Identifying Quality Apps, Games and Website for Learning

1@suethotz @graphite

Finding the Good Stuff:Identifying quality games, websites, and apps for learning

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Our MissionWe are dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.

Our VisionWe envision a world in which every kid knows how to participate safely, responsibly, and respectfully in a digital world and can harness the potential of technology for learning.

Our mission

Our vision

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1. Rate

2. Advocate

3. Investigate

4. Educate

What We Do

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• 19,000 reviews across all media types

• Key rating elements include:o Age-appropriateness

o Detailed “nutritional labeling” of parental pain points

o Learning ratings for digital content

Ratings and Reviews

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Learning Ratings for Parents

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• Digital Literacy and Citizenship as a National Education Priority

• LEAD Commission

• Advocate on Kids’ Privacy Rights

• Address Major Public Health Issues Related to Media and Kids

“Private Entities like Common Sense

Media are pursuing a sanity not

censorship approach, which can serve

as a model for how to use technology

to empower parents without offending

the First Amendment”

- President Barack Obama

“As long as I’m Chairman, the FCC will

be committed to working with

organizations like Common Sense

Media to tackle the challenges and seize

the opportunities of the digital age.”

- FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski

Advocate

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• Provide reliable and independent data on children’s use of media

• Impact on physical, social, emotional and cognitive development

• Conduct 2-3 original studies per year + host thought leader events.

Investigate

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K-12 Digital Literacy& Citizenship Curriculum

Curriculum Toolkits

Digital PassportProfessional Development Educate Families: Media, Technology, and

Kids

1-to-1 Essentials Program

Educate

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www.commonsense.org/educators

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Rapidly changing education ecosystem

The K-12 Education Landscape is Changing

Increasing adoption of devices and apps, sites and games by schools, teachers and parents

New legislation driving change

Unprecedented investmentin education technology

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• More than 125,000 education apps in marketplaces today (Source: iTunes and Google Play)

Left image: http://getonlinetutor.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/hello-world/ Right image: http://internetmediathailand.com/tag/online-applications

How do you find the good stuff?

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Graphite SolutionIssues for Teachers

No centralized marketplace where digital educational content is collected and categorized

No standard ratings system for reliable comparison content

Discovery of good digital learning products is time consuming for teachers

No clearinghouse by teachers for teachers for authentic feedback and best practices

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Graphite helps teachers discover, learn and share the best digital learning products.

The Search is Over!

• High-quality, unbiased ratings and reviews

• For teachers, by teachers

• Simple, easy, fast, free

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtKjiIYoVHU

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Graphite Features• Rigorous: Comprehensive

methodology and rubric behind Graphite rating

• Discoverability with powerful filtering and searching by subject, skills and grade bands

• Curated Lists: “Top Picks”

• Aligned to Common Core

• By teachers, for teachers: Teacher community shares reviews & best practices

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Engagement Is it fun, engrossing, compelling? Does it attract students? Would they use it / play again?

Pedagogy Does it carry depth of content? Is learning central to the experience? Do skills transfer offline? Does it build key concepts?

Support Are there app tutorials and tips? Any support for teachers? Accessible to many audiences?

Ratings Methodology

Rating Methodology and Rubric Key Components

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Let’s visit Graphite

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Viewing a graphite listing

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• Sign up for Graphite

• Search: Use the filter and look up some digital products for your classroom

• Contribute: Write a field note on a product you already use

Your Turn!

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How do you see yourself using Graphite?

How can Graphite play a role in your schools/institutions?

What are additional features you would want (i.e. PD video)?

Some Key Questions

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Interested? Sign up at www.graphite.org

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Sue Thotz

Chicago Program Manager

sthotz@commonsense.org

Twitter: @CommonSenseEdu

@suethotz

@graphite