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Integrating Gaming and Simulations Into My Classroom

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One topic that has always fascinated me is space and astronomy. I would use an open-source planetarium software called Stellarium that simulates a realistic night sky to introduce my students to the wonders of the universe. This digital simulation tool allows users to explore celestial objects easily, making it a fantastic educational resource. You can access Stellarium for free from their website  here . I would plan a lesson within my informational writing unit focused on understanding and researching celestial objects. As a summative assessment during our informational writing unit, students write a research page on a celestial object to go in our class book. My goal would be to help foster a sense of curiosity about space and help students identify a celestial object they would be interested in researching. I would begin the lesson by discussing the night sky and asking students if they had ever looked at the stars and what they had seen. This would spark their interest and set t
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Digital Platforms Case Studies - Google Classroom and Remind

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Case Study 1: Google Classroom Overview Google Classroom is a free online platform created by Google for educational organizations. It aims to simplify creating, distributing, and grading assignments. Google Classroom works with other Google services, like Google Docs, Google Drive, and Gmail, providing a unified experience for teachers and students. User Engagement Google Classroom encourages engagement among students, teachers, and parents by providing a single platform for all classroom activities. Students submit assignments, receive feedback, and communicate with their peers and teachers. Teachers post announcements, create and grade assignments, and provide resources. Parents can receive summaries of their child’s activities, keeping them informed about their progress. Influence on Communication Google Classroom changes communication in education by promoting digital communication over traditional methods. Teachers and students interact through comments on assignments and posts,
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AI in Education Final Project Topic and Annotated Bibliography

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 As I started to think about my final project, the topic of AI use in education immediately came to mind as a topic I would want to research. An initial research question was “In what ways can AI tools be used to personalize learning experiences for students with diverse learning needs and preferences? As a 4th grade teacher, I am always looking for ways to enhance creativity and learning for my students. I even had the opportunity this year to pilot MagicSchool AI in my district. This is a fascinating and growing topic that could offer practical and transformative applications for my teaching practices.  Generative AI uses algorithms to create new content such as text and art. It is an emerging technology that shows great promise for its use in education. This topic can engage students’ imagination and creativity by providing tools that for example can help students create stories by providing suggestions for plot and character development. This can increase student engagement in the
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Leveraging Tools, Texts, and Talk in My Teaching

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According to Philip and Garcia (2013) in "The Importance of Still Teaching the iGeneration: New Technologies and the Centrality of Pedagogy," teachers can leverage texts, tools, and talks to create engaging learning spaces that incorporate digital literacies while still maintaining effective teaching methods. With the emergence of new technologies and the increasing use of these technologies in the classroom, discussions surrounding their uses have become even more prevalent among educators. The integration of digital tools and digital literacy in the classroom, especially for younger learners like those in my 4th-grade class, poses both opportunities and tensions. With standardized testing and benchmark assessments shifting to digital platforms, there is a need for a balanced approach to the use of technology. While digital tools offer potential benefits for instruction and assessment, such as immediate feedback and engagement (Hsu & Wang, 2017), there can be an overreli
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How New Literacies are Relevant to Us

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     The recognition of new literacies has significant implications across several industries, especially in education. As a 4th-grade teacher, the impact these emerging literacies are having on my instructional practices is profound. After reading perspectives on digital literacy from ILA (2018) and Misha (2023), I was left with some unexpected takeaways that I will use to help mold and shape my craft as an educator who teaches literacy to the next generation. From the difference between digital fluency and digital literacy to strategies for implementation to perpetuating educational inequities, educators have a lot to dissect when investigating these new literacies.      Misha (2023) defines digital literacy as “the ability to navigate, consume, create and communicate online information appropriately in the digital world” and the word that immediately stands out is “appropriately.” Many students currently attending school have had access to iPads, Chromebooks, laptops, and other elec
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Location: Rochester, NY, USA
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Defining New Literacies and Why They Matter

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     New literacy is a concept that is a part of both my life as a teacher and as a mom. New literacies have been defined as “socially recognized ways of generating, communicating, and negotiating meaningful content through the medium of encoded texts within contexts of participation in Discourses” (Knobel & Lankshear, 2007, p. 24). This definition helps to show why we should be using a wide range of methods to communicate in both educational and family settings. New Literacies Through a Teaching Lens      As a 4th-grade teacher, I can create more inclusive and engaging lessons and activities for my students by incorporating new literacies into our curriculum. I can tailor my instruction to the different learning styles and allow students to express themselves in a way that is meaningful to them using visual, audio, and digital media. Some examples from my classroom include using slide presentations and creating green screen projects where we share our persuasive writing. These use
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Location: 6CXJ+7X Rochester, NY, USA
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