TIS and That
Volume 6 , I s s ue 1
Au g u s t 2 5 , 2 0 1 7
Cyber Safety & Digital Lessons…
Contents Cyber Safety Lessons
1
SimpleK12
1
Connected Educators
2
Engaged Families
2
Technology Integration
2
Reading Corner
2
Accommodating Levels
3
Geography Fun!
3
New Tech Standards
3
Upcoming Dates
3
Keyboard Shortcuts
4
Article Contributors: Nicole Morris Romney Elementary School, Romney, WV Mary Aldridge G.W. Middle School, Eleanor, WV Brian Phillips J.M. Buckbee Juvenile Center, Augusta, WV
Now that we are back to school, our students once again become our main focus for the next ten months. As a teacher, I know that means I constantly think about how they can be safe and secure at school and home. It is our responsibility to make sure our students understand how to protect themselves when they are online and to become responsible digital citizens in this “wired world.” According to Common Sense Media’s 2016 report, Technology Addiction, over half of teens feel they are addicted to their mobile devices. This translates into students putting everything online for all to view and not caring or thinking about the consequences. By implementing digital safety and citizenship discussions with students, teachers can promote critical thinking skills and hopefully good decision-
making whenever students are online. One of the free online resources to assist teachers in integrating cyber safety and digital citizenship lessons into the curriculum is Common Sense Media at https://www.commonsense.org. Common Sense Media is an independent, non-profit organization that has prioritized the safe and responsible use of technology. They have created lesson plans, digital games, videos, assessments, and family education materials for all to use. As a teacher, who wouldn’t want half of our work completed by using these provided plans! Use the engaging lessons and links to get a jumpstart on promoting digital safety with your students at the beginning of this school year.
SimpleK12 - Professional Development Website Here we go again - another year looking for professional development opportunities! Well, fret no more as this website allows you to watch and gain credit for professional development any time or anyplace. The company is called SimpleK12 located at http://www.simplek12.com/. They house over 950+ webinars from teachers and expert consultants on various topics along with discussion forums, lesson plans, e-Books, and more, for a cost of $397.00 a year.
a subscription to this service and will provide a username. Next, sign up for a free basic service. This still provides access to on-demand and live webinars, discussions, select ebooks, and more. If you see a webinar you wish to view but it’s not in your free membership, simply purchase the seminar with a click of the button. The average cost appears to be $27.00 per webinar and a certificate of completion is provided.
Now, I know what you’re thinking - I can’t afford that! Well, there are two ways to actually use this site and both are free! First, check with your local county or district technology department. They might already have
Obtaining professional development or even locating a one-stop service can be tricky; however, with SimpleK12 the answer is, well, simple!