Innovative Teaching with Technology

This last weekend I spent a few hours sharing Scratch with teachers in a technology certificate program. The teachers came from the east metro area districts. Of the 22 people, 7 chose to come learn a little about Scratch. After a very short intro they were off and running. They were generating lots of questions and ideas. I shared the info about the Scratch sessions at the SMM, also.

I just posted a blog post to my Community of Practice about the SCRATCH drop ins...even though we are not a member district, Keith are you okay with me advertising this?

http://techcop0809.blogspot.com/

Molly

I'm excited about my two new SCRATCH project ideas because the relate directly to curriculum that my Edina teachers are teaching.  I'm gaining clarity on how SCRATCH can be used in the classroom and focus on curriculum.  First I thought that SCRATCH would be  more about gaming but now I am starting to see some curriculum integration.

"What are 21st century skills, who’s pushing
them, and what does 21st century teaching look like in practice?

Announcing our Scratch Support Drop-In.....

First Meeting: Thursday, October 30, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Space is limited, please RSVP for this event by calling (651) 221-4563 or emailing sciencehouse@smm.org

Scratch is a multimedia programming software that enables you and your students to design and create your own video games, animations, and interactive stories using its visual programming language. For more information on Scratch visit www.scratchr.org.

I have been introducing my kids to the sprites and the idea of variables. It is exciting to hear them use the terms and understanding what they mean.

I have been invited to share Scratch with a group of teachers taking a course through Hamline this Saturday. This is a new initiative through an E2T2 Grant. I was part of a brainstorming session in August on what things to offer the class. This meeting took place right after we had met, so of course I said Scratch had to be included and they listened. 

Sabrina the info you just sent out will be very helpful to share with these teachers from  the east metro districts on the Thursday classes.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

On Monday, Keith traveled across the river to Edina, MN to help me with my Community of Practice participants that were interested in SCRATCH.  It was really fun to have him in my environment and to meet some of the teachers that are getting more and more excited about SCRATCH.  On Monday I had two teachers that taught grades 3-5 interested in SCRATCH but they had never even seen the program.  After a short intro into what SCRATCH was, there were 4 teachers who were very interested in seeing the program and how they could use it in their classroom.  Keith took these 4 teach

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Read this: Tech literacy to be added to Nation’s Report Card beginning in 2012

The ISTE has developed National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for "for improved teaching and learning by educators."

Download the 2008 NETS ... Just look at that first one: