2013-14 8-B.4

March 24, 2014 - LAST CLASS
94 minutes

Online game to end hunger 
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.  We then looked at a website about the 1993 Velcro Crop Failure in California.  This bogus website and others like it (DHMO Awareness, Bureau of Sasquatch Affairs, Tree Octopus) serve as a good reminder to students that they have to be very skeptical of what they find online and to always independently verify the facts themselves.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.I, 15.4.8.A, 15.6.8.L)

Finish First Aid Posters:
  
All students had time today to finish this project and print a rough draft in black and white.  Each student had a chance to review their rough draft with the teacher before printing their final draft in full color. CiteFast.com was also demonstrated. Everyone finished this project today. Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.G, 15.3.8.H, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.B, 15.6.8.L)

Office Yoga Break:  Students are always reminded to not spend too much time sitting in front of computers.  Breaks should be taken at least every 30-40 minutes.  For our break today we practiced a simple yoga stretch for your ankles and then everyone had a chance to get up and move around the room some.  Students were also encouraged to share their work and ideas with each other during this gallery walk activity.

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.   Students were also reminded that this was their only required computer class here at Council Rock and that should they wish to learn more about computer technology they should look carefully at the High School Program Planning Guide for the many elective classes that incorporate computer skills.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.6.8.M, 15.2.8.E)

Technology Current Event Video:  For our last current event this year we watched a TED Presentation by Gary Kovacs, the CEO of Mozilla, about how internet users are tracked.  He demonstrated how many companies were following him and his daughter when they were online during a typical day.  During the presentation he demonstrated how a free download for Firefox called Collusion can be used to find out who is tracking you online.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.4.8.A, 15.5.8.J, 15.9.8.L, 15.9.8.M)








March 20, 2014
0 minutes*

*Class was cancelled today due to the PSSA testing schedule






March 18, 2014
92 minutes*

Google Earth Tour Quiz:  As a follow-up to our previous tour on Google Earth students were challenged to list everywhere they had gone and what they had seen on their tour of the 3 dimensional visual imagery in Google Earth last class.  This activity helped to demonstrate the effectiveness of using 3D spatial references, such as the virtual environment of Google Earth, to augment memory.    QUIZ:  Where I went on Google Earth Today  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.4.8.A, 15.6.8.M)
http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FirstAidPosters.JPG

Internet Moment:  As students finished the Google Earth Quiz they were asked to visit the website OnGuardOnline.gov and 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.

Finish First Aid Posters:  All students had time today to finish this project and print a rough draft in black and white.  Each student also had a chance to review their rough draft with the teacher before printing their final draft in full color. Students were reminded that they can use NoodleTools.com to help them with the MLA formatted works cited on each poster.  Everyone finished this project today. Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.G, 15.3.8.H, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.B, 15.6.8.L)

Office Yoga Break:  Students are always reminded to take breaks from the computer and their gaming systems and to get exercise.  Today we practiced a simple yoga stretch, a seated twist, and students got up and moved around some afterwards.

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with two short videos about 3D printing technology.  In the first video the reproduction of a tool was demonstrated.  The second video explained how 3D printers can be used to reproduce living body parts.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.6.8.M, 15.4.8.A)



* Class time was shorter today due to the PSSA testing schedule





March 14, 2014
22 minutes*

Internet Moment:
  Today we explored Google Earth and discussed how a 3 dimensional virtual environment can be used to augment human memory.  We started by discussing what spatial memory is and how it is used to make modern video games so engaging.   Students were then introduced to the memory palace or method of loci as an effective way to use 3 dimensional visual imagery to help a person remember large amounts of information.  We then went to Google Earth and began a tour of the earth, the sky, Mars and the moon.  The whole class followed a specific list of locations.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.4.8.A, 15.6.8.M)

Google Earth Tour Quiz:  Next class, as a follow-up to our Google Earth activity, all students will take a quiz to see how much of the virtual tour they remember. 

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from "Stuff to Blow Your Mind" about Constructing a Memory Palace.


* Class time was shorter today due to the half day schedule






March 12, 2014
91 minutes

Internet Moment:
  Today students had an opportunity to play a financial education game from Visa called:  Financial Football.  Students had 5 minutes to play the game which involved answering multiple choice questions that tested their financial literacy.  We then discussed any terms that confused them.  Students were also reminded that they can go back to PracticalMoneySkills.com on their own and that we have a great Personal Finance class at the High School where they can learn much more.

Start First Aid Posters
:  This is the final 8th grade project in MS Publisher.  Students are to use all the skills they have learned in Publisher to create a series of three first aid posters that share a graphical theme that they created.  Information and pictures can be used from the internet but all resources must be correctly cited on each poster using the correct MLA Works Cited Format. 
Students were reminded to use NoodleTools.com or a free online citation tool like CiteFast.com to make the works cited.  This is a cross-curricular project so students may submit their finished first aid posters to their Health Teachers for extra credit.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.H, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.B)

Office Yoga Break:  During long classes like this one students are always reminded to take breaks and get exercise.  Students shouldn't spend more than 30-40 minutes in front of a computer without taking a break.  For our break today we practiced a simple office yoga stretch for your hips.  After the stretch students did a gallery walk to share their work with each other.

Check Grades:  Since most of the assignments for this class have been graded and entered into the gradebook students were asked to log into the Home Access Center and check their computer class grades today.

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a TEDx presentation by 
Alexa von Tobel the founder and CEO of LearnVest.com.  In the video she specifically discusses how poor personal financial decisions effect individuals.  Saving for emergencies, personal budgeting, negotiating salaries, planning for retirement and credit card debt was all discussed.









March 10, 2014
104 minutes

Internet Moment:  Today our students were introduced to the "joy of statistics" by viewing GapMinder.org which is a free online resource where statistics from all around the  world are presented in an easy to understand visual format.  We looked at the "Wealth & Health of Nations" chart.  As a demonstration of how the website works we tracked the life expectancy and income changes in the USA and China over the last 200 years.   We also looked at how 8th grade math scores and changing in Japan, Canada and the 
United States.  Students then had time to explore the website on their own. (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.4.8.A, 15.6.8.M, 15.7.8.A, 15.7.8.F, 15.7.8.H, 15.7.8.L)

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FullPageAd.JPG
Full Page Ad Project:
  All students had time to work on their full page ad project today. Student had an opportunity to print a rough draft on scrap paper that they could review with the teacher.  Final drafts were printed in full color and turned in today. Everyone had time to finish this project and turn it in today. 
Click here to enlarge the project description.   (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.D, 15.4.8.G, 15.9.8.A)

Office Yoga Break:  During long classes like this one students are always reminded to take breaks and get exercise.  Students shouldn't spend more than 30-40 minutes in front of a computer without taking a break.  For our break today we practiced a simple office yoga stretch for your arms.

Technology Current Event Video:  
We finished class today with a video from the BBC in which Hans Rosling describes how Gapminder.org can be used to identify trends and misconceptions by looking at the data.









March 6, 2014

44 minutes

Internet Moment:  Today we looked at three online resources that students could use to find free ebooks and MP3 recordings of books. We started with the Project Gutenberg (Gutenberg.org) which offers free access to 42,000 ebooks and over 100,000 additional free ebooks from additional resources.  We then looked at Lit2Go (etc.usf.edu/lit2go) which is a free online collection of audiobooks in MP3 format that is available from the University of South Florida.  Finally we visited Google Books (books.google.com) and discussed how to access and search the text of the free ebooks available there.  We also discussed copyright laws and how these books came to be available online or in the public domain.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.1.5.B, 15.2.5.L, 15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.B)

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FullPageAd.JPG
Work on Full Page Ad Projects:
  All students had time to work on their full page ad projects in Publisher.  
Students were shown how to copy and paste images into either MS Word or PowerPoint and use that program to remove the background in a picture.   We will finish this project next class.  Click here to enlarge the project description. (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.D, 15.4.8.G, 15.9.8.A)

Technology Current Event Video:  After finishing the full page ad project we watched an 11 minute whiteboard video about the universal principles of persuasion.   (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.9.8.A, 15.9.8.E)





March 4, 2014
91 minutes

Internet Moment:
  Today all students had a chance to visit www.SOS.FBI.gov and try the online learning activities for 8th graders. This is part of a monthly competition that is run by the FBI and the intent of the online activities is to help students develop safe internet habits.  After having 10 minutes to try the online activities our students took the exam. The average score for this class was a 9.4 out of 10 on the exam.  
This class was one of the classes that won the National FBI-Safe Online Surfing Competition for the month of March, 2014.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.6.8.M, 15.4.8.B, 15.4.8.A)

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/Brochure.JPG
Finish Brochure Project:  All students had time to finish the copyright brochure project in MS Publisher today.   Students were also shown how to print on both sides of a sheet of paper and how to trifold a brochure.  Each student then had an opportunity to review a rough draft of their project with the teacher.  Everyone turned in this project today.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.1.5.B, 15.3.5.A, 15.3.8.B, 15.3.5.D, 15.3.8.D, 15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.G, 15.3.8.U, 15.6.8.L)

Office Yoga Break:
  Students are always reminded to not spend too much time in front of computers and to take breaks every 30-40 minutes.  Today we practiced a simple yoga stretch that helps prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.  Before the stretch the causes and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome were explained to the class.  After the stretch all students had an opportunity to take a short break and move around.  (PA-BCIT Standard:  15.4.5.D,)

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FullPageAd.JPG
Full page Ad Project
:  Today students started a classic graphic design project to help them continue to develop their own sense of design and their skills in MS Publisher.  Each student selected a full page, full color magazine advertisement to recreate in MS Publisher.  The student version of the ad must advertise something different than the original but it should look very similar to the original.  Students will be shown how to copy and paste images into either MS Word or PowerPoint and use that program to remove the background in a picture.  We will finish this project next class.  Click here to enlarge the project description.   (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.D, 15.4.8.G, 15.9.8.A)

Technology Current Event Video:
  We finished class today by watching some live streaming video from the Socadrome Parade of Bands, Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2014.

http://carnivaltv.net/featured/live/








February 28, 2014
104 minutes

Internet Moment:  We looked at zoom.it today which is a free screen zooming service that is owned by Microsoft.  Students were then shown two other online examples of the  
screen zooming technology:  The NMS Mosaic Project and the Deep Zoom image of Yosemite National Park.  Students had time to explore these websites.

Start Publisher Brochure Project
:  Students take an existing brochure about copyright laws and recreate it in Publisher 2010 using a template as a starting point. The original brochure they were given was about copyright laws and what students should know about them.  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 also practiced their typing by re-typing the text of the original brochure.    Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.9.5.L, 15.3.8.E, 15.3.5.H, 15.4.5.K, 15.4.8.B, 15.3.8.U)

Office Yoga Break:  During long classes like this one students are always reminded to take breaks and get exercise.  Students shouldn't spend more than 30-40 minutes in front of a computer without taking a break.  For our break today we practiced a simple office yoga stretch for your neck.  After the break everyone had a chance to get up and walk around and share ideas by viewing each other's projects.

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from SafeInternetBanking.be about an amazing mind reader in Belgium and how he knows so much about his clients.  We also watched part of a second public service announcement from the same organization.








February 26, 2014
44 minutes

Internet Moment:  Today we explored NewsMap.jp which is a graphical interpretation of the top news stories on Google News that was created by Marcos Weskamp, a self described software architect.  He is was also part of the team that founded Flipboard which seeks to bring the design experience of magazines to web and tablet technology.  Students had a chance to explore Mr. Weskamp's website and learn a little about how software engineers work with design and computer coding. (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.2.5.B, 15.2.5.C, 15.2.8.E)
http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/BasicHTML.JPG

Finish Basic HTML:  Today we finished creating a simple webpage using HTML code. Students added 
a background color, font color, font style, and inserted images.  The use of hexadecimal numbers to create specific colors was also explained. We finished the webpage by adding JavaScript from DynamicDrive.com and experimenting with it.  Click here to enlarge the project description. (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.S, 15.4.8.H)

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a video from code.org about what most schools don't teach - computer coding.  This video featured many famous and not so famous people talking about how they learned to code.








February 24, 2014
91 minutes

Internet Moment:  Today we looked at two online resources for fonts. DaFont.com offers over 20,000 fonts that are either freeware, shareware, demo versions or in the public domain.  These fonts can be downloaded and installed but students were also shown how they can use the Snipping Tool to get images of the fonts they might like.  Students were also shown how they could make their own font using a website like YourFonts.com.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.6.5.M, 15.4.5.A)

Introduction to Web Conferencing:  Students were introduced to what a webinar or web conference is and what online education could look like for them in the future.  
AnyMeeting.com was used to project presentations from the teacher's desktop to the student's screen and the use of webcams in a webinar was also demonstrated.     


Started Basic HTML
:  Students learned about computer coding by creating a website in basic HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). This presentation was done using anymeeting.com.  All students could follow along on their own desktop and experience a webinar. 
Students typed the HTML into wordpad to create a simple webpage.  We then made  adjustments to this page that included adding a background color, font color, font style, and inserting images and adding a hyperlink.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.S, 15.4.8.H)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKnHiGGf_mE
Office Yoga & a Break:
  Students are always reminded to not spend more that 30-40 minutes at a computer without taking a break.  During today's long class class we took a break and everyone had an opportunity to get up and move around.  This also gave everyone an opportunity to view each others projects and share ideas.  As part of our break today we also practiced a simple yoga stretch for your thigh.

Check Grades:  Since we are at the halfway point in this class students were asked to log into the Home Access Center and check their computer class grades.  Students were also reminded that if they could not log in their parents had to go to the Newtown Middle School website and follow the directions at the bottom of the webpage to create a student account.  

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today by watching a short video from EuroNews about Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of HTML code and the world wide web.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.4.8.A)







February 20, 2014
104 minutes

Internet Moment:  Today we started class by visiting NBCOlympics.com to see what the online coverage of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia looked like.

Review of Our High School Computer Classes:
  Students were reminded that this class is the basic computer skills class that every Council Rock student is required to take and that any future computer classes that they take at the high school will be elective classes.  We specifically discussed all the different directions and careers that students can pursue in computer technology.  From website design to robotics to programming to information technology and business applications to courses at the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, our high school 
http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FontGuide.JPG
offers many opportunities.  All students were reminded to check the 
High School Program Planning Guide for more information.  We also discussed the importance of planning ahead and networking in developing personal career goals.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.2.8.E, 15.2.5.J, 15.2.8.K)

Finish Font Guide Project:  All students had time today to finish the font guide project. Students were shown how to change the line spacing and print the final draft using a different network printer.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.G, 15.4.2.K, 15.3.8.X) 

Office Yoga Break:  During long classes like this one students are always reminded to take breaks and get exercise.  Students shouldn't spend more than 30-40 minutes in front of a computer without taking a break.  For our break today we practiced a simple office yoga stretch.

Hour of Code:  Today our class participated in the Hour of Code. We started by going to the Favorite Links webpage that we had previously made in Word and viewing the source code.  Students were told that this code, a mixture of HTML and JavaScript, was the list of specific instructions that tell your web browser how to display the webpage. When students saved their Word document as a "single file webpage" Microsoft Word wrote this code for them.  We then watched the tutorial video below to introduce the online coding activity.  Students then went to the online Blockly Maze Tutorial to write JavaScript.   

Introduction to Scratch:  After all students had time to complete the Blockly Maze Tutorial the class was shown Scratch which is a free online code editor that was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Students who enjoyed using Blockly, were told that Scratch would be the next step for them to try.  

Technology Current Event Video:   We watched part of a TED Presentation by John Maeda, the President of the Rhode Island School of Design.  In the video he talked about how he became a graphic designer and how he used technology.  He also did a presentation about content & form that demonstrated the use different of different fonts to convey meaning. Students were encouraged to watched the rest of the video on their own.  (PA BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.A, 15.8.8.K, 15.9.8.A)







February 18, 2014
0 minutes*

* During our class time today all students participated in a rotation around all the Arts 
   Classes to learn about course offerings at our high school.






February 12, 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.  (PA BCIT Standards:  15.3.5.V, 15.4.8.A, 15.6.5.L)

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FavoriteLinks.JPG
Finish Favorite Links Project:
  All students had time to finish this project today. Students were shown the various "save as" options in Word and how to save their project as a single file webpage in word.  This project will become the first webpage in the website that we will build in this class.  
Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.4.5.G)

Break:  Students are always reminded to not spend too much time sitting in front of computers.  Breaks should be taken every 30-40 minutes.  For our break 
http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/PublisherLogo.JPG
today 
w
e did a gallery walk to share project ideas.  We then practiced a simple yoga stretch for your shoulder.

Publisher Logo Project:  We started with an introduction to MS Publisher 2010 today. Publisher was described as a graphic design program which is used to express your ideas visually.  The field of graphic design was also explained. Students were reminded that learning basic graphic design skills will help them to communicate their ideas effectively.  Students then became familiar with Publisher 2010 by making a simple logo.  We saved this project and shared them with the class. Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.S, 15.4.5.G, 15.6.5.M, 15.3.8.X, 15.9.8.A, 15.9.5.L)

Font Presentation:  In this presentation the development of the two basic font families (serif & sans serif) as well as the best uses for each of them was covered. Students were also shown how they read primarily through identifying sight words and why it's so hard to spell and grammar check your own work.

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FontGuide.JPG
Start Publisher Font Guide Project
:  After a presentation about the origins of fonts, the two main categories for fonts 
(
serif & san serif) and the best uses for each category students proceeded to make a Font Guide in MS Publisher.  The final student project should look just like the original.  We also discussed the concept of WYSIWYG in graphic design on computers.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  We will finish this project next class.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.G, 15.4.2.K, 15.3.8.X) 

Font Conference Video:  As a follow-up to the Font Presentation we watched a short video from College Humor about a fictitious "Font Conference":







February 10, 2014
104 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.

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/MLAparagraph.JPG
Finish the MLA Paragraph Project:
  All students had time to finish this project today. 
After a demonstration by the teacher all students finished typing this project and printed the finished document two-sided and turned it in.  All students should be able to set-up their Word Documents in the MLA Format.  (PA-B.C.I.T. Standards: 15.3.5.A, 15.3.8.A)

Assigned Seats:  All students have an assigned seat/computer in computer class.  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.  Students were also reminded to adjust the keyboard, mouse, chair and monitor to meet their ergonomic needs.  (PA-BCIT Standard:  15.4.5.D, 15.4.2.B, 15.4.8.F)

Typing Test:  All students took a typing test using 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:  43.9 WPM  Click here for more information about typing speeds at Newtown Middle School.  We also discussed this graph:


Online Typing Activities:  As a follow up to the typing test we looked at the typing speeds for the whole 8th grade in Excel and looked at graphs of past speeds for Newtown Middle School students.  Students were then 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 finished their projects.  (PA-BCIT Standard:  15.6.2.L)

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FavoriteLinks.JPG
Favorite Links Project: 
 Students started this project today.  Each student made a simple  single file webpage in Word.  They are used a table to layout 6 favorite websites with words and pictures as hyperlinks to their favorite websites sites.  As part of this project we talked about using and formatting tables and websites that were "appropriate" for school.  We will finish this project next class.  Click here to enlarge the project description.   (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.4.5.G)

Technology Current Event Video:  To finish class today we watched a short video from CNET about the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop Keyboard.  (PA-BCIT Standard:  15.4.8.C)







February 6, 2014 - SNOW DAY - NO SCHOOL
0 minutes




February 4, 2014
61 minutes*

Internet Moment:  Students were asked to compare three popular news aggregator websites:  Google News, Bing News and Yahoo.  We looked at their home pages, their features and their overall appearance.  Though the results were split, a plurality of our students said they preferred Google News when looking for current events online.  (PA BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.6.5.L)

Finish Basic Computer Knowledge Presentation:  Today we finished the presentation we started last class.  The origins of the Microsoft corporation were covered and the development of the Windows Operating System was explained.  
We also discussed the importance of being careful about what you post online.  Students were reminded that last year 30% of college admission officers reported finding content online that caused them to reject a student's application.   Students were reminded that employers are using many of the same techniques to select candidates for job openings.  All students then had some time to check their current online presence by searching for themselves, their friends and their family members.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.1.5.B, 15.3.5.V, 15.3.8.T, 15.4.5.B, 15.6.8.M, 15.5.8.J, 15.4.5.A, 15.4.5.B, 15.3.5.T) 

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/MLAparagraph.JPG
Start MLA Paragraph:
  All 8th grade students must demonstrate the ability to use the MLA format (which is used at Council Rock and most colleges) in MS Word 2010.  Click here to enlarge the project description.
  This project involves several skills including:  double spacing, changing fonts and sizes, changing indentation settings and accessing the header.  All students should be able to set-up their Word Documents in the MLA Format.  We will finish this project next class.  (PA-B.C.I.T. Standards: 15.3.5.A, 15.3.8.A)

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a video from 8nownews.com in Las Vegas, Nevada about the use of social media searches by colleges and universities.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.2.5.M, 15.2.8.K, 15.8.8.M, 15.5.8.J, 15.4.5.A, 15.4.5.B)

http://www.8newsnow.com/story/23997251/colleges-using-social-media-to-research-prospective-students

* Class time was shorter today due to the 2 hour delay schedule




January 31, 2014
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.

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/pixlrproject.JPG
Log On & Explore
:  All students were given time to explore the start menu and the various programs available to them at school. 

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 (PA-BCIT Standard:  15.4.8.F):
  1. Be at least 8 characters long
  2. Include uppercase and lowercase letters
  3. Include numbers and punctuation 
CRSD Acceptable Use Policy:  Students were shown how to access the CRSD Acceptable Use Policy online through a simple internet search.  They were also reminded that they are in a network environment where their actions on the computer can be easily tracked.  We also reviewed the policies concerning devices (such as cell phones and tablets) that student might bring into school.

Pixlr.com Project
:  Students were shown how to use the online photo editor pixlr.com to edit a photograph.  Students then shared their modified photos using various district network resources and demonstrated basic skills such as 
drag & drop.  The best use of the H:, S: & X: drives was also explained.  We also discussed professional digital photo editing with Adobe PhotoShop. (PA BCIT Standards: 15.4.8.F, 15.4.5.G)


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.  

Basic Computer Knowledge Presentation:  Today students were shown a presentation based on the student computer knowledge survey that they had taken.  This introductory lecture covers basic background information that every student should know about computers such as the development of desktop computers (Apple, IBM & Microsoft), different computer operating systems, internet connection options, developing computer devices (like smart phones and tablet computers) and protecting yourself online.  We will finish the presentation next class. (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.1.5.B, 15.3.5.V, 15.3.8.T, 15.6.8.M) 

Technology Current Event Video:  At then end of most computer classes we watch a current event video about emerging trends in technology.  Today's video was inspired by a presentation that was created by a high school teacher in Colorado, Mr. Karl Fisch.  Here is a link to his blog:  THE FISCHBOWL for more information.