JD _Cool Tools 2017-2018

I have participated in cool tools for 3 or 4 years and I have gotten so much out of it. Last year I had some health issues and wasn’t able to complete the program but this year I was determined to complete at least 5 and maybe 10. This year, I was excited to see that there were many new topics that I was particularly interested in and also many others that as usual have been updated from previous years. What I like most about the “cool tools” programs is that it gives me a reason to look at a given topic more in depth.   A good example is the digital citizenship cool tool. As I mentioned in that blog, I have wanted to create lessons on that topic for a while and hadn’t had a chance to take the time to research it. Now I have the information to put it together. The challenge for completing cool tools is always time but I like the combination of printing information and then going back and drilling down to get the additional resources. I prefer reading something on pape

I have a unit that I do with classes on inventions and technology. I start with reading a book called 2030: A Day in the Life of Tomorrow's Kids by Amy Zuckerman. The book I have was written in 2006 and the first thing I discuss is the timeline of when the book was published, what the current year is and finally how long it is between those dates and the year 2030 (the reason for the title of the book.) We discuss the fact that this was the authors projection of what life would be like 24 years in the future and after reading the book, discussing what inventions, technology is already in place or in planning in the present. In future lessons we take a look at modern technology such as 3D printing, drones, self-driving cars etc. The kids love it and it shows them so many possibilities. I then have them research an invention or technology and finally come up with their own idea of an invention. When I chose this cool tool, I was looking for other topics to include