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Below you will find my Summary of Learning:
Thank you for watching 😊
I am officially signing off. Thank you all for absolutely wonderful semester!
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First and foremost, I just have to say that I can’t believe the semester is over! Wow did that ever come fast. Over the last 10 weeks I have had the ability to learn a brand-new skill… using only the internet as my resource. To start my #LearningProject journey, I decided to dive headfirst into the world of pixel art.
Wait… are you new here? If so, let’s recap 😊:
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Part 1: Exploring the Wonders of the Digital Art World
To start my #LearningProject journey, I started by exploring the free PixilArt resource. Through this website, you can:
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Before I could learn about pixel art, I had to learn about pixels. Pixels are short for picture elements. They are the smallest indivisible units of digital image or display. Perfect. Now, I can explore further. According to Chat GPT, pixel art is a digital art style that utilizes individual pixels to create 2D images, known for its blocky, low-resolution aesthetic often associated with early video games and limited color palettes.
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In this week, I made by very first pixel art image using PixilArt.
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It was time to review an online video-presentation format.
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Part 5: Learning All About Landscapes
I really pushed myself outside of my comfort zone this week by creating a PixilArt landscape.
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I used no tutorial – or guidance – to put my creativity to the test. I put my resource hunt on pause this week to allow myself to have some fun in the creation process.
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Wowza. I did something this week I never thought I would be able to do… create my very own animation!
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Part 8: Creating My Own What Now?!
Guess what… I even created my own video game. Video games are all about pixels, making this a perfect area for me to explore.
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Part 9: New (Favorite) Resource Alert
As class has come to an end, Minecraft Education continues to be my favorite research I found within my #LearningProject. It is easy to use, relevant for learners, and perfect for meeting classroom outcomes – of any subject or age!
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Part 10: Using AI to Make WHAT 😲?!
In my last week, I attempted to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make my very own video game character. Although it took some time to find a good resource, I had a blast in the process.
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One of the most rewarding aspects of my #LearningProject journey has been witnessing my own growth as a new learner. See my progress gallery below:
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Additionally, I had some amazing peer support in the process to help me stay motivated – especially when I needed it the most. See my most helpful pals below:
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Overall, learning a new skill online has been an absolutely amazing experience. Through this assignment, I learned just how educational – and resourceful – the online world can be. Don’t believe me? Online learning…
With online access, the world is literally your oyster 🦪. Next up on my list is to learn how to crotchet… since y’all made it look like so much fun!
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Now… before we go our separate ways, I must leave you all with one last question. Is there anything that you think that people CAN’T learn online 🤔?
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Hello everyone,
As we wrap up this semester’s adventures in learning, I wanted to take a moment to share some reflections on how we’ve all been part of each other’s growth. To see my personal contributions, please click the oh so fancy link below:
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1.) Keeping the Conversation Alive
One of the highlights of this semester has been engaging with all the amazing content you’ve been putting out on your blogs. I made it a habit to drop by regularly (3-5 times per week), leaving comments that ranged from thoughtful reflections to simple words of encouragement. Whether we were discussing complex ideas or just sharing a laugh, I aimed to keep the dialogue flowing and the vibes positive. You can see my fingerprints all over those comment sections.
2.) Getting Chatty on Discord
Ah, Discord – our digital hangout where the learning never stops. I’ve loved being part of the discussions, whether it was answering questions, sharing resources, or just shooting the breeze with you all. From late-night convos to impromptu debates, I’ve tried to be an active and supportive presence in our virtual community. You’ll find me in the chat threads, chiming in whenever I can add value to the conversation.
3.) Staying Engaged on My Own Blog:
Of course, I didn’t forget about my own little corner of the internet. Whenever someone took the time to drop a comment on one of my posts, I tried my hardest to respond. I valued your insights and questions, and I wanted to keep the conversation going. Because let’s face it – learning is way more fun when it’s a two-way street.
As I look back on the semester, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to learn and grow alongside each of you. Our collective efforts have turned this virtual classroom into a vibrant community of learners, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Emma
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In the era of digital transformation, educators – and pre-educators like us – are constantly seeking innovative tools to enhance teaching and learning experiences. One such tool making waves in the educational landscape is Speechify, a platform that uses AI-powered text-to-speech technology. Now… what exactly is text-to-speech? And who does it benefit? Let’s find out in the video below:
In terms of student engagement, Speechify offers a flexible approach to personalized learning. Students can listen to course materials at their own pace, whether it’s during commutes, chores, or leisure time. Thus, promoting self-directed learning – especially for students who have ADHD or dyslexia (find out more here).
One of the key strengths of Speechify lies in its ability to support various learning styles. Auditory learners can really benefit from the audio format, while visual learners may appreciate the option to follow along with highlighted text. It can even promote critical thinking and creativity – a concern many people have when the topic of AI is brought up – by encouraging active listening and reflection. Students can pause, rewind, and annotate audio content, allowing for deeper comprehension and analysis of the content.
Although AI-powered tools like Speechify can be of benefit to students, there are ethical and practical concerns to consider. Let’s start with privacy considerations… specifically in the scenario where data is collected and analyzed for optimization purposes. To keep our students safe, it is important to implement data protection measures and to obtain informed consent from students and guardians regarding the usage of AI technologies in the classroom. Additionally, the website allows for content to be read in the voices of celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Gwyneth Paltrow, or Mr. Beast. Although this can be fun – and make the content more engaging for learners – risks that come with AI-generated content, such as voice cloning or exploitation, should be discussed prior to use.
As a supporter for the integration of AI in education, I believe that technologies like Speechify hold great potential to transform traditional pedagogical approaches. However, it’s crucial to approach AI implementation in education with a balanced perspective, considering both the opportunities and challenges it presents. By embracing AI technologies responsibly and thoughtfully, we can pave the way for more inclusive, engaging, and effective educational environments.
P.S. Here are the Top 8 Text-to-Speech Software and Apps, referenced from the Speechify website themselves:
Thank you so much for reading! Please feel free to share any AI resources you would recommend – either as an educator or as a student – in the comments below 😊.
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“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!”
— Dr. Seuss
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Hello everyone! Welcome back to Part 10 of my learning project. As I was looking on the schedule for next week, I saw that we were going to be talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Although we are going to delve more into the topic next week, it got me thinking… if you can use AI to create meal plans, voice overs, or images, can you use AI to make pixel art? Going even further, to connect to my recent projects, can AI be used to make video games? Let’s check it out!
Before I began my research, I wanted to share a HILARIOUS AI-based video game I found called Suck Up!. Essentially, you are a vampire who is trying to convince AI civilians to let you into their homes… it sounds weird but it is oddly addicting. See more below:
After having some fun with Suck Up!, I officially decided to start my research. I got quite a few suggestions for the Retro Diffusion Extension on the Aseprite program. However, my search quickly came to a dead end when I realized it was $65.00 – if you have money to spend, the reviews on this sound great! From there, I tried the Orbofi AI website… I did NOT link this site because it crashed my entire computer when I tried to open it… how rude. Jeepers, my research is off to quite the start. Time to go on a break and reset.
I am back… and happy I did not give up! On a Reddit forum, I found the character.ai website. This is a free website where you can create video game characters, practice a new language, get book recommendations, or even practice an interview. Wow! If you haven’t caught onto the theme of my resources by now, it’s even free 😎. I was honestly blown away by all of the possibilities within character.ai. After exploring the website for a few minutes, I officially jumped into the journey of creating a pixel art video game character using AI.
I clicked Create a Character, and away I went. IMMEDIATELY, I was faced with a login button (agh). All I had to provide was my email… and questionably my date of birth? Oh 🐋. From there, I had to provide a name, tagline, description, and greeting for my character. Although this was more behind-the-scenes work than I initially anticipated, I had a lot of fun building my character… until I realized I was creating a CHAT BOT! What in the world… I thought I was creating a photograph. So, if you ever want to chat with a Snorlax AI bot hit my line.
After some back pedaling, I ended up finding a pre-made chat bot within the website that creates images – phew! Let’s try this again. After asking the bot to provide a photo of the Snorlax Pokémon, things went sideways… it provided me with an image of an AI woman in a dress *sigh*. Back to the drawing board. Although this website has tons of cool features, it is not the place to go for creating AI images of characters.
My final attempt was Canva. Through the magic media function, you can can create AI generated images using a typed description (fingers crossed). After some trial and error, I finally ended up with an image I was happy with. Today was another win in my books for Canva. 100/10 recommend, whether you need aesthetic presentation slides or AI images!
As AI continuously evolves, I am left to wonder where we will be in even a year from now! Hopefully… making better – or free – video game creation programs. Although I left today with different results than what was in mind, I had a lot of fun researching some of the different possibilities that AI currently has to offer.
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Have you ever looked someone up on social media… and scrolled? Like a distant relative on Facebook, or your friends-sisters-friends cat on Instagram? Whether you realized it or not, you were participating in the act of cyber sleuthing – or at least the beginning stages of it. Cyber sleuthing refers to the process of investigating and tracking individuals online. Although it can be harmless to browse through an e-profile of a peer, the stakes change when the observer is an employer, family member, or student.
Different sites, different audiences, different purposes.
– Nicole Lee
Nicole Lee notes the rising trend of individuals having multiple accounts on one platform. For example, an individual can have a main Instagram account – where they post posed and filtered images – and a finstagram – for unfiltered and uncensored content. Though this allows for more multifaceted content, we must continue to be mindful of the digital footprints we are creating for ourselves. It just takes one screenshot to tarnish a public image, relationship, and/or opportunity. See more in the video below:
To put my cyber sleuthing skills to the test, I decided to use the Digital Sleuthing Worksheet to investigate my good friend Jenna. Starting with a quick Google search of her full name, there were no results that matched the real Jenna – and no red flags! To further specify my research criteria, I added first our province, and then our city. Here is what I found:
And… well, that was it! Overall, I found zero red flags in my research. Although, it is considered a red flag to have NO online personality at all, Jenna provided one with her e-Portfolio and extracurricular involvement. Thank you for letting me cyber sleuth you!
Overall, I had a lot of fun participating in this cyber sleuth activity. Whether you are in elementary school or university, it is always important to be mindful of what you are posting online. You never know who will be watching, so be a good digital citizen and build a positive identity online! *Que: Somebody’s Watching Me by Rockwell*
Something that I have been seeing more frequently online is the presence of public student-teacher accounts. On their profiles, they post daily experiences and/or struggles. Taking everything we have learned into account, what is your opinion on student-teacher-influencer content? Let me know in the comments below 😊!
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“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”
Mary Lou Cook
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Sooo… there is a resource I have been curious about for YEARS! When I was in high school, I noticed that there was an app downloaded onto every computer… and although it was so common, I never ended up giving it a try. To bring me back to my curious days, I decided to finally explore this mysterious app. What might that be? The very own Minecraft Education edition. If you are new to this – like me – please enjoy the overview video below.
Now… if you find yourself wondering how Minecraft Education and pixel art are related, I am getting there… SOON! But isn’t this resource cool?! Minecraft Education Edition is a specialized version of the popular sandbox game, Minecraft, tailored specifically for educational purposes. Developed by Mojang Studios, this platform uses the immersive and creative potential of Minecraft to engage students in a variety of subjects, from math and science to history and language arts. It offers a collaborative environment where educators can create custom lessons, worlds, and challenges to facilitate learning in an interactive and dynamic way. BONUS, it is free to use if you have a school-verified email 🎉! If you don’t know by now, I am a sucker for free teaching resources.
To start, I had to download Minecraft Education onto my computer. I was immediately blown away when opening the application. You have the option of picking from subject kits, monthly build challenges, starter worlds, or how to play tutorials. Now, if you are planning on teaching anything related to Science, Math, Computer Science, Equity and Inclusion, History and Culture, Social Emotional, Art and Design, Digital Citizenship, Literacy and Language, ESports, or Climate and Sustainability; then Minecraft Education is for you!
There are tons of pre-made lessons for each and every one of these categories. Continuing my theme of pixel art, I decided to give the Art and Design starter kit a try. Specifically, building a campsite. I had so much fun following along with this activity. I like thinking of each block like a pixel, so I used the skills I have built thus far to make my camp site. It got rained out… digitally (lol)! However, I still had time to take a screenshot.
Honestly, I think that Minecraft Education is the best educational resource I have found so far! It is an 11/10 in my books. They even have hour-long lessons that teach students about cyber safety! If you want more information, see here.
Phew, that was a lot. Thank you for sticking with me! Now, I just have to ask, are you familiar with Minecraft Education? If so, what are your thoughts on it?! I would love to know.
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To address digital literacy in the classroom, it is crucial that information is frequently updated to maintain relevancy to our learners – and the times. For example, although the infamous Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus was once a top-tier resource, it is no longer fit to address the very real risks that youth are facing within their digital universes. Take privacy concerns, trolling, misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes, and/or digital addiction as examples.
Given the understanding that youth are typically “more digitally sophisticated than teachers,” it is important that we not only engage in two-way learning processes with our students, but also implement any suggestions, changes, or updates into our classroom content. For example, in a Grade 3 classroom, I can begin a lesson – or unit – by asking my learners about what they know, or would like to know, about digital literacy. From there, I can adapt my initial plans based on their responses.
On the topic of youth input, Yimin Yand is a 13-year-old student from Vancouver. Below, he teaches his very own lesson about digital literacy.
Focusing on a Grade 3 level, digital literacy be incorporated into the classroom through a variety of ways:
1.) Social Studies
2.) Physical Education
3.) Mathematics
4.) Health
5.) English
Thank you so much for reading! Before you go, I just have one quick question. Are there any digital literacy – or cyber-related – lessons you remember from your own schooling experience? If so, what made the lesson so memorable? 💭
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“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.”
Albert Einstein
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Well everybody, the time has officially come. I am going to be giving the whole create your own video game thing a shot! After some – substantial – Google investigating, I found the Microsoft MakeCode Arcade program. This program has a MASSIVE selection of things to do, from watching coding livestreams to playing user-friendly games. Did I mention it is free to use?!
The more I explored Microsoft MakeCode Arcade, the cooler it got! Yes, you can code your own video games, play your own games, and play the video games that others have made… but guess what? You can even see the behind-the-scenes of how everyone else’s games were created. In other words, you can see how each game is coded – whether that be in block, JavaScript, or python. Making this a great opportunity to firsthand see the inputs and outputs of coding.
Now, seeing as my focus is on pixel art, I decided to add my own background, sprites, and obstacles into the mix. Instead of creating my entirely own game from scratch, I decided to alter one of the pre-made games to fit my liking. Yes, Microsoft MakeCode Arcade let’s you do this! Given that Easter is around the corner, I decided to put an Easter-twist on a game you all may be familiar with… Flappy Bird. The craze of 2014. To bring back any nostalgia you may – or may not have – missed, you can try out my game below 😉.
🚨 LINK TO THE GAME 🚨
Overall, I would 10/10 recommend Microsoft MakeCode Arcade for teaching – or learning – coding, digital design, and/or video game creation. The program is user-friendly, FULL of tutorials, and allows for creative minds to tinker and explore. Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed. Let me know what your high score was in the comments below 😊
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Right off the hop, the first thing that I really liked is how Code.org had the option to navigate the website in up to 68 languages, from English to Bosanski! This means that the program is not only accessible for English-speaking students – as typically limited to – but also allows for EAL students to continue to grow in their L1. Whoop whoop 🤗!
From there, I went into the Hour of Code category, and got to work. Adding another positive to the list, there are options both for students and for educators. As a learner for today, I chose the student option.
Being an early educator, I chose a Pre-Reader to Grade 1 activity: Coding Twinkle Little Star in ScratchJr. Which adds ANOTHER positive, the program has lessons designed for specific age ranges… do the positives ever stop? AND for FREE? Craziness.
With this lesson, there are provided Google Slides, a read aloud option, and a step-by-step walk through of the coding lesson. Through the tutorial, we explore the ScratchJr app… which is ALSO free… another win.
The one downfall with ScratchJr to note is that you need either an Apple tablet or an Android tablet to get the app. Which means if you do not have the luxury of classroom iPads, you might be out of luck. However, I was able to get the app on my iPhone!
The tutorial was amazing! Not only did it explain each step, but also each part of the program (icons, actions, settings, etc.). Making it great for coding newbies like myself. I also enjoyed how the program looked the exact same whether you were on a tablet or an iPhone – removing any risk of confusion due to a difference in format. Overall, I think coding is amazing for everyone, young or old, to learn! Not only is it fun, but it also adds a sense of inquiry and appreciation when one can see the behind the scenes of their favorite apps or video games. If you feel so keen, you can even create your own! For students in the classroom, coding – whether binary, JavaScript, or block – helps students learn a variety of skills, such as:
And much more! In our technology driven world, coding is a great way to teach crucial concepts, such as problem solving, while keeping your teaching content relevant. If you have access to technology in the classroom, I highly recommend incorporating some coding! You never know what doors you may open for your learners.
Before I end this post off, I want to hear from you! Have you learned how to code before? Was this your first time? Let me know what your learning experience was like in the comments below 💻.
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