Programming resources for kids 101

Programming resources for kids 101 -- by Larry Dignan of ZDNet

Summary: Scratch, Lego Mindstorm and Microsoft's Kodu are efforts that may help stoke the programming fires in your little ones.

What do you do when your 8 and 5 year olds want to build Web sites and you have little knowledge to impart beyond some basic HTML?

If you're me you instantly query the techies you know. I pinged our ZDNet blog list as well as the Enterprise Irregular group to figure out how to introduce kids to programming.

Here's a look at some of the programming resources for children that came back. They are in order of popularity among the folks I queried. These sites looked interesting to children as well as a few parents.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/programming-resources-for-kids-101/65932 

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Phonics, spelling apps may aid students with special needs

Phonics, spelling apps may aid students with special needs
Lisa Welburn, a mother from Edmonton, Canada, was inspired to design two iPad applications to help teach phonics and spelling after watching her own son struggle with the subjects. Educators and parents say Welburn's apps, sold by her new company PyxWise Software, are especially useful for teaching students who have autism and other special needs. "The one thing they've told us is that their kids are really engaged -- they'll spend a lot of time with the spelling app," said her husband and partner in the venture, Craig Welburn. The Edmonton Journal (Alberta) 
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/literacy/raiseareader/creates+iPad+that+leaves+kids+spell+bound/5882990/story.html?cid=megadrop_story

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A Catalog of iPad Apps for Teachers and Students by Vicki Windman

Great catalog of starter iPad apps in different grade levels and areas of special needs. ~FK

 

A Catalog of iPad Apps for Teachers and Students by Vicki Windman

Written by:
8/31/2011 6:16 AM 

Fourteen of us–special education teachers, school psychologists, speech therapists, and other educators–recently spent six hours brainstorming with the goal of producing a starter iPad app catalog for teachers and students in our district, and beyond. Thanks to my colleagues for helping the district pioneer through new territory!

http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=3050

CJ Children's Music - Apps to pass on

Hi Frank,
I thought I would pass on a good deal in app land:). CJ song cards are
all .99cents. Great deal!! Great apps! Thanks!

Arianne

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Web Tools for Math and Science Educators

FYI …

 

Web 2.0 Tools for Math Educators

By Laura Turner

This is a continuing series on Web2.0 and other web-based tools for educators. This information is specific to math educators, but there is some crossover into science. Math educators will find a large number of useable interactive companion web sites for the teaching of math concepts and skills.

http://www.guide2digitallearning.com/tools_technologies/web_2_0_tools_math_educators

 

 

Web 2.0 Science Tools

By Laura Turner

The following web2.0 sites would be useful for science educators at the high school and middle school level.  Some would also be appropriate for higher elementary grade levels. There are many new ‘tools’ or websites that take advantage of the higher speed and bandwidth of today’s Internet.  Web 1.0 tools/websites were text based and web2.0 tools/websites are designed for full-motion video, 3D animations and are generally interactive in some manner.

 

Web 2.0 can also be described as the second round of new technology development and adoption. The Internet began as an adoption of a new technology, and then as web practices were standardized, user-friendly interface and aesthetic design were improved.

http://www.guide2digitallearning.com/professional_development/web_2_0_science_tools

 

Frank Kampen

Hickman Community Charter District

 

Fwd: iPad quick tip: Password protect apps and actions

When the kids or students have access to the iPad and you want to restrict their access to certain apps ...

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. THE iPAD FAN News, app reviews & gossip Password protect apps and actions Hello Frank, Got kids and don't want them to surf the web while you're away? You can password-protect apps like Safari or iTunes so that a family member can't buy every Beatles record with your credit card. Go to Settings > General > Restrictions, then enable restrictions and enter a password. Now you can define which apps and actions will be restricted.   Have fun with your iPad! The iPad Fan | www.theipadfan.com