Museum of Obsolete Objects

The Museum of Obsolete Objects is a YouTube channel that is dedicated to archiving "obsolete" objects from our past, such as the floppy disk, ink quill, and cassette tape, for future generations to see and understand.  I showed this site to the 7th graders last week.  We had a fun time navigating the site and thinking of other objects from the past that belonged in the museum.  What objects in our daily life today will be obsolete in 5 years?  10 years?

Too Much Time Online?

I came across a great article by Mitch Albom this weekend as I was reading the Detroit Free Press--digitally, of course.  It's about how today's youth are spending a lot of time online, which itself isn't a problem.  The problem is that youth aren't using their online time wisely.  Watching endless hours of YouTube videos isn't helping humanity in any way.  I am mindful of this and take it to heart every time I recite our class prayer, which says, "may we use this technology to better serve others, and you (God)."  So how are you using your online time?

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.

iPads in the Classroom

I had the pleasure of attending a two-day conference put on by the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) on October 20-21.  The conference was centered around the use of iPads in the classroom, and how this device is changing the face of education.  You can learn more about what was presented at the conference by clicking here.

This technology is being implemented in a 1:1 ratio (one iPad for every student)  in several cities in Michigan and all over the country.  Perhaps you saw the article in the Detroit Free Press about Zeeland's implementation of an iPad for every high school student.  It is an exciting time to be an educator and tech fanatic! 

We must always remember, though, that the learning comes first.  iPads, iPhones, and other technologies in the classroom are only aids to the real goal: the standards and benchmarks set out by each state regarding what every child should know.  Gifted teachers (like the ones here at St. Paul!) know when to bring in technology to enhance learning, and when the learning is better left to traditional practices like paper-and-pencil work, group projects, or one-on-one discussions.

Technology Etiquette

We've all seen it, and maybe our parents have been the guilty party a time or two: texting while driving, checking email while pushing a child on the swings, or checking his/her phone during a family meal.  I came across this article in Parenting Magazine this week, titled, "Are You Demonstrating Proper Technology Etiquette to Your Kids?"   As someone who is guilty of at least one of the above offenses at least once a week, I found this to be a helpful article. It's about prioritizing family time above all else, something for which we all could use a reminder.  And as we all know, children learn what they live.  How do we expect our children to be able to balance life in a digital society if we don't model that behavior for them? 

Class Prayer

Miss Curtin was a beloved teacher at St. Paul.  What many students might remember best about her was the prayer she recited with the children at the beginning of each class.  I wanted to continue the tradition of beginning our computer class with prayer, but composed my own, simple prayer to recite.

Gracious God,
Thank you for this time, this place, and these friends.
Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in the completion of my work today.
May we use this technology to better serve one another, and You.
Amen

What kinds of things would you include if you wrote your own prayer for computer class?  Should we add anything?  Remove anything?  We'll talk about it this week in class.