DT With Mrs B

Picture sourced from: breakoutedu.com In the ever-evolving landscape of digital learning platforms, Breakout EDU emerges as a captivating tool that employs games and puzzles to immerse students in the learning process. What sets it apart is its adaptability across various subject areas, seamlessly aligning with the New Zealand Curriculum. Let's delve into the enriching educational experience that Breakout EDU offers: Fostering Critical Skills: Engaging in digital breakouts is akin to embarking on a journey of skill development. Students not only gain subject-specific knowledge but also enhance essential life skills, including: * Problem-solving: In the quest to "breakout" of the game, students must put on their thinking caps, employing critical and creative thinking to decipher puzzles and clues. * Effective Communication: Collaboration is the key to success in Breakout EDU. Students must communicate ideas effectively, sharing insights and solutions to overcome challenges...

  In our ever-evolving digital landscape, harnessing the power of tools like Gmail's Template Function can be a game-changer. Let's dive into how this feature can elevate your communication game, specifically in scenarios that teachers commonly encounter. Templates in Action: Streamlining Teacher Communications Do you frequently find yourself composing emails time and again, with the same or similar context? Utilising 'templates' is all about working smarter, not harder. Making use of this function will mean that every time you wish to recreate an email, you can access it with the press of a few buttons, without having to start from scratch. Here's how it works: Effortless Implementation of Templates: Creating these templates is easier than you might think. Follow these steps to set them up: 1. Compose the email as you normally would, adding the relevant details. 2. Click the three dots in the email toolbar, navigate to "Templates," and select "Save d...

  Hello, fellow educators! Today, let's dive into a simple yet effective trick that can be a real game-changer in managing your classroom tasks efficiently. We're talking about the wonderful world of 'schedule send' and how you can use its features to streamline communication and stay organised like a pro. Schedule Emails: Your Secret to Stress-Free Planning Ever found yourself juggling a hundred things, like during report writing weeks or when you're not feeling your best? Here's where the scheduling send feature swoops in to save the day. Imagine having your emails and google classroom posts all set to go out, even when you're knee-deep in responsibilities or down with a cold. The process? A breeze. After crafting your masterpiece, just find the 'Schedule send button' (see below). You can choose the precise date and time you want your email to land in your readers' inboxes. No more rushing or worrying about sending on time – your content will b...

  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:

The Hour of Code is a global movement that aims to get more students learning about computer science. It provides a fun and engaging way to introduce students to the basics of coding, and it can be used to supplement the New Zealand Digital Technologies curriculum. The New Zealand Digital Technologies curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including computational thinking, programming, digital systems, and information and communication technology. Hour of Code activities can be used to teach many of these topics. For example, there are activities that teach students how to code simple games, create animations, and design websites. In addition to teaching specific topics, Hour of Code can also help students develop the skills they need to be successful in the digital age. These skills include problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. Hour of Code activities can help students develop these skills by giving them the opportunity to solve problems, create new things, and think ...

Digital breakouts are a great way to engage students and get them excited about learning. They are a type of escape room that is set up online. Students work together to solve puzzles and find clues in order to "escape" the room. There are many benefits to doing digital breakouts in class. First, they are a lot of fun! Students love the challenge of solving puzzles and working together to achieve a common goal. Second, digital breakouts are very engaging. Students are actively involved in the learning process, and they are not just sitting passively listening to a lecture. Third, digital breakouts can be used to teach a variety of topics. There are digital breakouts available on just about every subject imaginable. If you are looking for a fun and engaging way to teach your students, I highly recommend trying a digital breakout. Here are some tips for getting started: Find a digital breakout that is appropriate for your students' level of difficulty. Give students enoug...

Creating short films can support students' understanding of DDDO and computational thinking in a number of ways. For example, students can use short films to: Explore the different ways that data can be collected, stored, processed and used.   Learn about the different types of digital devices and systems.   Break down problems into smaller steps, and use logical thinking to solve them.   Come up with new ideas, and use digital technologies to bring them to life. Work with others to solve problems, and to create new things.   In addition to supporting students' understanding of DDDO and computational thinking, creating short films can also help them to develop their creativity, innovation, and collaboration skills. These are all essential skills for success in the 21st century, and they are all skills that can be developed through the process of creating short films. The possibilities are endless, and the most important thing is to encourage students to be cre...