- Learning how to code at Codecademy :
- Learning computer programming at Kahn Academy:
- Making amazing animations at the Scratch website while learning to code:
Restricting Children’s Time on the Computer : including more about Scratch
- Making a 3D animation using Alice:
Using an innovative programming environment to support the creation of 3D animations, the Alice Project provides tools and materials for teaching and learning computational thinking, problem solving, and computer programming across a spectrum of ages and grade levels.
- Learning the principles of computer game design at Gamestar Mechanic:
Learning the Principles of Computer Game Design
- Creating a free blog with Blogger: Designing a blog, creating blog headers, writing posts, being part of a community.
- Uploading their latest challenges to the DIY website:
- Movie making: editing videos using Movie Maker:
- .Uploading their movies to Youtube.
- Watching videos:
classic mini-series and movies, operas and ballets, science and history and travel documentaries, music and art,’ how to’ and so many other videos on Youtube.
- Editing their photos using the Picmonkey website:
- Making collages, or slideshows with their photos, complete with music tracks at Kizoa.
Make slideshows of photos, videos with Effects, Text, Music
Make still or animated collages & Ecards with templates or create freely
Masterly edit photos with amazing filters, effects, frames
- Making comics using Comic Life
- Making cool comic strips using Strip Generator
- Making comics and cartoons using Toondoo
brainstorming ideas, thinking creatively and improving their memories
- Playing maths and strategy games at Cool Math Games
- Listening to a Catholic Laboratory Podcast
- Planning their next NaNoWriMo novel or editing the last one
- Looking at some famous works of art and adding to their online art collection at Google Art Project
- Making puzzles of all their favourite works of art using Jigsaw Puzzle Lite:
Great tips Sue!
Pinned.:)
Thanks!
SO strange to see flowering, "live" trees out your windows in Dec!!
Sue, have a Merry Christmas, if we are not ion touch within the next few days!
It has been a blessing getting to know you this year!
God bless you and your family!
xoxoxo
Love you,
Chris
Thanks Chris!
This photo was actually taken a few months ago during our winter. It was the only one I could find of someone using a computer! Even in winter most of our trees are green. We have relatively few deciduous trees in our village. That's probably native bushland you can see through the window. The bush backs up to our garden fence.
I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas too! I am so pleased you stopped by. May God bless you all! xx
What a gift of a post! (I seem to have gifts on the mind this week … must be the Christmas spirit!) We love using lots of the resources you mention, and there are lots more we haven't come across yet but will definitely be exploring. Thank you, Sue!
I do have one child who perhaps relies a bit heavily on computer games for his wellbeing. But as he gets older he is beginning to understand that it's a good idea to try other things – on the computer and otherwise. Having said that, he does learn an enormous amount from the games he plays (he's mind-bogglingly good at them too).
I suggested (not insisted) recently that he try an experiment of having one games-free day a week, just to give him a good long stretch of time to be inspired by and immerse himself in other activities. He found the first week quite a challenge but is open to continuing it.
C(10), on the other hand, sounds more like your children, moving happily between all sorts of different projects, on and offline. She loves SAM animation and also designs some magnificent structures on Minecraft.
I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas week.
Lucinda
Lucinda,
I am so glad there are some things on this list which might interest you.
Someone recommended the book, "Don't Bother Me Mom – I'm Learning" by Marc Prensky. The book description begins like this…
"“This book does a pretty good job of smashing the old argument that video games are harmful to children. Instead, it fills the void with statements showing how gaming can teach advanced problem solving, language and cognitive skills, strategic thinking, multitasking, and parallel processing. All of which are skills vital to survival in the increasingly technocratic 21st century…"
I have to admit I haven't read the whole book yet but it looks interesting.
One games-free day a week? I think I could do with one computer-free day a week! Yes, it would give me the chance to look around and be inspired to do other things. I am so impressed your son is open to the idea. I wish I could be!
My children haven't tried Minecraft. I had a go on an app and couldn't work it out. I fear I am too old to spontaneously see what these games are all about!
We are having a great Christmas week, Lucinda. I hope you are too!
Lucinda,
Now I feel inspired to finish reading that book about gaming! Perhaps you could write a post about the book when you finish it. I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts and opinions. I'm sure lots of other people would too. It's a topic that always creates a lot of discussion.
I've just downloaded the book to my Kindle – it looks excellent, thanks.
Yes I could probably do with unplugging now and then, too. But then, computers are so very useful…
We're having a lovely week too, thanks. Lots of family time, time to relax, and walks under crisp blue skies – perfect!