Updates

Teacher Resources

This is where we post notes about any changes to links or content (due to a site or resource that is no longer available or revision work in process) throughout the school year.

REVISIONS & UPDATES to all of the Things and reformatting the Quests into smaller sub-pages are in process. Thanks for your patience.

November - December 2024



 August 2024- October 2024

  • Completed: 
  • Added to the teacher's page: Apps & Strategies to Stop Cheating with AI, (Aug 2024) presentation shared by Andy Mann.

  • In process:
    • 9. Search Strategies will have Quest 6, an advanced Quest will be done by the end of Nov.. 
    • 11.Powerful Presentation is in the process of a complete revision; the target completion is by early November.
    • 16.Career Prep Quests 5-7 content revisions are in process.
  • Reformatting of the Quests to smaller "sub-pages" is continuing.
    • Things now reformatted and updated: 1. Basics, 2. Visual Learning, 3. My Digital Life, 4. Suite Tools, 5. Digital Footprint, 6. Cyber Safety, 7. Be Legal and Fair, 8. Troubleshooting, 9. Search Strategies (almost completed), 15. Design Thinking, 17. Creative Communications, 19. Buyer Beware.
    • There are 8 of the 21 Things yet to be updated and reformatted. Stay tuned.
  • Quest "STEP" sub-pages are being renamed to describe the content on the pages instead of Step 1, Step 2, etc.
  • Reformatting DONE:
    • 1 Basics, 2.Visual Learning, 3.My Digital Life, 4.Suite Tools-Google Docs, 4.Suite Tools-Microsoft Word, 5.Digital Footprint, 6.Cyber Safety, 7.Be Legal & Fair, 8.Troubleshooting, 15. Design Thinking, 17.Creative Communication

June- mid July 2024

  • 10.Digital Images Quests are refreshed and updated. 
  • In Process revisions: 
    • 9. Search Strategies almost completed
    • 16. Career Prep revisions in planning
    • 11. Powerful Presentations
    • 13. Dig the Data 

April - May 2024

  • The main menu and links will be updated.
  • 14.Social Networking Quest 3 Life Online has been updated and includes an introduction and discussion about social media and AI Chatbots
  • Teachers Menu Page and linked pages have been updated and some are in process. 
  • 6.Cyber Safety revisions and content updates have been completed. There are now only 5 Quests:
    • Q1 Responsible Internet Use, Q2 Danger!, Q3 Cybersavvy, Q4 Cyberbullying, Q5 Stop the Bully.
    •  We welcome any feedback or suggestions on the new changes to Cyber Safety.
    • A new breakout activity "Stop Cyberbullying" has been added to 6.Q5 Stop the Bully What Can You Do? page.

February & March 2024

  • 7. Be Legal & Fair is updated to the new format. Quest 3 Plagiarism has a Step 2 Page featuring two activities and copyright & plagiarism with AI
  • 17. Creative Communications is updated 
  • Updates to the Teacher page "AI & 21Things"
    Screenshot of a list of AI & 21Things Resources for Educators
     
  • The 4.QM Suite Tools Quests are updated but being revised July 2024 with new content and videos.
  • New content is being finished up for #9. Search Strategies, #7. Be Legal and Fair (Q1 updated), #10 Digital Images, #17 Creative Communications, #21 Code.org to include an intro to eSports
  • AI Tools removed at this time: 1.Q7 AI Playground we removed the activity with Craiyon and Stable Diffusion due to feedback about content and excessive and potentially inappropriate ads.

January 2024

September-December 2023:

In Process of being updated:

  • Thing 4. Google Suite Tools
  • Thing 9. Search Strategies

August 2023: 

  • We have begun to introduce AI in 1. Basics Q7 Introduction to AI and are planning to build some into many Quests during the coming year.
  • The Technology Skills Surveys have been moved to the 1.Basics Q1 21t4s Technology Skills Survey & Goals page
  • Visit the Begin Here video for a review of new changes
  • Basics has been revised with some changes to the Quests. Each of the Quests have been 'chunked' to have less on the page, and are composed of several pages with links to the next page sometimes called Step 1, 2, ...(similar to many course management systems)
    • Q1 21t4s Introduction
      • This Quest is broken into new pages titled: Vocabulary, Student Checklist, Technology Skills Survey & Goals, Student Portfolio, Student Index & Roadmap, and Completing This Quest.
    • Q2 Web Browsers is an Introduction page and has a Vocabulary page, one Steps page, and a Completing page.
    • Q3 Screen Capture is an Introduction page and has a Vocabulary page, an Entire screen page, a Partial Screen page, and a Completing page.
    • Q4 Shortcuts is an Introduction page and has a Vocabulary page, Keyboard Shortcuts page, Split Screen & Screenshots page, Keyboard Skills & Gymnastics, and Completing page.
    • Q5 Safe & Secure is an Introduction page and has an AUP page, a Passwords page, a Username & Security page, and a Completing page.
    • Q6 Email is an Introduction page, a Vocabulary page, an Email Etiquette page, Email Scenario page, Email Digital Breakout page, and a Completing page.
    • Q7 Introduction to AIis an Introduction page and has a Vocabulary page, followed by:
      • What is AI? page leads with a question of What is AI, has a short video and an assignment to identify how we use AI
      • AI in Real Life page includes another short video and has students think about real examples of AI already in their lives, and has discussion and reflection questions
      • AI Playground is a beginner AI Playground with activities and examples for Craiyon, Stable Diffusion, and two Google Ai resources Quick Draw! and AutoDraw.
      • AI Prompt Writing
      • Training AI
      • AI Ethics & Privacy looks at Ethics and Privacy with videos about Ethics & AI, COPPA, and a link to FERPA.
      • Completing Page
    • The previous three Gold Quests remain and are unchanged
  • Thing 8. Troubleshooting has been revised in the new format, has new Quest names, content, and all of the videos are new. Thanks to Ron Houtman from the Kent ISDwe have new trouble-shooting videos for the Quests and content and Melissa White for the revised content.
    • Q1 Magic Power Cycle
    • Q2 That Didn't Work Now What?
    • Q3 Safeguarding Your Devices
    • Q4 Trouble
  • 19. Buyer Beware has been revised to the new format and has new content and videos. The Quest names have not been changed.
    • Q1 Compare Products
    • Q2 Truth in Advertising
    • Q3 Scams
    • Q4 Clickbait
  • The TechSkills Survey for grades 6-8 has been updated and has an alternative format available as a Google Form Template that teachers can copy to their own drive, have their students take it, and be able to capture their results to a spreadsheet. The link to it is located in the Teacher Resources login page and in the Assessments area.
  • 6. Cybersafety Q1 has been renamed to Responsible Internet Use Guidelines to more accurately represent the content, and the 9 Themes of Digital Citizenship list is now a revised Flip-card Quizlet, and the Online Rules for Netiquette and Safety tips are combined into an embedded slide deck. (May be turned into a video)


 *** Michigan Teachers do you need credits to renew your license?
PD Offerings:
  There are monthly offering each month through the REMC Association
More info can be found at Registration.

NEWS FLASHES

Visit the new Teacher Resources Accommodations Page 
Visit the MiTechKids (K-5 site)
Keep up with Updates on this page.

Some Summer 2022 STATS from the Teacher Survey:

MOST USED RESOURCES BY 21t4s by TEACHERS (survey results 8-2022)

  • 88% Teacher Quest Guides
  • 75% Student Checklists
  • 75% Quizlet quizzes
  • 67% Teacher Resource Area
  • 60% Teacher Handbook
  • 56% Roadmap and also the Syllabus
  • 40% Digital Badges and Award certificates
  • 38% ProProf Quizzes


Technology devices being used:

  • 40% are using Chromebooks
  • 21 % using PC desktops
  • 12% using PC laptops or netbooks
  • 10% using iPads
  • 17% Other (Mac laptops, android, smartphones, assorted tablets

Teachers are using the following applications in their classrooms:

  • 78% Google docs
  • 75% Gmail
  • 58% spreadsheets
  • 27% Office 365

Use of YouTube videos

  • 73% On student and teacher devices
  • 27% Only from the teacher device or projector
  • 13% Only if the URL is provided in advance

ISTE SEAL OF ALIGNMENT

We did not apply to renew the Seal after the 2021 school year as our site continues to meet the standards.

ISTE awarded the 21things4students their Seal of Alignment for meeting all of the technology standards for students for 2019-2021. Their conclusion stated:

Reviewers CONCLUSION: that collectively, the 21things4students resource is an impressive resource that provides a comprehensive ladder of skills critical for students to be successful in the digital learning landscape. Students who complete the 21Things curriculum will be in an excellent position to further develop their skills and grow their effective use of technology as a tool for learning.