GWAEA Digital Learning Update
to ensure success for all learners - December 2018
EP53: Coding with Corey
The amazing Corey Rogers (@corey_rogers) joins Mindy and Jonathan as they all gear up for this year's Hour Of Code. Learn about Iowa's new Computer Science Standards, and get the resources and ideas you need for a successful Hour of Code event in your school. Also, the weather might be cold, but the tech nuggets are hot! Links for everything we talk about in the show can be found at dlgwaea.org/podcast/53
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 all of you!!
Computer Science Week
- Information about Computer Science Standards: The Iowa State Board of Education adopted voluntary statewide Computer Science standards in June 2018. The standards include five concept areas and seven practices. The standards progression chart and abridged standards document are both good resources for educators.
- Event information (Hour of Code, Iowa Code Camps and more).
- Tons of computer science instructional resources for educators, students, and parents.
Plastic Fabric
This challenge focuses on repurposing plastic bags to create a new textile through the process of fusing. The students from Mid-Prairie Middle School's Innovation Lab class show off their design technique and model their processes in thinking and design objects out of plastic fabric. A BIG thanks to Innovation Lab Teacher, Terra Huber, for allowing us to be a part of this great maker experience! #havefunmaking
Our Resources: Instructables Lesson: Fuse Plastic Bags Into Fabric Our Lesson Plan
There are so many different ways you could interpret this challenge and we'd love to see your take on them! Join our Maker Community by sending us your photos or videos through social media and tag @dlgwaea or #havefunmaking OR send an email to makerspace@gwaea.organd we will post them on in our Online Maker Community on www.dlgwaea.org.
Google Expeditions
An Out of This World Experience!
Virtual reality has opened up a world of new experiences for students. Immerse yourself in adventures that you never thought possible! This class 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. Attendance at this workshop is required to check out the Google Expeditions kit from Grant Wood AEA.
When:
December 10, 2018 9am-3pm
Where:
Grant Wood AEA Northern Facility
4401 6th Street S.W.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Audience
Individual(s) responsible for integrating technology tools into their curriculum; PreK-12 Teachers, Teacher Librarians, Curriculum & Technolgy Directors, Administrators, Tech/Instructional Coaches
More details coming soon about 4Cs Summer Camp! Stay tuned...
#HourOfCode with GWAEA
What is creativity? And what does it have to do with Computer Science? The 2018 Hour of Code is exploring that connection. Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries during Computer Science Education Week December 3 - 9, 2018. 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 get creative!
Take a look at the rest of our blog post from Corey Rogers (@corey_rogers) to get your classroom geared up for Hour of Code!
Is it Accessible? - thoughts from Maggie Pickett
The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) published Navigating the Digital Shift. In this guidance document, SEDTA defines two definitions for access.
- Equity of Access: Access to devices and consistent high-speed broadband access that is essential for the implementation of digital instructional materials (and the preparation of students to participate in a knowledge economy).
- Accessibility for All Students: Making sure the needs of all learners (including those with disabilities) are considered when acquiring, developing and implementing digital instructional materials.
The first definition is often what people are referring to when they consider 1:1 as having 'access'. Both definitions are important for integrated learning opportunities for all students!
Blended and Personalized Learning, UDL, and AEM in a Nutshell
These words and acronyms have been quite the buzz in the education world. The GWAEA Media Center is here to provide more information and resources on all of them and how they fit together as we work to provide successful learning opportunities for all the learners in the Grant Wood AEA service area.
Blended Learning includes a variety of ways that students experience or learn their content. Differentiation of instruction happens naturally in a blended learning environment and takes into account not only student struggles but also their strengths and interests.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a research-based system where all learners will be able to participate in the learning experience. Rather than realizing there is a student need for alternate materials and creating alternate content for that one student, an ideal UDL would have content already designed to meet the needs of diverse abilities and disabilities. “What is essential for some is useful for all” is a phrase often used when discussing UDL...
Resources or gathering various content to use with your learners, Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) will help with personalized learning and UDL.
The GWAEA Media Center is here to support your professional learning around blended learning, UDL, and AEM. Contact Dianna Geers, dgeers@gwaea.org, GWAEA teacher-librarian with questions!
EdCamp Iowa
The premise of the day is that professional development is created by the people who attend that morning, with four sessions throughout the day. Go to a session that interests you, and, if you decide it's not for you, learn with your feet--go to a different session or create a new impromptu session and invite others to join you. There are no hurt feelings; the focus is on providing you with a learning experience that's meaningful for you.
Sessions do not have someone leading them; instead, the proposing person facilitates the session, with everyone participating, learning, and sharing together.
While you're here, you'll meet some very innovative educators. Conversations with everyone are encouraged, as well as growing your PLN on Twitter by following the great people you meet.
EdCamp Iowa
Saturday, Feb 23, 2019, 08:30 AM
Liberty High School, Dubuque Street Northeast, North Liberty, IA, USA
Save the Dates for 2018-2019
Hour of Code - December 3-9, 2018
Iowa 1:1 Institute - April 3, 2019
Ed Camp Iowa - February 23, 2019
Digital Learning Day - February 28, 2019
Building Bridges AT Conference - April 16, 2019
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