Using Technology to Teach

Character Education to Elementary

School Students

SAMANTHA ANNE CHAIKENTECHNOLOGY FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS

FALL 2008

WHAT IS CHARACTER EDUCATION?

Curriculum method

Revolves around developing “positive character" in students

Practice & teach moral values & decision making. © 1998-2001 Funderstanding. All rights reserved.

Respect Trustworthiness

Responsibility Fairness

Caring Citizenship

Honesty Courage

Integrity Diligence

Friendship Conflict Resolution

Diversity Growth

Character Education

Use of Technology in Elementary Schools

The Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2001’s

ASCA

NYS School Counselors

Elementary School Students

• Curriculum that uses online computer modules to teach students different character education topics – problem solving,

communication, conflict resolution, respect, & responsibility

• Focuses on different life skills and proper behavior in academic &social situations

COPYRIGHT 2001-2008 MINDOH! LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Free resources to integrate technology into classroom

lessons.

iLearn Technology Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved.

Good for character education Can create many scenarios

Choose the number of panels, the design, colors, save the comic to a gallery or print

them out

Online Comic Creator

Discovery Channel for Kids©Students Create Account

Videos are unique to each student

make high-tech videos

upload them to the internet

upload images & music

many different animation choices

students LOVE this program

Create 3-D Cartoons

Choose a puppet

Record your voice onto it

Move puppet by using mouse or keyboard

E.X.A.M.P.L.E

OBJECTIVE Students will incorporate different pillars of character education into an autobiographical video using PikiKids.com Comic Creator. Students will be able to identify the different fundamental principles of character education within themselves &explain how they demonstrate these qualities through the use of a comic strip.

GRADE LEVEL 6th – 8th

TIME FOR LESSON One hour

MATERIALS Computer Lab, Internet Access,http://www.pikikids.com/home

All About Me Alphabet

PROCEDURE• Review the different pillars of

character education – explore many different aspects and discuss why these are important.

• Have students access the internet and go to http://www.pikikids.com/home & do a demonstration on how to use this website. Ensure that the demonstration covers all of the main points of the website and encourage students to ask questions.

• Talk about what an autobiography is and have students brainstorm different ideas

• Introduce the assignment – Create an autobiography that uses all the letters in the alphabet to present yourself and demonstrate how you demonstrate the different aspects of character education.

• Leave time for questions• Students will have one month to

work on this assignment after this lesson.

EVALUATION– Students will be graded on whether or not they

completed the assignment &presented it to

their class.

– The comic should explain how each student

demonstrates AT LEAST ten qualities of

character education.

– Classroom teachers will proofread for spelling

& grammar.

– I will be present in the classroom

for the presentations.

STANDARD MET New York State Education Department Standard 5 Computer Technology –

Students use the computer as a tool for generating & drawing ideas

Go to website

Create a an account – SIMPLE – Go To ‘SignUp’

Click on ‘Create Your Own Comic’

Use 1 cell (box) – choose whichever you want

Create your comic strip layout (colors and border width)

Find an image that you want to use by searching Flickr gallery

Select an image that represents you as a person – Doesn’t necessarily have to look like

you OR be a picture of a humanAdd features – eyes, nose, mouth, hair, lips, etc

Add some fun stuff if you want

Walk around the class and have each person explain what they made and why it represents

them

TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS

• Character education aims to teach our students

the components of becoming a moral, socially

responsible individual.

__________________________________

• These social skills are necessary for children to

be successful in life & have healthy

relationships.

__________________________________

• Technological competencies are just as

important in today’s

high tech, digital age.

_________________________________

Students will develop positive character

education competencies & learn essential

technology skills needed to develop into

thriving adults.

REFERENCESBailey, B.P., Tettegah, S.Y., and Bradley, T.J. (2006). Clover: connecting

technology and character education using personally constructed

animated vignettes. Interacting with Computers, 18, 793-819.

Josephson Institute – Center for Youth Ethics. (2008). Character counts.

Retrieved October 17, 2008 from http://www.ccschoolagendas.com/

MindOH! (2008). Tools to stop bullying and school violence using

interactive character education for teens, teachers, and parents.

Retrieved October 17, 2008, from http://www.mindoh.com/index.aspx

New York State Education Department. (2008). Technology Learning

Standards. Albany, NY: US. Retrieved October 17, 2007 from

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/techls.html

Sabella, R. (2005). Tips and tricks: technology short cuts for school

counselors. Presented at the Annual conference for the American

School Counselor Association.

Sabella, R. and Booker, B. (2003). Using technology to promote your

guidance and counseling program among stakeholders. Professional

School Counseling, 6, 206-213.

Tenkely, K. (2008). iLearn Technology. Retrieved October 17, 2008 from

http://ilearntechnology.com

U.S. Department of Education. (2004). Enhancing Education through

Technology Act of 2001. Retrieved from

http://www.ed.gov/elsec/leg/esea02/pg34.html

THE END

THANK YOU