We've moved!

We've loved our little-big home here over at Blogger, especially as it's been such an easy way to work in our Google Apps environment. But it's time for a bit of an upgrade -- please find us over here in our new home. 

Please update your bookmarks and join us for more Digital Literacy conversation! 

And thanks so much for following! 

moving-into-an-apartment-in-phildelphia flickr photo by naiaraback1 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

Start your new year with a new challenge...

Rope Climbing, Santa Monica flickr photo by Boss Tweed shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

A new year brings an educator fresh opportunities.

If you have a blog that's been gathering dust, or you feel intrigued by the idea of starting one, this post is for you.  Join over twenty teachers across seven countries who have signed on for the five month portfolio challenge.  If you join this August, you will be joining us for the fourth round (but don't worry, we will have new challenges coming soon).

Why should you consider this challenge?

George Couros has written about the why extensively, check out his blog here. For a snapshot of his rationale keep reading:

 Sometimes, for my own clarification, I go back and read my own blog to look at what I have done and how I can continuously work on it to improve. This transparent way of learning is something that I believe can not only improve the teaching profession as a whole (for example, take a look at the conversation on this Pernille Ripp post from today), but is something that could really improve learning for our students.

Each month we use a different set of 'thought-bait'

The prompts for your post are all included (but please, rebels are welcome too-go ahead and blog to the beat of your own drummer.) Here are our seven prompts for August:

Once your post is ready...

You are asked to kindly drop it off here by August 27th.  The posts are then bundled into reading and commenting teams (see here for an example from June).

If you have any questions about joining, please leave a comment below. If you aren't ready to compose your own post, but you'd like to join as a reader, we'd welcome that with open arms--please leave a comment and I'll be sure to get you the bundle of posts at the end of the month.

The Keri-Lee Legacy

As we prepare to say farewell to one of our amazing coaches, Keri-Lee, let's pause to be grateful for what will remain.

1. A stunning sense of design.  

Keri-Lee has become synonymous with CARP.  UWCSEA East has a lot of beautiful design thanks in part to the tremendous work KLB has done here. 

2. A trail of to-be font geeks.

Keri-Lee has left a series trail of bread-crumbs behind for anyone even thinking (don't!) of using comic sans. See here or here.

3. An awareness that technology can uncover empathy.

Use your tech for good.  Here's one of the ways KLB does just that.

4. A call to build better networks.

A school is all about the people.  Keri-Lee has done so much to construct intentional networks.  If you are one of the very few people who haven't seen her exemplify just that, you are in luck, she has a fab resource compilation here.

5. An inspired cohort of student-authors.

Keri-Lee never ceases to see the potential in her students.  Technology isn't about gadgetry, it is about engendering opportunity.  Her remarkable text here will inspire you to do the same.

In honor of KLB's last full day here at school, please share your favorite #Keri-Lee-Legacy with us as a comment below.

Switzerland. flickr photo by jakob.montrasio.net shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

Digital Bytes - 19th June 2017

 

	Book Creator Summer Journal A fantastic way to remember some of the details from your summer is to keep a journal. Last summer, both my kids used Book Creator to capture some of the things that happened on a daily basis. It was great for photos and video and voice records.
	Pages, Keynote and Numbers for iOS get over 500 Shapes Creating infographics in Keynote or Pages just got way easier! Instead of going to the Noun Project or Flaticon, you can find icons right on your iPad or Mac with the update to the iOS iWork suite. You can change the colours of the icons and even copy and paste them into other apps like Book Creator.
	Storybird Images inspire writing - we know this to be true. Storybird helps with this process by providing hundreds of images for students to use in their writing of online, digital books. From single images, to picture books and longform books, there are a range of illustrative styles to choose from. Teachers can create class accounts, books can be downloaded or shared online, and even printed into physical books. Definitely one to check out!
	Once Upon a Picture Staying on the theme of images to inspire writing, Once Upon a Picture is another fantastic website you will want to bookmark. Organised into collections, such as Fiction, Inference, PSHE etc, each image comes with a series of questions to encourage students to “read” the image carefully. This approach helps when writing, but also when viewing a range of visual media. Enjoy!