Digital Learning Day Success!

Today was the first Digital Learning Day, and my class participated by completing a scavenger hunt.  I was very pleased with their results!  I really wasn't sure what to expect, but they really rose to the challenge.  I am listing the results below.  I allowed them to work individually or with partners.  Most of the girls tended to work together while the boys mainly worked along. (Interesting)

I think that I will try another challenge later in the year.  The students responded favorably to the task, and said that it made them feel more comfortable about a number of different computer skills.  We have practiced these skills numerous times, but few had done these tasks so independently.  They had a great time. 

v  Go to http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/ .  Read the Being Smart rules. List the five rules in your Word doc.  (19 students completed without difficulty.  4 did not get it done)

v  Find out the name of Jimmy Carter’s Vice-President.  Put the v-p’s name and the site where you found it into your doc.  (All 23 students found this answer)

v  Go to Sumdog.com.  Play 3 games of Junk Pile.  Capture an image of each game’s score and put them in your doc.  (22 students completed. 1 student only got two of their game scores captured.)

v  Find a website about chemical and physical changes.  Spend at least 5 minutes on the site checking it out.  Then create a QR code for it and insert the QR code into your word doc.  (19 were able to do independently, 4 were not.)

v  Find the name of the 2012 Newbery medal winner.  Put the name of the book into your doc. Include the site where you found it.  (21 found the answer, 2 did not.)

v  Find a book trailer for a children’s book.  Insert the URL into your doc.  (19 were able to complete, 4 were not)

v  Save your word doc into your documents and then submit.  (Everyone completed this step!)

I think something like this would be good for a professional development activity, too!  I think many teachers would surprise themselves at what they would be able to do!  :)

DL Day Scavenger Hunt

As I have mentioned before, the first Digital Learning Day is February 1st.  I have been thinking about what to do with my class, and I have decided that one thing we will definitely do is a Digital Scavenger Hunt.  I have to thank my sister for coming up with the basic idea.  She is a principal at a middle school, and she has decided to create one where each class period, a different task will be announced, and classes will complete the task as they wish. (whole group, partners, individually...)  I liked her idea so much, that I decided to create one for my class.  We are going to take about an hour in the afternoon to do this.  I am hoping  that that will be enough time.

Click on our scavenger hunt if you would like to give it a try!

I am still thinking of a way that students can share with parents.  Right now, I am leaning towards a podcast.  I may also create something online for parents to access.  Any great ideas?

Digital Learning Day

The first Digital Learning Day will be Wednesday, February 1, 2012.  This day is focused on using technology in a way that strengthen's the students' learning experience.  Teachers and school districts are being asked to participate in whatever way best fits the day for them.  It could be as simple as using a new student based website in class that day.

You can learn more about this day and gather ideas to use in your classroom or building by going to the Digital Learning Day website.  I know that digital learning can seem overwhelming to incorporate into the classroom for some, so I like the philosophy that everyone can find something to do to recognize this inevitable change in education.  One of the quotes that I have heard in the last year that really resonated with me and correlates with this day is that "We must teach students for their future, not our past."  It is easy to get caught up in what we learned, or doing things the way we always have...I'm going to take a chance on February 1st and have my class be involved with digital learning in some new way.  Would you like to join me?