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Scratch Day
Coding/Computer ScienceRoboticsSTEM/STEAM

Celebrate Scratch Day and a Decade of Fun, Free Coding

by Susan Meyer
written by Susan Meyer

This month, it’s time to gather together to celebrate your favorite coding language: Scratch! (And if it isn’t already your favorite, you’ll definitely want to read further and discover what you and your students could be gaining from this fantastic, free programming language). Every May, people around the world hold Scratch Day events. These are free events that anyone can join (or even host their own) to learn and share the exciting possibilities with Scratch.

Why Scratch?

The ability to code is quickly becoming a required part of modern digital literacy. When students learn how to code, they are also learning problem-solving strategies and critical thinking, as well as how to creatively communicate their ideas.

Scratch is a great first programming language. It’s completely free to use. It’s also a visual programming language, making it easy to grasp for first time coders. In Scratch, you move and snap together colored blocks to create the code. The organization of these blocks provides instructions to control characters called sprites. Young children can begin to understand the basic principles of coding without having to remember and write out lines of code. They can see immediate results and discover how adjustments in their code can change the resulting outcome. For more information on getting started with Scratch, check out this blog.

Scratch is specifically designed for learners ages 8 to 16. However, it is used and enjoyed by millions of people of all ages. Scratch isn’t just fun for new coders, but more experienced coders, too. As students gain more confidence in their coding skills, they can create more in-depth interactive stories and complex games and bring them to life through animation. They can also collaborate with others and share their creations in an online community. In fact, the Scratch community has over 21 million projects shared. These are great resources for programmers to get ideas, be inspired, and see the incredible range of what can be created using Scratch.

A Quick History of Scratch

I believe that the best way to help people understand the world is to provide them with opportunities to actively explore, experiment, and express themselves. 
–Mitchel Resnick, Creator of Scratch

This year isn’t just any Scratch Day time; it’s also the 10-year anniversary of Scratch. That marks a whole decade of millions of children and adults learning to code in a fresh new way.

Scratch was created by Mitchel Resnick through a group called Lifelong Kindergarten in the MIT Media Lab. The mission of Lifelong Kindergarten is to encourage learning through active discovery. Their philosophy is that people of all ages learn best when they are engaged with designing, creating, and inventing things, a premise that TCEA and all of our members strongly agree with and practice.

Resnick developed the earliest versions of Scratch while working with the students and staff at Computer Clubhouse. This is a network of after-school learning centers where students from low-income communities can use technology to express themselves. The name “Scratch” comes from the idea of collaboration and building off the work of others to create something new. “Scratching” in computer science means to reuse and re-purpose code and share it with others so that they can do the same.

Lifelong Kindergarten continues to grow and improve Scratch to match new technology. The first edition of Scratch was intended for people to download and use on their home computer. Scratch 2.0 allowed coders to design and share their projects directly in their web browsers. Scratch 3.0, which is expected to be released in 2017, will allow students to code on mobile devices and even integrate with Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Get Scratching

Scratch Day is a global network of events that celebrate all things Scratch. There are already over 400 projects planned this year. These events are designed to allow members of the Scratch community to come together in real time to share projects and ideas and learn from each other.

To find a project or event near you, go to the Scratch Day website. You can search by your city, town, or zip code to see what events are nearby. Don’t see an event near you? You can always host your own! The Scratch Day organizers provide resources for how to host a Scratch Day event including a planning checklist, sample agendas, and tips for effective facilitation.

Are you attending or planning to host a Scratch Day event this May? If so, we’d love to hear what you have in store in the comments section below.

 

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maker space
STEM/STEAM

Create Your Makerspace with TCEA at ISTE 2017

by Susan Meyer
written by Susan Meyer

In a makerspace, an empty paper towel roll has the potential to become a musical instrument, a racetrack, a tool, or a building material. It can be a recreation of something that already exists in the world or a new invention that doesn’t yet. Likewise, a line of code on a screen can bring animated characters to life or give instructions to an industrious robot. Makers can sew, bead, adhere, connect, program, engineer, craft, and create. The only limit is the maker’s imagination.

Makerspaces give students the flexibility to problem solve without creative limitations. They provide them a safe space to fail, to learn from setbacks, and to set their own goals and measures for achievement. With this freedom, students can produce some incredible things and feel empowered by their own abilities.

Are you interested in starting a makerspace in your school, classroom, or library, but are not sure where to start? Seeing so many great ideas for makerspaces can make the concept seem exciting and rewarding…but also kind of intimidating. Join TCEA at the ISTE 2017 Conference & Expo to get a crash course in makerspaces. Whether you’re a newbie looking to dip your toe in the makerspace waters or an expert ready to refresh your established makerspace with some new ideas, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

Makerspace Mayhem

On Saturday, June 24, from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, TCEA will be hosting a unique, hands-on makerspace workshop and interactive playground at ISTE 2017. The event is tailored to all experience levels. You’ll learn how you can make a makerspace happen even if you have little storage, a small budget, or low access to tech. Participants will get to experience a variety of maker stations while learning the ins and outs of budgeting, best practices, and getting buy-in from key stakeholders. From no-tech to high-tech, you’ll leave with detailed ideas for creating a number of different maker stations sure to please your students and align to your curriculum.

You’ll also leave with a 40-card reference book that is a ready-to-use teaching resource to implement in your makerspace right away. The reference includes activities and ideas for creating with everything from re-purposed cardboard and low-cost craft materials to robotics and coding tools. This event requires special registration. Register here.

More About ISTE 2017

This year, the ISTE Conference & Expo takes place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio from June 25-28. At ISTE 2017, you’ll find cutting edge best practices and strategies provided by ed tech thought leaders. You’ll learn from innovative educators, key organizations, and the top ed tech companies and discover the newest technology and how to use it to shape teaching and learning.

The annual conference typically attracts over 18,000 attendees and industry representatives, including: teachers, technology coordinators, administrators, library media specialists, and policymakers. As an attendee, you’ll experience inspiring and thought-provoking keynotes, hundreds of sessions in a variety of formats, and a expo hall full of the latest and greatest in ed tech.

Register Now

If you haven’t yet planned your summer professional development, make sure to leave room for ISTE 2017. TCEA members can get a 25 percent discount on ISTE membership if they sign up by May 1. With your ISTE membership, you’ll get discounts on registration for the 2017 ISTE Conference & Expo. Learn more about registering for ISTE 2017 here.

We at TCEA hope to see you in San Antonio this summer with your maker hats on!

 

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school libraries
Digital LiteracyLibraries

School Libraries – More Important Than Ever

by Susan Meyer
written by Susan Meyer

Libraries and the innovative and imaginative librarians who run them are an invaluable part of their schools. They introduce students to a world of wisdom. They enable students to access and understand an incredible wealth of digital and traditional resources. Ultimately, they empower students to become shrewd researchers and knowledge-driven digital citizens.

April is School Library Month, a celebration created by the American Association of School Librarians to promote and appreciate school librarians and the impact they have on students. TCEA is proud to support our librarian members with resources and professional development opportunities all year long. In honor of School Library Month, we wanted to share a little of what makes libraries and librarians so critical to schools.

Significant, Measurable Impact on Student Success

In the nonstop tsunami of global information, librarians provide us with floaties and teach us to swim.
–Linton Weeks

We all know that libraries develop strong readers and writers. But as any librarian will tell you, it’s important to back up your statements with sources. A 2013 study by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) looked into what school libraries contribute to student achievement and the development of 21st century learning skills. What they found wasn’t too surprising. Reading and writing scores are consistently better for students who have a full-time certified librarian at their school over those who don’t. The study also found that these benefits were even greater among minority students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. This suggests that libraries might be one key to closing achievement gaps.

This data isn’t unique to Pennsylvania, of course. In fact, 21 state studies all confirm that the presence of certified librarians in schools leads to a measurable difference in student achievement.

Preparing Students for the Future

Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.
–Ray Bradbury

School libraries pave the way for student success, not only in the PreK-12 environment, but in the rest of their lives. Librarians provide essential skills for college and job readiness. These skills include information retrieval and evaluation, as well as the ability to communicate data. These core competencies will come in handy in most university programs and careers. Additionally, students with effective library programs have higher graduation rates. This is particularly true in schools with vulnerable student populations. 

The digital divide that might stand in the way of students reaching their goals is bridged by access to libraries. School libraries can support digital literacy by providing access to technology and technological instruction. School librarians are also able to provide the space and personalized guidance to play an integral role in helping students achieve the skills they need for future success.

School Libraries Support Classroom Teachers

Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one.
–Neil Gaiman

School libraries don’t just support student populations. They help support teachers, too. They can supply educators with new resources and tools they might not be aware of or otherwise have access to. School librarians also collaborate with classroom teachers to integrate literature and information literacy into the curriculum. By helping students develop a love of reading and a strong command of print and electronic resources, librarians provide teachers with students ready to dive into the curriculum and produce well-researched assignments.

As an example, research shows that students are more effective at learning to read when provided with rotating selections of leveled readers that allow for student selection. While every classroom might not be able to support a rotating selection of leveled readers, a library can. And a librarian can help students find books that may spark their interest. 

If you’re lucky enough to know a librarian, don’t forget to tell them what an awesome job they’re doing–not just this month–but all year long. And if you are a librarian yourself, rest assured that your impact is felt greatly, as you shape the next generation of information-savvy citizens.

 

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live video
Content AreasDigital LiteracyOnline Tools and Apps

Engaging Students with Live Video Feeds

by Susan Meyer
written by Susan Meyer

This spring, a giraffe named April at the Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, New York has captured hearts and minds around the world. Thousands over live video watch her stoically stand and pace in preparation for the end of her 15-month pregnancy and the birth of her fourth calf.

While the world waits with baited breath for April to give birth, I started thinking about the value of live camera feeds. Why are people of all ages so enchanted? There is something incredibly compelling about live video. And therefore, it can be a powerful tool when used in the classroom.

Live feeds usually involve stationary webcams that observe the same place over a period of time. They enable students to experience the world in new ways, allowing them to travel to far-off places and see unique moments in nature. For example, they can observe how animals behave both in zoo environments (when a field trip to the zoo isn’t in the budget) and in their natural habitat.

Sources for Live Video Feeds

Here are some great sources for live camera feeds to bring into your classroom:

  • From nesting bald eagles to fish swimming in kelp forests, Explore.org has a great collection of live webcams. In addition to dozens of cameras that are live at any given time, the site also shows “off hours highlights” so that you can catch up on the best things that occurred on these feeds when they were live. My personal favorite is the live cam of Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park in Alaska. You haven’t seen truly skilled fishing until you’ve watched grizzlies catching salmon swimming up a waterfall.
  • For learning about the solar system and allowing your students to observe planet Earth from above, NASA has you covered. There are live streams from the International Space Station. The station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes. You can watch the Earth’s surface changing below, the sun rising and setting, and even follow the path of the ISS on a map.
  • After watching the Earth from above, students learning about landforms, biomes, and climate can see what is happening at some of the most beautiful places in the country: our national parks. The National Parks Service has a number of live feeds throughout the park system. You can find a listing of all of these feeds here. Where else can you visit the cliffs of Acadia in Maine, watch Old Faithful erupting at Yellowstone, and see mountain goats at Glacier National Park, all without leaving the classroom?
  • EarthCam.com also provides many live feeds at cities and landmarks all over the world. Students can visit the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, and the Washington Monument. Social studies students can travel the globe seeing world landmarks in real time. They can view places that have been inhabited by people for thousands of years and they can witness people interacting with these places.

Curriculum Connections

Here are just a few ideas for how to use live video feeds in the classroom:

  • When teaching a lesson about life cycles, show a nesting eagle (or other bird) and have students check in daily to see how the eggs and chicks are developing. Research the life cycle of the bird being observed and have students make predictions about when they think the next stage will happen (example: when the eggs will hatch, when the chicks will start developing feathers). Have them track their observations in their science journal.
  • To support a lesson on world geography, let students pick a city in the world and share live footage from landmarks in that city. They can see not only the place or landmark, but also the number of people who visit it during the day. They can present their observations from the live feed, along with their research about the place or landmark and why people might want to visit it.
  • When learning about habitats, students can study a live feed of a particular place (such as a coral reef or a rainforest). They can record what plants and animals they see there. They can also take notes on the type of weather that appears. Visiting the feed over the course of several days or weeks, they can notice if the weather changes or the animals that appear are different. Over time, they will develop a well-rounded understanding of that particular place.

These are just a few ideas for how to use live camera feeds in the classroom. Do you have any live video feeds that you particularly like? Or do you have any of your own ideas for how you have used camera feeds in your classroom? If so, please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments.

 

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Submit your proposal for the TCEA Convention & Exposition today!
Announcements/Important Dates

TCEA Convention & Exposition Call for Proposals Is Now Open!

by Susan Meyer
written by Susan Meyer

At the TCEA Convention & Exposition, thousands of educators gather each year to discover the latest tools, tips, best practices, and resources for integrating technology in the classroom and engaging students. They consider our convention a must-attend event year after year because they get to hear from a diverse range of experts on all topics of educational technology. Are you the next expert ready to increase your reach and share your knowledge with an audience of thousands? Whether you’re a Google guru, an ace at Adobe, a STEM specialist, or just a general ed tech expert, we encourage educators from all levels and specialties to submit a proposal.

We’re excited to announce that the call for proposals is now open and will close on May 31. Your proposal will be carefully reviewed by a crack team of TCEA members, and all presenters will receive acceptance or regret notifications by July 2017.

Types of Presentations

Not all presentations are created equal. Choose the type that best suits the content you’re presenting.

Presentation Sessions: The classic 50- or 90-minute presentation with handouts. Successful presenters often share proven strategies from their wealth of personal experience or research projects focused on technology-based instruction. Know that the availability of 90-minute presentations is limited.

PC Hands-on Workshops: These 90-minute, 3-hour, or 6-hour sessions allow participants to get hands-on with the technology. Offering PC computers with internet browsers and WIN OS for all participants, presenters must provide any additional software needed.

BYOD Workshops: These 90-minute, 3-hour, or 6-hour workshops are intended to give attendees hands-on experience with a PC, mobile, or other platform which they provide themselves. Presenters are expected to provide supporting materials.

Panel Presentation: These 3-5 person panels share their expertise on a common theme through discussion and allow attendees to hear multiple viewpoints on a topic. Panels are 50 or 90 minutes in length. TCEA encourages you to create diverse panels featuring experts from a variety of locations, districts, and job titles.

Poster Sessions: These informal sessions are held in an open-area and allow presenters to engage one-on-one or in small groups with interested attendees. Sessions are grouped together by topic (such as STEM or makerspaces). Each presenter is provided with a six-foot table, monitor, and board to which you can attach flyers or supplemental material. Poster sessions last for two hours.

Presentation Topic Strands

To help you narrow the focus of your vast experience, here are the categories to adhere to. Each presentation should align with one of the following strands:

  • 1:1, District Supported Devices, BYOT (Implementation and Management)
  • Leadership and CTO (Advocacy and Educational Policy, Administration, Assessment and Accountability, Funding, Technology Planning and Evaluation)
  • Online and Blended Learning (Global Connections, Virtual Classrooms, Flipped Classrooms)
  • Library Media (Information Literacy, Library Services, and Media Integration)
  • Professional Development (Professional Development Strategies, Models, and Deployment)
  • Pedagogy and Instructional Design (Technology Integration, Best Practices, Strategies, Project- and Problem-Based Learning, Makerspaces, Learning Environments)
  • Special Populations (GT, ELL/Migrant/Bilingual, Special Needs)
  • Technical Support (Infrastructure, Network Services, Software/Hardware, and Informational Technology)
  • Technology Applications and CTE Courses (Coding, Computer Science, BIMM, STEM, STEAM, etc.)

If you’re interested in sharing your expertise with thousands of innovative educators at the TCEA Convention & Exposition, you can learn more about the selection process and things to consider when submitting a proposal here.

Are you ready to take the next step and create a proposal for the TCEA Convention & Exposition?

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Educational TrendsiOS Tips and Tricks

Ultimate TCEA 2017 Ed Tech App Roundup

by Susan Meyer
written by Susan Meyer

Discovering new and exciting ed tech apps was a top priority for many educators attending TCEA 2017. Luckily, there were plenty of fantastic, free resources to choose from, suggested by our experts. Janet Corder and Joan Gore, featured presenters at the convention this year, are pros at technology integration and wielding ed tech apps for student engagement and achievement. At an event called the App Smackdown, Janet and Joan were joined by TCEA Convention Chair Dr. Roland Rios, Vice President of TCEA David Goodwin, and ed tech superstar Heather Kilgore. They shared their favorite app discoveries. Here are a few of the ingenious  apps they highlighted. The best part? They are all free!

Apps for Educators

Educators have a difficult job. However, there are several free apps that can make classroom management and assessment a little easier.

  • Peergrade.io is a web app that makes getting your students to give peer feedback a breeze. Students submit an assignment into the platform. Next, the assignments are removed of identifying details and redistributed. Then, students can provide constructive comments on their peers’ work. The teacher oversees both the assignments and the feedback through the app.
  • Chwazi is an iOS app that provides an easy, fun way to assign students to tasks. Students place their fingers on the screen and the app randomly selects one. Chwazi can also divide your students into randomly selected groups.
  • Quizziz makes creating review materials a breeze! Educators can easily design and play quizzes on any subject on this free iOS app.
  • Recap provides a great way for educators to better assess the needs and interests of their students. This video response reflection app lets students respond to prompts from their teacher and offer their own thoughts and ideas. Recap is available for both iOS and Android.

Apps for Exploration

These apps can help both educators and students find resources they need. They can also help students explore worlds they might not otherwise have access to.

  • Expeditions is a virtual reality field trip. Students can travel to the top of Mount Everest, examine the surface of Mars, or see a chemical reaction firsthand. Through 3D walking tours, they are able to explore on their own or through educator-directed instruction. Teachers can even see what all of their students are experiencing at any given time.
  • Destiny Discover gives you the power to search your library resources in the blink of an eye. With the iOS app installed, just search for a subject on Google. Items on the subject that are in your library’s Destiny catalog or Follett eBook collection will appear above the regular search results.
  • Discovery VR is another free, immersive virtual reality app. This app allows students to explore new places, characters, and ideas from the comfort of their classroom or library.

Apps for Entertainment

Finally, some apps are first and foremost simply fun. However, these can still be great sources for creative curriculum connections or opportunities for brain breaks.

  • Teledoodle is the game of telephone for the digital age. Players take turns drawing and guessing with hilarious results. The game can be played as a pair or small group activity.
  • Fyuse lets users take 3D images with their camera. Just hold down the button as you walk around an object or person to produce a dynamic image. This free app makes your selfies seem to jump right off the screen.
  • Blippar is an augmented reality app. You can take photos or images and add new elements to them. These virtual elements can link to website or videos. In addition to being fun, this offers great opportunities to extend learning.

There is no shortage of mind-blowing ed tech apps and new ones appear every day. The expert panel at App Smackdown at TCEA 2017 each had their favorite app discoveries. Comment below to share your own favorite ed tech apps!

 

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Educational Trends

Five Makerspace Tips from #TCEA17

by Susan Meyer
written by Susan Meyer
Three women building with LEGOs at makespace showcase

Educators at a makerspace showcase at TCEA 2017.

On Tuesday, February 7 at TCEA 2017, attendees met one-on-one with innovative experts to learn great makerspace tips at the Poster Pavilion. Taking place over several days during the convention, the Poster Pavilion sessions allow participants to pick the brains of ed tech specialists on a number of high-interest topics. To give you a little taste of TCEA 2017, we asked several of the presenters at the session for their best makerspace tips and advice. Here’s what they had to say:

 Tip #1 – Start Simple

Amanda Hunt and Michelle Harwood of New Braunfels ISD advised makerspace newbies to not get overwhelmed. It can be easy to be wowed by all the 3D printers, robots, and other fantastic ed tech tools out there. Remember, you don’t need to get all of the expensive technology at once. In fact, they suggest utilizing simple and free to low-cost materials to get started. A makerspace isn’t defined by its technology, but by the creative lessons and ideas you bring to it. Don’t be afraid to start small and build your makerspace over time.

Tip #2 – Invite Teachers to Make

Getting buy in from teachers, principals, and district decision makers is crucial to the success of any makerspace. The presenters at Fort Sam Houston ISD shared a great tip for gaining much-needed support. Before launching their incredibly successful Imaginasium: Elementary Makerspace, they held a full-day open session with teachers. The teachers played, built, and really saw the potential for learning in action. They discovered for themselves the types of ideas and creative energy that would be ignited in their students. Letting adults get in on the fun is a powerful way to encourage everyone to become a makerspace advocate.

Tip #3 – Eyes on the High-Level Prize

Audrey Colwell, a librarian from McKinney ISD, also stressed the importance of getting buy in from principals and teachers. She suggests focusing on the educational benefits. These benefits reach even beyond the potential for curriculum connections. To the untrained eye, a makerspace might look like a glorified playground. The key is to really sell the high-level critical thinking, problem solving, and real-world applications taking place. Then it will be much easier to get everyone on board and excited about the potential to grow the makerspace program.

Tip #4 – No Makerspace Is an Island

Dr. Jennifer Horner Miller is a curriculum designer and learning technology expert. She encourages teachers to write their own simple makerspace lessons. More importantly, she asks educators to share the lessons they create with the larger community. Educators can even nudge students to develop their own makerspace lessons and challenges for a fun enrichment activity. By sharing these tools, makerspaces cease being limited to the resources of a single educator or group of educators in a school or library. Instead, they grow to encompass a much larger community of shared resources.

Tip #5 – Provide Thinking Models

Liz Fleskes is a Director of Early Childhood at Good Shepherd Episcopal School outside of Dallas. Fleskes’s advice is to give student makers the language they need to talk about what they’re doing. In her school’s makerspace, Sparq, they began introducing learning models like de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats and the theory of multiple intelligences. Fleskes says this has helped her students to conceptualize the critical thinking they’re doing. This makes it easier for students to collaborate for greater learning opportunities.

The Power of YOU(r) Makerspace

These are just a few makerspace tips for how to start or expand your own makerspace and make it an effective center for building and learning. Already a makerspace pro? Give your own savvy advice in the comments.

We hope you enjoyed this peek into TCEA 2017. Even if you weren’t able to join us in Austin this year, if you want to learn more about makerspaces, look for our upcoming  TCEA Makers events for a hands-on learning experience. For more updates on the ground at TCEA 2017, make sure to follow us on your social media of choice. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Use #TCEA17 to join the conversation!

 

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