Aloha Design Tech Parents,
In MYP 1-3 Design Technology, we have begun our first unit
focused on using blogging as a means to reflect on and showcase evidence of our
learning in all our classes. Throughout
this unit, students will benefit from exercises that will strengthen their
reading and writing skills as well as assist them in gaining self-confidence as
they receive global validation through the comments on their blog posts.
Along with learning about how to create and maintain a
successful blog, the students will be learning about how to share their
thoughts and ideas in safe and responsible ways. We’ve begun by having conversations about
what type of information is acceptable to share as well as what needs to remain
private. As we post to our blogs, the
students will be following a set of guidelines that should help us to be
responsible bloggers. Through future
conversations, activities and practice, our beginning bloggers will know more
and more about how to build a positive digital reputation, communicate sensibly
and be contentious of their online behavior.
We would appreciate your help in this process, to continue
the conversation at home about safe internet use. In addition to conversing about the blogging guidelines,
you might also want to talk with your children about the public service videos we watched in class. We would encourage you to watch
them as well. It might surprise you to
hear about their previous experiences and their ideas for what they plan to do
to protect themselves.
You might want to ask them questions along these lines:
- How did the public service announcement videos make you feel? What surprised you?
- What types of past online behaviors, decisions or experiences have made you felt might have a negative outcome?
- How do you think you could prevent these types of situations through your own actions?
- How would/should you respond if you were either a victim or bystander in one of these cases?
These are all questions we are discussing and will continue
to discuss as we participate in these online activities throughout the year.
During the MYP 1-3 years, Design Technology classes will
continue to touch upon the importance of using the internet in safe and
responsible ways. We will engage in
conversations about what it means to be responsible to our communities both
online and offline. We will continue to
participate in activities that will provide insight into some of the issues
students face online including cyber-bullying, identity theft, appropriate
media consumption, protecting intellectual property rights and more.
Finally, we are developing our curriculum based on the
resources provided by the
Common Sense Media Website. We would encourage you to consider
using this website as a resource for yourself when looking for information on
how to speak with your children about media and internet related issues.
They have a wealth of information provided in an easy to understand and accessible
format. Here are a couple of articles I have found that I think might
give you some insight into the support
they provide. (Protecting Our Identities Online, Setting Screen Limits and Facebook for Parents)
We look forward to seeing the creative and impactful blogs
and posts our students will be creating this year. We also look forward to seeing improvements in
their ability to research, communicate their ideas and designs, plan for
success and reflect on their participation and growth.
Thank you for your assistance in helping to create more
responsible and better prepared “connected” students.
Sean Connors and Jackie Okumura
(Le Jardin Academy Middle Years Program Design Technology
Instructors)
Sept. 10th, 2012
Aloha Parents (and Visitors) to our 8th Grade Design Tech Blog at Le Jardin Academy!
This year our students will be following the design cycle to create solutions and products that will help us solve the design challenges we'll face in class.
Our first design challenge of the year will present us with a brief introduction to the Design Cycle before we get off and running into our much larger and longer units of the year. We're using the Mars Rover Curiosity as a spring board to help students design and construct a prototype of a self propelled vehicle. Over the next few days, the students will be collecting a few recycled or consumable every day items to be used as building materials (cardboard, water bottle tops or pencils.)
Starting the week after next we'll be starting our first official unit that will help our students get their blogs the created last year in design tech, up and running, fixed and with additional security features. For new students, they'll be learning about how we use reflections as a part of our learning practice and how it can help us better learn from our experiences and each other.
We look forward to seeing all of you our MS Parent Nigh that will be on September 6th, 2012 (at 5:30 p.m in the Wang.) Please feel free to contact Mrs. Okumura or Mr. Connors for questions.
Aloha!
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