Back to School, Back to Technology

Busy Digital Citizens in Grades 3 & 4

Over the past few weeks we have been very busy helping students get reacquainted with their Google accounts.  Third graders have been learning to log in and out of Google, join Google Classroom, and practice their keyboarding and trackpad skills.  Fourth graders have been unenrolling from previous Google Classrooms and enrolling in new ones.  Technology skills, rules and routines are being established and students are getting comfortable using a variety of devices in classrooms.

Our youngest students are off to a great start! Super Digital Citizen Video from Common Sense Media

Technology Essential Question:

What can students do to keep themselves safe when working online?
How can we use technology as a tool for learning?

2016 Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Curriculum Framework 3-5.CAS.a.1, 3-5.CAS.a.3, 3-5.CAS.a.4, 3-5.CAS.b.1

Google for Education

We Are A Google for Education School

For those of you who may be new to the Spofford Pond School community I thought I would take a moment and write a bit about the technology we have available at our school and what it means to be a Google for Education school.
Spofford Pond is fortunate to have the support of many people and organizations that have allowed us to make great advancements in procuring a variety of technical tools for staff and students.  We have equitable access to devices like Chromebooks, tablets, laptops, green screen and virtual reality tools just to name a few.
However, it is important to understand that beyond the hardware we have, the software and apps that we use most frequently are part of the Google for Education G-Suite.
Google for Education provides our staff and students free access to a tremendous amount of technology resources from word processing, to digital drawing, to creating presentations and video.  Our school Google accounts truly allow us to make the most of our devices in a collaborative and creative way.  Chromebooks are a standard tool in the classroom and used daily for enhancing content engagement and innovative projects.
You can read more about Google for Education and the opportunities it provides for teachers and students alike on the Google website.  (link)
Just a List of the Apps We Regularly Use: Google Docs Google Slides Google Drawing Google Sheets Google Forms Blogger GMail (staff) WeVideo Green Screen iMovie Explain Everything Book Creator

Dear Spofford Pond Community,
I am looking forward to a new year of school with a technology twist! Please check this blog often for updates on how we use technology as a tool for learning.
Sincerely,