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OctoStudio – April Workshop

Create Anytime, Anywhere with OctoStudio – Workshop

Session Description:
Join us for “Create Anytime, Anywhere with OctoStudio,” a Scratch in Practice (SiP) session that explores the creative possibilities of this free mobile coding app developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group (LLK) at the MIT Media Lab, our long-time Scratch Partner. 

OctoStudio enables young people to use mobile phones or tablets to create interactive animations and games by taking photos, recording sounds, and bringing them to life with coding blocks. In this session, we’ll collaborate on projects and discover how OctoStudio empowers young creators to share their stories and games with family and friends anytime, anywhere. Don’t miss this chance to learn and create with us!

Experience Level: Scratch Explorer I  | Brand new or newer to Scratch

Participation Certificate: 1 hour. A certificate of participation will be emailed upon verification of workshop attendance. Educators should follow their district’s policy and procedure for obtaining CEUs for workshop attendance. 

Note: Participants must be 18 years of age or older in order to register and participate in this workshop. 

JULY NEWSLETTER – EDUTECH INSIGHTS #6

This month’s edition of EduTech Insights focuses on AI. The first article is a summary of “20+ ways to use Gemini for Google Workspace in education“. This is followed by a brief review of Salman Khan’s new book “Brave New Words“. The final article looks at Khanmigo AI Teaching Tools. Tools powered by Chat GPT 4 that are designed to help classroom teachers. Best of all they are available free to teachers.

NEWSLETTER #6

June Newsletter – EduTech Insights #5

This months edition of EduTech Insights focuses on the continuation of Google Classroom. This issuse looks closely at rubrics and how best to create them in Google Classroom. I also share a step by step lesson plan designed for Year 3-4 students on how to create their own game using Scratch. I have shared a Google Classroom rubric that goes with this plan, created using Alice Keelers GC Rubric app. Newsletter #5

May Newsletter – EduTech Insights #4

Welcome back, educators! This month, we’re diving deep into Google Classroom, exploring features designed to empower you and your students. We’ll also discuss the importance of digital citizenship education. Newsletter #4

Google Classroom

This edition delves into a range of functionalities to enhance your teaching experience:

  • Guardian Summaries What is included and what choices do parents have.
  • Enhancing Appearance Personalize your Classroom for a more engaging learning environment.
  • Mote: Voice Integration Leverage your voice for personalised feedback through the Mote extension.
  • The New Resources Tab Streamline access to practice sets and video activities, all in one central location.

Cultivating Responsible Citizens

Why fostering responsible digital citizens is paramount. In our second article, we delve into the importance of integrating digital citizenship education into your curriculum. We explore strategies and resources to empower students to navigate the online world safely and ethically.

Martin Hughes Joins Support IT: A Passion for Empowering Educators

We’re thrilled to welcome Martin Hughes to the Support IT team! Martin’s article shares his passion for empowering educators with the technological tools they need to thrive.

April Newsletter EduTech Insights #3

Newsletter #3 The Benefits of a Google Security Score & Minecraft Education Edition – A World of Learning Opportunities.

In this months edition, for the Google Admins, read about how to get your Google Security Score and how to improve it. For teachers, let’s take a deep dive into Minecraft Education Edition. Ideas for introducing MEE into the classroom and extending MEE beyond building with blocks. Lastly, we would like to introduce a new facilitator to our team. Jeremy Ferguson, Google Ed specialist and all round nice guy.