Skype in the Classroom, E2 Wrap-Up, and STEM Lessons by Microsoft - Wk 34

CN Elementary Teaching Team:

Here are a few highlights from this week:

Week 34 (May 6 – May 10, 2019)

Thursday Giggles:                Where do pencils go on vacation?

Pencil-vania.

If you ever try out any ideas I suggest in my blog, please let me know! I would love to showcase your awesome discoveries here.
Others would love to learn from your experiences. And, you’ll inspire others to try something new.
Email me here: melissaculver@cusd.com. Check out my website: www.melissaculver.com.

PD Dates to save on your calendar:

       Wednesday, May 15 – Chrome Add-ons & Extensions @ Mountain View from 2:30 – 3:30        The above class was canceled. Sorry.
       Technology Bootcamp - June 12 & 13 MORE INFORMATION

Skype and Google Meet in the Classroom. Microsoft EDU recently released a host of lessons that showcase learning in the classroom that includes video conference. Now, you don’t have the ability to go on 20 field trips each year, but you can bring people to you for FREE all year long. And, you can do that with technology. Geologists on a dig, meteorologists at NASA, an author, a web developer, and athlete, you name it. As long as you can make that connection, you can make it happen. Check out this LINK to learn more about utilizing video conference as a teaching and learning tool.

Image credits here.

Guest Speakers. Aren’t sure who to Skype with? Try this PAGE. You can find speakers who are willing to Skype with your classroom. View those profiles and see what topics can drive curiosity.

Image credits here.

Global Innovative Change. Microsoft recently hosted a global event for educators. HERE is a glimpse into what that global event looked like. As I finished up my graduate degree in Teaching and Learning, I realized that the globe (in general) is doing amazing things in education. New Zealand is driving full-force towards Computer Science (CS) integration. Poland, the UK, Israel, and China are all showing great growth as far as Computer Science in the classroom is concerned.  Let’s continue to explore amazing things together. VIDEO LINK HERE.

The Entire E² Wrap-Up. If you are curious about the Microsoft event hosted in Paris, you can find out more HERE. As I continue to talk about a globally-connected tomorrow that is tech-saturated, this is why. Classrooms all over the world are teaching their students to collaborate, connect, and use technology in helpful, meaningful ways. Events like this motivate, inspire, and encourage educators to use technology in their daily teaching practice. As we prepare students for a competitive work environment, the skills they learn in these lessons shape and transform their ability to succeed in the future. Would you like to check it out? Head HERE for more information.

Image credits HERE.

STEM Lessons by Microsoft. Here are some ready-to-go lessons. Yes, it’s no longer Earth Day, but these lessons still teach content that is tech-rich, collaboration-oriented, and science-filled. Even if you don’t use them, it’s nice to see what other classrooms are exploring. Have a go, HERE.

Image credits HERE.

Let’s stay curious together,
Melissa Culver, M.Ed.

Shout-Outs, Tinkercad, Coding, VR, and Grant Money - Wk 33

CN Elementary Teaching Team:

Here are a few highlights from this week:

Week 33 (April 29 – May 3, 2019)

Thursday Giggles:                Why do bees have sticky hair?

Because they use a honeycomb.

If you ever try out any ideas I suggest in my blog, please let me know! I would love to showcase your awesome discoveries here. Others would love to learn from your experiences. And, you’ll inspire others to try something new.
Email me here: melissaculver@cusd.com. Check out my website: www.melissaculver.com.

PD Dates to save on your calendar:

       Wednesday, May 15 – Chrome Add-ons & Extensions @ Mountain View from 2:30 – 3:30
I will attend the Ready Math Webinar at this time. Class was cancelled. Sorry.
       Technology Bootcamp - June 12 & 13 MORE INFORMATION

Shout-out to Shana Blankenship! She used the Google Slides video to showcase student work at Open House. Nicely done, Shana. Thank you for sharing your success story with me.

Shout-out to Elaine Cheney who is introducing her students to 3D printing using Tinkercad! What an awesome opportunity. VIDEO LINK.

File upload tutorial here:

Shout-out to all the teachers who used the YouTube video to print student artwork.

Shout-out to all the teachers who participated in a three-week coding experience using Code.org. It was phenomenal to watch your students write computer code to solve puzzles. And their creativity was fantastic! Some of them were simply curious and wrote more code to answer additional questions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics for the next several years shows that computer programming is a promising field to enter. And some of your students will develop a passion for this field now. Thank you for introducing your students to computer programming. They’ll never forget it.

Shout-out to all the teachers who have participated in VR Training: Muirheid, Silva, Manganiello, Bowns, Panosian, Lewis, Callisch, B. Thomas, Dritz, Mushegan, and Byrom. Most of you have experienced Africa, Asia, and Amazonia. These are awesome places to explore, and your kids were the first to explore this great learning tool!

There are 900 places to explore in the VR headsets. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Grant money. Do you want grant money? Share your ideas with me. I’ll see if I can write a grant for you or your site. It needs to be saturated with tech if I’m going to write it. But, your input would be awesome! I always need people who are willing to say “yes” to grant money. How about a 3D printer? Or programmable robots? If you let me grab data on your learning experience, I’ll try to write the grant.

Let's stay curious,
Melissa Culver