Tech Tidbits #4
from your friendly elementary tech integrator
A Copyright Friendly Toolkit
This is one of the most informative creations I've seen compiled and shared on the topics of Copyright, Fair Use, Creative Commons, and Public Domain, created by Joyce Valenza. If you and your students use others' content in research and multimedia projects, this guide is a MUST READ! Students in grades 3-6 are introduced to some of these topics in their spring digital citizenship lessons in the lab and also through the library curriculum, but it's essential that we all understand and model best practices with respecting copyright!
Click here to access (made on Smore!)
Improving Student Writing with Google Docs
Another fantastic guide by Eric Curts
Little Bird Tales fun!
We've been working on publishing persuasive and creative writing in grades 1 and 2 across the district... students are doing well creating their digital stories and recording audio to bring their stories to life! Please contact me if you'd like me to work with your students using Little Bird Tales or any other digital storytelling tool!
Longform stories come to Storybird!
Speaking of digital storytelling, Storybird recently announced they will be bringing long form story formats to its popular service. The beta version is available now for teachers to experiment with and should be available for classrooms next year. Storybird does not require student email addresses for accounts, so teachers can manage all student info safely.
Those Terms of Service Do Matter!
As elementary teachers, we have the difficult task of finding digital tools to support student learning and creativity while also ensuring their private and personal information is protected. It's important to always read the Terms of Service of websites and applications you're interested in having your students use in class. Dr. Hollister has advised us not to create accounts for students when email addresses or other private, personally-identifiable information is a requirement for an account, and when the site's Terms of Service include language that personal information is collected from users. It's also typically a TOS violation to create an account with your email address and then allow students to access the application through your account. To be safe, don't create accounts for students on any website without first checking with your principal, and feel free to reach out to me if you need help locating the Terms of Service and Privacy Policies of the sites. Just because our students have email addresses as part of the suite of apps we offer them here at Elanco doesn't mean we should be using those emails to establish any accounts.
Click here to read more on this topic: Those Terms of Service on Popular Websites DO Matter by Jennifer Carey.
P.S. - You might want to start thinking critically about the websites you're using on a personal basis as well. Trying to wrap your head around how companies and businesses (yes, I'm talking about you, Pearson) are using personal data and private information is enough to make someone quit the Internet.
Check out Terms of Service, Didn't Read and Ghostery to help get a better handle on managing your online information.
Thinking blogging is only about writing? Think again!
Silvia Tolisano shares the visual below to illustrate the power of student blogging and all of the ways it can help make thinking visible in a number of content areas. A blog is a place where students can document their learning in so many ways! Is your class blogging? Please share with me the ways you're using blogs in the classroom to help inspire others across the district!
Contact
Lyn Hilt, Elementary Instructional Tech Integrator/Coach
Email: lynmarie_hilt@elanco.org
Website: blog.elanco.org/elemtech
Twitter: @elancoelem