Tag Archives: SCTimes

General, Public, School Media Specialist

Hour of Code Recap

Hour of CodeThis year’s Hour of Code was another successful one!  Talahi Community School is one of the many schools that participated in the worldwide event, and they were featured in the Saint Cloud Times.  Mark Sommerhauser writes, “supporters say Hour of Code gives a much-needed injection of computer skills training into elementary-school curricula.”  Students from kindergarten to senior high participated in the event throughout Minnesota as well as the nation.  According to the Hour of Code’s page of Minnesota events, these schools from the CMLE region also participated:

  • Big Lake High School – Big Lake
  • Delano Public School – Delano
  • Eagle Valley Public Schools – Clarissa
  • East Central Elementary School – Finlayson
  • Hershey Middle School – Hinckley
  • Howard Lake-Waverly-Winstead Public Schools – Howard Lake
  • Kaleidoscope Charter School – Albertville
  • Kennedy School – St. Joseph
  • Linwood Elementary – Wyoming
  • Madison Elementary – St. Cloud
  • Milaca High School – Mille Lacs
  • Northwinds Elementary School – Buffalo
  • Osakis Public School – Osakis
  • Parkside Elementary School – Buffalo
  • Pierz High School – Pierz
  • PRIDE Transitions – Buffalo
  • St. Michael-Albertville High School – St. Michael
  • Stride Academy – St. Cloud
  • Tatanka Elementary – Buffalo

Did you participate?  Let us know!

General, School Media Specialist

Central MN students don’t fear social media

Fork in the road, decision tree, September, Discovery Park, Seattle, Washington, USATypically the message to students regarding social media is: “watch what you post.” But now many parents, students, and colleges are turning social media from something to be feared during admissions to something that can help.

A recent article from the St. Cloud Times highlighted opinions from students and processes for admission from many area colleges as they relate to social media. It discussed how students can use social media to help during admissions, both in selling themselves but also in gaining awareness of a future college or university.

Many of the high school students interviewed by SCTimes weren’t aware that colleges or employers are looking at their social media accounts. On the flipside, some future St. Cloud State students are using #futurehusky or #stcloudstate in tweets to “develop a community before they’re on campus.”

At the heart of the discussion is the issue of digital literacy. CMLE knows that many Media Specialists, Librarians, and Library staff are at the front line of Digital Citizenship for many students.

“A student’s digital literacy depends on the family and school, she said, and much of the time it’s overlooked by both.”

What types of things are you teaching your students about social media? Should students be wary of social media? Or should students be using it to their advantage?

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/kpm6w6b, licensed under CC BY 2.0