run in a web browser. The app/site has several courses designed to intuitively help someone build coding skills. Each lesson starts with an introduction to some vocabulary before moving into the coding lessons. Each lesson has a tutorial, a practice activity, and a quiz. You have to successfully complete each lesson before progressing to the next one. Grasshopper will save your work in progress.
For more information visit https://grasshopper.app/ and to start coding today on a Chromebook, Mac or Windows PC, browse to https://learn.grasshopper.app/
REMC October info to check out
The Regional Educational Media Center Association (REMC) of Michigan promotes the transformative use of technology and provides Michigan schools with access to educational resources to help teachers increase student success. They’ve just released their October Connect newsletter with info on the 21Things4Students project-based curriculum (https://remc.org/21things4students), fall learning opportunities, upcoming free virtual courses, and more.
Here’s a link to their October Connect newsletter.
Here’s a link to an archived list of their most recent Connect newsletters.
And finally, a link should you want to subscribe to either (or both) of their once monthly electronic mailings of the Connect Newsletter AND/OR on upcoming and available free virtual courses!
Tool of the Week: Read&Write for GoogleWEB Toolbar
The Read&Write for Google WEB Toolbar can be used to access web pages in the Chrome browser. Students and staff can use supports like text to speech, word prediction, talking and picture dictionaries, study skills highlighters and more.
RW4G@PCCS website: WEB Toolbar https://sites.google.com/pccsk12.com/rw4g-pccs/toolbars/web-toolbar?authuser=0 RW4G
@PCCS website: Tools Demo https://sites.google.com/pccsk12.com/rw4g-pccs/toolbars/tools-demo
Read&Write for Google WEB Tip Sheet https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wEOXhwyAh45PgjfsOUZhXEo6hXmPHbj6JmRtxh-KuIk/view