Google Docs and Evernote

All of the junior high (6th-8th grade) students at St. Paul were recently issued email accounts through our Google Apps for Education account.  Parent permission was needed before the accounts were set up.  During class we set up our accounts, discussed password safety, changed our passwords, and learned how to use Google Docs and Evernote.  These programs will enable more collaboration over the Internet and may in the long run cut down on our paper usage.

But an email account is a great responsibility.  We have discussed all year in class how to be good digital citizens and the need to follow the St. Paul Acceptable Use Policy, found on pages 41-46 of the St. Paul handbook.  I look forward to using these exciting programs and preparing my students for a digital future!

Images taken from http://alldailyupdatesandnews.blogspot.com and evernote.com.

Cyberbullying

 Image taken from ua.edu.

When I decided to become the computer teacher last spring, I knew that I had a responsibility to teach students how to become digital citizens.  The technology that students are growing up with today brings with it a new set of issues that parents did not experience in their youth.  I'm talking specifically about cyberbullying.  Students today cannot get away from bullies like they used to--they are followed home from school by way of cell phones, iPads, Facebook, and Twitter.    I will be beginning a series of lessons for all students in grades one through eight about cyberbullying--what it is, what it isn't, what it does, and how to prevent it.  I am using materials adapted from Common Sense Media.  Below are links to .pdf files of the Smart Board lessons I'm using with the students in class.  
Screen Out the Mean--used for first through third grades.
What's Cyberbullying?--used for fourth and fifth grades.
Cyberbullying--used for sixth through eight grades.