Bloom into EdTech: The Blog

KINDERGARTEN STEM For this lesson, you will use ABCYa.com's Make a Robot to engineer a robot from the various parts and pieces presented in the game.  Discuss the terms engineer and scientific  statement. Your students will then learn how to print your robot and type a Scientific Statement  (a sentence or two about what their robot can do) using a Word Processor. I suggest printing out their scientific statement and robot and mount on a piece of colored construction paper. And, hey- it's awesome to see the Tech Teacher's student work in the hallway every now and then too! Have your students present their finished project to the class! Resources for your project: ASK A NASA ROBOTIC ENGINEER!  http://robotics.nasa.gov/students/faq.php MORE FROM A ROBOTIC ENGINEER! Assessment: Rubric Vocabulary: STEM, Inventor, Scientific Statement, robot, engineer ISTE Standards 1. Creativity and innovation - Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, ...

With today's implementation of the Common Core, the skill of becoming a proficient typist is more important now than ever. But where do you begin? And at what age? At the beginning of my professional career, I taught preschool children (3 and 4 year olds) computer education in a daycare setting. During that time I had made it a part of their daily learning activity by playing typing games; and practiced word and letter recognition by having the students type sight words and his or her name. Just the simple introductory at that age is very important. However, as they become older, students need more of a "formal" approach to learning the keyboard. I have posted in the past typing exercises and Websites for you to use (click here to check them out). Recently I have introduced Typing Club to my third grade class. Typing Club is a free site that offers a basic version and a school version. While the school version does have a small fee associated with it (that I honestly di...

If you are like me, and have a very limited budget, you may be finding yourself searching for resources that are free or real cheap to enhance your students' learning experience. I have mentioned several typing Web sites on KCL now and want to introduce you to yet another fantastic resource for your technology toolbox! TypingWeb, located at http://www.typingweb.com/ , “ is a free online typing tutor & keyboarding tutorial for typists of all skill levels. TypingWeb includes entertaining typing games, typing tests, and free official typing certification” {Verbiage taken from the Website itself!} I have been using TypingWeb now for three months to teach my 4th graders how to type and instantly feel in love with this program. Aside from being completely free, it houses a teacher portal where you can easily upload classes to help you assess your student’s typing needs. At the end of each lesson, your student’s also have an option to print out a certificate and play games that enhan...

Unit Name: Intro to Typing Grade:  3 Major Topic: Typing- Memorizing the Keyboard Week/Weeks: 7-9 classes NETS for Students : 6. Technology Operations and Concepts   Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students:   a. understand and use technology systems. Materials: Blank Computer Worksheet Blank Computer Test Printable WPM Worksheet Website:  http://www.powertyping.com/qwerty/lessonsq.html Typing PowerPoint Internet Whiteboard and projector Computer Word Processor Refer to  http://www.customtyping.com/tutorials/kb/Correct_fingering.htm for correct finger placements. Motivation: Show Typing PowerPoint and discuss the basics of typing. Activity: Week 1- The main goal of this typing year is to have the students memorize the keyboard! After the introduction of the Typing PowerPoint, have them fill in the left hand home row keys: ASDF onto their blank keyboard.  Have them...

Grade: 1 Major Topic: Fine motor skills, typing Week/Weeks: 1 Class NETS for Students : Basic operations and concepts Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems. Materials: Word Processor such as Microsoft Word, or WordPad. Projector Electronic Whiteboard  First Grade Typing Sight Words PDF Motivation: Display the First Grade Typing Sight Words PDF on a projector on the front of the room. Activity: After you have introduced the keyboard to your first graders, now is the time to practice typing! Demonstrate to the class how to open the word processor of your choice. Teach them how to use the SPACEBAR and the ENTER key to make spaces and line breaks. Have your students type their first names and hit the enter key twice to start on a new line. The First Grade Typing Sight Words PDF has a list of 10 words. Show each one on the electronic whiteboard until eve...

Typing is a very important topic to cover in computer class if a "Keyboarding class" is not provided as a separate unit. It is never to early to introduce the correct finger position. Fourth graders are more than ready to learn how to type without looking at the keyboard. In the past I used a blank sheet of scrap paper and simply taped the top so the students typed under it. What a pain! I would suggest purchasing a Learn to Type Keyboard skin like the one you see here: I have taught computers to students in schools where typing software was not an affordable option. The following lesson provides you an option if typing software is not available, or you would like to try a different approach. Major Topic: Typing- Memorizing the Keyboard Week/Weeks: 6-8 classes NETS for Students: 6. Technology Operations and Concepts   Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students:   a. Understand and use technology systems. Ma...

I firmly believe that typing is a necessary skill set that all children should achieve and think that it is never too early to start. Just how pre-writing and pre-drawing skills develop over time, typing should follow the same course. By second grade your students should begin to learn the correct placement of his hands on the keyboard. I have used the  Dance Mat Typing Web site with my late first grade and second grade students for years. I understand that there are a lot of great typing programs out there-however,  I found this one to be very fun and exciting for the age group. It keeps them involved the entire time! Grades: End of 1st grade- 2nd Grade Class Time: Continuous NETS: 6. Technology Operations and Concepts Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students: a. understand and use technology systems. b. select and use applications effectively and productively. c. troubleshoot systems and applicatio...

Younger children who have just learned their ABC's in order, may have a hard time understanding, let alone memorizing the QWERTY Keyboard. This lesson is a fun way to learn basic keyboarding skills while revisiting the letters of the alphabet. At this age, you only want them to be comfortable at the keyboard- they soon will be proficient typists! For Grades: preschool-first grade Class time: 1 Class NETS Standards "6. Technology Operations and Concepts Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations." Materials: Printable QWERTY Letters (PDF) Keyboard Optional: Electronic Whiteboard and Computer   Procedure: Prep: Print out and place the letters in QWERTY order on the floor in your computer lab. If you have tight space, a hallway would suffice. I would also suggest laminating the QWERTY letters. 1. Discuss the Keyboard while students are sitting at their seats. Point out that the letters are NOT in alphabetical order. I...