Cybersafety for parents

-

CyberSafety for Parents
I really like this link. It targets parents and talks about how keep children/teens safe only. It takes 5 mins so make a coffee and sit and enjoy.
It has been created by the Australian Government for international followers consider that stats in context. Australia’s population is about 25 million.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Digital Literacy and Online Testing: part 1

-
Image
This post considers how to improve performance in NAPLAN ( National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) by ensuring your students have the digital literacy skills to sit an online test. This post considers the year 3 reading test.  In year 3 the writing test is still paper based and the rest are online. From year 5 all tests are online including the writing test that is now typed. This introduces a standardised test that is inadvertently testing digital literacy and the question is...is your school teaching the skills your students need to answer the questions and have a fair go? For the year 3 reading test students need the following skills: navigate numbers to enter their 8 digit ID number enter numbers or text into an answer box click and drag pictures, objects and lines use a trackpad (if you don't have touch screen computers) or mouse turn the timer on and off identify radio buttons for a single choice identify check boxes for multiple choices be able to deselect an in...
Read more

Using On Click - Makey Makey

-
Image
The Makey Makey is a board that replaces the keyboard. It also has mouse functions. If you use the "On Click" function you need to position the mouse over the area on the computer screen you would like to click on. For this project you will need: 2 10x10cm squares of cardboard. Aluminium foil to cover one of the squares. Makey Makey  2 alligator clips USB power cord Sticky tape to attach squares to the floor. They should be taped jumping width apart. Board set-up This project uses the "on click" function to activate an onscreen counter to count the number of jumps. Attach one alligator clip to the on click circle. Attach one alligator clip to the earth. See the steps below to set up the switch. Extension If you need to make the alligator clip longer you can join the clips.  Use tape over the silver connections to make them more secure so the connection is not lost. Screen set-up Open an online counter, this project used  https://coun...
Read more

Micro:bit Firmware

-
Image
Did you know the Micro:bit requires firmware upgrades. Firmware is the operating system for the Micro:bit board. If you are getting unexplained errors when downloading programs it may be that your firmware is out of date. To check what version of firmware you are running there are 2 methods. Method 1 Plug in the Micro:bit to the USB port. Open the Block coding editor  https://makecode.microbit.org/#editor Click on the three dots beside the download button. Click on Pair device When you click on Pair device a window will pop up to prompt you to pair. Click on Pair Device . Then click on the device you want to pair from the list. Click on Connect. If you get this message below, you will need to update your firmware. How to video Under "Update Firmware" it will list the minimum firmware version you will need. Click on Check you firmware version here and update if needed." This will take you to the  support site  published by Micro:bit on how to troubles...
Read more

7 books for use in a unit on Plastic

-
Image
Picture books can be used to enhance a non-fiction unit. These 6 books have applications for units on sustainability and plastic. These picture books open a range of themes and topics that could be expanded on depending on the interests of your students and the inquiry questions to post prior to reading the books. Living things  - impact of human behaviour on ecosystems Sustainability  (general capability) Volume of waste - sustainability of human lifestyles - How do we reduce waste? Material World  - how can materials be used in different ways? What are alternatives to plastics? What is plastic made of? and how is it made? English  - compare and contrast different texts, purpose, audience, method, infographics, pictures, language. Data  - explore facts and figures in the books or that are found online, regarding amounts of plastic, time to decompose infographics. Vocabulary  - degradable, biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, reusable...
Read more

Data Representation

-
Image
Data Representation is mentioned in the primary curriciulum from Foundation to Year 6. In years F-4 it refers to how data can be represented referring to the use of symbols, images, text and numbers. In years 5-6 it is refering to the use of numbers specifically binary and computers use binary to store and transmit information. Data Representation is how data is represented and structured symbolically for storage and communcation by people and digital systems. Information can be transmitted with pictures and images, symbols, text and numbers. These images all represent stop.       National Simultaneous Storytime 2024 Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker is about a bowerbird that collects blue things. Collect some blue things and use them to sort in different ways. This lesson includes: curriculum alignment for all states definitions lesson plan four sorting methods (3 sheets and 1 blank) assessment task The lesson is available  Teachers Pay Teachers   $4 US (abou...
Read more

Beebots and Bluebots

-
Image
How do you use Beebots in the classroom. Beebots and Blue are a wonderful introductory device to teach computational thinking and algorithms. Primarily targeting Age 5-8 these devices do have other applications beyond algorithms. This post will propose some ideas for using Beebots and Bluebots. Once students have mastered how to program beebots teachers often think their use is over but they can be used as a tool for students to demonstrate their understanding of other concepts in other curriculum areas.  As these devices are often sold in lots of 6 schools often only have 1 or 2 sets. This makes it difficult to have a class of 30 completing the same activity. I think this technology is most useful in small groups, many teachers have rotating literacy and numeracy groups where each group completes one task a day. I have included some activities below that would work with small groups or where you have enough devices for one between 2 or 3 students. Mats Students may creat...
Read more

8 books for teaching Algorithms to children

-
Image
There is now a range of books both fiction and non fiction that teach about algorithms and coding concepts. These books can be used individually or in series. Picture Books If I were a wizard by Paul Hamilton Paul is an Australian author that has published a sweet story with Australian bush animals. Each page of the story introduces a coding concept. The back of the book has a brief definition of the concept and how it links to the story. This style of book is useful for teachers wanting to learn more about coding concepts and gives key terms that can be researched to find project ideas and further information. The concepts included in the story include: Repeats and Loops Sequence and Order Algorithms Variables Conditionals Functions Debugging and Patterns Paul's website includes additional resources that can be used in conjunction with the book, apps, augmented reality, games, and lessons.  https://www.wizardcodingbook.com/ This book would be suitable as a story ...
Read more

Coding for Girls

-
Background For those of you new to my blog. I am documenting my latest project "To increase the number of girls coding in my school". This is the second post in the series. I am not sure how long it will go. Here is a link to my first post in the series Exciting news! I have been invited to speak on implementing coding in a primary school at the NSW Association for Independent Schools ICT integrators conference in September, 2014. To be held at Loreto Normanhurst. See you there! First Meeting Last Friday was the first meeting for my new girls code club, I had about 20 students. I invited girls from two year 3 classes and one year 4 class. Each class has about 12 girls, I also mentioned it to some girls who have shown interest in my Tuesday club that is dominated by boys and only attended a few times. Coincidently there were four year 10 girls sitting near us in the library so I invited them to attend also.  So....a fantastic turn out for the initial meeting with...
Read more

Digital Literacy and online testing: part 2

-
Image
This post considers the digital literacy skills required by year 5 students to complete the Numeracy NAPLAN test. Skills for year 5 numeracy navigate numbers to enter their 8 digit ID number enter numbers or text into an answer box click and drag pictures, objects and lines use a trackpad (if you don't have touch screen computers) or mouse turn the timer on and off use the play button to narrate the question show and hide the narration tool mute the narration tool adjust the volume of the narration tool show and hide the ruler use the ruler to perform measurements tilt the ruler identify radio buttons for a single choice identify check boxes for multiple choices use a drop down box and select a response be able to deselect an incorrect choice answer questions with a table or matrix of multiple answers use a zoom tool and turn it off understand the difference between highlight and a selection understand a selected answer is indicated by a double line around a section of screen be ab...
Read more

How do I teach STEM? 5 project ideas

-
Image
STEM, STEAM or STREAM is the latest acronym to hit schools. Schools are spending thousands on resources, rooms and even buildings.  This post will consider what STEM is, what it isn't and propose 5 ideas for teaching STEM. STEM is an acronym that encompasses Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. The acronym was first coined in "2001 by  American biologist Judith Ramaley" ( Britannica ). Prior to this it was referred to as SMET.  STEM is a pedagogy not a subject area. STEM is learning how to teach with a focus on these four areas and this can be done in a low cost way. The best way to spend scarce money is on teacher training and upskilling teachers to improve their pedagogy (ACER, Hattie), rather than expensive rooms staffed by a specialist. If your specialist moves on all the knowledge and skills are lost. The STEM movement began in the early 2000's when it was noticed American students were underperforming in PISA (Program for International Student A...
Read more