Tag: technology

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Keyboarding: A Necessary Life Skill

Are students prepared for the work place if they are not taught keyboarding and simply rely on the good ole hunt-and-peck method?

keyboardingMuch like memorizing multiplication facts to quickly solve mathematical problems, keyboarding is a technological skill that requires fluency and focus in today’s digital world. Students who are fluent with keyboarding are able to focus on their writing rather than spend time hunting for characters on a keyboard.

Some argue there isn’t enough time in the day to work it in or the budget doesn’t allow it. This could very well be the case however, there are good free web-based programs available that if 5 minutes a day were spent using them instead of computer free time spent in games or watching music videos, you would be providing a great service to your students for acquiring a needed life skill in our digital world today.

Check out these free web-based resources and bookmark them in your classroom today!  Make free time, (free)board time.

  • TypingWeb – completely free online typing tutor & keyboarding tutorial for typists of all skill levels. TypingWeb includes entertaining typing games, typing tests, and free official typing certification.
    Perfect for All Ages  –  Lessons for All Skill Levels
  • Keybr.com – very straightforward. You can choose from three basic lessons that start with a certain number of keys on the keyboard, and then, as you progress through the lessons, more keys are introduced to the mix to make things a little tougher. As an added bonus, our software keeps track of all your mistakes and your words–per–minute (wpm) — and even creates graphs of your day–by–day performance
  • Good Typing – Learn how to type correctly in just a few hours using all your fingers. You will soon be typing faster than you ever imagined.
    27 guided lessons to learn step-by-step from the beginning.
  • Ready, Set, Type – Teaches correct finger placement. Displays online keyboard to guide positioning. Three levels.
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    Hour of Code

    The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. Anyone, anywhere can organize an Hour of Code event. One-hour tutorials are available in over 40 languages. No experience needed. Ages 4 to 104.

    1. Is Computer Programming Hard To Learn? (9:14)
    2. Hour of Code Worldwide (2:04)
    3. Star Wars – Hour of Code: Introduction (2:39)

    Let’s Begin

    Global Involvement

    world

    Bowling Green Elementary – registered and on the map!

    bges

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    Elements 4D

    Element Blocks I Made Out of 2×2 Wooden Blocks

    Bring this set of six beautifully designed wooden blocks to life through augmented reality with the Elements 4D app.

    how it workselements

    A whole new way of learning.

     

    Part toy.

    Part chemistry experiment.

    Lesson plans available K-12.

    Download your app today!

    Works best on Android.  Currently there are a few bugs to work out on Apple devices.   🙁

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    Communicate and Collaborate With Tackk

    Tackk is a place to connect with others, be creative and have fun conversations. Engage students, improve collaboration and spark creativity with Tackk.  Students tap into creativity using colors, fonts, patterns, images, video, audio and more.

    This would be a great tool for book talks, science experiments, and geography games like where in the world is…?  This collaborative tool is user friendly. Check it out!

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    Weekend STEM Project

    Alexa is a 5th grade student who enjoys being creative. On Sunday, April 26, 2015, she was inspired to build a parlor for several of her “Littlest Pets” using wood scraps saved from her Gramma’s woodworking projects. Alexa used the following supplies:

    • wood scraps of all different sizes and types
    • wood glue
    • clamps
    • pencil
    • scissors
    • markers
    • scroll saw (with supervision)

    Alexa started by gluing together a platform. She built a small wall for the sides and back before creating and designing her store front. As she grabbed pieces of scraps, you could see the wheels turning in her head. As her Gramma, I decided to take advantage of this opportunity and teach Alexa how to use a scroll saw. She became even more excited because now she could be a little more precise about the pieces she wanted to use. She glued, clamped, and sawed wood until her design finally took shape to what she had painted in her mind. While the main store was drying, Alexa created a road sign for her store and a crib for her smaller “Pets”. She was so proud of her creation and so was I. Her design is far better than what you can buy already built in the stores. 🙂

    I asked Alexa if you she could tell me what the SCIENCE was in her project and she said it was in the structure. TECHNOLOGY was using the scroll saw, ENGINEERING was her putting it all together, and MATH came in to play when she measured and marked pieces of wood that needed cut. Click the images to see the detail in a larger view.  Way to go Alexa!  High Five!