Digital Shift News
News to help you make the Shift
Introduction
Educator Spotlight: Julie Sturgiss
Julie Sturgiss designed a unit about American Historical Documents and had her Honors American History students utilize Google Slides to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject matter by collaborating in groups
American Documents Unit
Summary:
The American document unit targets several of the common core standards for American History. In order to create a student-centered learning experience, the students were asked to work in teams to create presentations that demonstrated their understanding of the concepts. Each team was given a document or key concept and asked to answer two higher-level cognitive thinking questions about the documents. In order to complete this task, each team was given a chromebook and instructed to work collaboratively on a google doc and slide presentation. The chromebooks allowed the students to transition seamlessly from the research portion of their assignment to the development of their presentations. The combination of the general knowledge students have of computers with the user-friendly, collaborative features of the google docs and slides, eliminated down time and allowed students to be efficient in getting their task completed. Along with giving students the resource tools needed to be successful, the chromebooks and use of google slides also made it easy for them to share their presentations me.
For additional information check out the following links:
Digital Tools
September's Digital Tools
Our second featured tool Classcraft is a free online, educational role-playing game that teachers and students play together in the classroom. By using many of the conventions traditionally found in games today, students can level up, work in teams, and earn powers that have real-world consequences. Acting as a gamification layer around any existing curriculum, the game transforms the way a class is experienced throughout the school year.
Tech Bytes
District Technology Web Site
Google Classroom Webinar
September 22, 2015 - 3:30pm to 4:30pm EST
Webinar link - http://ti.apps.sparcc.org/videopd/20150922-classroom (click to register and watch live webinar)
Collaborating and sharing is one of the greatest strengths of Google Apps. However with 125 students it can also be a nightmare to manage. Google has come to the rescue with Google Classroom, a powerful tool that lets you create classes, assignments, and announcements, and automates all the tedious tasks of sharing, turning in, grading, resubmitting, and more. Learn all about how to use Classroom and go paperless with your students.