October 14, 2014 - LAST CLASS 104 minutes 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 it is a legitimate website (according to snopes.com). Students were reminded that they have to be very skeptical of what they find online and to always independently verify the facts themselves. Make-up Time & Checking Grades: Since this is our last full 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.  All students were asked to log into the HAC and check their grades for this class. The few students who could not log in to check their grades were reminded, one more time, that they have to talk to their parents about getting their email address registered in the system. 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.   Closure to Computer Class: Students were reminded that computers are constantly changing and that they had 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.  They were also reminded that we would meet again next year for their second and final required computer class here at Council Rock. October 10, 2014 94 minutes  History of Computers Slide Show - Students continued working on their final PowerPoint project which is a 6-8 slide show that they will present to the class. Students worked 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 the 12-12-12 Project that was created by over 30 teachers from all over the world using Google Drive and they were challenged to think about how they could use online collaboration tools like this to work with other students from all over the world in the future.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.G, 15.3.8.H, 15.3.8.M, 15.4.8.G, 15.4.8.K, 15.4.5.A, 15.4.8.D, 15.4.8.F, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.U, 15.3.12.W)  Technology Current Event Video: We finished by watching part of Don McMillan's famous presentation: Life after Death by PowerPoint.  (PA-BCIT Standard:  15.3.8.D) October 8, 2014 91 minutes  Student Technology Use Survey:  All students in this class participated in the annual NMS Student Technology Use Survey.  We started class today by reviewing the results from previous years.  All results going back to 2006 can be viewed here. 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. Students were challenged to think about how they could use online presentation software like this to collaborate on future projects at home or with partners elsewhere in the world.  Students will have some time to work on these shows next class before they present.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.G, 15.3.8.H, 15.3.8.M, 15.4.8.G, 15.4.8.K, 15.4.5.A, 15.4.8.D, 15.4.8.F, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.U, 15.3.12.W)  Technology Current Event Video:  Unfortunately we ran out of time for a video today.  October 6, 2014 104 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. Students found direction by car, bike and walking from school to their house. We also used the street views and how the Google Maps cars work was explained. We then went to Las Vegas, Nevada and used the directions feature to get driving, walking and biking directions to Zion National Park. the photos feature to explore the city. We also traveled to Singapore and students were shown how to check live traffic data. Students then had some time to explore the world on their own. (PA-BCIT: 15.6.8.M, 15.4.8.A)  Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from Google about the newest features that have been added to Google Maps. October 2, 2014 44 minutes  Day at School PowerPoint Shows: We continued to add features to our shows to make them "the greatest slides shows" our student have ever made. We started by adding video to the end of our show. Students were shown how to remove the background from a picture. Next class we will be adding an interactive quiz question at the end of the slideshow and we will be setting everyone's show in kiosk format so it can only be navigated by using the action buttons and hyperlinks. Next class we will also be adding voice narration to our shows so student's added speaker notes to each slide.  We will be adding voice narration to at least three of their slides. We will be using the record audio option in PowerPoint, a free program called Audacity and the sound recorder in Windows 7 to make the audio files.  Click here to enlarge the project description. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.E, 15.2.5.L, 15.2.5.M, 15.3.5.H, 15.4.8.G, 15.3.8.S)Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from OnGuardOnline.gov about being careful about what you share online. September 30, 2014 91 minutes  Description of How the Internet Works: The example of phone conversations using VOIP was used to describe the differences between the old dedicated line communication systems (circuit switching) and the internet system (packet switches) that has replaced it. The development of an emergency communication system within the United States (ARPANET) into today's worldwide internet network was also described and how webpages like this one are sent through the internet. We also discussed how webcams work the same way by sending 30 pictures per second through the internet. Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today by watching a video of Lin-lin's students participating in a Mystery Skype activity with Sebastian Panakal in Kerala, India. September 24, 2014 69 minutes* Internet Moment: Today we explored Sketchup which is a great example of a free CAD program. CAD, or computer aided design/drafting, has become very common across many fields and students should have some knowledge of what 3D designing looks and feels like on a computer. We also discussed how this program is used in the 7th Grade Technology Education Manufacturing Unit to develop and market a product for mass production. Though it is available at school, Sketchup is currently a free download that students can download at home so they can continue to learn more about this important skill on their own. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.6.8.M, 15.8.8.K, 15.8.8.S, 15.9.8.F) Technology Current Events Video:  As a follow-up to the activities we did last class in Sketch-up we watched a short video today about using 3D printers to make human body parts.  *Class time as adjusted today due to the Magazine Drive Assembly September 22, 2014 44 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 Technology. 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 watched part of Lecture 11: Work, Energy, and Gravitation. You can view the segment of the lecture that we watched 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: 15.2.5.B, 15.2.5.J, 15.2.5.L, 15.2.8.E, 15.2.8.F, 15.8.8.K) Technology Current Event Video:  As a followup to today's internet moment about online education and Open Course Ware from M.I.T. we watched a 60 Minutes video about Salman Khan and his creation, Khan Academy.  Students were also reminded that while they are making their slide shows about their day at school for the 6th graders they are participating in online education as an instructor.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.6.8.M, 15.4.8.A, 15.8.8.K)  Khan Academy: The future of education? September 18, 2014 91 minutes  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 and how to find additional backgrounds on the internet.  Most students have made 6-9 slides with titles and text on each slide. Today students were shown how to collect old yearbook photos from the S: drive for their shows and how to use Google Images to find free images that they could even use for commercial purposes. Students were also shown how to drag and drop a slide from one PowerPoint show to another.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.2.5.M, 15.2.5.L, 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.G, 15.3.8.H, 15.4.8.G, 15.4.8.K, 15.3.8.X, 15.3.8.S, 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.  As part of our break today we practiced a simple office yoga stretch for your shoulders and back.  After the break everyone had a chance to get up and walk around.  Students in grades 7 to 12 can register for their own HAC Account.  Parents, add your child's email address (registration page, demographic tab) and then have them click the registration link below:   September 16, 2014 104 minutes   Office Yoga Break:  For our break today everyone had a chance to get up and move around the room and review each other's work.  Then, before getting back to work, we practiced a simple yoga stretch for your neck. 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.     Technology Current Event Video:  Since many students said they had already seen the Day Made of Glass Video from last class we watched the second part of the video today.  September 12, 2014 44 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) Finish and Share Logo Projects:  All students had some time to finish the logo project we started last class.  We also did a gallery walk activity so students could view each other's work.  Click here to view the project description.  Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a video from Boston Dynamics that shows their most recent creation.  As part of a government funded DARPA project they created a robot called Wildcat that runs like a cat.  (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.A, 15.5.8.J) September 10, 2014 91 minutes   Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from RBB Public Relations that features 3 tips for successfully participating in a Skype interview.  Unfortunately we ran out of time for this videos.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.2.8.H, 15.3.8.M, 15.6.8.M, 15.4.8.A, 15.8.8.M) September 8, 2014 104 minutes Internet Moment: We started class today by visiting NautilusLive.org where we could view live streaming video from a marine biology research team in the Caribbean. 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 phone based apps like Instagram.  This web site 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.  Business Letter #2: Students practiced professional communication and typing skills by making a second block format business letter. To make this letter students have to copy text from Business Letter #1. They have to set-up a table, merge cells and copy/paste text. All students used the header and printed the finished letter using one of the network printers in the room.  Click here to view the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B) 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) Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a promotional video from the Corning Corporation about some possible uses for their products in the future.  (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.A, 15.5.8.J) September 4, 2014 104 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)  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.   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:  27 WPM  Click here for more information about typing speeds at Newtown Middle School.     Technology Current Event Video:  Unfortunately we ran out of time for a video today. September 2, 2014 75 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) Logging On: On the first attempt our students were unable to log on today due to a network issue.  Eventually everyone was able to log in.  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:
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:   Â
Log On & Explore:Â All students were given time to explore the start menu and the various programs available to them at school. Â All students spent the last few minutes of class exploring the software on our computers. * Class time was shorter today due to the first day of school schedule. |
