My foray into a digital classroom experience, stemmed from necessity. That's the way these things usually go, isn't it? I had just been hired at my current site as an ELD instructor, and I would have 8 different classes coming to see me each day. It was a complicated schedule that left me with trying to figure out how to manage so many classes. I also had to update my credential — as I had earned my teaching credential in the DARK AGES, and needed to add some certifications. In the process of taking a class online, I was assigned looking at some online resources. IN the process of doing this homework, I saw a blurb about Class Dojo. The rest is history, as they would say.
I had been overwhelmed with trying to keep track of classroom management with 8 different classes, and Class Dojo was the perfect solution. This was in the early days with their own digital experience, and it was pretty much simply a class management app. They have made quite a journey in the last three years, and so have I! We have both come to see the digital experience as one that can really add to the classroom, not just logistically but in the areas of collaboration, community, creativity and even mental health. Their emphasis on building a positive classroom community that supports the learners fits beautifully with my own. I plan to continue to use this app as I have for the past three years. Looking at my classroom and determining "how I am going to incorporate teaching digital literacy" is pretty much what my class is all about. I begin the first project each school year focused on making sure that my students are safe and competent on the internet. Many people tend to focus on cyber bullying and the largest aspects of safety (not giving out personal information), but I am trying to fine-tune these lessons, especially because I teach the same students for four years. I want my program to progress, as they progress. Common Sense Media has the best material I've seen, and I use it in conjunction with Near Pod to build lessons where students look at things like digitally enhanced use in advertisement, and gender roles. Understanding the world of digital media is a new aspect of reading comprehension. Students must be taught how to interpret this new vast world. The other aspect that I consider part of digital literacy involves the how of digital life. I spend a good portion of my early classes — especially with my 2nd and 3rd graders teaching them all about Google docs, slides, sheets, forms, email, etc. I also spend a small portion of each class with my 2nd and 3rd graders teaching them keyboarding — however, I do not simply let them play keyboarding games, but rather teach them correct hand position and help them with drills. I would love for our school to be able to purchase and use Keyboarding without Tears which is a phenomenal program that supports reading skills, while practicing typing. Tragically, it is VERY expensive. For now, I direct them while using Typing Web -- requiring them to work on the lessons — not just play the games. Our school is in a fortunate position, in that we have a credentialed teacher in the computer lab (technology design lab). This is not something most schools have, and computer time become less digital instruction, and more completion of various computer programs/games (FAST Math, Gigi Math, Read180, iRead, etc). I am hoping that our model becomes the norm because asking teachers to add true digital instruction into an already packed schedule is an awful lot to ask.
6 Comments
James
6/18/2017 12:50:49 pm
Jen,
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Jen
6/18/2017 12:54:04 pm
I am a Class Dojo Ambassador and love the growth mindset videos. There are some new awesome features coming out soon!
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Nai Saelee
6/18/2017 04:25:53 pm
Jen,
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Patrick
6/18/2017 10:15:16 pm
I like your observation about the development of ClassDojo. It reminds me the importance of constantly checking back in. I think educational tech is, in a lot of ways, still on the rise. I know Apple cornered the market for a while but there is explosive growth in online, high access, and (sometimes) free programs. I remember seeing Prodigy for the first time a year or two ago and was seriously unimpressed. It did not have nearly enough to it, was too far below my teaching level to be useful to the majority of my students, and overall seemed like a good way to distract students but a weak way to motivate them mathematically. Now I look at it and see all the features they have had added, the content they have built, even to the point of standardized test prep! Not to mention they have improved game elements too! I only found it again because I got an e-mail from them because of my dusty old teacher account! Khan Academy has also blossomed into so much more than it was three years ago. Code.org, Desmos, the list goes on an on and that's just math specific stuff. It makes me feel the urge to go back through some of the old sites I abandoned a few years ago to see how they have updated. Tech in the classroom is a never ending chase!
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6/19/2017 12:50:11 pm
I've been a Dojo account holder for several years. What I've had a hard time with is having Technology to support what I want to bring into my classroom for the 21 century teaching. I'm glad you are having support and ability to bring this way of teaching to our students.:)
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Nancy
6/19/2017 03:56:40 pm
Jen,
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AuthorJen has been teaching school for awhile now. She's learned some stuff, but she's got tons more to learn. Archives
October 2017
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