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I totally agree Elaine, I will be working with students around Digital Citizenship also when I return. With their exposure to ICT, it’s vital they know how to stay safe, respectful and ethical online as you have mentioned.
https://classroom.google.com/c/Nzk5MTQ2Njk5MzUy/p/Nzk5MTU5NTM4NTM2/details
Class Code: uz3qpwcw
This was my first opportunity to work with Google Classroom and set an assignment. I love the fact that all the instructions, resources and submissions are all in the one area for both students and teachers. In this Science task, the students were given the opportunity to submit their work by writing, drawing or completing a slideshow. I felt this allowed students to use their creativity and supported different learning styles. By using Google Classroom, I like the opportunities it gives students by encouraging independent learning, engaging in their digital skills and taking responsibility to organise their work in a safe and accessible place.
In terms of assessment, I think the Google Classroom really benefits teachers, students and parents to monitor each student’s progress. I like the options of giving feedback quickly, clear marking and grades, having a learning log for each pupil, ability to differentiate , reflections of tasks and communication with parents.
https://classroom.google.com/c/Nzk5MTQ2Njk5MzUy/a/Nzk5MTU1MDk5Njc5/detail
Class Code: uz3qpwcw
This is the first time I have used Google Classroom and I love the idea of having all the instructions and completed tasks all in one place. This Science Assignment allowed students to choose their method of presentation (written, drawing or slides), it encouraged their creativity and supported different learning styles. I feel using Google Classroom with this age group (4th class) encourages independent learning, opportunity to engage in their digital skills and promotes students to take responsilibity for organising their work in one safe and accessible place.
In terms of assessment, there are huge benefits both for teachers and students in my opinion. The options of being able to provide instant feedback, clear grading, ongoing recording , relections, differentiation and Parental communication allows a thorough approach to assessing each students work.
I totally agree about saving on printing costs. It would really reduce the paper trail that comes with many tasks in the classroom and help students who struggle with organising their work (e.g. students with poor executive functional skills) to have one area to save and allocate their work.
Thank you for sharing your ideas Sean. I also seen the program ‘Be Internet Awesome’ mentioned in another post. I feel it will be very useful with a 4th class group I work with in a SET capacity. Along with the resources from Webwise, this program offers lovely tools to help protect our students online. I look forward to exploring this resource further.
Digital technology can greatly enhance student learning, particularly for pupils with additional needs. In my SET role, I look forward to using the following resource from Google for Education: Create a Mind Map in Google Drawings.
I feel this tool is especially useful for students with low working memory and dyslexia, as it supports visual learning and helps organise their thoughts clearly. I will localise this tool by creating templates linked to curriculum content, using simplified language, visual cues, and step-by-step instructions. Students will use these digital mind maps to revise topics or plan written tasks, helping them better retain and process information.
Applying the School Self Evaluation Guidelines, I will reflect on student outcomes and engagement, using feedback and assessment data to adapt my teaching. At a whole-school level, developing my digital skills supports inclusive practices and promotes a collaborative learning culture. Sharing these strategies will hopefully contribute to staff CPD and improve teaching and learning outcomes across the school.
Describe how you could implement a version of ‘Design your own Dark sky place’ in your school/classroom?
Within groups, I would get the students to research what an area would look like if they designed their own dark sky place in our school or classroom. I would encourage the groups to compile a list of items and design a plan that would assist them in developing this area. Following a survey within the school of the best location, the groups would get the opportunity to add items or suggestions from their original research to develop this area. We have a lovely library space in our school that has sky lights and a telescope already, I think this area would appeal to students in their decision of the best space. I would encourage the groups to educate the whole school through posters, presentations and work with our green schools committee to make students aware of the importance of limiting light pollution and what our beautiful night sky has to offer.
Detail how light pollution is impacting your local area and how you would engage your learners to explore this.
I would start by exploring the children’s understanding of light pollution in our local area. Using videos, pictures and local walks to gain a better understanding of the types of light sources that creates pollution into our system. The children will log their findings by doing a survey of their area and light usage. As we are based in a large town, the children will have many sources of light to experience from street lights, security lights, flood lights, outdoor advertising and buildings. I would examine the difference between a rural area and our town to compare the levels of pollution. I would examine how light pollution has changed through the years in our area, from a small rural area to a large town. I would discuss artificial light awareness with the students and how it creates havoc with our natural body rhythms in humans and animals in our environment. I would make them aware of the overall difficulties it creates for people living in towns and cities to experience the beautiful detail of our night sky.
Plan to observe the moon-which phase of the moon is best for observing in the morning from school? What date will that be in 2024-2025?
To begin our observations, I would get the children’s prior knowledge of the moon and discuss the terms they are already familiar with. Using Paxi’s and Our Moon video -phases and Eclipses I would introduce the topic of the moon having phases and the vocabulary around it. I would discuss the four phases of the moon with the students and ask them to demonstrate these phases using pictures. Using the timeanddate.com website to help us observe and record as accurately as possible. Using the lovely resource by ESERO -the moon observation log to record the different phases. The end of September, the third phase of the moon, appears to be the best time to observe the moon in school. Also, before a new moon, the moon rises early morning and is evident before sunrise which would suit students for their observations. This allows us time to prepare students to examine what they should be observing, vocabulary, recording method and key terms used around the phases of the moon.
I love the idea Katie – Jo of designing posters showing the difference between a healthy, dark environment and one affected by light pollution. The children could display them around the school promoting the importance of our role in reducing this type of pollution.
I chose the topic of incorporating the needs of nocturnal species, especially those that rely on dark skies into school biodiversity plans.
I would begin by introducing and exploring the animals that are most active during the night to the children, like some insects, owls and bats through pictures, stories and videos. I would get the children to design a safe night habitat area with children in the school grounds. With the permission of school management I would set up a camera suitable to record these nocturnal animals in their natural environment. I would discuss how light impacts these animals and encourage the children to be more aware of their use of outdoor lighting at home. I would get the children to list all the advantages of dark skies for nocturnal animals and the importance of our role in providing this safe environment for these animals. I would use the ESERO resources to support the importance of this topic with the children in the classroom.
