DT With Mrs B

We've all used Kahoot, right?  But have you used Gimkit yet?  If not, this post will change your teaching world... Gimkit, a digital quiz game (similar to Kahoot, yet soooo different), offers a dynamic approach to introducing, reviewing, or assessing various subjects. It brings an element of fun and engagement to even the most challenging topics. Gamification blends game elements into non-game contexts, making learning tasks more enjoyable. It adds elements of competition, challenge, and reward. Gimkit embodies gamification with features like: - Competition: Students compete to answer questions correctly and earn points. - Challenge: Questions can be tough, but students can earn power-ups to help them answer correctly. - Reward: Students earn virtual currency for right answers, which they can use to buy power-ups or compete in other games. Source: re:ed tech Gimkit can be used for: - Introducing New Concepts: Use it to introduce topics in a captivating way, like teaching cell ...

Emojis can add a creative and interactive dimension to your Google Classroom topics. In this post, I'll guide you through the process of using emojis within topics and explain why it's a valuable addition. Why Use Emojis in Google Classroom Topics? 1. Visual Organisation: Emojis can be used as topic icons to make your Google Classroom more visually organised and attractive. They help students quickly identify different subjects or modules. 2. Engagement: Emojis can make topics more appealing. They add an element of fun and can pique interest in the subject matter. 3. Personalisation: Emojis allow you to infuse a bit of your personality into your virtual classroom. You can choose emojis that reflect your teaching style or the topic's content. How to Add Emojis to Google Classroom Topics 1. Access Classwork: Start by navigating to the "Classwork" tab in your Google Classroom. 2. Create a Topic: Click the "+" button to create a new topic. This is where you...

Kia ora fellow educators!  Today, I want to share my excitement about a fantastic tool that has been helping me foster digital literacy and problem-solving skills in my Digital Technologies (DVC) class – the MaKey MaKey plug and play resources. These incredible kits have allowed my students to delve into the world of debugging while having loads of fun! Now, you might be wondering, "What's the big deal about debugging?" Well, in the New Zealand Digital Technologies Curriculum, debugging plays a pivotal role. It falls under the Computational Thinking practice, which is one of the key areas of the curriculum. Debugging is all about identifying and fixing errors in code or programs, making it an essential skill for our students to develop. In the fast-evolving digital landscape, the ability to debug empowers our learners to think critically and logically. Debugging fosters resilience, as students learn to approach challenges with a positive mindset and persevere until they f...

  Nga Motu: A Minecraft EDU world to support student learning about Te Ao Māori Nga Motu is a Minecraft EDU world created by Piki Studios and dedicated to learning about the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a beautiful and immersive world that allows students to explore Māori culture, language, and history in a hands-on and engaging way. Credit to: Whetu Paitai Lesson plan for MinecraftEDU found here Nga Motu is a valuable resource for educators who are looking to support student learning about Te Ao Māori. The world is designed to be culturally accurate and respectful, and it features a variety of activities that can be used to teach students about Māori culture and values. One of the most important aspects of Te Ao Māori is the relationship between people and the land. Nga Motu reflects this relationship by featuring a variety of New Zealand native plants and animals, such as kiwi, tuna, and piwakawaka. Students can learn about these animals and their importance ...

Kia ora, fellow educators! Today, let's dive into the world of Minecraft Education Edition (EDU), a fantastic game-based learning platform that I, as a Minecraft EDU Global Mentor, absolutely adore in the classroom. This tool is designed specifically for teachers and students, offering a multitude of benefits for diverse subjects like math, science, history, and the arts. Engagement: Minecraft EDU is an incredible engagement booster. It transforms learning into an interactive adventure, captivating students' attention and making subjects more intriguing. Collaboration: Collaboration thrives in the Minecraft world. Students team up to construct projects, tackle challenges, and learn from each other. Creativity: Minecraft EDU is the canvas for boundless creativity. It empowers students to bring their wildest ideas to life, from simple structures to intricate machines. Problem-solving: This platform sharpens problem-solving skills. Students must conquer puzzles and obstacles to ...

  In today's digital age, fostering creativity and digital literacy skills among students is essential. One effective way to achieve this goal is through engaging activities that combine technology and self-expression. In this blog post, we'll explore a fantastic Canva activity that not only helps students become familiar with the platform but also aligns seamlessly with the New Zealand Digital Technologies Curriculum. Before diving into the activity, let's briefly introduce Canva. Canva is an intuitive and user-friendly graphic design tool that empowers users to create visually appealing designs, from social media graphics to presentations and more. Its drag-and-drop interface and vast library of templates, images, and fonts make it a versatile platform suitable for various projects. Activity: Personalised Name Art with Canva The activity we're spotlighting involves turning one's name into a personalised work of art using Canva. As showcased in the accompanying vid...

This week's Prompt: Questions: 1. What are the benefits of gamification in the classroom? 2. Do you currently incorporate gamification without digital technologies? If yes, how do you do it? 3. Could you leverage digital technology tools for the gamification of a classroom activity? If possible, how would you implement this? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below:

Kia ora fellow educators and tech enthusiasts! Gather 'round because I've got an epic tale to spin about last week's production madness at our school. Yup, we're diving into the whirlwind of creativity and chaos that was our rendition of High School Musical. So, buckle up, 'cause it's about to get dramatic – in the best way possible! Picture this: a vibrant theatre in town, pulsating with excitement, as we unleashed the magic of High School Musical upon the world. With over 100 talented students in the mix, we were practically bursting with energy. Now, you might be wondering, "What does this have to do with digital tech?" Hang tight, my friend – we're getting there. My mission? Crafting the ultimate set that not only screamed "wild high school vibes" but also served as a playground for our sensational live band. Here's where the tech twist comes in – we got our hands on this two-story structure that screamed "stairwell in a scho...

  In the Mindful Minute Segment, I will share a video (probably from Youtube) that  is themed around digital technologies.  Once viewed, teachers are prompted to ponder the implications of the content for students.   Finally, teachers are urged to consider ONE CHANGE that they can make to their practice that aligns with the thinking in the video, to impact student learning. This week's Prompt: Source:  Education Gazette - Tukutuku Korero Questions: What does it mean by students being creators as opposed to users? Are we doing this in our current programmes? What are the soft skills that are mentioned in the clip?   In what ways do we support our students with growing these skills? Is there one thing I could change to support student growth in these areas? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below:

As educators, it is essential to provide students with innovative tools and opportunities to foster their creativity and critical thinking skills. One such tool that has been proven to be highly effective in the realm of Digital and Visual Communication (DVC) is MaKey MaKey. This post will explore the definition of MaKey MaKey, its benefits in the classroom, and how a recent lesson on this tool allowed students to reflect on the functionality of their creations for end-users. MaKey MaKey is an invention kit that allows students to turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. It is a small, user-friendly circuit board with alligator clips that can be connected to various conductive materials, such as fruits, vegetables, aluminium foil, or graphite pencil drawings. By connecting these materials to the MaKey MaKey board, students can create interactive projects, turning their imaginations into reality. Interdisciplinary Learning: MaKey MaKey bridges the gap bet...

As a digital technologies teacher, I'm always looking for ways to use technology to enhance student learning. One of the things I've been doing lately is having my students create Google Sites to collate their learning in my subject area. Each student's site includes an image and about the creator, as well as photos, film, and screenshots from their eight sessions in my class. This gives students a central location to store all of their work, and it also makes it easy for them to share their learning with others. I recently had "student led conferences" where parents came in and students talked through their learning. Thanks to the collection of learning activities in the Google Sites, the process was streamlined. Students were able to use their sites to explain their learning to their parents, and play the videos that they created. I was really impressed with how well the Google Sites worked for student led conferences. It was a great way for students to showcase...