Two Sides to Technology Poster

We have been discussing the two sides to your technological life since the first day of class.  We will start our week off with a Kahoot to get us thinking about this topic.  Why is this so important?  Why do I bring this up again now?  Let's think about the time of the year.  Many of you celebrate holidays in the month of December which involve the tradition of gift giving.  In past years, many students have received "technology" related gifts such as iPads, iPods, cell phones, tablets, laptops, game consoles, etc...  I have noticed an increasing number of students use their "School/Professional" accounts on these newly acquired gifts.  It is important for you all to understand that separation between your two sides.  You are NOT to use any school accounts on or for personal technology.  In other words, you CANNOT use your school Apple ID on a new iPad you get for Christmas!!!  

This week the employees of BISILT.com have an important job!!  You will create posters to display in our school sharing this important message.  You will work in a group to get this job done and will be provided with all the resources you need.  It is important this job be completed on time!!  I have shared links to the resources you will get on day one this week just in case you would like to take a look and start thinking!

I cannot wait to share our finished products with our school community!  

Project Outline

Project Rubric

Materials Wish List

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Corporate Headquarters of BISILT.com

It has been a great summer, not very long, but still great!   I have stepped away from some of my technological tools and tried to "unplug" just a bit.  Mid July I sat down and began reading the "feedback" letters from my students.  There was a very common theme; one which I have noticed in years past as well.  Students told me they "want to work together."  My usual reaction, if I am being totally honest, is a roll of my eyes as I imagine students talking and being non-productive.  This year, however, I had a very different reaction.  In fact it was close to an epiphany!  I realized what my students have been telling me is they want to collaborate.  This word is on the wall in my classroom, it's part of the ISTE standards I used to create my mastery objectives and student learning outcomes, and now it will be alive at the corporate headquarters of "BISILT.com." My lab has been totally rearranged; no more rows!!!!  I have created what I hope to be a "real-world" work environment and am calling this business BISILT.com.  Though most of our work will be done on line, we do have a "brick and mortar" location as well, in room 231.  There is even a sign on the door inviting students in to this office.  The year will begin with "orientation" to the company and then students will be given some real world problems to solve together in teams.  I cannot wait to see what happens! This is going to be an amazing year!!

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Your Latest Thoughts on iPads

Well it has been almost a month since you were given iPads of your own for the school day.  I know there have been a lot of wonderful things happening.  It has most definitely been a time for learning and figuring out how these devices can benefit students and teachers.  I would like you to take a moment or two (probably more) to think about how your learning has changed over the past month.  Do things look differently in your classrooms?  Are you thinking differently about your learning?  We will have a discussion to start our classes today, and then I will give you the rest of class to create and publish a new post for your "Technology in School" pages of your blogs.  I have created a list of "Thinking Questions" for you to ponder just in case you are "stuck."  Please be honest in your posts.  We have so much to learn from you!

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Podcast Script Template

Welcome Back!

I know for many of you it seems as though we just left this building, and yet here we are once again starting a new year.  I am sure you had some amazing summer days, and had a hard time getting out of bed this morning.  I hope you are excited about 7th grade and all of the great things we will be doing in technology this year.  The technology will not be limited to the two times a week you come to class with me.  You will be using technology in all of your classes.  We have some exciting things planned for this year and you will play a very important role in how things happen.  So get ready to experience an amazing year!  I can't wait to see what you have to teach me!!

Back in Action......

Last summer it was intentional, but this summer it was purely accidental.....no blogging!!  My life became so busy and I did not have any "large" screen time.  What do I mean by this?  The only connection I had to technology most of my days was my iPhone.  I spent my summer Instagramming (new verb).  My Instagram account is part of my social/personal technology life and not one I share with my students.  I have thought about creating a "school" account as I have done with other aspects of my on line life.   I will give this some more thought and get back to you on it.  It has been brought to my attention some young people are making poor decisions with their Instagram accounts.  This makes me realize I need to add it to my lesson plans this year.  There are so many new any exciting things I want to share with my students.   I hope my students have some new and exciting things to share with me as well.  I hope you have all had a restful and enjoyable summer.  My readers who do not have summers off, I hope you had some enjoyable moments in the past couple of months.  Well here I am .....back in the saddle again.  I will be blogging, teaching, and learning full swing.  I would like to share a photo with you.  This is one of my launch customers.  For those of you who don't know, I drive a launch in the summers.  It is like a water taxi, taking "people" out to their moored boats.  It is a lot of fun and I get to meet some really interesting "people."  The one below happens to have his own Instagram account!!!

@bobbythepig on the way to his sailboat

Saying Goodbye.......

It has been over a week since my last post.  Anyone who is involved in education, whether you be an educator, parent, or student, knows what the last couple of weeks of school are like.  "Bedlam" could be a word used by some, but I prefer "excessive energy."  Students and teachers alike are experiencing a wide range of emotions.  Yes, we are all "done" and ready for summer to begin, but at the same time we are feeling a sense of sadness.  One of my student bloggers said it so well in her most recent post,

"I have made amazing friends and have formed incredible bonds with my teachers. I can hardly believe that I am on to saying good-byes! It feels like just yesterday when we were meeting for the first time."

Rachel and my many other amazing students have taught me so much this year.  They have far exceeded any expectations I had for them and our class.  I am sad to see them leave and yet I know they must move on.  I will definitley be keeping an eye on this bunch.  I know they will be making amazing contributions not only to our high school community, but to the global community as well.  This week I have asked my students to give me feedback in the form of a friendly letter.  Much to their surprise, I have asked them not to "share" their Google docs with me (a virtual assignment to which they have become accustomed), but to actually print out a piece of paper and turn it in to me.  They have been honest and very inciteful in their comments about our course and technology in our school.  I will be taking their recommendations seriously and have already thought of ways to modify my curriculum to better suit the needs of my future students.

So it is with a somewhat heavy heart, I say "good bye" to the class of 2018, and congratulations on a job well done this year! They have definitely left a positive mark in our school, and I am very proud to say have made positive contributions to their digital footprints.  I am sure you will be hearing from many of them for years to come!!
                                                  Happy Summer!!!

image link:  http://www.liquidbreaker.com/blog/take-a-hike-green-ideas-for-summer-fun/



Unplugged and Recharged

     This may seem impossible, but it is truly what I have done this summer.  I must confess I have not completely unplugged myself, but I have certainly limited my “on screen” time.  Spending my time on the ocean in the fresh sea air has helped me prepare for the up and coming school year.  I stepped away from my blog to collect my thoughts and am back and ready to go!  As the new school year approaches I am riding the same roller coaster of emotions as I am sure many of my students are riding.  Excitement and anticipation are coupled with some anxiety and a bit of sadness.  As I say hello to new students and new lessons, this means I will be saying good-bye to my time on the water, and the people I transport to and from their boats in Cotuit Harbor.  

          I must admit though I know I will miss the great outdoors and the feeling of the sun warming my mind and spirit; I am so excited to discover the passions of my new students.  I cannot wait to introduce them to the world of blogging as they continue to create, manage, discuss, research, and publish.  I know the year 2012-2013 will be filled with so many opportunities for me to continue learning alongside my students.  I can't wait to get started!!

New Blog

You spoke and we listened!  We decided to have all students create a second blog for school work.  You will be encouraged to continue blogging about your passions on your original blog.  Please remember this is connected to a school account, you BPS Blogging and Commenting Guidelines should be followed.  You should also be sure the content is school appropriate!  

You will need to go to your Blogger Dashboard and “create a new blog”.  The new interface looks a little bit different, but if you look around you will be able to find this gray tab.  Please name your school blog in the following manner:

         This example would be if I were a student creating a blog:

                  Name of Blog:   Kim’s School Blog

                      URL:   kimsschoolblog(.blogspot.com)

**You may need to add the first initial of your last name or a symbol if you have a common first name.  You will know as the new interface will tell you automatically if that URL is not available.*

You will need to choose a template which allows you to make multiple pages easily.

You can now work on the design of your blog.  Please be sure to create the following pages:

1. Home (this will be automatically created and the only page on which you can create a “real post”  I would like you to create a post telling your new teachers a little bit about you. You may want to include your strengths and weaknesses in school, likes and dislikes, etc...
2. English
3. Math
4. Science
5. Social Studies
6. Technology

**You may delete the Technology page from your other blog.  You could put your podcast post on your new blog if you’d like.

You may play around with design, colors, widgets, etc....

Be sure to “Apply” and “Save” as you go!!