Clickers

Students at Bon Air are using a new device to help increase their participation and to motivate them to stay engaged during lessons. Students were introduced to Promethean ActivVotes and ActivExpressions in their classroom and specials areas. These devices are a type of student response system which allows teachers to ask the students questions and get their responses immediately from a click of a button. You may hear the kids referring to these devices as "clickers."

Using ActivVotes and ActivExpression devices teachers can ask the students a question, ask for an opinion, or deliver test questions. Each student is required to respond and the results are immediately available for the teacher to review. This helps even the most reserved or shy child to participate anonymously. Bon Air teachers find this helpful to assess who is still struggling in certain areas and when the class has mastered a certain skill or topic. Even our specials area teachers have been using the devices to promote technoogy in their classes. Check out some Bon Air students using the clickers.

Students use ActivExpression Devices to text their answers to the teacher. The question appears on the screen and they respond to each individual question with short answers or multiple choice options.

Some students check an agenda board for their questions, and then text their answers to the teacher.

Using ActivVotes students can respond in a simplier way. They select answer choices by click on options A,B,C,D,E, or F.

 

In this picture third grade students are using the ActivVotes in the library.

Our librarian, Mrs. Strong, used the clickers to see how many students remembered correct library procedures.

Students aim their clicker and send their response directly to their teacher's computer.

Students earning their Digital Driver's Licenses!

Many students in grades 3-5 have started earning their Digital Driver's Licenses, you may see them with their laptops in the hall or headed to a special with their device. A big shout out and congratulations to Mrs. York's class, Mrs. Fulk's class, Mr. Cunningham's class, Mrs. Anglin's class, Mrs. McKee's class, Mr. Van Dam's class, and several students in Mrs. Crites' class for earning their DDL!

Haven't earned your DDL yet? Check out this video with tips from our fifth graders.

Classroom Dojo

The talk around the Technology Academy at BAE right now is all about DOJO POINTS!  I hear students sharing with their parents their dojo point totals as soon as they hop in their cars at the end of the day. Its DOJO HYSTERIA! 

Class Dojo is a behavior management system used to award feedback for both positive and negative actions. Teachers can give points for participation, being on time, creativity, kindness, showing respect, etc. 

 

 Each student has their own avatar and the teacher can give or take away Dojo points throughout the day. Many teachers use their smartphones as a remote to award points in the hallways, at specials, or even waiting for the restrooms. Other teachers allow the students to click on the Promethean board and add a Dojo point to their avatar on their own. Class Dojo allows teachers to collect data to identify ways to help students improve their performance. It also sparks motivation in our students to earn lots of Dojo points throughout the day to earn rewards!

 

Check out this kindergarten kiddo standing by her avatar!

Mrs. McDonald's class gathers around the carpet. You can see their avatars on the screen displaying their Dojo points.

Orientation Lessons

The students in grades 3-5 are completing a series of five orientation lessons to help them get better acquainted with their new HP Laptops. The lessons are teaching students how to properly care and carry their device, ways to stay safe online, tips for navigating the Internet, troubleshooting problems on their computers and how to stand up to cyberbullying. Check out some of our students using their skills below.

This third grader knows one way to properly hold her laptop.

 

A student in Mrs. York's class is learning about different types of Internet browsers.

 

This "GEEK SQUAD" member is in charge of checking his fellow classmates computers to make sure they are all plugged in before leaving for the day!

 

 

These fifth grade students are learning how to use hyperlinks to navigate the Web.

 

 

Meet Your Laptop

Meet Your Laptop Day

Today is Meet Your Laptop day! Let me introduce myself and we can get started!

WELCOME

Dear Students and Staff,

Welcome back! This year Bon Air Elementary has transformed into the Technology Academy @ Bon Air Elementary. We have started a new initiative and will be equipping each student in grades K-5 with a computing device. This device will be used to encourage higher levels of understanding, encourage collaboration, inspire creativity, and engage the 21st century learner! We are excited to move forward on this new adventure with everyone!