EDU570 Resources by Alexis McCrory

Strategies for Supporting Student Goal-Setting

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 16:29:29 UTC

The Edutopia article "Strategies for Supporting Student Goal-Setting" by Victoriana Savas offers a practical framework that aligns closely with ISTE Standard 1.1a: Empowered Learner. This resource is particularly valuable for K–12 educators seeking to implement goal-setting practices in their classrooms. It provides actionable strategies, such as student-teacher conferences and data tracking sheets, to facilitate individualized goal-setting and reflection.

Technology Lessons for Students – YouTube Playlist

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 16:47:47 UTC

The "Technology Lessons for Students" YouTube Playlist is a great resource that directly supports ISTE Standard 1.1d: Technology Fundamentals, particularly for elementary learners. Each video in the playlist focuses on practical, accessible tech skills that help younger students understand both the functionality and purpose of everyday technologies. The primary audience for this playlist is elementary students and the educators who support them.

Be Internet Awesome

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 17:06:49 UTC

The Be Internet Awesome program, developed by Google in partnership with the National PTA, is designed to teach children the fundamentals of digital citizenship and online safety. It empowers students to explore the online world with confidence, promoting responsible and empathetic online interactions. The program aligns with ISTE Standards 1.2.a Digital Footprint and 1.2.b Online Interactions. The primary audience for this program is elementary and middle school students, along with their parents and educators.

Digital Citizenship Lesson Plan: Digital Compass

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 17:15:56 UTC

BrainPOP's Digital Compass is an interactive, game-based lesson plan designed to teach students about digital citizenship through immersive storytelling. Students navigate the perspectives of various characters facing real-world digital dilemmas, such as cyberbullying, online privacy, and digital drama. This resource aligns with several ISTE standards, including 1.2.b Online Interactions, 1.2.c Safeguard Well-being, and 1.2.d Digital Privacy. The program is intended for students in grades 3–12. Educators can integrate Digital Compass into their curriculum as a standalone activity or as part of a broader digital citizenship program.

How to Teach Online Research Skills to Elementary Students

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 17:23:35 UTC

SweetSearch is a highly relevant and valuable tool that aligns closely with ISTE Standard 1.3.a, which emphasizes students’ ability to use effective research strategies to find resources supporting their learning needs, interests, and creative pursuits. This resource is particularly suited for elementary students beginning to develop foundational digital literacy and research skills. It empowers them to practice critical thinking by evaluating sources for credibility and relevance. Educators can incorporate SweetSearch into research projects or digital literacy lessons to scaffold students’ abilities to independently locate trustworthy information while fostering confidence and autonomy in their learning process.

R.E.A.L. Method for Evaluating Websites

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 17:28:36 UTC

The R.E.A.L. Method for Evaluating Websites, as presented by Lessons by Sandy, is an age-appropriate instructional strategy that directly aligns with ISTE Standard 1.3.b – Evaluate Information. This standard encourages students to "evaluate the accuracy, validity, bias, origin, and relevance of digital content," and Sandy's framework does just that by guiding young learners through a simple but meaningful acronym:

R – Read the URL

E – Examine the content

A – Ask about the author

L – Look at the links

The resource is particularly useful for elementary teachers and media specialists looking to integrate research skills into content areas like science, social studies, or language arts.

Designing Solutions – MiTechKids Lesson Plan

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 18:08:39 UTC

The "Designing Solutions – MiTechKids" lesson plan is a resource that aligns with ISTE Standard 1.4.b – Design Constraints. This resource is specifically created for kindergarten students, making it uniquely tailored to young learners just beginning to explore digital creativity and problem-solving. Teachers can integrate this lesson during a technology block, STEM unit, or even as a cross-curricular extension of literacy or science instruction.

ISTE Activity: Try, Try Again!

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 18:20:34 UTC

The ISTE Activity: Try, Try Again! is an instructional tool that directly aligns with ISTE Standard 1.4.d – Open-Ended Problems. This lesson encourages young learners to reflect on what it means to persevere and to recognize perseverance in themselves and others. Educators can invite students to share personal stories and scenarios where they demonstrated or witnessed persistence. Thus, the activity builds emotional awareness and resilience, critical qualities for success in any problem-solving environment. The intended use is for K-5 elementary students within classroom SEL or technology-integrated instruction.

The Tech Interactive: Get in the Game

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 18:28:36 UTC

The resource “The Tech Interactive: Get in the Game” is an excellent fit for ISTE Standard 1.5.a – Problem Definitions, particularly for elementary students who are beginning to engage with computational thinking and technology-assisted problem solving. This activity focuses on designing board games by breaking down complex ideas into manageable parts through decomposition, recognizing patterns in rules or game mechanics (pattern recognition), identifying the core elements needed to create a functioning game (abstraction), and developing clear, step-by-step procedures or rules (algorithms). The intended audience is educators and parents who have 3rd-5th-grade students.

LEGO® Education: Coding Express

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 18:41:41 UTC

The LEGO® Education: Coding Express – Introduction to Looping resource is a tool that directly supports ISTE Standard 1.5.c – Decompose Problems. This lesson explores computational thinking by decomposing familiar tasks into logical steps. Students use LEGO® DUPLO® trains and color-coded action bricks to simulate looped behavior, such as having the train stop, turn, or sound its horn at regular intervals. By building and programming the train, students actively break down the abstract concept of repetition into observable, controllable steps. The intended audience is early elementary students, especially kindergarteners, who are just beginning to develop foundational problem-solving and sequencing skills.

Seesaw

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 18:50:49 UTC

The Seesaw platform is a highly effective tool that aligns closely with ISTE Standard 1.6.a (Choose Platforms or Tools) and 1.6.c (Communicate Complex Ideas). Seesaw’s design allows students to select the most appropriate digital medium, whether recording audio or video, typing text, drawing, or uploading images and files, to respond to learning prompts. Seesaw is particularly suited for elementary learners (grades K-5). Additionally, teachers can use Seesaw as a digital portfolio platform where students document learning over time, reflect on their progress, and share insights with peers and families.

Scratch and Scratch Jr.

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 18:56:15 UTC

The Scratch and Scratch Jr. platform is a resource that strongly supports ISTE Standards 1.6.b (Original and Remixed Works) and 1.6.d (Customize the Message). Scratch and Scratch Jr. empower students to create original digital projects, including animations, stories, games, and interactive presentations. Learners can design unique works from scratch while also offering the opportunity to remix and build upon existing projects shared within the Scratch community. Additionally, Scratch users actively make decisions about how best to convey their ideas through digital storytelling and interaction. Scratch Jr. is geared toward early elementary students (K-2) and Scratch targets upper elementary students (grades 3–5 and beyond).

Kidblog

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 19:18:57 UTC

Kidblog offers an accessible and safe environment where young learners can express themselves digitally and connect with peers beyond their immediate classroom. This resource allows students to read and engage thoughtfully with diverse opinions and perspectives shared by classmates locally and potentially global participants. Kidblog is ideal for elementary through middle school students. Educators can create private, moderated class blogs to ensure a safe online environment, making it suitable for classrooms focusing on writing, social studies, or any content area where reflection and discussion are emphasized.

24 Project Ideas from Global Digital Citizenship Foundation

aamccrory — 2025-05-17 19:25:55 UTC

This resource from Learning in Hand offers a valuable collection of project-based learning (PBL) ideas. These projects are designed to engage young learners in meaningful, real-world challenges that foster critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. This resource targets numerous ISTE Standards, including 1.7.c (Project Teams) and 1.7.d (Local and Global Issues). This resource is intended for elementary educators seeking to implement PBL in their classrooms. The projects are adaptable across various subjects and can be integrated into existing curricula. Teachers can use these ideas as starting points, modifying them to suit their students' interests and learning objectives.