TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Oct 16, 2022

Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive

 

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My Media Choices - Common Sense Education

Grades
3 to 5
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This forty-five-minute lesson plan provides activities to guide fourth-grade students in learning about a "What? When? How Much" framework for use in evaluating media sources. An additional...more
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This forty-five-minute lesson plan provides activities to guide fourth-grade students in learning about a "What? When? How Much" framework for use in evaluating media sources. An additional option shares a quick fifteen-minute activity as an alternative to the complete lesson. In addition to the lesson description, resources include a slide presentation, video, student handouts, and take-home resources to share with families. Also available is the correlation to Common Core ELA, CASEL, AASL, and ISTE standards.

tag(s): digital citizenship (89), internet safety (113), media literacy (102)

In the Classroom

Although created for fourth grade, this lesson works well for grades three through five, with possible adaptations for additional grade levels. First, engage students by conducting a poll or survey of the different types of media your students regularly consume. For example, use a simple polling tool such as Kahoot reviewed here, or take a more in-depth survey using Microsoft Forms, reviewed here. Instead of completing worksheets as a paper and pencil activity, convert the worksheets into an interactive document using Google Docs, reviewed here, and assign within Google Classroom. Add questions or comments to the included video using EdPuzzle, reviewed here, to enhance learning. As an extension activity, ask students to share tips for safe media use by creating short videos to share on your class and school's websites. Use Adobe Creative Cloud Express Video Maker, reviewed here, to create engaging videos from scratch or by using the templates provided.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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OK2Ask: Google Drawings in the Classroom - TeachersFirst

Grades
1 to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from August 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Refresh your classroom
...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from August 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Refresh your classroom activities using Google Drawings. Learn to design interactive images, labeling activities, and timelines that engage students and deepen content-area knowledge. These resources can bring additional context to your instruction and be used across content areas and grade levels. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn how to create three types of instructional activities using Google Drawings; 2. Identify ways in which Google Drawings can be used to support instruction; and 3. Create an instructional activity that can be used in class. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): drawing (59), Google (46), professional development (394)

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

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OK2Ask: Blended and Remote Learning with Microsoft Forms - TeachersFirst

Grades
2 to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Microsoft Forms is
...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Microsoft Forms is often overlooked when discussing free tools for blended and remote instruction. Join us for this session and learn to use Forms to personalize instruction, accommodate learner differences, foster independent learning, and implement formative and summative assessments. Come prepared to explore and add this tool to your teaching toolkit. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn the basic functions of Microsoft Forms; 2. Understand how to use Forms to support remote instruction; and 3. Create a form for instructional use or data collection. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): blended learning (16), Formative Assessment (70), Microsoft (84), professional development (394), remote learning (61)

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

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OK2Ask: Fostering Accountability: Media Literacy in the Classroom - TeachersFirst

Grades
1 to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

As digital media increasingly
...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

As digital media increasingly replaces traditional media, students must have the skills to think critically about these new types of texts. Media literacy - the ability to skillfully read and write in a wide range of message forms - allows students to identify themes and issues emerging from popular culture and has related standards that have been incorporated across content areas and grade levels nationwide. Join us to learn more about this information age survival skill. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the importance of teaching media literacy in the classroom; 2. Explore media literacy resources; and 3. Learn to use the five key questions of media literacy when planning lessons. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): media literacy (102), professional development (394)

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

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OK2Ask: Google MANIA - Google Keep in the Classroom - TeachersFirst

Grades
3 to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Take organizing, notetaking,
...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from July 2022. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Take organizing, notetaking, and collaborating to new heights with Google Keep - a tool that is simple, powerful and free. Learn how to maximize student productivity with great features for capturing ideas, collaborating on projects, curating resources, receiving reminders, and taking notes. Learn how to incorporate text, images, audio, and drawings in color-coded virtual sticky notes and checklists and keep your classroom workflow smooth and on task with Google Keep. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn the basics of using Google Keep for organization; 2. Explore strategies for enhancing notetaking and resource curation; and 3. Share ideas for using Google Keep in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): Google (46), organizational skills (90), professional development (394)

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

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Resources related to Source Reliability/Checking Sources - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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As educators, we must teach our students how to make sure the resources they are using are reliable. This collection includes information and resources related to checking sources and...more
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As educators, we must teach our students how to make sure the resources they are using are reliable. This collection includes information and resources related to checking sources and determining if a source is reliable and credible.

tag(s): media literacy (102), Research (83)

In the Classroom

We have included resources for all grades. Remember, our "In the Classroom" suggestions with each reviewed resource, give you ideas about using these tools in your classroom.

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Alison - Mike Feerick

Grades
10 to 12
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Alison is a free learning platform offering courses for education and skills training provided by the world's leading experts. Find courses using the dropdown boxes at the top of the...more
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Alison is a free learning platform offering courses for education and skills training provided by the world's leading experts. Find courses using the dropdown boxes at the top of the site sorted by Explore Diplomas and Certificates and Discover Careers. Under More find Assessments and a Resume Builder among other tools. Browse the home page to find the popular courses and most recent offerings. Complete the free registration to begin. Upon selecting a class, view information on the number of modules, topics, and approximate length. Upon completion, Alison provides a certificate or diploma, depending on the duration of the offerings.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): business (47), careers (139), chinese (44), coding (88), communication (136), engineering (119), french (74), german (48), literature (217), multilingual (66), OER (43), Online Learning (40), politics (112), psychology (67), sociology (22), spanish (105), STEM (262)

In the Classroom

Use Alison to find professional learning courses, learn the basics of a new language, or for personal development. Share Alison with students to learn skills not offered in school or share with ENL/ESL students to use when learning English. Use Alison with student cohorts interested in learning about a new topic or preparing for college-level courses.

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CS Intro - Microsoft

Grades
6 to 12
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CS Intro is a series of three semester-length coding lessons designed to teach developers coding starting from the basics. Lessons begin with the basics of creating games using block...more
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CS Intro is a series of three semester-length coding lessons designed to teach developers coding starting from the basics. Lessons begin with the basics of creating games using block and script programming functions. Use the menu bar on the top left corner to navigate the site. The final course transitions learning from block and script programming to using JavaScript and ends with a final project of developing and building a complete game. Also included on the CS Intro page are beginning and intermediate tutorials for programming skills with TinkerGen's GameGo. Be sure to click the link on the landing page to check out the courses for CS Intro on Flip, reviewed here.

tag(s): coding (88), computers (106), STEM (262), tutorials (51)

In the Classroom

Share these courses and tutorials with students who are interested in computer programming or as part of an after-school programming offering. Encourage students to keep notes to use as they continue along their learning path or as a reflection upon their work using Google Documents or Microsoft Word. Encourage students to include screenshots to annotate as part of their reflective process, one option is to use Awesome Screenshot, reviewed here, to annotate their image, and include links to additional resources used in the coding process. Extend learning with a final project; in addition to students sharing their completed games, ask them to create a series of tutorials for other interested students using FlexClip, reviewed here.

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Education for the Real World - EVERFI

Grades
2 to 12
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EVERFI provides free digital curricula in real-world skills through interactive, game-based lessons. Topics include financial education, STEM and career readiness, social and emotional...more
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EVERFI provides free digital curricula in real-world skills through interactive, game-based lessons. Topics include financial education, STEM and career readiness, social and emotional learning, remote learning, summer learning, and more. Select any topic to view the courses offered with a summary and grade-level suggestions. Each unit is correlated to Common Core Standards and includes features such as videos, games, digital lessons, and teacher guides. Use the teacher dashboard to create classes and enroll students after completing the free registration information. Once registered, use the site's features to assign topics that are available for both online and offline learning.

tag(s): cross cultural understanding (157), financial literacy (92), literacy (107), mental health (34), social and emotional learning (81), STEM (262), Teacher Utilities (146)

In the Classroom

Discover the many free resources on this site to provide individual lessons or complete learning units for your students. As students complete assignments, use the many offerings found at Class Tools, reviewed here, to enhance learning through creating timelines, completing graphic organizers, and more. For activities that include new vocabulary, use a digital game creation site such as Baamboozle, reviewed here, to review and practice new words and terms. Have students show what they know upon completion of any of the activities using Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, to create a collage, poster, flyer, or multimedia presentation sharing their knowledge of the subject.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Microsoft Learn - Microsoft

Grades
8 to 12
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Find free online training for a variety of skills and products, delivered by experts in the field, at Microsoft Learn (formerly Virtual Academy). Choose from the many courses offered...more
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Find free online training for a variety of skills and products, delivered by experts in the field, at Microsoft Learn (formerly Virtual Academy). Choose from the many courses offered for developers, IT pros, and data pros by topic or product. Some options include beginner courses and learning paths for students interested in technology careers. Participate in courses by viewing a series of videos then completing a final course assessment.

tag(s): communication (136), computers (106), Microsoft (84), OER (43), STEM (262)

In the Classroom

Share the Learn site with students interested in learning more about technology and considering careers in computer programming. Have students choose courses of interest to complete on their own as part of a computer technology course. Share with the leader of after-school computer clubs to supplement their current material. You may also be interested in these printable, quick guides on how to use many of the most popular Microsoft products, such as Immersive Reader, Live Captions, and Reading Coach, reviewed here.

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Media Literacy - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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Peruse this curated list to find resources related to media literacy. Media literacy is a set of skills that help people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide ...more
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Peruse this curated list to find resources related to media literacy. Media literacy is a set of skills that help people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and formats. To become media literate, students must learn to raise the right questions about what they are listening to, watching, or reading. Media literacy education is about helping students become competent, critical, and literate in all media forms so that they can appropriately interpret what they see or hear rather than blindly accepting what they are told. This collection of resources includes lesson ideas, activities, and resources for teaching media literacy skills. Be sure also to check out the media literacy professional learning resources.

tag(s): critical thinking (112), cyberbullying (41), digital citizenship (89), evaluating sources (28), internet safety (113), media literacy (102), news (229), primary sources (115), professional development (394), social media (53)

In the Classroom

Today's messages come in many forms and literacy can no longer refer simply to the ability to read and write. Prepare your students to be literate citizens with this collection. Many are ideal for whole-group instruction, while others would work best on individual devices. Read the reviews to find classroom use ideas with each review. Although the list of tools is mainly geared towards grades 4-8, there are a few resources for the primary grades.

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Open Learning Initiative - Carnegie Mellon University

Grades
6 to 12
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Teach or learn through high-quality online courses offered by the Open Learning Initiative. Choose from available courses in a variety of subjects with full course information including...more
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Teach or learn through high-quality online courses offered by the Open Learning Initiative. Choose from available courses in a variety of subjects with full course information including topics covered, estimated completion time, and software required. Classes are free for independent learning; Set up and teach your own course by registering for an instructor account. Instructor accounts allow members to access tools to assess student learning and provide credit for course completion.

tag(s): chinese (44), classroom management (128), design (83), engineering (119), french (74), logic (164), OER (43), Online Learning (40), probability (96), psychology (67), statistics (114), STEM (262)

In the Classroom

Take advantage of content in courses to supplement your current lessons. No registration is required to access and view course information. Share this site with gifted students or students with interests in specific academic areas not covered in your current curriculum. Create a course and offer it to your students for greater interaction and learning through community building. Find great ideas from other existing courses. Teachers of gifted can use courses to challenge students in their areas of interest. You can also have gifted students create or collaborate on a student-made "course." Explore the topics for some new, engaging topics to round out your own expertise. Allow students to enroll in a course that would fit into their career goals as an exploratory opportunity in that field. The Open Learning Initiative would also be perfect for setting up directions and steps for any projects you require students to do for your class. The program will integrate with some learning management systems.

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Smithsonian Learning Lab - The Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access

Grades
4 to 12
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Discover, create, and share digital resources from the Smithsonian Museum, the National Zoo, and nine major research centers with this visually appealing site. Use the search feature...more
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Discover, create, and share digital resources from the Smithsonian Museum, the National Zoo, and nine major research centers with this visually appealing site. Use the search feature to find digital resources including photos, recordings, videos, and text. Sign up to create your own collections, including those found on the site and your own resources. Also, click Discover and use the search bar to find topics already on the site your class is studying like dinosaurs, explorers, black history, volcanoes, etc. Add annotations and develop quizzes. Easily share your creations or curated collections using social networking links provided. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): animals (280), architecture (64), art history (86), aviation (38), black history (123), civil war (134), dinosaurs (39), explorers (64), images (269), inventors and inventions (71), Learning Management Systems (22), oceans (146), scientists (62), shakespeare (93), Teacher Utilities (146), volcanoes (55)

In the Classroom

The Smithsonian Learning Lab is a must-add to your list of classroom bookmarks! Search for collections and information throughout the year on all topics. Add a link to classroom computers for the entire site or specific collections. Be sure to take advantage of the many features of this site to create customized collections, then have students add additional resources. Have students create quizzes for review of topics. Enhance student learning by challenging them to create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here.

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X (formerly Twitter) for Teachers - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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Learn the basics about X (formerly Twitter), the popular microblogging tool, and how it can help you with personalized, immediate professional development and collaboration with other...more
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Learn the basics about X (formerly Twitter), the popular microblogging tool, and how it can help you with personalized, immediate professional development and collaboration with other teachers in other schools. Start the tutorial with Module 1 and learn what X (formerly Twitter) is and why you will want to use it professionally. Next, you'll be taken step-by-step through how to effectively use X (formerly Twitter): setting up an account, following other users, creating a username, picking an avatar, and writing a short bio blurb. Lastly, you will learn about X's (formerly Twitter) search feature. In Module 2, learn about X (formerly Twitter) terms and symbols. Module 3 focuses on students understanding of X (formerly Twitter) and their Digital Footprint or Tatoo; they will learn to use the handy acronym THINK and will discuss the difference between privacy and security. Teachers will get many ideas and information about using X (formerly Twitter) in the classroom. Module 4 has even more suggestions for using X (formerly Twitter) in the classroom with all age groups, X (formerly Twitter) Chats, and lots of resources to connect with on X (formerly Twitter). This tutorial will help you start using X (formerly Twitter)safely for your learning and possibly expand into using X (formerly Twitter) for class connections with other classrooms. You can also earn 1 unit for completing the modules for a professional learning certificate. Best of all - it's FREE!

tag(s): social networking (68), twitter (19)

In the Classroom

There is a wealth of information about X (formerly Twitter) on this site, so you will want to bookmark it in your favorites to return to often. Make this page a must-learn for teaching in the 21st century. Refer this tutorial to other teachers and administrators in your building. Once you finish with module 1 you will have a X (formerly Twitter) account of your own. Follow @teachersfirst, @OK2Ask, and our lead Thinking Teacher @morerukus2, and we will surely welcome you!

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