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May 28, 2014
91 minutes

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May 23, 2014
104 minutes

Internet Moment: Students had a chance to explore PlaneFinder.net which is an online resource that displays 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.  We also discussed how the information about airline locations is collected by a government agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, and is therefore in the public domain.  (PA BCIT Standards:  15.3.5.V, 15.4.8.A, 15.6.5.L)

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 airline.  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.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.4.5.G, 15.9.2.I)

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. All students will have time to finish this project next class.  Click here to enlarge project description.

Viewing Online Student Presentations:  We finished class today by watching presentations about Japan by Mrs. Beasley's 3rd Grade computer class at New Market Elementary School in Sophia, North Carolina.  After each presentation our students gave their kids some feedback.  We used a Google Hangout for the video conference and we were joined by teachers from Russia and Nepal.  Students were reminded that they will be presenting online just like these 3rd graders in a few weeks. (PA-BCIT: 15.2.8.H, 15.3.8.K, 15.3.8.M, 15.7.8.I, 15.7.8.J)

Technology Current Event Video:  We a video from cnet.com about some of the new gadgets, operating systems and TV's that were displayed at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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May 21, 2014
44 minutes*

Internet Moment:  Today we explored some of the features in Google Maps.  Students were shown how to find our school and view satellite and aerial photos of their neighborhoods.  We also used the street views and how the Google Maps cars work was explained.  We then went to Las Vegas, Nevada and use the directions feature to get directions to Zion National Park. We also traveled to Singapore and students were shown how to check live traffic data.  Viewing live weather data was also demonstrated and then all students had some time to explore the world on their own. (PA-BCIT: 15.6.8.M, 15.4.8.A)

Finish Internet Treasure Hunt:  Students finished using Word to make a simple webpage today. This project checks for internet searching skills, inserting and editing hyperlinks and introduces web based collaboration through the use of email, instant messaging and/or network resources. Students finished this project by adding a table, inserting images, turning the images and text into hyperlinks and formatting a table. Students were shown the various "save as" options in Word and how to save their project as a single file webpage in word. Students then displayed their finished webpages in Internet Explorer and we did a gallery walk activity so everyone could get up, move around and share each other's work.  Click here to enlarge the project description. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.E, 15.4.5.G, 15.3.8.U, 15.4.8.D)

Technology Current Event Video:  We were unable to have a technology current event video in class today.

* Our computer class was moved to the Tech Lab today due to the PA Keystone Tests

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May 19, 2014
91 minutes

Internet Moment:  Students were shown Weather.gov (the National Weather Service) as an example of a huge online database that's full of real-time and archived information.  We checked our local weather and spent a few minutes checking the satellite images and Doppler radar for the whole United States.  Students were also shown how to access the hourly weather graphs for our area to get precipitation predictions.  We also discussed how federal government publications, such as the NWS website, can not be copyrighted and are therefore in the public domain.  Students were reminded that the NWS is the original source for most of the weather information they receive on the internet, TV, and their phones. This website was also used as an example of "unbiased" information on the internet.  Students were also told how predicting the weather motivated early computer pioneers.  Finally, students were shown an old video about how early computers  were used to predict the weather.  (PA BCIT Standards: 15.3.5.V, 15.4.8.A, 15.6.5.L)

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May 15, 2014
89 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 now mobile phone based apps like Instagram.  This website is the blog or web log 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.

Finish Business Letter #1:  All students had time to finish typing the letter we had started last class.  Once they had finished the letter everyone saved it to their H: drive so we could use it in a future project.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B)

*Class time was shorter today due to a fire drill

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May 13, 2014
44 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 they can change the top news stories to other countries.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.G, 15.6.5.L)

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May 9, 2014
91 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.  They were reminded that they also need to get used to helping each other with technology. (PA-BCIT Standard 15.2.5.L, 15.3.8.C, 15.3.8.D, 15.3.5.M, 15.8.5.C)

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. (PA BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.F)

Break:  Students are always reminded to not spend too much time working on computers and to take breaks every 30-40 minutes.  For our break today we conducted a probability experiment about matching birthdays that you can read about here.  Everyone was asked to get up and find the other person in the room who shared their birthday.  Unfortunately there wasn't a match in our class.

Setting up Student Passwords:  All students were given some suggestions to help them develop good passwords.  Some suggested good password practices were:  Come up with a collection of passwords to rotate through instead of just one, make a pass phrase instead of a password, mix number, letters and symbols together.   Student passwords must fit the following parameters:  

1. Include upper case letters
2. Include lower case letters
3. Include numbers
4. Include symbols/punctuation
   * Note that 3 of the 4 options are required.

(PA-BCIT Standard:  15.4.8.F)

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: This presentation was a follow up to the survey and covered basic computer concepts everyone should be familiar with such as:

• Apple vs. PC formats
• Origins of Microsoft & Windows
• Internet connection speeds (dial-up, DSL, cable and fios)
• The accusations that Microsoft became a monopoly by the late 1990's
• Online safety, predators, scams & identity theft (be smart online)

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.  (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.A)

Did You Know 3.0 ‎(2012 Update)‎