GWAEA Digital Learning Update
to ensure success for all learners - November 2019
EP67: ITEC Reflections
Mindy and Jonathan are just back from another ITEC Fall Conference in Des Moines. In this episode, they reflect on that experience and give some tips for edtech conference attendees. Jonathan brought a baloney nugget, but we don't judge on this podcast, right?
Show notes and links for everything discussed in the show can be found at: dlgwaea.org/podcast/67
You can follow Jonathan (@jonathanwylie) and Mindy (@TeamCairney) on Twitter, and see all the tweets from the Grant Wood AEA Digital Learning Team at @DLGWAEA. You can also email us with questions or ideas, podcast@gwaea.org. If you enjoy the show please share it with your friends and colleagues and/or leave us a review on your podcast app of choice.
THANK YOU for listening. We really couldn't (or wouldn't) do this without the support of listeners like you!
Build A Better Book - Season 5: Episode 3
Chelsea Sims, South East Junior Librarian, kicks off this maker challenge which is part of the Build a Better Book program. Build a Better Book program is out of University of Colorado Boulder, whose goal is to engage youth in the design and fabrication of inclusive materials for all learners. In this episode, we shine a light on the work students from South East Junior High in Iowa City are doing as they create a tactile children's book and work to better understand different types of learners. There are many pieces to this episode, see all of the videos in this playlist.
Learn more about Build a Better Book at their website https://www.colorado.edu/project/bbb/ We would love to see what you make! Join our Maker Community by sending us your photos or videos through social media and tag @dlgwaea or send an email to makerspace@gwaea.org and we will post them on our website, www.dlgwaea.org. #havefunmaking
Google Expeditions: Virtual Reality for Classrooms
Virtual reality has opened up a world of new experiences for students, so why not immerse your class in adventures that you never thought possible! This workshop will provide the opportunity for you to learn how to guide your students through Google Expeditions. Participants will be introduced to a variety of resources to engage in virtual reality experiences.
Cost: Free
Register with this link. Copy this course number to register: 168005
Making Connections with Hummingbird Bit
Activate your critical thinking and creativity skills through the use of the Hummingbird Bit Robotics Kit in this hands-on workshop. The 1-day free workshop is designed for educators that currently have a Hummingbird Bit Robotics Kit and are looking to gain a deeper understanding of this tool and integration ideas in their classroom or library. In this workshop, you will be making, building and coding. Throughout the day, you will learn the basic components of the kit, how to create and build with the tools and cardboard to create and code simple prototypes. You’ll leave inspired by examples of this in action.
Cost: Free
Date/Time: February 4th 8:30a - 3:30p
Location: Coralville Office
Register with this link. Copy this course number to register: 180173
Want to change the world? Let's get started during #CSEdWeek!
#HourOfCode at GWAEA
Computer Science for Good. #CSforGood
Inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2019 Hour of Code will highlight how we can all use computer science to make a positive impact on our world, from writing apps to solve a local problem, to using innovative ideas in data science to address global challenges. Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries during Computer Science Education Week December 9 - 15, 2019.
Help us celebrate by hosting an hour of code this year! We’ve put together resources to help teachers, coaches, and administrators from PreK to high school host events in their classrooms and buildings. Visit our team’s Hour of Code resource page for everything you need to start changing the world with computer science!
This year we have resource collections to help you integrate Computer Science (CS) into your content area:
2019 Hour of Code Resources & Activity Suggestions for #CSforGood
Activity Suggestions for CS + Math
Activity Suggestions for CS + Science
Activity Suggestions for CS + Social Studies
Activity Suggestions for CS + Language Arts
Activity Suggestions for CS + Music, Media, & Art
Take a look this blog post from Corey Rogers (@corey_rogers) to get your classroom geared up for Hour of Code!
Connect with Iowa CS Educators!
JOIN
CSTA and CSTA Iowa (Computer Science Teachers Association) connects CS teachers from across the world and within Iowa to build community, share best practices, access resources, and get the latest updates. www.csteachers.org
Iowa Computer Science Teachers Facebook was created to connect Iowa CS teachers online and provide a platform to share successes, resources, and questions. bit.ly/IACSFB
SHARE
Complete the Iowa CS Engagement Survey so we can plan and schedule CS specific events across the state and in our region. bit.ly/IACSEngage
CONNECT
Use the hashtags #CSforIA and #CSforGWAEA to connect with CS educators across Iowa and in our region.
DLGWAEA Summer Summit
Google for Education Elevate Iowa Workshop
Google for Education’s Elevate: Iowa is an event aimed to bring Iowa district leaders with principals and educators from at-risk programs and alternative high schools together. Through a day of engaging and collaborative experiences, we’ll identify and develop best practices to increase student engagement while developing next educator leaders.
Detailed Agenda: You can find the latest agenda here.
Lodging: We have a room block at the Ace Hotel, a 1-minute walk from the Google campus. Please check out the event website for more details on how to book a hotel room.
Meals: We will be providing heavy hors d'oeuvres for the evening cocktail reception with breakfast and lunch for the event. If you have dietary restrictions please indicate in the registration.
Thursday, Dec 12, 2019, 08:30 AM
Google Chicago Office - 320 North Morgan Street , Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60607
Learning About Coding Offline
Would you like to learn more about coding and how to incorporate it into what you already do with learners? There are an abundance of ways to learn about coding online and sometimes reading a print book with physical pages is a preferred alternative to screen time.
Just like unplugged coding, there are also unplugged ways to learn about code. Below are a list of our newer unplugged titles for use by teachers and students.
Click and reserve these titles to be delivered to your building if you are in the GWAEA service area.
Coding Reads: Teachers & Elementary
TEACHERS
Creative coding : lessons and strategies to teach computer science across the 6-8 curriculum 2018
Learning supercharged : digital age strategies and insights from the edtech frontier 2018
No fear coding : computational thinking across the K-5 curriculum 2017
Reinventing project-based learning: your field guide to real-world projects in the digital age 2018
ELEMENTARY
How Coding Works 2017
Sasha Savvy loves to code 2019Coding Reads: Middle Grades & High School
MIDDLE GRADES
Girls who code : spotlight on coding club! 2018
Power coders : a peculiar sequence of events 2019
Secret coders : potions and parameters 2018
HIGH SCHOOL
Cool Careers Without College For People Who Love Coding 2018
Contact teacher librarian, Dianna Geers, with any questions or suggestions. dgeers@gwaea.org 319-399-6754
Save the Dates
Makey Makey Invention Literacy Workshop - January 28, 2020
Designing Connections with the Makey Makey - February 18, 2020
ITEC Learning & Leadership Symposium - March 31- April 1, 2020
Building Bridges - April 2020
About Us
Email: digitallearning@gwaea.org
Website: http://www.dlgwaea.org
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Phone: 319-399-6700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dlgwaea
Twitter: @DLGWAEA