Angi Teaches Tech Blog

PARENTS: It's hard to believe it already, but next week is Christmas!  YIKES! What are you plans for holiday break?  What will your kids do once all the gifts and toys are opened? Chances are they'll be spending a lot of time on their electronics, right?  Yep. But that's not entirely a bad thing. In the spirit of "The 12 Days of Christmas" I've pulled together a list of 12 Tech Resources that you can explore to help make good use of what could otherwise be "wasted tablet time." Click here to download a copy To see more recommended tech resources for kids go to:  https://www.gtechcnet.org/forparentsandkids So, what'll it be?  Fortnite or Apple Camp?  Roblox or Minecraft for Education?  And just in case you've decided everyone's had enough, the parental control apps are a parent's best friend! And here's your bonus: you can use these apps/tools all year long! You're welcome.   Now let's all do the

I made the clarion call  and these brave kids answered! We're so proud of these superstar students who rose the occasion and entered the 2019 Doodle for Google contest. The students had to create and submit their entries to Google by March 19, 2019. The entries will be reviewed to select state winners who will then move on to the national round.  The final winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 tech package for their school or non-profit organization, and their artwork will be displayed for a day on Google.com! Wow! How did we do it as these kids are in three different states (Illinois, North Carolina and Tennessee)? I asked their parents if they would let them join me on a Google Hangout on Tuesday nights for about 30 minutes.  We met online for a few weeks, going through the process of creating and then submitting the entries online with the help of their parents.  The students really enjoyed connecting online each week and getting to see eac

So there's a lot of concern about the MoMo Challenge (this online monster meme & videos that tries to encourage kids to commit suicide) and some even think it's a hoax. My two cents on the subject - don't take these things for granted. Whether it's a hoax or not, we need to pay attention. And as parents, we're just going to have the bite the bullet and learn enough about technology so that we can stay involved with what our kids are being exposed to online and then have real- time, continual conversations with them about it. None of these apps, program, blocking software or restriction settings are fool-proof in keeping our kids safe. As challenging as it is, we have to stay a step ahead of this technology game when it comes to our kids. We have to do the work for the sake of our kids. And if you need help, don't be ashamed to ask someone. Here's one resource that may help:  https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/parents-ultimate-guide-to-parental-

As the Internet becomes more common in homes across America, children are using the Internet earlier and earlier. As stated in an article by Webroot , kids use the Internet for everything from entertainment and games to communication and homework. As they get older, they will undoubtedly begin to experiment with downloading music or videos and exploring socials networking sites. The more they explore online, the more they are at risk from predators and the more they put your PC and privacy at risk. The better educated you are about online risks, the more you will be able to keep your children safe. Webroot has conducted research about the gap between parents' perceptions and kids' online reality. We also have a handy guide for you to help you keep your children safe online. Before you allow your children to go online without your supervision, make sure you establish a set of rules that you can all agree on. If you're not sure where to start, here are some ideas on

Did you know that nearly 23% of youth report that they feel "addicted to video games" (31% of males, 13% of females.)? These are the results of a study of 1,178 U.S. children and teens (ages 8 to 18) conducted by Harris Interactive (2007).  Is your child addicted to the internet? Here are a few warning signs to look out for: Loses track of time while online Sacrifices needed hours of sleep to spend time online Becomes agitated or angry when online time is interrupted Checks email or online messages several times a day Becomes irritable if not allowed access to the internet Spends time online in place of homework or chores Prefers to spend time online rather than with friends or family Disobeys time limits that have been set for internet usage Lies about amount of time spent online or "sneaks" online when no one is around Forms new relationships with people he or she has met online Seems preoccupied with getting back online when away from the c

Google has recently announced the launch of their new G Suite certification. This is the first certification from Google where students can demonstrate mastery of G Suite applications such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides.  Students who pass the 2-hour proctored exam will receive a digital badge they can add to their resume or Linkedin profile.  A great way for students to demonstrate their readiness for the workplace.  The exam covers several G Suite apps and signals to employers their readiness to work in a collaborative 21st century workplace.  The exam format abides by FERPA, COPPA and GDPR standards, and is now accessible to students as well as adult professionals. Google will open up the certification for students this summer 2019. You can sign up for a direct alert when it becomes available by filling out this form  or go to Google's website for more information. A good place to start for teachers. If you are an adult (i.e. teacher, administrator, etc.) and want to take