Elementary students made new some connections as part of the national Digital Learning Day.
To celebrate the February 5 national event, UCS Media Specialists joined forces to create meaningful ways for students to communicate and collaborate through the use of tools such as KidBlog, video conferencing and poll taking.
"I do feel that UCS does a great job in making every day digital learning day," said Crissman Elementary Media Center Teacher Courtney Conley. "Students have access to great technology and the level of digital learning continues to grow each day in Utica Schools."
Aross the district, students used Web 2.0 tools to create blogs that were moderated by media center teachers. Students used the blogs to share opinions with their peers at other schools.
Fourth grader Stuart Hendricks said he enjoyed trading thoughts with his peers, commenting on-line to one student about bringing digital devices to school.
"I told him you are on the right track, kid," Hendricks said. "Bringing devices to school will help you learn."
Students also practiced what they have learned about the positive digital citizenship skills that media center teachers are introducing this year.
"Some kids may say bad things because they are not face to face with the other person," said fourth grader Sarah Weir. "If you do that on the computer, it's still wrong and you can get in a lot of trouble."
In addition to blogging, several schools also used Poll Everywhere to take surveys regarding the use of technology. Students can log in, share their opinion and instantly see how the data is captured.
If Crissman was any indication, parents and students agree that iPads are the digital device of choice at home and the Detroit Tigers are the best sports team in Detroit. They were at odds, however, on whether digital devices are appropriate for school.
Digital Learning Day is held nationally to promote the power of technology to support teaching and learning.
All of the district’s schools and specialty programs participated in national program to highlight successful instructional technology practice in classrooms.
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