Tech ed from Teacher-authors

How to use Digital Quick Writes–the video

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How to use Digital Quick Writes

This video is from a series I taught for school districts. It is now available for free, here on Ask a Tech Teacher:

–summarized by NoteGPT

Summary

In this video, Jacqui Murray discusses the concept of “quick writes” as a dynamic and engaging way to teach writing in the classroom. Quick writes are short, spontaneous writing exercises that allow students to express their thoughts and ideas without the pressure of formal writing tasks. Murray emphasizes the importance of variety and choice in writing activities, which can cater to students’ different preferences and skills. By integrating technology and allowing students to use a range of mediums—such as audio, visual, and written forms—quick writes not only reinforce writing skills but also enhance problem-solving, creative thinking, and communication abilities. The video outlines practical strategies for implementing quick writes in the classroom, provides examples of tools and techniques, and highlights how these exercises can meet Common Core standards. Overall, Murray advocates for a process-oriented approach to writing, focusing on student engagement and skill development rather than the final product.

Highlights

✍️ Dynamic Writing Experience: Quick writes offer an engaging alternative to traditional writing assignments, allowing students to express themselves freely.
🌍 Integration of Technology: Incorporating various digital tools enhances the writing experience and fosters creativity among students.
🎨 Variety of Mediums: Students can choose from multiple formats—writing, drawing, audio—to communicate their ideas effectively.
🕒 Short and Focused: Quick writes typically last 10-15 minutes, encouraging concise and thoughtful expression of ideas.
📢 Process Over Product: The focus is on the writing process and student effort rather than the final outcome, promoting a growth mindset.
📚 Alignment with Common Core: Quick writes can be tailored to meet various educational standards, making them versatile across subjects.
🤝 Collaborative Learning: Sharing and discussing quick writes with peers enhances understanding and communication skills.

Key Insights

📅 Flexibility in Timing: Quick writes can be integrated into any part of a lesson, making them adaptable to various subjects and topics. This flexibility allows teachers to connect writing with ongoing projects or discussions, reinforcing the relevance of writing in different contexts.
💡 Choice Empowers Students: By providing students with options for how they want to express their ideas—be it through writing, drawing, or using multimedia—teachers can cater to diverse learning styles. This choice not only fosters engagement but also encourages students to take ownership of their learning process.
🛠️ Technological Proficiency: Incorporating digital tools and platforms into quick writes helps students become more comfortable with technology. This not only prepares them for future academic challenges but also equips them with essential skills for the modern workforce.
🎯 Focus on Skill Development: Quick writes emphasize the importance of developing writing skills through practice rather than perfection. By creating a low-stakes environment where effort and process are prioritized, students are more likely to take risks and experiment with their writing.
🤔 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Engaging in quick writes requires students to think critically and solve problems quickly, especially when using new technologies or formats. This process aligns with educational standards that emphasize critical thinking as a vital skill for success.
📝 Assessment for Learning: Instead of grading the final product, teachers assess students based on their effort and engagement during quick writes. This formative assessment approach allows for ongoing feedback and supports a learning environment focused on growth rather than competition.
🎉 Fun and Engagement: Quick writes can be a fun way to break up traditional lessons, making writing enjoyable for students who may otherwise find it daunting. By incorporating games and creative formats, teachers can foster a love for writing that extends beyond the classroom.

Conclusion

Jacqui Murray’s discussion on quick writes highlights the importance of innovative and flexible writing practices in education. By integrating technology, allowing for student choice, and emphasizing the writing process, educators can create a more engaging and effective writing experience. Quick writes serve as a powerful tool to develop not only writing skills but also critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration—all of which are essential for students in today’s world. Through this approach, teachers can foster a classroom environment that values creativity, encourages exploration, and supports skill development for all learners.

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New Series on Military Careers for High School Students

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This is a new Ask a Tech Teacher series on College and Career with a focus on military options.

High school students contemplating a military career should research extensively, speak with recruiters, and perhaps participate in preparatory or introductory military programs to make an informed decision. Each branch of the military has unique offerings, so aligning personal goals with the branch’s culture and opportunities is crucial. There are several pathways for post-HS: opportunities for personal development, education, and professional training. Here’s an overview:

Join directly from High School:
- Enlistment: Students can enlist in one of the six branches of the U.S. military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force. This path typically requires passing the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to determine suitability for specific roles. High school graduates can start as enlisted personnel, gaining hands-on experience in various military occupations.
- Benefits: Enlisting offers benefits like tuition assistance, health care, housing, and retirement benefits. The military provides training in over 150 career fields, many of which only require a high school diploma or GED.
- Programs for Experience: Programs like the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) in high schools can provide students with early exposure to military life, teaching leadership, citizenship, and discipline.

Attend college before entering the military:
- Service Academies: High school students can apply to one of the U.S. military academies (e.g., West Point for Army, Naval Academy for Navy, etc.), which offer a combination of college education and military training. These are highly competitive and require congressional nomination. Graduates earn a commission as officers.
- ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps): This program allows students to attend college and receive military training simultaneously. Upon graduation, ROTC participants commit to a period of service as an officer. The program offers scholarships that can cover tuition, fees, and other expenses.

This series will delve into making the military part of college-career choices. Here are some of the articles you’ll see with links to those already published:

5 Must-do Skills to Accomplish During High School
9 Secrets for Getting into a Service Academy
11 Ways to Become a Navy Officer and a Gentleman
Apply for a Military Academy
Average USNA Candidate
ASVAB or a Service Academy? You Decide.
College Bound: Take Inventory
Didn’t get into a Military Academy? Try NAPS
Goal Setting for a Fourteen-year-old
OCS–an option
STEM at USNA
Successful USNA Graduates
You’re a Sophomore and Interested in USNA

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“The content presented in this blog are the result of creative imagination and not intended for use, reproduction, or incorporation into any artificial intelligence training or machine learning systems without prior written consent from the author.”

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

17 Websites and Videos on Natural Disasters

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Natural disasters is a related discussion to any number of topics–geography, ecology, Earth Day, even problem solving. Here are 17 websites that bring the power of these natural forces to students (click here for updates to the list):

[caption id="attachment_70732" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

Four scenes of natural disasters[/caption]

Click image below for slideshow of many natural disasters

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What is a Virtual HS?

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Virtual high schools have become increasingly popular as technology has advanced and educational needs have evolved. Here is an overview of key data and trends associated with them:

Enrollment and Growth

Enrollment Numbers: Virtual high schools have seen significant growth in enrollment. In the United States alone, millions of students are now taking at least one online course.
Growth Rate: The growth rate for virtual school enrollments has been steady, with a marked increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, as traditional schools shifted to online formats.

Demographics

Student Demographics: Virtual high schools serve a diverse range of students, including those who need flexible schedules, have health issues, are involved in professional sports or entertainment, or have experienced bullying in traditional schools.
Geographic Reach: Students from urban, suburban, and rural areas are enrolling in virtual high schools, with significant growth in rural areas where access to advanced courses may be limited.

Academic Performance

Performance Metrics: Studies show mixed results on academic performance in virtual high schools. Some students excel due to the flexibility and self-paced nature, while others may struggle without face-to-face interaction and structured environments.
Standardized Test Scores: Virtual high schools often have varied results on standardized test scores compared to traditional schools, with some performing above and others below average.

Curriculum and Instruction

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Tech Tip #156: How to Turn on Google and Duck Duck Go SafeSearch

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In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education.

Today’s tip:

Category: Parents

Here’s how to turn on SafeSearch on Google:

Open https://www.google.com/ in a web browser.
Click Settings at the bottom of the page.
Check the box for Turn on SafeSearch.
Click Save.

For those who use Duck Duck Go, here’s how to turn on safe search:

Use safe.duckduckgo.com: Searches always have safe search set to “strict”.

Three ways:

Using the Search Results Page:
- After performing a search on DuckDuckGo, look below the search bar for settings options.
- There should be a dropdown menu labeled “Safe Search.”
- Select either “Moderate” or “Strict” from the dropdown menu to activate Safe Search. “Moderate” will filter out explicit content, while “Strict” will provide a higher level of content filtering.
Using the DuckDuckGo Settings Page:
- Navigate to the DuckDuckGo website.
- Click on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner of the page to open the menu.
- Select “Settings” from the menu.
- Under the “General” tab, find the “Safe Search” section.
- Choose either “Moderate” or “Strict” from the dropdown menu to enable Safe Search.
DuckDuckGo Browser:
- If you are using the DuckDuckGo browser app on mobile or desktop, go into the settings by clicking on the three horizontal lines or the gear icon.
- Look for “More Search Settings” or a similar option.
- Here you will find the “Safe Search” settings where you can choose “Moderate” or “Strict.”

What’s your favorite tech tip in your classroom? Share it in the comments below.

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Teacher-Authors–#BookBlast for my latest Prehistoric Fiction

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This post has little to to with technology in the classroom but a lot to do with the launch of my latest prehistoric fiction, Endangered Species, Book 1 of the trilogy, Savage Land. Join the Blog Hop over at my writer’s blog, WordDreams!

Curious? Not sure you want to invest your time yet? Here’s the trailer:

Alright! Here’s what’s going on:

I’ll be visiting writer friend blogs January 6-26, 2025, and then continue with the occasional “I’m Traveling” visits throughout 2025. We’ll chat about Neanderthals, early man, Endangered Species, and writing in general. Here are articles you can read in alphabetic order: (more…)

What You Might Have Missed in December–What’s up in January

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Here are the most-read posts for the month of December:

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up in January: (more…)

Subscriber Special: 25 Digital Tools for Your Class

Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching.

January 8th-11th

the 53-page PDF, “25 Digital Tools for the Classroom”

for free!

“25 Digital Tools for the Classroom” is a thorough discussion on which are the most useful tools in a K-8 classroom. This includes popular digital tools such as blogs, backchannel devices, vocabulary decoding tools, avatars, digital portfolios, digital notetaking, as well as others you may not have thought of. Here’s what you do:

Sign up for our newsletter, Weekly Websites, Tech Tips, and Tech Ed News. If you already subscribe, qualify by purchasing one of our resources on the Structured Learning website. Any product, any price qualifies.
Email us the welcome message or receipt you receive (we’re at askatechteacher at gmail dot com). Make the subject line read, “Please send free ’25 Digital Tools for the Classroom'”.
We’ll send you the collection.
If the newsletter doesn’t work for you, there’s an ‘unsubscribe’ at the bottom of each email.

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Happy New Year! And Public Domain Day

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Also on January 1st: It’s Public Domain Day! Every year, January 1st is Public Domain Day. This is an observance of when copyrights expire and works enter into the public domain–free for all to use. According to Public Domain Review, here are some of the newly-available artistic works you might like a/o January 1, 2025:

The picture above is interactive on the website. If you click it, you enter Public Domain Review’s website and can then explore each of these new sources of inspiration, free to use.

A few recently released that caught my attention:

[gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="70637,70639,70638,70632,70631,70635,70636,70634,70633"]

Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work:

https://forms.aweber.com/form/07/1910174607.htm