Digital Conversion Bytes
Vol. 9 - January 27, 2017
Many iPad Apps are Getting the Job Done at John Ross
Click the images to look at the Trading Cards
The Chromebooks are Making Waves at Cimarron
The story below is by Cara Stephens, 8th grade science teacher at Cimarron Middle School.
Using Canvas to Help Build Relationships with Students and Help Them Become Good Digital Citizens
The story below is by Amy Fine, Gateway to Technology teacher at Heartland Middle School.
I really enjoyed using Canvas's discussion board feature this semester for a graded activity.
In the Gateway to Technology courses, we begin each semester by discussing the many STEM-related careers available to students. As we do this, we encourage students to start thinking about what they can do to plan and prepare for their own future career.
Choose one of the following question sets to answer. Your answer must be a minimum of 3 sentences, must be thoughtful, and must be edited for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
- OPTION 1 What career would you like to pursue one day? How long have you been interested in this career? What makes you interested in this particular career?
- OPTION 2 You don't always know what careers you are interested in at this age. What can you do to learn more about different career opportunities? What kind of skills can you learn now (in addition to what you do during your school day) that might help you in ANY future career?
- OPTION 3 Fifteen years from now, what town would you like to live in and why? What types of hours would you like to work (weekdays 8 to 5, weekends, afternoons and evenings, a changing schedule, etc.)? What is one other thing you hope will be happening in your life in 15 years?
NOTE: You will not be able to see others' replies until you have first submitted your own.
This was a great opportunity for most students to write their first discussion post in a classroom setting, something that is done frequently at the college level. Using Canvas's SpeedGrader, I was able to give quick feedback to students. I was able to make a personal connection with students as I read about their passions and interests. I was able to give them personalized advice or encouragement about their career aspirations, and I was able to suggest writing revisions for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the proper way to write in a classroom setting. It was a great chance to talk to students about the differences between how we might post casually on a social network with friends and how we post formally in a course's online platform.
About the Project
Mission: Empowering all students to succeed in a
changing society.
Vision: Advancing excellence in everything we do!
Digital Conversion, simply put, is about learning and not about technology. The project will provide student mobile devices, digital content (curriculum, including textbooks), professional development, network infrastructure, and a Learning Management System. This project will provide our students with the experience, skills, confidence, and adaptability they will need to succeed in college and in the workforce.
Email: epstechnology@edmondschools.net
Website: http://edmondschools.net/parents-students/digital-conversion/
Location: 1001 W Danforth Rd, Edmond, OK, United States
Phone: (405) 340-2812