COLLABORATIONS: DIGITAL & OTHERWISE - April 2020

COLLABORATIONS: DIGITAL & OTHERWISE

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Friday, March 13th brought the Coronavirus shut down of school buildings across the United States. If you are like us, your school went into Virtual learning and teaching mode. If your colleagues are asking for ideas or you are looking for ways to stay in touch we offer….

Video Communication! Zoom
We’ve participated in school, district and family video conferencing using Zoom. It’s free to Sign up! Once you sign up, schedule a meeting, invite your students, friends or family. So, check in on students once a week, host your weekly/monthly book club, weekly family phone call or just meet with friends!   Many school systems have a contract with a provider such as Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting or WebX. Check with the tech. person at your school for free access, and follow the rules set by your district or state.

Digital Baseball cards?
March 26th was supposed to be Baseball’s Opening Day, but along with everything else it has been postponed. Trading Card Creator is an alternative way for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skill when writing about anything. It even gives a place for sources. Students can create trading cards about Artists, Coders, Scientists, Writers or their favorite Superhero.   Earth Day Staying inside the pace has certainly slowed. And, it has given most of us a real appreciation for Mother Nature. We finally have time to admire the flowers, or the flower buds if you live farther north than we do. I checked out the Official Earth Day website which has articles and information about this year’s celebration. 50 years!

Perhaps notalgia, or restlessness, made me check out the Old Farmer's Almanac. I found out how the date for Earth Day was picked and lots of other fun stuff. Take a look. Try some of these activities https://www.weareteachers.com/meaningful-earth-day-activities/ Pinterest has a good collection of indoor and outdoor Earth Day STEM activities for kids.

82nd International Technology & Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) Annual Conference
We were still able to participate in the conference. Baltimore was a wonderful host city. While at the conference, we saw some really cool things including cyber camps for students, Moon houses of the Future competition as part of NASA’s Centennial Challenges, robot competitions and how students can build their own laptops with a Kano kit and 3-D printer with a Jellybox kit. All information about the conference is posted on the ITEEA website.

Stay Safe, Take Care & Wishing you a Great Spring Break!
Deborah & Lisa