Digital Media for October

Dear all,

In October, our students in grades 2-5 will practice their typing skills using websites such as typing.com and dance mat typing. Please make sure your child practices their typing outside of school at least twice a week for 20-25 minutes. Students in the 4th and 5th grade should be able to type 40 words per minute.

 

 

In addition, we will continue our discussions about digital citizenship and how we can act responsibly using the internet. In the next few weeks, we will discuss topics such as cyberbullying, information privacy, copyrights and internet research. We will be using brain pop, common sense media and the NYC DOE activity book.

Please review the social media guidelines from the NYC DOE for students ages 12 and younger.

In the after school programs, our students are learning computer science by participating in STEM activities. Our students in the Wednesday class participated in an unplugged activity where they had to build structure out of tooth picks and gum drops. The structures had to be as tall as a plastic cup and had to hold the weight of a book. This was a lesson in persistence.

In the Thursday computer science class, the students learned python programming language using codesters.   

In robotics on Friday, the students practiced using the dash and dot robots in the Digital Media Center. The students were introduced to five different applications used for the robots.

 

 

 

 

 

Digital Media for September

Dear families,

Its going to be another fantastic school year in the Digital Media Center. As a school, our goal is to provide students with the technical skills required to be successful in the 21st century.  Our students will learn practical skills such as keyboarding, internet research, word processing, coding and digital storytelling.

For this month, all of our students will learn what it takes to be a digital citizen at the Lower Lab School. We will discuss key topics such as internet safety, cyberbullying and digital drama, privacy and security, information literacy and creative credit. We will use NYC DOE’s recommended curriculum from Commonsense Media and Brain Pop.

For the DOE’s internet and social media guidelines, please visit this page for more information.

If you have further questions, feel free to email me anytime!

Sincerely,

Mr. Goodman

6.15.17

Dear families,

Its been another exciting school year in the Digital Media Center! Our students have learned a variety of skills that can be used for word processing, coding and digital storytelling.

In the 2nd grade, the students have created digital posters of their favorite fairytale using a google docs template. The assignment required students to answer questions about the plot and main characters of their fairytale. In addition, students used google drawing to add text boxes and images to the document.

In the 3rd grade, students shared information about these Chinese culture using a digital bulletin board called Padlet. 

Her’s an example of 3-208 Padlet

 

In the 4th grade, students have completed their digital storytelling unit by creating movies on two colonies. Students learned how to work with visual and audio tracks using wevideo.

In the 5th grade, students used an app called canva to create their own timelines of their life leading up to their graduation from Lower Lab School.

Here’s an example of my own life

Finally, congratulations to the after school computer science classes! In the Thursday class, the students completed their CS-First program and received their certificates.

5.5.17

5th Grade

As a supplement to the Westward Expansion unit, the students in 5-220 and 5-218 created padlet’s that share information about Westward Expansion. The students were organized into small groups based on the following subtopics: The Gold Rush, The Diverse People, Trail of Tears, The Pony Express, The Oregon Trail A, The Oregon Trail B, Lewis & Clark or Transcontinental Railroad. Here’s an example below from 5-218

 

4th Grade

In the 4th grade, students are working on video production using images and sounds from the Colonial period. The students have selected six images of their colonies and imported them to wevideo. From there, students have dragged these images into a video track for editing. Students can also add transitions between images and special effects to improve the quality of their movie.

3rd grade and 2nd grade

 

In the 3rd grade, students have wrapped up their computer science lessons by completing 6 Tynker assignments on google classroom. Tynker is a coding website for students that teaches programming fundamentals such as sequencing, loops, conditionals and debugging.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.9.17

Dear families,

Our students have started their computer science lessons this month. This year, we’re using the Tynker website to teach students coding skills. Tynker is a computer platform that allows students to create apps, games and digital stories.Our students can sign in with their  google accounts to access their Tynker games from home. Students will learn computer science terminology such as algorithms, sequences, loops, conditionals and variables. Please make sure your child brings a set of headphones to class.

Welcome to Tynker from Tynker on Vimeo.

In addition to Tynker, students in the after school computer science classes are using a variety of apps such as code.org, scratch and kodable.

    

Our Thursday group will be starting a new program called Google CS First.In case you’re interested in learning more about Google CS First, check out the video below!

Google – CS-First Introduction Video from Zero Gravity on Vimeo.

1.31.17

Dear families,

Our students are working on some exciting digital media projects this month. These projects integrate curriculum being taught in the classroom with digital tools.

In the 5th grade, students have created trading cards based on famous explorers such Amerigo Vespucci, Vasco Da Gama, Hernan Cortez and France Drake. These trading cards were created using google docs and google drawing. Students submitted their trading cards on google classroom.

In the fourth grade, students have used the internet to research explorers such as Jacques Cartier, Henry Hudson, Giovani De Verrazano and Samuel De Champlain. The teachers have posted resources and projects on their google classrooms.

In addition to internet research, teachers have assigned math lessons on Khan Academy. Students have registered for Khan Academy with their school google accounts. Khan Academy provides learning exercises for students in subjects such as math, science, computer programming and history. Khan Academy is aligned with common core learning standards.

 

 

In the 3rd grade, students have used internet resources such as world book and ducksters to find information on Brazil. As a class project, the students are contributing facts and images of Brazil to their padlet. Padlet is a virtual wall that allows students to express their thoughts on  a common topic. Students can post images, video, documents and text to their padlet.

In the 2nd grade, students have used world book kids and world book student and to find information on famous person they chose in class. These two applications are available when students login to our ps 77 world book url. Our school username is lowerlab and password is student77.

 

The 2nd grade students will  use their research to create  google slide presentations based on their famous person.

 

12.23.16

Dear families,

As we approach the new year, I want to update you on exciting projects that have been completed by our students in the Digital Media Center.

The 2nd graders have completed an assignment on google classroom called Information You Should Know about Me. For this assignment, students learned how create a google doc, add text features, insert images and change alignments. The students typed information about themselves such as their favorite book, school subjects and animals.

Here’s an example of the assignment

In the 3rd grade, our students integrated technology with their research on New Orleans by creating google slides. All of the students presentations were neatly added to a google site created by Mr. Goodman. If you wish to check out the site, click here.

In addition, students learned how to use digital resources such as world book student and ducksters.

                                      

In the 4th grade, students used digital tools such as google classroom, google docs, google slides and internet or print resources to type up research papers on their Native American Tribes. Students also learned how create citations such as the Modern Language Association (MLA).

 

In the 5th grade, students worked in their book  to create digital presentations using Prezi. Prezi is a presentation software that uses motion and zoom technology to bring your ideas to life. In this project, students created their presentations based on their book club books.

Here’s a screen shot of one of the 5th grade Prezi projects. These students created their presentation based on the book “The Red Pencil.”

 

In addition to all the projects, students in the 3rd and 4th grade have used the Khan Academy to practice their math skills.

Here’s a screen shot of the login page. Students can login immediately with their school google accounts.

 

Finally, the students in After School Computer Science completed their Hour of Code this month. The Hour of Code is a national event that takes place during computer science education week. This year, the event took place the week of December 5th to the 11th.

11.4.16

Dear parents,

Its been an exciting time for the students in Digital Media class. In October, our Student learned to sign into their school accounts and enroll into google classroom.

In the 5th grade, students are creating digital presentations for their book clubs using the non linear presentation application called Prezi. Prezi is a cloud based presentation software that allows students to use motion, zoom and spatial relationships to present ideas and themes.

The 4th graders have used digital tools to research the presidential election process and candidates. We’ve selected specific age-appropriate content for the students from sites us Timeforkids, ElectionScholastic and Congressforkids. For a final project, some of the students created short commercials for the candidates. We shot the commercials using an ipad and uploaded the videos to vimeo. The videos were then posted on google classroom.

The 2nd and 3rd graders have practiced their keyboarding skills using Dance Mat Typing and Typing.com. Students can login with google on typing.com.

                 

In addition, students have learned basic chromebook operations such as changing their login picture, adjusting the volume and picture settings. They have learned to browse for information on the internet using google search. In the next few weeks, students will learn google apps such as docs, slides and drawing. In addition, students will learn the function of the cloud based system google drive.

Finally, students in computer science classes have developed projects using coding programs such as code.org ,scratch and Dash & Dot robots.

 

How a student can sign into their school Google Account from home

Tutorial 1- Sign into your school account from Michael Goodman on Vimeo.

What is Digital Citizenship?

Dear Lower Lab families,

Welcome back to school! This is my first digital media blog for the school year. Currently, all of our students are participating in a Digital Citizenship unit. In this unit, our students are learning how to use the internet safely for academic purposes. Some of the topics of discussion will be how to navigate cyberbullying, keep information private, cite a site, create a strong password and use of keywords. We’re using commonsense Media‘s curriculum. In addition, i’ve added a few cyber safety games onto the website links page.