Using Technology to Engage Students

Mac A. Lewis, BMS7 January 2013

11 am – 11:30 am

Introductions0First of all, I would like to greet each and every one of you

with a warm welcome and good morning!0 I was honored to have been asked to give an unpacking

presentation this morning to the Bainbridge High faculty and staff!

0 I want to sincerely thank everyone who invited me to go and every faculty member who graciously collaborated with me.

Introductions, Con’t

0That said, I would like to give a short presentation on two programs.

0 I was asked to investigate Class Dojo; it turns out that it’s an extremely intuitive program that’s easy to use.

0The second program is called Gamestar Mechanic which both I and my students have become big fans of over the last semester.

Introductions, Concluded

0At the end of this presentation, I would like to cede the floor and take any technological questions and answers you may have about either these programs or also about the prospect of implementing technology into your instruction.

Technology Session Goals:1. To inform and disseminate information on how to use Class Dojo.2. To show teachers that using Class Dojo is really easy to use and set up.3. To introduce teachers to the general background theory behind Gamestar Mechanic and similarly themed programs.4. Demonstrate using Gamestar Mechanic to internet connected participants.5. Questions and Answers Session: Briefly discuss other relevant technologies and give the floor to participant questions.

Technology Session Goals:

0Class Dojo is a really neat classroom management tool that is currently free and can be accessed on your tablet, PC and Ipad.

0 It’s a strong motivational tool that can also take attendance and mass email parents without much worry.

0Class Dojo can run weekly behavior reports.

1. To inform and disseminate information on how to use Class Dojo.2. To show teachers that using Class Dojo is really easy to use and set up.3. To introduce teachers to the general background theory behind Gamestar Mechanic and similarly themed programs.4. Demonstrate using Gamestar Mechanic to internet connected participants.5. Questions and Answers Session: Briefly discuss other relevant technologies and give the floor to participant questions.

Technology Session Goals:

0 (Link to Class Dojo presentation)0 If teachers have any questions,

here’s a link to a BHS sample page.0The coolest thing about Class Dojo

to me is that there’s really only ever two things to click on with an Ipad. You just start the class and click on the students to reward.

1. To inform and disseminate information on how to use Class Dojo.2. To show teachers that using Class Dojo is really easy to use and set up.3. To introduce teachers to the general background theory behind Gamestar Mechanic and similarly themed programs.4. Demonstrate using Gamestar Mechanic to internet connected participants.5. Questions and Answers Session: Briefly discuss other relevant technologies and give the floor to participant questions.

Technology Session Goals:

0Gamestar Mechanic is a web based gaming platform that uses a Flash based language to teach STEM thinking skills without an extensive need for rigorous programming.

0 It frees you and your students up to discuss logic and planning rather than discrete mathematics.

1. To inform and disseminate information on how to use Class Dojo.2. To show teachers that using Class Dojo is really easy to use and set up.3. To introduce teachers to the general background theory behind Gamestar Mechanic and similarly themed programs.4. Demonstrate using Gamestar Mechanic to internet connected participants.5. Questions and Answers Session: Briefly discuss other relevant technologies and give the floor to participant questions.

Technology Session Goals:

0Another observation that I made was that students really enjoyed the process of gaining responsibility for their work; because the program is largely symbolic, it is very appropriate for classes of mixed abilities.

0You’ll find yourself facilitating and students leading class discussion very quickly.

1. To inform and disseminate information on how to use Class Dojo.2. To show teachers that using Class Dojo is really easy to use and set up.3. To introduce teachers to the general background theory behind Gamestar Mechanic and similarly themed programs.4. Demonstrate using Gamestar Mechanic to internet connected participants.5. Questions and Answers Session: Briefly discuss other relevant technologies and give the floor to participant questions.

Technology Session Goals:

0Let’s check out the Gamestar Mechanic Web Site. It’s pretty informative – we are going to focus on the Teacher portion:

0http://gamestarmechanic.com/teachers

0First, let’s watch the introductory video:

0Second, let’s try to finish the first stage of Dinosaur Sustainability (play games):

1. To inform and disseminate information on how to use Class Dojo.2. To show teachers that using Class Dojo is really easy to use and set up.3. To introduce teachers to the general background theory behind Gamestar Mechanic and similarly themed programs.4. Demonstrate using Gamestar Mechanic to internet connected participants.5. Questions and Answers Session: Briefly discuss other relevant technologies and give the floor to participant questions.

Technology Session Goals:

0Other Tech:0There’s tons of other

technologies that are floating around and being rapidly brought to market.

0What’s really interesting about the time that we live in is that… to wait a few months in implement some technologies are actually longer than their lifetimes.

1. To inform and disseminate information on how to use Class Dojo.2. To show teachers that using Class Dojo is really easy to use and set up.3. To introduce teachers to the general background theory behind Gamestar Mechanic and similarly themed programs.4. Demonstrate using Gamestar Mechanic to internet connected participants.5. Questions and Answers Session: Briefly discuss other relevant technologies and give the floor to participant questions.

Technology Session Goals:

0Gaming programming:0Adobe Flash: It’s what most

browsers games are written in.0http://www.adobe.com0Alice: 3D gaming program:0http://alice.org0Scratch: a 2D program that links

into STEM tools:0http://scratch.mit.edu

1. To inform and disseminate information on how to use Class Dojo.2. To show teachers that using Class Dojo is really easy to use and set up.3. To introduce teachers to the general background theory behind Gamestar Mechanic and similarly themed programs.4. Demonstrate using Gamestar Mechanic to internet connected participants.5. Questions and Answers Session: Briefly discuss other relevant technologies and give the floor to participant questions.

Technology Session Goals: 0Programming, con’t:

0Blender, a portable 3d graphics and gaming engine:

0http://www.blender.org0Drawing programs:0Toonboom works directly with

SCAD:0http://toonboom.com0Maya, 3D Programming Supreme:0http://autodesk.com

1. To inform and disseminate information on how to use Class Dojo.2. To show teachers that using Class Dojo is really easy to use and set up.3. To introduce teachers to the general background theory behind Gamestar Mechanic and similarly themed programs.4. Demonstrate using Gamestar Mechanic to internet connected participants.5. Questions and Answers Session: Briefly discuss other relevant technologies and give the floor to participant questions.

Technology Session Goals:

0Thanks for viewing my presentation!

0 If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me at mlewis@dcboe.com.

1. To inform and disseminate information on how to use Class Dojo.2. To show teachers that using Class Dojo is really easy to use and set up.3. To introduce teachers to the general background theory behind Gamestar Mechanic and similarly themed programs.4. Demonstrate using Gamestar Mechanic to internet connected participants.5. Questions and Answers Session: Briefly discuss other relevant technologies and give the floor to participant questions.