Becoming a Better Google User

Dear Parents,
In skills class over the last month or so, we have been working together to become better purveyors of Google, the program that also manages our Drive, where we keep files and information related to school projects. Because so much information is now found online, it is important to understand basic user-defined features such as:

• Using appropriate search terms
• Getting the most out of search tools
• Understanding operator and how Google works

With that in mind, it is also a good idea for our students to apply the skills they have been introduced to, as they work on other projects, and also at home when looking for information. These skills transfer to all aspects of our lives, and should be of great practical help to everyone in your family! Below is a quick recap of these skills; feel free to ask your child for more information or to demonstrate!

• First, safety: Always turn on Safe Search when conducting a Google Image search. On most browsers, this can be found when in the Images section of a Google search screen:

  

  Safe Search is an option on the top right part of an Images screen. Click "Filter Explicit results" to engage. When using image search within the Google Drive application of stmm.me, Safe Search should automatically be engaged.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  • Google is an amazing product that works with its own index of the web. We have watched and discussed this video together - learn more about how Google works here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNHR6IQJGZs
  
  Our next post will talk about search tools and operators that get the most out of our searches, as well as basic search term tips!
  
  Thank you!
  
  
  
  

This Valentine's Day, Fall in Love with Pecha Kucha Presentations!

If you want to get experience in speaking to an audience and sharing information, but without the repetition or inconsistent timing regular presentations can create, please consider Pecha Kucha presentations for class projects! They do not require any new technology..it's just a new way to design the presentation, and our Google Slides program is perfect for this.

Here's the facts: 

Timing: 20 slides that run for 20 seconds each (or whatever your chosen setup happens to be. You can choose for your students to have 10 slides that run for 30 seconds each, or 5 slides at 40 seconds each. The idea is that students are limited in time, and have to decide what is important to share in that time frame. This requires practice and a true understanding of their topic!

Design: Slides have minimal to no text at all - the images should be important and follow the adage, a picture tells 1,000 words.

Impact: Students are drawn to the pictures, but because there is no text, they will actually listen to the student talking! And all presentations are the same length of time, which makes it easier for you to plan your classes around them.

Background: This style of presenting started in Japan, when a group of architects got tired of the same old business presentations. It's caught on and now cities around the world get together to share Pecha Kucha presentations. Universities are catching on and using this format for research conferences, too. It's fun, innovative, and makes the student and listener connect in new ways.

Resources: 

Pecha Kucha in Education - Explanation

Pecha Kucha - Why and How!

Examples of Pecha Kucha presentations created by children

A Pecha Kucha presentation I made for a recent conference at NCSU

New Typing Program for StMM Students

As of the third quarter, our 4-8th graders now have access to an online typing program to help boost their keyboarding skills and give them practice with accuracy and skill building on an individual level. This program is called Typing Tutor and can be accessed here: http://typing.com/tutor.

All students have been given an account. Login information is as follows: 

Username: RenWeb ID#+initials (Example: 12013221ac)

Password: Stmm2014! Students may choose to change their password by clicking on Preferences at the top of their screen.

Use of this program is not required or mandated by StMM in all grades, and is not specifically required by our curriculum, but we understand that many of you would like to see more keyboarding practice, and this is a very easy to use program that can help chart growth and achievement in typing skills. Some grades will choose to utilize this program in school; that will be determined by grade level teachers.

Please view this YouTube tutorial to help you and your child get started with Typing Tutor: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT3jln4Kcb0&feature=youtu.be

If you have any questions or problems logging in, please e-mail teachtech@stmm.net.

God bless!

Start off 2015 Positively with Plagiarism and Copyright Resources!

Our 5th and 6th graders will be learning about plagiarism and copyright throughout the remainder of their year in Skills class with Mrs. Cadran. Some of the resources we will be using are below, in addition to lectures, videos, and other materials:

You Quote It, You Note It! Plagiarism Tutorial
Plagiarism.Org - Especially the Plagiarism 101 section on the 10 Types of plagiarism.
Plagiarism.org's complete set of student materials on the following topics:

• What is Plagiarism?
• Plagiarism Prevention Guidelines for Students
• Types of Plagiarism
• Plagiarism FAQs
• What is Citation
• How to Cite Sources
• Listing References
• Citation Styles
• Important Terms

The Lycoming College Plagiarism Game - Test Your Skills!