Eighth Grade Pre-AP Language Arts/Social Studies Project

Dear Parents and Students,
June 16, 2011
Last year, my Pre-AP class researched and wrote a grant to the Camas Education Foundation, leaving an Apple
learning lab as a legacy to Skyridge. This lab contains 20 iPads, the use of which will be piloted during the 2011-
2012 school year in my classroom. I call it the SkyPad Lab and I know it will revolutionize the way I teach this next
school year.
To make the most of the SkyPad Lab, our class will be using a variety of online resources. The purpose of these
resources is to create a backchannel, or online discussion, that parallels and augments the discussions we have
in class. Before you begin your summer project, you will need to create accounts for two online sites. Each of
these sites can be accessed from Mr. Mattson's classroom webpage: http://mrmattson.pbworks.com or by
following the links below.
Join www.edmodo.com
Edmodo is a free and secure social learning network for teachers,
students and schools. Edmodo provides classrooms a safe and easy way
to connect and collaborate. We will be using Edmodo to create a real-time
platform to exchange ideas, share content, and access homework, grades
and school notices. You will turn in your summer project using
Edmodo. The code to join the group is: 2k119a.
Join www.springpad.com
Springpad provides students with a reliable tool for note taking that can be
used to collect and organize ideas into an online notebook. The online
notebook can be used to gather text, images, sounds, videos, even clips
of web pages. All of these notes are easily accessible across multiple
platforms. You do not have to use Springpad on your summer project, but
I encourage you to explore its feature. We will use Springpad, in
conjunction with classroom iPads, throughout the upcoming school year to
create digital notebooks and portfolios of our work.
As the year progresses we will engage in many inquiry and project based learning experiences. In addition to
research, we will use the SkyPad Lab to create projects to share what we have learned with our peers, family,
and community. At times this may require students to create accounts to online websites. When used in
conjunction with assignments, these sites will be vetted by Mr. Mattson and classroom discussion will be held
concerning online Internet safety. Websites that may be used throughout the school year include, but are not
limited to, www.quizlet.com, www.shelfari.com, www.capzles.com, www.animoto.com, and www.twitter.com.
Web 2.0 Permission Slip
My child __________________________________ may access, create accounts for, and use Internet based
resources, that have been vetted by Mr. Mattson for security, safety, and anonymity, in order to complete
class work during the 2011-2012 school year.
Parent Signature: ____________________________________ Date: ________________________