Week 4  September 23-27, 2013

Dear 223 Families,

This week marks the end of our introductory unit.  Over the past three weeks your ILT student has reviewed the BPS Acceptable Use Policy, Google Apps, Pupil Network Drive, and Web browsers.  We have learned the history of computers, essential internal and external computer parts, and the elements of Digital Citizenship.  In addition, students learned the expectations for Room 223 Information Literacy & Technology, including rules and expectations and how to exit the building in the case of a fire drill.  The only introductory skill we still need to practice is test-taking in 223 ILT.

Lesson 1.7.  Unit 1 Assessment  Students will take an online practice assessment to demonstrate their understanding of Unit 1 Introduction skills and concepts.  This test will not be scored--students will not even enter their names so as to keep the assessment anonymous.  In the future, we will have one assessment per month at the conclusion of each unit.  All assessments are open-notes, and students are encouraged to maintain an ILT binder with all handouts and handwritten notes they take during class.  In addition to taking an online multiple choice assessment, students will create projects during class time.

For more information in what we are doing for class work in Room 223 ILT, please select the Assignments tab above or log onto your X2 account.  In addition to an overview of our assignments, you will also be able to access links and worksheets using Group Resources.  From our Barnstable Public Schools website, click on the X2 icon--your user name is Last_First20 and your password is ID+00.

I am looking forward to meeting with you at Open House on Thursday, October 3rd.  In the meantime, should you have any questions or comments please send me an email at rtdodge@barnstable.k12.ma.us

Sincerely,
Ms. Thackston-Dodge

Week 3  September 16-20, 2013

Dear Families,

This week in 223 ILT we are finishing our first unit, Introduction.  We have been sampling our school year with Digital Citizenship activities, reviewing how to use Google Apps as both a network drive (storage) and as a suite of applications, and discussing acceptable ways to use technology. 

Until we begin with X2 and Moodle, this blog will serve as our home-school communication.  Look through the tabs, follow a few links, feed our class penguin (scroll to the bottom of this page), and write a blog to share your comments or questions with our 223 ILT families.

Sincerely,
Ms. Thackston-Dodge

September 3, 2013

Welcome Class of 2020!

A wonderful adventure in technology awaits you this school year.  Together we will look at computers in a new way with a focus on managing electronic information and conducting research.  With the 1:1 initiative taking place at BIS it will be a great opportunity to discover how technological innovations have changed the way we learn and work in the 21st Century.

September will begin with a review of Google Docs and quickly move into a look at the history of computers and internal computer components, the BIS Network, decoding URLs, digital citizenship, and keyboarding skills.  It will wrap-up in the Library with Mrs. Anthony for Library Media Skills--using virtual libraries, like the new Destiny online "card catalog".

This week in Room 223 we will engage in getting to know you activities.  I am eager to meet all of you and begin our 180-day adventure in Information Literacy & Technology.  See you tomorrow!

Sincerely,
Ms. Thackston-Dodge