Kim Caise's Blog, page 3
December 4, 2017
Instagram/Snapchat Learning Activities
Students are all about their photos today. In the past it was all about Facebook until ‘their parents took it over’. Now their favorite means of sharing their life through photos is Snapchat and Instagram. Snapchat erases the photos after eight seconds so that would not be an ideal channel for sharing like Instagram. I prefer Instagram and wanted to share some ideas for using Instagram and similar social media channels in the classroom.
Selfies – share hobbies and talents with the class especially if students sew or make clothing or apparel of any kind to wear
Recipes – if students are into the culinary arts, students can share their culinary creations via a photo spread
Replicate characters – From historical figures to characters from a novel, have students dress as their character and take pictures to share on Instagram
Reenactment of events – Have students dress as historical figures or figures from a scene from a novel and reenact scenes/events and take photos while doing so
Sequence of events – Students can take photos to show a sequence of events for a math word problem or equation, science experiment, or series of events of in a novel or story. Students can illustrate using paper/pencil or the computer and share their photos on Instagram.
Artwork – Any artwork, sculptures, etc. can be shared and highlighted on Instagram
If you are using Instagram with your students in innovative ways please share them in the comments!
November 27, 2017
TCEA is Hosting a Live Chat with Santa Claus
The Texas Computer Educator Association (TCEA) is hosting a live chat with Santa Claus on December 12th at 9:00am Central Time. The chat will be broadcast through YouTube and will be a fun time for all ages!
Intended for kids of all ages (and adults), Santa’s virtual chat requires no registration and is broadcast through YouTube. You do not have to be a member of TCEA to join in. You can submit questions in advance for Father Christmas to answer using this form or you may also send questions during the live chat. (If you submit them in advance, Santa may call your name during the live event!)
Don’t miss an opportunity to hear one of Santa’s favorite holiday stories read by the man himself, get an update on the latest happenings at the North Pole, and snag the inside scoop on Mrs. Claus and the elves by joining us on December 12! A direct link to chat will be available on this blog on the morning of Tuesday, December 12 starting at 9:00 a.m. Central so that you can test it out. If you are unavailable to attend the live event, a recording of the chat will be available shortly after it ends for your students to enjoy.
We hope you’ll join us for a jolly good time with the North Pole’s most famous resident (and a great TCEA friend!).
Be sure to have your students submit their questions and share only their first name and initial of their last name. Don’t forget to include their school name and district name on their form for Santa Claus to answer!
November 18, 2017
Exciting New Addition to Amazon Prime
For younger readers and those young at heart, If you Give a Mouse a Cookie has joined the hundreds of exciting videos for those who have Amazon Prime memberships.
The characters from the endearing If You Give a Mouse … books spring to animated life in a new Prime-exclusive Amazon Original series aimed at the 4-to-8-year-old set. Mouse and his friends Oliver, Dog, Cat, Pig and Moose manage to turn the simplest undertakings into a fun adventure. (TV-Y)
I don’t know if the terms will allow you to show the video at school legally but you could definitely have you children read the book and then watch the video and talk about any differences. It’s a great way to teach comparing and contrasting early in a simplistic manner. That is just one thing you could do with the book and video combination. Children love the book series by Laura Numeroff and I am sure they will enjoy the video as well. Finish off the video with some cookies and milk and have a fun time this holiday week! Put all of your ideas like the DEN’s SOS strategy 4 C’s for example in a Livebinder to have handy when you read the book in class.
October 17, 2017
Final Countdown to Fall Virt Con 2017
Discovery Education is hosting a free fall virtual conference and all are welcome to attend. The conference is always an exciting learning and will take place this Saturday, October 21st from 9am-3pm.
What is in store for you this Saturday? Lots of learning, lots of fun!
The Fall VirtCon is focused on three simple but important goals: learn, share, connect.
LEARN about resources to enhance instructional practice.
SHARE the world with students through content, programs, and experiences.
CONNECT with your most valuable resource: each other.
This is a great time to attend the conference in your comfy pj’s, earn PD credit, learn how to use great free tools and DE resources all without leaving the comforts of home. If you have never attended before I highly encourage you to pop in and see how much fun PD in your PJ’s with DE can be!
Register here: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/wha...
October 8, 2017
October Live Virtual Field Trips
Discovery Education always has a variety of live events and virtual field trips that are exciting and interesting for K12 students. The next few weeks in October is no different with several engaging virtual field trips! (Descriptions/information taken from the Discovery Education email/website.)
America’s 2017 Top Young Scientist Virtual Field Trip (VFT)
October 17 – 3pm ET
This VFT will showcase the top 10 2017 DE 3M Young Scientist Challenge Finalists present their exceptional discoveries as they compete for $25,000 and the title of “America’s Top Youg Scientist”! This will be an exciting and nerve-wracking time for the finalists in the competition.
Caring for Cows and Nourishing Communities VFT
October 19 – 1pm ET
Old McDonald’s farm got an upgrade and is taking you on a very special VFT to a dairy farm where modern technology is key to making a day in the life of a dairy farmer’s journey possible.
Register here > https://www.eventbrite.com/e/undeniably-dairy-virtual-field-trip-tickets-37060799850?aff=eac2
On the Frontlines of the Opioid Epidemic: Live VFT
October 25 – 1:00pm ET
Introduce your students to the brave teens from Huntington, WV to hear their powerful personal stories. Students will learn how opioids have affected the teens’ lives, how they are using their experiences to improve the city and ways your very own students could make a positive impact in their own communities. Help your students see ways they can become change makers.
Register here > https://www.operationprevention.com/virtual-field-trip?utm_source=DE&utm_medium=Upcoming_Events
Tundra Connections
October 26 – 11am and 1pm ET
Join Discovery Education (DE) and #CelebratewithDE as they return to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada for the annual polar bear migration. DE has teamed up with the Polar Bears International organization since 2010 to bring a series of webcasts to students during the annual migration. Learn more about the extraordinary animals and the careers open to students on the Tundra.
Career Connections: Transforming Passion info Purpose at Facebook
October 31 – 1pm ET
Take a VFT with TGR EDU: Explore to get an exclusive behind the scenes look at innovative careers at Facebook. Get an opportunity to directly from experts in software and infrastructure engineering, product design and data security to learn how work in the classroom can lead to exciting careers that create positive change.
Register here > https://www.eventbrite.com/e/career-connections-transforming-passion-into-purpose-at-facebook-tickets-37242455186
To find out more about Discovery Education’s live events and virtual field trips, please visit this page http://www.discoveryeducation.com/what-we-offer/streaming-plus-digital-media/monthly-themed-resources.cfm#utm_source=Email&utm_medium=October2017&utm_campaign=Usage_Stim
October 1, 2017
Fab@School Opportunity for those in Central Massachussetts
I normally don’t endorse or mention programs or software that are not free on this blog but I have to mention this program from FableVision. I received an email that FableVision will be hosting this event. If you are in Central Mass don’t miss this opportunity!
Join the Fab@School Maker Studio Fall Summit at Central Mass Collaborative
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
11:00am 2:00pm
Central Mass Collaborative (map)
Join the teams from the Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning and Creativity, FableVision Learning, and the Central Mass Collaborative for a Fall FabMaker Summit on Oct. 11, from 11 to 2 p.m.
The free hands-on session, from 10:30-2 p.m. will be held at the Central Mass Collaborative and is limited to 50 participants.
Attendees will enjoy an engaging agenda packed with inspiration, storytelling, and hands-on learning of the Fab@School online software tools and grant opportunities.
Fab@School Maker Studio is an easy-to-use, web-based design and fabrication tool that invites students in grades PreK-8 to experience STEM and STEAM learning in a more engaging, personally meaningful way. This program is a part of the national Fab@School research initiative and is committed to championing equity and access to quality maker education.
With low-cost materials like paper, cardstock or cardboard and a wide range of tools from scissors to inexpensive 2D cutters, 3D printers and laser cutters, students can use Fab@School Maker Studio to design, invent, and build their own geometric constructions and working machines.
Registration is required, please register here.
Fab@School Opportunity for those in Ce tral
I normally don’t endorse or mention programs or software that are not free on this blog but I have to mention this program from FableVision. I received an email that FableVision will be hosting this event. If you are in Central Mass don’t miss this opportunity!
Join the Fab@School Maker Studio Fall Summit at Central Mass Collaborative
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
11:00am 2:00pm
Central Mass Collaborative (map)
Join the teams from the Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning and Creativity, FableVision Learning, and the Central Mass Collaborative for a Fall FabMaker Summit on Oct. 11, from 11 to 2 p.m.
The free hands-on session, from 10:30-2 p.m. will be held at the Central Mass Collaborative and is limited to 50 participants.
Attendees will enjoy an engaging agenda packed with inspiration, storytelling, and hands-on learning of the Fab@School online software tools and grant opportunities.
Fab@School Maker Studio is an easy-to-use, web-based design and fabrication tool that invites students in grades PreK-8 to experience STEM and STEAM learning in a more engaging, personally meaningful way. This program is a part of the national Fab@School research initiative and is committed to championing equity and access to quality maker education.
With low-cost materials like paper, cardstock or cardboard and a wide range of tools from scissors to inexpensive 2D cutters, 3D printers and laser cutters, students can use Fab@School Maker Studio to design, invent, and build their own geometric constructions and working machines.
Registration is required, please register here.
September 10, 2017
Quizeek SAT Prep App
I was recently made aware of a great app for SAT prep called, Quizeek, by Vedant Apte. Vedant is a high school senior and contacted me on my blog about the SAT prep app he created.
My name is Vedant Apte and I am a senior at Dougherty Valley High School located in San Ramon, California. Many students struggle to find quality material to prepare for the SAT, and I myself have experienced this struggle in my journey when taking the SAT. To help
other students get through this stressful time of high school, I created an app called Quizeek. Available for free on the App Store and the Google Play Store, Quizeek provides a plethora of practice questions and a set of realistic practice tests to help students get ready for the SAT. For more information about my app, please watch the short video on Quizeek’s Facebook Page at
https://www.facebook.com/quizeek/.
There are plenty of practice questions and you can purchase in-app tests or use the free in-app practice tests that are timed to simulate a true test session. You don’t need the internet or wifi to use the app once it is has been downloaded to your tablet or mobile device so using the app won’t rack up hugh amounts of data on your mobile phone bill!
The app is described as the following,
An important milestone for high school students is to perform well on the SAT by achieving a competitive score. This app is designed to add an extra edge in your SAT preparation.
The app provides two features. The first is a Q&A database, which provides questions for you to answer and allows you to gain an understanding of the content seen on the SAT. Questions appear randomly and may repeat, but the app is designed in this way to help consolidate your understanding of all the concepts covered on the SAT. You also have the ability to select a Category and Subcategory, allowing you to focus your area of practice.
The second feature provided is a set of realistic practice tests. These are intended to give you an idea of where you stand in your preparation. These tests are available for purchase in the app.
If you or your high school student is preparing for the SAT, I highly recommend they download and use this app to practice for the SAT. I checked it out briefly and found the app to be of high quality and recommend it without reservation.
August 4, 2017
Free State Tuition
Rhode Island just joined the ranks of New York, Tennessee, and Oregon and will be offering free tuition to students attending the Community College of Rhode Island. The Promise Scholarship will cover students attending the college in the fall of 2017 for new students including a $208 fee and all other tuition and fees for students that just graduated high school or obtained a GED in 2017.
This is fantastic that Rhode Island’s legislators allocated $2.8 million to cover the costs associated with funding this scholarship for students attending the college in the fall. In order to keep the scholarship, students will need to maintain a full-time schedule and a GPA of 2.5 or more. Unfortunately, most of the students attending will be ineligible as they attend only part-time or aren’t recent high school grads. Tennessee started funding tuition for recent high school grads in 2015 but will expand that to all adults next year.
In Oregon, the program launched in 2016 and only recent high school grads are eligible. Because of a state budget shortfall, the state was forced to limit eligibility further. Starting this fall, students from high-income families will be excluded.
New York is the only state the funds tuition for public community and four year universities for students whose family’s income is less than $125,000. I hope more states follow suit. What a great opportunity for recent high school grads!
June 22, 2017
Maker Ed/Makerspace Webinar Resources
The resources are resources I shared during the webinar today.
Link to join the webinar: http://bit.ly/kcaisewebinar.
Maker Ed/Makerspace Webinar from Kim Caise
Webinar LiveBinder
Kim’s MakerEd/Makerspace Livebinder
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1587898
