The Magic of Technology - Becoming Wizard Techies

Day 2 - Wizard Techies

I love day 2 of school!  This is the day I get to introduce students to many technology programs we use in a magical way.  The students will enter the room as I welcome them with my wizard hat on and a musical wand.  As they enter, they pick up their techie badge that they will proudly wear on their lanyard upon completing the five challenges set before them.  They will "master" the following:

1.  Google Classroom
2.  Quizziz
3.  Navigating my Teacher Website
4.  Socrative
5.  QR Code Extension

I love using technology starting day 1 of math lessons and after today my students will be ready to go!  I can not stress enough that I had a smooth day due to the help of my Instructional Technology Support in my room all periods.  She could help all my 6th graders get logged on and troubleshoot any other possible things that could arise of new kids to middle school.  She was also able to give us great tips through the day that I was unaware of.  So we all learned together and it was amazing!  Thank you Robin!!!  Also, shout out to my tech savvy students who also help along the way!!  Between all of us, we had it covered for a fun and non-stressful first day of technology:)

I will highlight a few of the activities along the way and share some links to the quizziz and socrative that we used.  Also, this lesson was a collaborative effort with my instructional coach (I love to get all the help I can:)) and I believe the best lessons are when everyone comes together and keeps building on each other's ideas.  Thank you Siri!!

Welcome to the Classroom



As I stated before, as the students enter the classroom I set the tone with a wizard hat on and whisking them with my magic wand.  It lights up and plays music.  By the end of class they were all wanting a magic wand!!  Also, a day of wizard training would not be perfect without my students entering the classroom without Harry Potter themed music.  The tone is set and they are ready for their special guest.

Dumbledore

Ok, I haven't read all the Harry Potter books, but I did watch all the movies.  Dumbledore might have passed as I was reminded of all day, but we went with it and his pre-recorded message continued to set the tone for our challenges for the day.  I used the app chatterpix on a i-pad to create the message.


First Challenge - Google Classroom

Most of my 6th graders could add a new classroom.  If not, they had to be good neighbors and help their table mates along.  It went very smoothly.  Once they are added they will find all the needed links for the day.

The Techie Badge Ceremony 

After each challenge has been completed by 100% of the class we can now have the official checking off of the techie badge.  I play the wizard mood music and then ham it up.  I build the suspense and then with three swooshes of the wand they will get to check the challenge off on their techie badge.  


Quizziz Challenge

This is where I introduce my technology expectations for the year.  We go over the expectations and then the students click the quizziz link from their google classroom and then bookmark the link.  Once we are all bookmarked they get to play the quizziz based on technology expectations.  Most students were not exposed to Quizziz so it was fun to introduce.  After we finished, there was another techie badge ceremony:)  QUIZZIZ SHARING LINK

Teacher Website

Students were presented the challenge of finding their homework for the weekend.  It gave them a chance to search the website and find the location of all need resources and links.  To find my website, it was linked in my google classroom and then they were to bookmark the link as well.  After we finished, you guessed it, time for another techie badge ceremony.  We were having a lot of fun with it now:)  BTW - their homework was to have a great weekend!!

Socrative

Once again, the students used the third link in the google classroom (which was socrative) and we bookmarked it and I had the activity on student pace.  It was only 3 questions, but all very important techie wizard questions!!:)  This was fun because not one of my students have ever used Socrative!!  Here is the sharing code to the Techie Wizard Socrative.  SOC-29466589

QR Code Extension

We found the web store together and added a QR Code Extension.  Once added, I gave the students a paper with two QR codes and they practiced scanning the link.  We then had our final techie badge ceremony!!!!  


Reflection

Next year, I will make sure to give them a wizard pencil at the end as a graduation gift into the world of techie wizards.  They really wanted my wand, so maybe I could put all their names into a bag and draw one winner for all my classes.  A certificate would be fun as well.  Ideas are welcome!!!

I hope you have a magical year!!

















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