1:1 Tech@OGS - 1:1 Blog

Kids A-Z Reading App

1/20/2016

Students in grades K-2 have been utilizing the Kids A-Z (formerly RAZ Kids) reading app for the reading digital books and comprehension quizzes. The app has under gone updates from the company and has not been performing as it should be. The app no longer functions so we are using the Puffin Web Browser to access the student's accounts and books. Using the Puffin Web Browser still does not allow all the functionality such as Listening to a story, but it still does allow the reading of the books. Below are visual instructions to log into Kids A-Z.

Parent Survey Results

12/30/2015

Before Winter Break, the 1:1 iPad Survey Results were emailed to K-5 Parents. They are posted below if you did not receive a copy or would like to review them again.

Hour of Code

12/14/2015

Last week, students at OGS participated in the Hour of Code. This initiative was launched in 2013 to encourage students as young as kindergarten to learn about computer science, and try their hand at coding.

Using the tutorials found at code.org/learn, students practiced coding through game based activities such as helping Anna and Elsa skate, moving Steve and Alex in the Minecraft world, and many more. You can visit those tutorials at any time from home.

We were also using the Daisy the Dinosaur app to learn how visual programming through the block method. This is a free app that the kindergarteners loved and many of them 'finished' the activities.

Hour of Code

12/4/2015

Next week is the Hour of Code at Oak Grove and everywhere! This is an event to promote computer science and expose students as young as Kindergarten to coding activities. You can visit Hourofcode.com for more details.

Students at Oak Grove will be using technology to practice and complete coding through web based activities as well as apps. There are many free coding programs available to students. Edutopia has a great article about learning to code and how to teach your kids.

Screen TIme Recommendations

10/20/2015

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently published new screen time recommendations. As parents, we are always concerned about how much screen time is healthy, and how much is too much. We realize that having access to technology 24/7 can be too much of a good thing and we try to find balance between being 'consumers' of technology and being 'creators' while using technology. At Oak Grove, we teach students that having a balance in all aspects of our lives, exercise, nutrition, and technology, is what we strive for each day. You can read the whole article here:

Beyond ‘turn it off’: How to advise families on media use

Seeking your input!

10/19/2015

The Oak Grove Tech Team is gathering information about the 1:1 Take Home Program that began this school year. We are asking parents to complete the survey by clicking on this link. We look forward to your input as we implement technology that supports student learning! The survey will close on November 1st. Thanks!

Click HERE to complete the survey or complete it through the form below:

Selfies, Videos, and more!

10/7/2015

Students were given a lesson in appropriate use of the iPad camera this week. We talked about how students must ask before they take any pictures with their iPad. This led to a discussion of iPad storage and how some people don’t like to have their pictures taken when they are not ready. We model how to ask and how to respond when someone say ‘no’ or ‘not today.’

We noted how many pictures and videos that were on our iPads and how many were assigned by the teachers. Many students had a good lesson in deleting as the picture counts were 300+. Deleting some of these pictures proved to be a loooong lesson in following directions for some, but will likely not need to be repeated anytime soon. :)

The lesson was concluded by all the students being encouraged to take group pictures of their teachers for their digital portfolios.

Why do we need to take the iPads Home?

9/29/2015

As we enter our second year of the iPad Initiative, we are expanding our take home to include all students Kindergarten through 5th Grade. The Home-School connection is an important one in all areas of our students' education, including through the use of technology.

Teaching our students as early as kindergarten how to manage their device is an important skill, from caring and charging it, to learning to regulate usage time. These are some of those 21st-century skills that we didn't have to learn while being students, ‘back in the 1900’s’ as my own children say.

We know as parents and teachers, there needs to be a balance between screen time and facetime, digital resources, and sitting down with a book. It is important to teach students that technology can work for them and not consume them. By allowing the devices to go home, we are teaching the students how to have the tool work for them. They can use it for organization, reminders, and in creation. Consistently, teachers are asking their students to "show us" they understand not just "tell us.” The iPad allows students to be the creators of their learning and demonstrate their knowledge.

We hope the iPad arriving home filled with photos and projects will be a conversation starter as much as a great picture that arrives in their folder or a classroom newsletter emailed describing the week’s activities. Adding the iPad as an additional learning tool among the books, pencils, and crayons will create another connection between the classroom and home and allow students another avenue to share their learning.

Tech U@OGS- WED. Sept 16 - Postponed

9/13/2015

Tech U@OGS has been postponed until later in the year. Thank you to all that RSVP'd to the event and submitted questions. We will be following up with those parents through email. If there are any further questions, please email ipadhelp@ogschool.org. Thanks!

Digital Citizenship Lessons

9/10/2015

All Kindergarten through 5th Grade students have been participating in Digital Literacy and Citizenship lessons by Common Sense Media. Kindergarten students drew a mural to show ways that they can keep their iPad safe and be responsible while using technology at home and school.