Graphite, the newest resource from Common Sense Media, helps teachers discover the best technology tools available for their classroom. At graphite.org you'll find ratings and reviews, curated lists, and actual feedback by teachers, for teachers.

1. 0@suethotz @graphite
Finding the Good Stuff:
Identifying quality games, websites, and apps
for learning

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Our Mission
We are dedicated to improving
the lives of kids and families by
providing the trustworthy
information, education, and
independent voice they need to
thrive in a world of media and
technology.
Our Vision
We envision a world in which
every kid knows how to
participate
safely, responsibly, and
respectfully in a digital world and
can harness the potential of
technology for learning.
Our mission
Our vision

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1. Rate
1. Advocate
2. Investigate
3. Educate
What We Do

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• 19,000 reviews across
all media types
• Key rating elements
include:
o Age-appropriateness
o Detailed “nutritional
labeling” of parental
pain points
o Learning ratings for
digital content
Ratings and Reviews

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Learning Ratings for Parents

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• Digital Literacy and
Citizenship as a
National Education
Priority
• LEAD Commission
• Advocate on Kids’
Privacy Rights
• Address Major
Public Health
Issues Related to
Media and Kids
“Private Entities like Common Sense
Media are pursuing a sanity not
censorship approach, which can serve
as a model for how to use technology
to empower parents without offending
the First Amendment”
- President Barack Obama
“As long as I’m Chairman, the FCC will
be committed to working with
organizations like Common Sense
Media to tackle the challenges and seize
the opportunities of the digital age.”
- FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski
Advocate

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• Provide reliable and
independent data on
children’s use of
media
• Impact on
physical, social, emoti
onal and cognitive
development
• Conduct 2-3 original
studies per year +
host thought leader
events.
Investigate

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K-12 Digital Literacy
& Citizenship Curriculum
Curriculum Toolkits
Digital Passport Professional Development Educate Families:
Media, Technology
, and Kids
1-to-1 Essentials
Program
Educate

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www.commonsense.org/educators

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Rapidly
changing
education
ecosystem
The K-12 Education Landscape is Changing
Increasing adoption of
devices and apps, sites and
games by schools, teachers
and parents
New legislation driving
change
Unprecedented investment
in education technology

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• More than 125,000 education apps in
marketplaces today (Source: iTunes and Google Play)
Left image: http://getonlinetutor.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/hello-world/
Right image: http://internetmediathailand.com/tag/online-applications
How do you find the good stuff?

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Graphite SolutionIssues for Teachers
No centralized marketplace where
digital educational content is
collected and categorized
No standard ratings system for
reliable comparison content
Discovery of good digital learning
products is time consuming for
teachers
No clearinghouse by teachers for
teachers for authentic feedback
and best practices

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Graphite helps teachers discover, learn and share the
best digital learning products.
The Search is Over!
• High-quality, unbiased
ratings and reviews
• For teachers, by teachers
• Simple, easy, fast, free
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtKjiIYoVHU

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Graphite Features
• Rigorous: Comprehensive
methodology and rubric behind
Graphite rating
• Discoverability with powerful
filtering and searching by
subject, skills and grade bands
• Curated Lists: “Top Picks”
• Aligned to Common Core
• By teachers, for teachers:
Teacher community shares
reviews & best practices

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Engagement
 Is it fun, engrossing, compelling?
 Does it attract students?
 Would they use it / play again?
Pedagogy
 Does it carry depth of content?
 Is learning central to the experience?
 Do skills transfer offline?
 Does it build key concepts?
Support
 Are there app tutorials and tips?
 Any support for teachers?
 Accessible to many audiences?
Ratings Methodology
Rating Methodology and Rubric
Key Components

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Let’s visit Graphite

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Viewing a graphite listing

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• Sign up for Graphite
• Search: Use the filter
and look up some
digital products for
your classroom
• Contribute: Write a
field note on a
product you already
use
Your Turn!

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How do you see yourself using
Graphite?
How can Graphite play a role in
your schools/institutions?
What are additional features you
would want (i.e. PD video)?
Some Key Questions

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Interested? Sign up at www.graphite.org

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Sue Thotz
Chicago Program Manager
sthotz@commonsense.org
Twitter: @CommonSenseEdu
@suethotz
@graphite