Read & Write Extension in Chrome

This support tool was recently shared with me: add the Read & Write Extension in Chrome to allow students a reading immersive experience on any website. It's great for reading text out loud, understanding unfamiliar words & more. Here's how to add it:

Computer Science -- why? Or, maybe, why not.

• Computer Science is so much more than learning to code. It's about blending computers and other brands of technology with computational and critical thinking. In Computer Science, we're teaching students to think about how to solve problems.

  This is done by decomposing a problem - or, breaking it down into small chunks. Recognizing patterns, similarities or trends. Adding in an amount of abstraction, where we weed out the information we need versus the unnecessary 'stuff' that we don't need. Then, putting it all together to determine the steps or rules - the algorithm.

  Just about every industry on the planet requires applicants to have some form of background in Computer Science.

  For example:

  In Agriculture - farmers look to Computer Science to make their farms more efficient with watering systems, robotic equipment that will harvest fruits and vegetables that take them from plant to table in short periods of time.

  In the shipping industry, Computer Science is seen in programmed robots that sort, scan, package, label and eventually move to ship out the item in record speeds. Think about just how fast it takes to order, then receive the purchased item. Some arrive the same day or overnight. Rarely does it take longer than that. 

  In Architecture, civil engineers are needed to construct computer programs to design bridges, buildings or other infrastructures.

  In businesses from every industry, Computer Science is used in the form of developing tools, designing webpages and software to make organizations more efficient and, in most cases, more profitable.

  In Medicine, Computer Science is used to design medical devices and surgical instruments, and, to even perform surgical procedures with pin-point accuracy that no human can replicate. 

  Biologists use drones and software to track and analyze the migration of animals, food and water supplies and the preservation of rainforests.

  This is all Computer Science. In education, it is intertwined into each and every one of our content areas. We are molding students to fill these jobs. 

  And....Computer Science is an integral part of that process. 

  So, why the study of Computer Science in our classrooms? It might be best to ask - why not.

Online Learning During A Pandemic - I Still Can't Believe My Luck!

I’m an Instructional Technology Teacher at an Elementary STEM Magnet School. The last several months, through this crisis, has been nothing short of extraordinary. The breathtaking speed that we left school, deployed all of our equipment, created videos and learning experiences for our students to help them login and access their classwork online, as well as assisting staff with training and support, has been phenomenal! Many of our staff had never used a learning management system or taught online before this time. And although our students used devices for much of their classwork, they were now thrust into this new world of using their equipment full time for everything from learning new math to communicating in a variety of ways with their teachers and classmates. This all became part of our journey, to get everyone in place, using the tools they needed, to continue the learning, like we’ve never experienced before.

I’m also a graduate student in Learning, Design & Technology at UNC Charlotte, in North Carolina, where I’ve been fortunate to be selected to help a cohort of STEM faculty transition from face-to-face instruction to an online format for both summer sessions. As a team, we’re working directly with faculty to build their mode of delivery that, for many of them, has also been a very new experience. Their challenges, although one would think would be somewhat different from an elementary school teacher’s challenge, surprisingly were very much the same – how do you build a course of study that is enriching, engaging and helps the student achieve their learning goals. This has become our big question mark, one that has required critical thinking to brainstorm solutions – some even while in the mix of things.

This past semester, taking the course Design, Development and Evaluation of Online Learning Systems, where we used QM extensively, had become a constant guide for each step and with many details to pay attention to. Ironically, I was getting real world experience in real time and was fortunate to have the tools and course working hand-in-hand to make this transition possible, with as few bumps along the way. I still can’t believe my luck.

Best Practice: Use Asynchronous & Synchronous Creatively

Best Practice: Use Asynchronous & Synchronous Creatively

As we transition from face-to-face meetings with our students to our new role in an online classroom, our focus shifts to being a coach, a mentor, and a guide for our students. This also means that by combining the proper blend of asynchronous to synchronous teaching and learning, we can best ensure student engagement and achievement. We want to make those interactions manageable and meaningful.

To help with this process, here’s something to consider - try this strategy:

Prior to the synchronous session, have students read and view all necessary content, give students several discussion prompts to consider while they review the material. Have some of the students be responsible for leading a section of the discussion (they can take turns each discussion). This before-hand preparation leads them to read, view, consider, research and prepare for the synchronous interaction happening once or twice a week, as necessary.

Students should prepare for the synchronous interaction by reviewing the module’s contents entirely before the live meeting. When the meeting begins, students are then presented with the problem and as a group begin to solve the problem or defend or refute the facts. They will have probing or targeted questions as their guides.

At the end of these engagements, have an open Q&A session for students to ask other questions and offer discussion prompts for the group. Repeat this process as needed.

**This also becomes another useful way to access student learning and participation.

We call this ‘chunking’…we 'chunk it' into smaller pieces for a more manageable and meaningful interaction with our class.

Here’s a synchronous meeting timeline, as an example:

·      Present problem solving - 10 mins

·      Discussion - targeted questions - 15 mins

·      Q/A - questions from students - 5-10 mins

·      Repeat, as necessary.