Thinking Critically about your Seesaw Posts

Students are going to think critically about the type of Seesaw posts they make in their learning journals and set a goal.

VR and NGSS Integration

Grade 1 students went on a virtual field trip using Google Expeditions to explore the concept of structures and functions.  We 'stopped' at various points on our Borneo virtual field trip to investigate different plants and animals.  While we observed them, we took note of structures and then thought about the function of that structure.   

Make a 10 with Coding

Grade 1 students learned to sequence precise instructions, use the language of programming, decompose problems, make a plan for a code, AND reinforce the math concept of making a 10 all at the same time....phew! What an exciting and engaging lesson for students.

STEAM Teacher

I have accepted a new job for next year at the Singapore American School and I am really excited about the possibilities.  I will shift to being a Science teacher for grades K-2 with an emphasis on developing a STEAM program.

Technology in the classroom: digital learning at schools in Singapore

Technology in the classroom: digital learning at schools in Singapore

http://honeykidsasia.com/technology-in-the-classroom-digital-learning-at-schools-in-singapore/

SINGAPORE AMERICAN SCHOOL (SAS) – Kelli Rae Buxton, Elementary School Educational Technology Coach
What are the school procedures that teach students how to stay internet safe while using technology in the classroom?Today our students are using the immense power of digital media to explore, connect, create, and learn in ways never before imagined. With this power, young people have extraordinary responsibilities. At Singapore American School we build key skills and mindsets around digital resilience, online safety, and online security through a variety of ways.

Students are explicitly taught about going online safely, protecting passwords, and maintaining a positive digital footprint. We also observe digital citizenship week. Teachers facilitate the viewing of relevant digital citizenship videos and guide discussions on the key points. Additionally, teachers model good digital citizenship related to current school and internet communities topics throughout courses of study. Parent engagement and support is also crucial. We strongly encourage parents to use Common Sense Media and other resources to support their child(ren) in developing appropriate online behaviour.

Our primary mission is to ensure that students, teachers, and parents all feel empowered to have continuous, open, and honest conversations about online activities that reinforce positive character, morals and values. By providing opportunities for these conversations, SAS students can learn how to engage online in safe, respectful, and responsible ways; therefore, building digital resilience.

An Earth Inquiry

Mr. Lewis's KG class inquired into the Earth.  We had great fun learning about why the Earth is so colorful, which led us to investigate Biomes!
  

A Robust Educational Technology Program

As an educational technology coach, I am responsible for exposing students and teachers to a wide variety of ways to integrate and embed technology into the curriculum.  

At the Singapore American School, I am able to provide opportunities in the strands of integration, coding, robotics, virtual reality, Creation Stations: An Innovative Learning Space, and makerspaces.

For integrating ipads into the curriculum, we use the ISTE Standards which we converted into student-friendly 'I Can' statements.  

With respect to coding, my students use apps such as Kodable, Daisy the Dinosaur, and Osmo Coding.  We celebrate Hour of Code and engage in a Coding Reboot learning activity.

For robotics, Beebots are embedded in the math curriculum.  We also expose students to Dash robots in a more discovery and inquiry style approach.

Virtual Reality comes in the form of Google Expeditions and YouTube 360 videos aligned to grade level NGSS units.

Students experience open-ended learning at the Creation Stations; a center focused on art building, coding, engineering, and filmmaking.

The Makerspace is a student-centered learning environment that provides opportunities for children to explore a design cycle (Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve, Share).