Thinking about Assistive Technology

 

In Computer Science, we talk a lot about how we use our technology to solve many of life's problems. One problem we came up with was making technology accessible to everyone. This led to a conversation about Assistive Technology. Assistive Technology is a term for adaptive and rehabilitative devices designed to help people with disabilities who often might have difficulty performing tasks in their daily lives, even with assistance. 7th-grade teams were given the task of brainstorming and developing a prototype of a tool that could assist someone with disabilities. This task required research, data gathering, and then brainstorming some ideas.

Teams then took their ideas to a Paint or Paint 3D program to begin developing. What is exciting is listening to them develop their ideas, with phrasing like "what if we added ____",  and then piecing together a mock-up of their ideas to try it out for themself. This was a testament to true problem-solving and critical thinking. Teams presented their ideas and prototypes to the class. Easily, some of their imaginative ideas could be further developed and used. 

This....is a great idea for

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:

Virtual Travelers - An Extension of Research!

One of my favorite times of the year is when I get to explore with students new ways to search for information and learn new things. Bring on research using safe search engines and other techy ways to extend that research!

We start by learning how to search for information by doing a Scavenger Hunt of famous places from all over the world. My favorite site for this is Britannica Online - it's easy for Elementary friends to navigate, has wonderful images and videos, it reads articles aloud and translates the website in a variety of languages! 

We are Virtual Travelers - to extend this learning, we'll travel to these places virtually by using  the panoramic views in Google Earth. Loading the app onto a computer or accessing it online or on iPad, students can not only explore the famous place, but can explore the culture, the architecture, discover more about landforms, geography and so much more!

UPDATE: Sadly, Google Expedition has been retired - stay tuned for new and innovative ways to showcase new ways of learning. In the meantime….take a look at what we ‘used-to-do’ - perhaps, it may spark what ‘can-be-done’ now. Happy Travels! 

Google Expedition is also an amazing way to see the world. Using Virtual Reality - we are transported on a field trip to these sites. Using the lead device, it's easy to search for places and via the router, the field trip is then transmitted to the explorer's goggles. The sounds of 'oohhs' and 'aawws' from the students adds to the excitement. Hands down, this is a very cool experience!

This is how we roll - literally and virtually!
 

Good Digital Citizens Cite Their Sources!

Being a good Digital Citizen means students cite their sources when using images and text. We work these requirements into most all of our activities, especially when we get into "Research Season". Below are the minimum requirements to proper source citation per grade. I use color coding when explaining it to students, to make it easier to understand each part of the citation

I like this video by easybib.com - "Citation for Beginners" - it goes step-by-step, discussing why, when, and how to properly cite sources. Easybib.com is also an excellent source to create the proper citation.

Safe Search for Young Ones Who Want to Search!

I get a little nervous when students tell me they have a YouTube account or they Google searched something. We talk about safe searching habits, but my stomach still rumbles for what they may see while 'out-there'.

These are some of my favorite safe search engines for kids - and most are powered by our friends at Google (thank you very much!)  Kiddle and KidRex are both safe search engines.

KidRex has a "Kids" and a "Parents" section. From the random searches for 'dogs', 'rainbows' and others, I've been happy with the top results of my searches.

I'm a bit happier with Kiddle as the results seem to be more 'kid-friendly' - with images, varying reading levels, a wiki section and more. When I surveyed students, they seemed to have been able to find what they were needing more in Kiddle.

Students want to be YouTubers, but you never know what they're going to view when they search for 'that' image. Enter YouTubeKids.  There is a YTKids app for Apple and Android devices and features kid profiles, watch history, blocking options, video reporting and my favorite, a timer option - so parents can set a limit on how much time is spent in the app - nice features.




My list will always include Wonderopolis - which offers so many interesting topics for everyone. I get a 'wonders' email everyday, which makes for a nice reading break during the day. These folks also offer online camps, wonder-jar challenges and more. Big Fan!


Cool videos? The Kid Should See This is the place to go! Videos about science, tech, music, art, dominos, robots - you name it...they have a cool video about it. This is a fun way to give a break during the day and see something cool....very cool!




When you need a word, a rhyme, antonyms or definitions, WordHippo works brilliantly. This site is a fun favorite!

Thanks to these sites for keeping the advertisement kid-friendly as well. Young students need places online that they can turn to for good kid-friendly information and good kid-friendly images, making being a good digital citizen a little easier.

Google Search for Images

https://www.pexels.com/search/flowers/

Searching for the right image is made easy when using the search filters available in Google. I can filter my search results by size of image, by color, by type, by when the picture was taken and by usage rights.

When demonstrating the proper techniques to students, I start by typing 'flowers' in the query box in www.google.com

By clicking on Tools, gives a secondary menu with all those options to further filter the results.

Search by size of the picture - large, medium, icon, with variables refining the size of the image.











Search by color and the results will filter the picture content by that specific color - or choose full color, black & white or transparent

Search by type of picture - a face picture, a photo, clip art, line drawing or an animated image.










Search by the time the image was taken - in the past 24 hours, past week or a customized range.









And then, what I tell the students is the most important filter - by usage. We can search by images we're allowed to use and to use and make modifications. This is also an excellent time to reiterate that no matter the permissions, we always give credit to the photographer. An excellent opportunity to reiterate our Digital Citizenship responsibilities.

https://www.pexels.com/search/flowers/

The results - this image is of medium sized, orange flowers, that were taken in the last 24 hours and have a 'Labeled for reuse' filter.

Thanks to the folks at www.pexels.com for this extraordinary image!

The Kid Should See This....Literally!

Perhaps the coolest website I've seen in awhile...."The Kid Should See This" (http://thekidshouldseethis.com/).  This website shows cool videos for curious minds of all ages, it touts and viewers will not be disappointed!  Whether it's a video about a marble machine that plays music with 2,000 marbles or a video about the largest Rubiks Cube...kids will be amazed!...in fact, so will we all!  I like how you can sort videos by Science, Technology, Space, Music, Art and a whole host of other topics and how often the webpage is updated and kept fresh and edgy!  Hands down, a cool experience!

New Safe Search Tool - Kiddle by Google!

Happy to see yet another Safe Search Engine tool that Students can use to gather information...the safe way!

Kiddle (http://kiddle.co/) is a Safe Search Engine powered by Google.  It offers essentially everything that the Google Search offers - web links, images, news and videos, but entirely buttoned up for Students.

They define their safe search results that the first 3 results being pages written specifically for Kids, the next four results are not specifically for kids but have been tested for kid-friendly content and the pages eight and beyond are pages written for adults but again have been filtered for safe search and more difficult to read and understand.  I also like how you can request word and site blocking - a nice added feature!

Nicely done Google!

Educreations - Always A Great Idea

Educreations (https://www.educreations.com/) is one of those programs that comes to mind with so many uses.  Today, I was talking with Kindergarten Teachers who needed an easy way to display sight words, a picture and a sentence.  Then, they wanted to be able to record their voice for their Students to see and hear during Centers.  To add to their wishlist, they then wanted whatever they created to be placed in a QR code so that the Student only needed to scan the code to view and hear.  The first program that came to mind?  Educreations.  This is a very simple web-based & iPad program, that clouds very nicely.  Sign up is necessary and Student Accounts can be created with no issue.

Essentially, you create a slide with pictures from your device's camera, from an online search or by drawing the image.  Text can also be added easily.  Then, click on the record button and a way you go.  Save & share with the same ease. Once complete, click 'share' & insert the URL into any QR generator.  Nice final product.

Here's one I created about Elephants.  When younger Students go to the Zoo this year, we'll create an Educreation about the animals they see on their trip! Check mine out here: https://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/elephants/8455158/?s=ogurgj&ref=link

Educreations would also work nicely with older Students when they create projects, presentations, etc.  I'm always looking for techy options for my EC & ESL Friends and this would lend itself nicely for their classroom activities.  All the way around, this is a great idea....each and every time!

I'm WILD about Wordsmyth Kids!

My "Digital Tool of the Week" goes to:

Wordsmyth Kids Picture Dictionary (http://kids.wordsmyth.net/wild/)   A dictionary tool with so much 'umph' in detail and precise information...as well as it has a ton of 'whistles & bells'....I'm a big fan already!  Wordsmyth Kids is still in Beta mode, but it looks like a real keeper to me. I like this for all of our Elementary Students, but particularly rate this gem for ESL, EC, Kinder to 2nd/3rd Grade Friends.


The site is separated into three main categories:  World, Book and Collections.

• The World explores places around the globe...communities, people, cultures and more.  Hover over any place and it scaffolds for further meaning and learning.  For example, click on School and then hover over the various areas of the school. Click on the Computer Lab and see all the relevant areas within the Lab. Then hover over a computer to see the parts of the computer, as well as get a definition of each part.
• The Book is a dictionary of words. Hover over any of the words to hear the pronunciation, see all the definitions and proper use examples.  
• And the Collections area breaks into groupings of specific topics.  For example, transportation.  Click on the automobile and discover parts of a car.  Click on another menu to see where you can drive your car and have those areas fully defined. 

The detail of this program is truly amazing!  I'm also quite pleased with the audio and visuals.
Here's an added bonus: With a click, the page can show both English and Spanish labels along with pronunciations or the full page can be converted to translate in Spanish only or English only.  Now that's a nice feature.

Dictionary Fun!
Elana Moore

Proper Citation with a Scan of a Barcode!..... Yes...I'm totally serious!

I have been looking for an easy way for 2nd through 5th Graders to properly cite sources. We have what I like to call "Reasearch Season" in the Tech Lab during cold, yucky months of February and some of March.  Part of this section presents a great opportunity to talk about "giving credit where credit is due"...being a Good Digital Citizen and cite your sources!   Everything I found was really suited more for Middle, High and College level Students...never for Elementary Students.   I wanted an easy-to-look-at and easier to navigate program for them to use.  Then came...."RefME Citations Made Easy" by RefME .  With a swipe of a barcode, on the back of a book or magazine, the citation is captured and can be switched between MLA, APA, and a whole host of other styles. Students can then add pages numbers, line numbers and more. It also creates bibliographies and reference lists. Nice tool. 

This app is Free on iTunes, clouds nicely to other devices and has a web based version as well (https://www.refme.com/#/)  .....and it's going on School iPads as we speak!

Happy Citation!

Elana Moore

Wonderopolis is Wonderful!

 

Well I happened upon a real gem here!  I love it when a webpage, app or resource comes along and it's a 'win-win' for both Staff & Students.  This is one of those wins!

"Wonderopolis" (http://wonderopolis.org/ ) is a website that discovers the 'wonders' in our life.  Features includes "Wonder of the Day", where it talks about very topical things and explains them so well. (Today's edition is about the time change..fascinating!). Then there's "Explore Wonders", so you can take a look at early wonders highlighted on the website.  This was really neat...."What are you wondering?" where you and your class can ask about a 'wonder' and they may highlight it in one of their daily editions.  How cool would that be!

Additionally, each story is a 'read aloud'.  The speed can be quickened or slowed down to fit the level of the Student. As the story is being read, words are highlighted in whatever color suits your fancy, as well as, sentences are also highlighted in a different color of your choice. There is also a vocabulary list that when you highlight it, it gives a definition and more information.  There are also questions that are asked to dig further in the Student's learning and comprehension!

Another great feature....if you like the 'wonder' they are talking about or it fits with a lesson plan, there is an 'embed' code for you to use so that you can add it to your webpage!!!  One other feature I appreciate is that there are no sign-ups and no individual accounts to contend with....thank you very much!!!

I'm happy to say that my K-Friends and up will enjoy this website, especially with the 'read-aloud' feature!  I particularly like it for my ESL Friends!

So if you're 'wondering'...Yes, I'm a huge Wonderopolis fan!

Elana Moore

YouTube Kids!

Breaking News:  Google launched the YouTube Kids app today (literally) and I like it!  No...I love it!  Totally kid-friendly, without all the 'holding-your-breath' moments of anxiety flipping from video to video. And best of all, there are no cringe-worthy ads to pop up!  Thank you Google!  YouTube Kids is a free app for both iOS and Android devices. Time Limits and Search Limits can both be set, which are nice features. With 'Search' turned off, kiddos can still have access to and enjoy the Shows, Music, Learning & Explore Channels....which are jammed packed with good, clean and really-fun entertainment.  I tested many searches and was pleased at the "safe" outcomes.  Activities and videos like KidPresident, Legos, Kiwi Crate with fun science experiments, Art for Kids Hub with 'how to draw' videos make up some of the fun things kids can do in this very kid-friendly environment. 

Here's a look: (http://youtu.be/OUmMAAPX6E8)

YouTube Kids is now on all of our School's iPads and will be used for centers, for extra learning time and for indoor recess.  As well, many of our Staff Members with younger children were very happy to download it on their personal devices.  Again...thank you Google!

Happy about this safe viewing for our young friends!

Elana Moore

A Virtual Field Trip!

I love to start the year off with 2nd & 3rd Graders taking a Virtual Field Trip using....Google Earth!  It is so much fun watching them travel the globe!  We first talk about what it's like to be a Virtual Traveler and then have the Students guess which application would be the best for such an experience.  Their eyes light up when they hear how they'll travel!!  And why not? Google Earth is an awesome tool to use as they set their sights on famous landmarks all over the world, like:  Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Eiffel Tower, Niagara Falls, the Speedway in Daytona, the Statue of Liberty, and throwing on a virtual bikini for a trip to Hawaii! Their list is full of world famous landmarks that I switch out each year for new experiences!

To get the best view of these sites, have the Students change the settings under 'Labels' to make sure they are seeing all the 3D images, by clicking on the arrow next to 'Gallery' and the box next to '3DCities'. Then, challenged them to click on as many of the 3D-balls in their windows for the ultimate 'Field Trip'!  I also encourage them to look at the buildings, people and surroundings....are there similarities or differences from our own lives...and what are they?  Would you want to live or vacation in these places?  And so many more questions that help in this exciting exchange!

This experience is a great starter to learning all about these places and more as they begin 'Research Season' in their Grade level activities! 

Bonus:  Have Students take screen-shots of their favorite places, making sure to cite their sources, as a part of a creative writing experience!

Ideas:

* Use Google Earth for "Holidays Around The World"

* As part of their learning to Research.

* Use as a part of Civic Ed - what are the differences/similarities between the way we live our lives and those that live a world away?

* View ancient ruins

* View planets in outer space!

Happy Traveling!

Elana Moore

In a word....WordHippo!

I love it when a great web-based resource for K-5 Students pops up, is so totally easy to use and displays amazing results!  This was the case with Word Hippo (wordhippo.com).  You can do just about anything relating to words on this site!  There is a Dictionary, Thesaurus, it pulls out Rhymes, uses words in Sentences, Pronounces Words...and for my ESL Friends....Translates Words into and from so many different languages!  When test driving this program, I was also pleased that there were not all those annoying pop-ups and ads to contend with, making it a true safe program for our young Students to work with!

Added bouns:  You can even find out the meaning of Names!  "Elana = A Tree!"...I'll take that!

Ideas:

* Weekly Vocabulary / Spelling lists

* Resource when doing projects

* Have open when reading stories or lessons

* Resource for ESL Friends!

Happy Word-search!
Elana Moore

"Safe Search for Kids by Kids"

 

Kid Rex.org is a safe search engine powered by Google and is a great way for Elementary aged Students to research topics for their projects or any assignment in a safe environment. This will come in handy during "Research Season" at our School!

Happy Safe Search!
Elana Moore