2012-13 7-A.6

June 18, 2013 - LAST CLASS
44 minutes

Building-wide Network Outage:  Unfortunately the computer network in our building wasn't working at the beginning of class so our students had limited access to our computer resources.  Within about 10 minutes the network as restored.

Make-up Time:  Since this is our last class all students had time to make up any work they may have missed.  All projects were handed back and students could submit anything they missed or re-submit a project that they hadn't finished for full credit.  Students also had a chance to try geoguessr.com.

Internet Moment:  Students had a chance to explore FreeRice.com today.  This website, created by John Breen who also created Poverty.com, gives students and others a chance to practice their vocabulary skills while helping to support the United Nations World Food Programme.  After having time to use the site students were asked to prove whether or not this website was bogus or real.  After doing some research we learned that though it is a legitimate website (according to snopes.com) another website called the Daily Cow claimed that FreeRice.com does not donate exactly 10 grains of rice for every correct answer.  Students were reminded that they have to be very skeptical of what they find online and to always independently verify the facts themselves.

Closure to Computer Class:  Students were reminded that computers are constantly changing and that they have to learn to adjust to new programs, new hardware and new ways of using technology all the time.  We are all constantly learning to adapt to new technology. 




June 14, 2013
91 minutes

Internet Moment:  Students had an opportunity to experiment with VirtualPiano.net today.  Online instruments like this give anyone an opportunity to learn to play some music. 

Finish Student Presentations:  the last two groups presented to the class and to an online audience via Ustream.  We were fortunate that Mrs. Barnstable, an educator with the Global Virtual Classroom in Illinois and Mrs. Kyrikakis, the director of WinnErs Education, an English Language School in Athens, Greece were able to watch us.  They gave our students some great feedback.




(PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.G, 15.3.8.H, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.U, 15.3.12.W, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.A, 15.4.8.D, 15.4.8.G, 15.4.8.K)

Office Yoga Break:  Today we practiced a simple yoga stretch for your back and shoulders.  Students are always reminded to not spend too much time sitting in front of computers and that they should take breaks every 30-40 minutes.  After the stretch everyone had a chance to get up and move around the room.  

Start Excel Multiplication Table Project:  We started making a multiplication table in Excel using relative and absolute formulas.  After an introduction to columns, rows and cells we started making a multiplication table.  Students were also shown how to create addition formulas and to copy/paste formulas across a cells in a sheet.  We completed this project today.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standard:  15.1.8.E)

Excel Pie Chart Project:  Students created a data table of the different elementary schools 
we all went to and the number of students that attended each school.  Then each student created a pie chart of the data and formatted it for printing in black and white.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.1.8.E, 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.D)

How Online Behavioral Tracking Works:  Students were reminded that when they are online many private companies from all over the world are carefully tracking everywhere they go and what they do.  These companies then develop a "digital profile" of who they are that they can use for marketing purposes.  The entire class was asked to go online and shop for Uggs boots in Australia.  All students were then asked to check the top news stories on a news website in the U.K.  Even though we had navigated from a website in Australia to a website in the U.K. students were being shown Uggs ads specific to the style shoe they had just shopped for.  We finished with a TED Presentation by Gary Kovacs about free software that Firefox is offering called Collusion that enables you to see who is tracking you while you are on the internet. (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.4.8.A, 15.9.8.L, 15.9.8.M)






June 12, 2013
104 minutes

Start History of Computers Slide Show - Students started their final PowerPoint project which is a 6-8 slide show that they will present to the class.  Students work in groups of 4-5 and used the internet for research.   In this project students were introduced to online collaboration using Google Drive.  Students were shown how to create and share a Google Presentation and how to collaborate and use the chat feature in Google Presentation to communicate and they were challenged to think about how they could use online presentation software like this to collaborate on future projects at home.  Click here to enlarge the project description.

Student Presentations:  After some time to prepare and practice each group presented their slide shows to the class.  We also broadcast the presentations to several other teachers elsewhere in the world using ustream.tv.  We were fortunate that Mr. Sherman of Living Maths in Cape Town, South Africa was able to watch our presentations and give our students some feedback.  During the presentations all students in the audience completed an online survey to give the presenters immediate feedback about their performance.  Feedback appeared as bar charts at the bottom of this webpage.  In the images below you can see a screen shot of the groups as they presented online.    Notice the difference that high contrast and a large font makes for an online audience.  Unfortunately we ran out of time for the last two presentations today.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.G, 15.3.8.H, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.U, 15.3.12.W, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.A, 15.4.8.D, 15.4.8.G, 15.4.8.K)







Technology Current Event Video:  To finish our PowerPoint presentation activity we watched part of Don McMillan's famous presentation: Life after Death by PowerPoint.  (PA-BCIT Standard:  15.3.8.D)







June 10, 2013
44 minutes

Internet Moment:  Student had a chance to explore PlaneFinder.net which offers a live glimpse at the locations of all the commercial airliners in the world.  This website is an example of what it possible when huge amounts of publicly available data is presented in an easy to understand interactive website.

Evaluate and Turn in Day at School Slideshows:  All students participated in a peer evaluation activity today.  After the peer evaluation they had one last attempt to adjust their show before turning it in.  Students submitted the shows to be reviewed by the teacher by dragging and dropping them to the Hand-in-Folder on the school network.  Click here to enlarge the project description. (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.U) 

Technology Current Event Video:  Unfortunately we ran out of time for a video today.




June 6, 2013
91 minutes

Building-wide Network Outage:  Unfortunately the computer network in our building wasn't working this morning so our students had limited access to our computer resources.  We did start class with a discussion about what a network is and how a home network might be different than a school network.  We also discussed some of the possible causes for our network problems such as a physical disconnection, a bad switch or a network server issue.  Students were also introduced to the concept of a "sneakernet".  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.4.8.E, 15.4.8.F

Computer Hardware Activity & Quiz:  In class today we took apart an old computer so students could see the component parts.  Before the 
activity all students were reminded to not take apart their computer at home and that there is always a danger of electrical shock whenever you open any electronic device.  We also discussed how giving a computer circuit board even the slightest static electricity shock can damage it beyond repair.  Students were shown the processor, motherboard, RAM, expansion cards as well as common storage and input devices.  After the presentation all students took a quiz.

Word Flyer Project:  Since we did have access to Microsoft Word all students used a template to create a simple flyer to advertise a school event.

Technology Current Event Video:  By the end of class today we had access to the internet so we finished by watching part of a TED presentation by Juan Enriquez about some of the recent mind-boggling developments in biology and robotics and how they may be combined in the future.  We did not finish the video today. 






June 4, 2013
104 minutes

Internet Moment:  Today students were introduced to the idea of online education by exploring the Open Course Ware that is available from the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology.  Students were shown a presentation about college that included vocabulary terms such as major, syllabus, and different higher education degrees (associates, bachelors, masters and doctorate).  We then went to ocw.mit.edu and students selected a program to explore from the courses by department.  As an example of a college level lecture we visited Physics I:  Classical Mechanics by Professor Walter Lewin.  We tried a sample exam and watched part of Lecture 11:  Work, Energy, and Gravitation.  You can view the last segment of the lecture that we watched in the video above.  Each student then had some time to explore the website on their own and they were encouraged to check it out at home also.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.2.8.E, 15.8.8.K)

Day at School PowerPoint Shows:  All students participated in a peer evaluation activity so they could watch each other's shows and give meaningful feedback to each other.  We will do a final evaluation and submission of the shows next class.  Students were also shown how to remove the background from a picture and we made an interactive quiz question at the end of their slideshow.  Click here to enlarge the project description.

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a promotional video from the Corning Corporation about some of the uses for their products that they anticipate in the future.





May 31, 2013
91 minutes

Internet Moment:  Our students watched a presentation about how VOIP and webcams are combined to make video chatting possible.  We also discussed the differences between a circuit switching communication system and using packet switches on the internet for VoIP communication.  Students were shown how the development of packet switching systems such as the ARPANET led to the internet of today.  Streaming video from the internet was demonstrated and we watched live video from Cocoa Beach in Florida.  The increased use of security cameras was discussed and we also discussed privacy rights and exactly where people should not be video recorded.  We also visited EarthCam.com to view some online webcams from all around the world.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.U)

Formal Interviewing Using Skype:  Our students practiced formal interviewing techniques by Skyping with Mrs. Zablatnik, an English language and History teacher at HLW in St. Veit, Austria.  First she asked our students questions to find out what they knew about Austria.  We learned about Austrian food and famous Austrians.  We also learned that the Amish (or Pennsylvania Dutch) came from Austria.  our students then had a chance to ask her some questions about her school.  We learned that in Austria education was only compulsory for 9 years and that after that many students went to a college, trade or professional training school.  Mrs. Zablatnik's school specializes in preparing students for the hotel and hospitality industry.  We were surprised to learn about the length of their school day (7:50 AM to 5:30 PM) and the length of their school year (mid-September to the beginning of July).  Before the interview we talked about the differences between web chatting with friends and participating in a formal video conference.  As a group we prepared a list of things to do and not to do in a formal interview.  We also prepared our questions in advance so we could learn more about Mrs. Zablatnik and her school.  After the interview we reviewed what went well and what we could improve next time.  (PA-BCIT: 15.3.8.K, 15.3.8.M, 15.7.8.I, 15.7.8.J)

Day at School PowerPoint:  Students continued to add features to their shows so they would be the "greatest slideshow they ever made."   We added a table of contents and action buttons to the shows so 6th graders could navigate through the finished shows on their own.  This is known as a kiosk or self-running PowerPoint presentation set-up.  We also added action buttons to every slide and made a custom start button on the first slide using the edit points feature.  Finally, students were shown how to insert a video into their shows.  Click here to enlarge the project description.   

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class by watching a video from the Today Show about why your own voice sounds strange to you when it is recorded.  Next class we will be adding voice narration to the slideshows.

Google Gadget - "Embed gadget"

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy






May 29, 2013
0 minutes*

* Class was cancelled today due to the 7th Grade Class Trip to the Trenton Thunder baseball game.




May 24, 2013
91 minutes

Internet Moment:  Today we explored Google Maps.  We started by finding our school on the map and then experimenting with getting directions.  Next we headed to Las Vegas, NV to check out the street views and 3D views of the city.  We then used the 3D directions to see what a trip to Zion National Park in Utah would look like.  We also visited Singapore and looked at street views there as well as the 3D building views in Google Earth.  Finally, students had some time to explore the world on their own.

Day at School PowerPoint:  We continued to add additional features to make this the "greatest PowerPoint" our students have ever made.  As part of this project students were shown how to use Google Images to find free images that they could even use for commercial purposes.  Students were shown how to add the NMS master schedule to their showing by dragging & dropping the slide from another PowerPoint show.   Images and words were turned into hyperlinks to the internet so 6th graders could find more information on their own.   Students were also shown how to adjust the colors of their hyperlinks and action buttons. Students were introduced to using action settings and internal hyperlinks by taking a survey that was made in PowerPoint.  The computer term "infinite loop" was also introduced as part of this demonstration.  Students then added a table of contents and navigation buttons to their shows and they were also shown how to adjust the colors of their hyperlinks and action buttons.  Click here to enlarge the project description.

Technology Current Event Video:  To finish class today we watched a video from the Today Show about how cell phone thieves were using self service kiosk machines at malls to turn stolen phones into cash.

Google Gadget - "Embed gadget"

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy





May 22, 2013
44 minutes

Internet Moments:  Students explored Google Books as a resource for free ebooks and they were shown how to search the text of a book.  The legal controversy surrounding the Google Books Project and copyright laws as well as the settlement to date was also discussed.  Downloading ebooks from Google Books to various devices such as ebook readers, tablets, computers and smart phones was also discussed.  Students were also shown what a book scanner looks like.

Finish the Gettysburg Address Project:  All students finished this project today.  Once they completed it students printed it and handed it in.

PowerPoint Introduction: Almost all students identified that they had suffered through some bad PowerPoint presentations in the past.  As a catharsis activity we made a list of all the bad & ugly things our students have seen in PowerPoint. We then prepared a short list of good things to do in PowerPoint. View a sample T-chart here. 


A Day At School PowerPoint Presentation:  Students started a 6-9 slide show about a topic that they are all experts at, being 7th graders at Newtown Middle School.  These shows are made for 6th graders who will be transitioning to our school next September.  Students were shown how to access the background templates in MS PowerPoint 2010, how to find backgrounds at office.com and how to find additional backgrounds on the internet.    Click here to enlarge the project description.

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a video from TechnoBuffalo.com about the gadgets and technology shown by Samsung at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last January.





May 20, 2013
91 minutes

Computer Class Relocated:  Due to the Keystone Test for 8th grade Algebra students our class was relocated from the Computer Lab in Room 118 to the Tech Computer Lab near Room 2.

Internet Moment: In continuing with the theme of protecting yourself online students were shown the website OnGuardOnline.gov and given an opportunity to try some of the games in the Video & Media section. Some of the games were: Phishing Scams, Invasion of the Wireless Hackers, Cyber Criminal & Invest Quest.

Setting up Student Passwords:  Each student was reminded about how to create a new password today and we discussed some good password practices.  Student passwords must fit the following parameters:
  1. Be at least 8 characters long
  2. Include uppercase and lowercase letters
  3. Include numbers
  4. Include punctuation and/or symbols
    * Note that only two of options 2, 3 & 4 are required.
Final Word Project:  The overall   goal of teaching Word in computer class is to make sure that when students have an idea for a project they are able to make it in word and print it so it looks just the way they imagined it.  For the final Word project students are supplied with a specifically laid out version of the Gettysburg Address and they have to make one that looks just like it.  The concept of public domain vs. copyright protected was also discussed.  Some students finished this project today.  Click here to enlarge project description.

Technology Current Event Video:  We were unable to do a current event video as a class but all students were able to return to OnGuardOnline.gov on their own and check out some of the video and media resources.






May 16, 2013
104 minutes

Internet Moment:  Students explored PhotoSynth.net today which is an online service from Microsoft that allows you to "knit" digital photos together to make large 360 degree images that you can pan and zoom into.  

Internet Treasure Hunt:  Students used Word to make a simple webpage that is made up of hyperlinks to the internet.  Working with a partner in the class, students found the answers to 6 questions and then shared the web addresses using either the X: drive, email or an online chat service such as Skype.  This project checks for internet searching skills, inserting and editing hyperlinks and introduces web based collaboration.  Click here to enlarge the project description. We finished this project in class today and students shared it with 
each other during a gallery walk activity.

Word Logo Project:  To get more familiar with the drawing and graphics tools in Word students were asked to create a unique logo as if they were starting their own business.  A slideshow of corporate, athletic and national logos was presented to help students understand what a logo was and what visual  communication and graphic arts is all about.  Students shared their completed logos with the class in a gallery walk activity.  Click here to view the project description.

Technology Current Event Video:  To finish class today we watched a 2007 TED presentation by Blaise Aguera y Arcas who is one of the Microsoft project managers who involved in the technology that was demonstrated in our internet moment today.  In the video he demonstrated Photosynth.






May 14, 2013
44 minutes

Class Blog:  Students were shown TodayInComputerClass.com and told that they can check here anytime to review what work was done in class.  We also discussed what a web log or blog was, how blogs developed into microblogs like Twitter and how this website is a blog for our class.  Students were also told that their parents will be sent an email with a link to this website so they can also review what we are doing in computer class each day.

Business Letter #2:  Students practiced professional communication and typing by making a second block format business letter.  To make this letter students had to copy text from Business Letter #1.  They  set-up a table, merge cells and copy and paste text.  They also used the header and printed their finished letters using one of the network printers in the room.  Click here to view the project description.  

Technology Current Event Video:  Today we finished class with a video from a TED Conference.  The concept of TED (Technology Entertainment Design) was introduced to the class and the background of the presenter, Pattie Maes (an instructor at the MIT Media Lab), was also discussed.




May 10, 2013
76 minutes*

Internet Moment:  Google News - Students were shown how to use this popular news aggregator to find current event stories and how to search the news for topics that 
interest them or might be required for another subject area.  Students were also shown how to search the Google News Archives and we looked at this story from 1964 about students being snowed in at Council Rock High School.

Business Letter #1:  Students practiced their typing and formatting skills in Word by typing a block format business letter.  This project required students to  demonstrate a list of basic word processing skills that included:  changing fonts, changing the size of letters, line spacing and making a bullet list.  This project also introduced students to formal business communications as it is a Block formatted business letter and it provided everyone with some typing practice.  Most students will finish this project next class.  Click here to enlarge the project description.

Assign Seats:  All students have an assigned seat/computer in the computer lab.  Students have a responsibility to report any problems with the machine they have been assigned.  In this way we all participate in maintaining our school computers.

Typing Test:  All students took a typing test using http://www.typingtest.com.  Each student had 10 minutes to take the 1 minute test multiple times.  Their best adjusted speed was recorded and graphed in an Excel spreadsheet.  The average typing speed for this class was:  37.2 WPM  Click here for more information about typing speeds at Newtown Middle School.   

Online Typing Activities:  As a follow up to the typing test we looked at the typing speeds for the whole 7th & 8th grades in Excel.  Students were also shown the graph below so they could see how student typing speeds have been increasing over the years.   Students then were given some time to find at least 3 online typing activities (tutorials or games) that they enjoyed.  They were to then add these typing activities to their favorites or bookmarks list so they could go back and practice their typing skills in class when they finish projects.


Technology Current Event Video:  Today we finished class with a video from the Wall Street Journal about new keyboard ideas.

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*Class was shorter today due to a fire drill




May 8, 2013
104 minutes

Introduction to Basic Computer Skills Class: Basic rules and classroom procedures were explained.  Students were specifically reminded that because technology is constantly changing they should get into the habit of helping each other out and demonstrating the ability to learn new computer skills through experimentation.  All students reported that they had helped an adult with computer skills but they also need to get used to helping each other.  An overview of the 7th grade computer class curriculum was also explained.

Log On & Explore:  All students were given time to explore the start menu and the various programs available to them at school. 

MS Paint Project:  Students were shown how to open and use MS paint to make a simple drawing.  Students then shared their drawings using various district network resources and basic skills such as saving to a network drive and using drag & drop.  The best use of the H: & X: drives was also explained and students were reminded to never leave the only copy of an important file in the X: drive as it may be deleted by anyone at anytime.

Computer Class Survey:  All students take a computer class survey.  The results of this survey are used to guide the instruction for the class.  You can view the survey to the right.  Click to enlarge.  We then used the survey as the outline for the following presentation. 

Introduction to Computer Class Presentation:
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Technology Current Event:  Most classes end with a current event video.  Today's video was inspired by an original presentation created by a high school teacher in Colorado, Karl Fisch.  Here is a link to his blog:  THE FISCHBOWL for more information.