FTEdTech Kids
1st Quarter 2017-2018
In this edition you will find...
- Cool things spotted around the schools
- Digital citizenship focus: iPads and media use at home - new research findings from Common Sense Media and recommendations from the American Association of Pediatrics
- Try it together: Toontastic 3D - make your own family stories
- Troubleshooting tip: Home Login
Be on the look out in November for information about Hour of Code events that will be happening in December!
Cool Things Spotted Around the Schools
Johnson
5th Grade Designers
1st Grade Art & Fashion, Then & Now
4th Grade Creature Powers
Moyer
Students are Globally Connecting for Global Read Aloud Month in the Library
Check out the video they made to share!
4th Graders are Studying Tempo with Garageband
Woodfill
3rd Graders Demonstrate their Understanding of Geography
1st Graders Take the Lead
Digital Citizenship Focus: iPads and Media Use at Home
While these numbers may seem staggering, another important finding of the study is that children, on average are spending roughly the same amount of time a day with media. The report notes on page 17 that: "Overall, children 8 and under spend an average of about two and-a-quarter hours (2:19) a day with screen media, up from 1:55 in 2013 but almost exactly the same amount they devoted to screens in 2011 (2:16)." The study also found that 67% of parents whose children use screen media say it helps the children in learning."
While there are many fears surrounding the use of screens for younger students, PBS media expert Sara Dewitt, discusses some of those fears and identifies ways that we might harness the potential of the technology in her TED talk inspired by Mr. Rogers. In the talk she discusses how parents and educators can engage students in active ways with technology, how games can be used to teach, and how parents can use technology to connect with their children by talking about what they are viewing and playing.
What can families do to ensure that all students are benefiting from the learning that can occur on these devices? Families may want to consider what the American Association of Pediatrics recommends for children and teens:
- they need 8-12 hours of sleep depending on age
- they need 1 hour of physical activity a day
- should have designated media free times and zones
- should not sleep with devices in their room
- and families could benefit from establishing a Family Media Use Plan
The Family Media Use Plan, in particular, may have a positive impact on the use of school devices at home. It's important to remember that when a device is at home, home rules apply.
In the article "New Healthy Media Habits for Young Kids" Caroline Knorr points out that "as long as you have basic limits, you can focus on choosing quality media and tech to make screen time really count. And with many parents reporting that media use benefits their kids' learning and creativity, the new rules call for co-viewing and co-playing to boost those positive benefits".
The American Association of Pediatrics heavily advocates for co-viewing and co-playing time with kids, and steering them towards high quality programs and apps. This might mean:
- pre-view YouTube videos and then watch them together
- working on a game in Bloxels together
- Direct your children to check out videos on BrainPop
- Create code using PBS ScratchJr
Reading an ebook with your child would be a great way to use the school iPad together. The App Portal has the apps needed for students to use the Campbell County Public Library digital collection, and students can also access nonfiction reading from PebbleGO on their school library collections.
Finally, you might consider taking Will Ferrel's challenge of the "Device Free Dinner". Check out his video below!
Try it Together: Toontastic 3D
The app is really easy to use. Check out the example my 3 year old and I made of "We're Going on a Bear Hunt". He picked all of the characters the scene and helped move them as we recorded.
Troubleshooting Tip: Connecting to the Internet at Home
If students cannot connect to the internet, after you have checked your wifi connection, students should check to make sure they are signed into Home Login. Home Login is what gives them access to navigating online.
For students in K-1, they should log into Home Login with
Username: student
Password: student
For students 2-5, they should log into Home Login with:
Username: ipaduser
Password: ipaduser