April 30, 2015 - LAST CLASS 91 minutes Finish Presentations:  The last two groups completed their presentations about the History of Computers.  The presentations were broadcast live through the internet using Ustream.com so other teachers elsewhere in the world could watch.  During the presentations our students in the classroom 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.  We were also very fortunate to have Mr. Sebastian Panakal of the GeoGebra Institute in Kerala, India in our online audience today.   (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.B, 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)  (ISTE Standards:  1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2d, 3b, 3c, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) 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.   Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class with a short video from Fox 5 News in Washington DC about a school district in Maryland that's monitoring everything their students do online.  Unfortunately we ran out of time to watch the whole video. April 28, 2015 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. Students were challenged to think about how they could use     We will finish the presentations next class. 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) April 22, 2015 93 minutes 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.    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. Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video featuring the DARPA Robotic Challenge which is held every June.  (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.A, 15.5.8.J)  (ISTE Standard: 1d)  April 22, 2015 61 minutes* Internet Moment: Today we explored Google 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 will be used by students in their 7th Grade Technology Education Manufacturing Unit to develop and market a product for mass production. Though it is available at school, Google Sketchup is 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 Event Video:  As a followup to our internet moment about Sketchup we finished class today with a short video about Computer Aided Design (CAD).  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.6.8.M, 15.8.8.K, 15.8.8.S, 15.9.8.F) * Class time was shorter today due to PSSA testing April 20, 2015 91 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.  (PA BCIT Standards:  15.6.8.M) 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 arm. Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from Audio-Technica about doing voice recordings.  Students were reminded that getting professional level voice recordings does involve considerable technical knowledge, skill and practice. April 16, 2015 30 minutes*   New Student & Parent Orientation in Germany: Our students learned more about the school transition process by visiting parent orientation night at the Stadtischen Realschule Sundern (a middle school in Germany) using Skype.  We could see the presentations that Mr. Marx was making to the groups and they could see our class.  We searched for their school on Google Maps and checked out their school webpage.  We also discussed how the slide shows were making would be a part of the orientation process for 6th graders who would be coming to our school next year. Technology Current Event Video: Unfortunately we ran out of time for a video today. April 14, 2015 61 minutes*  A Day At School PowerPoint Presentation: Students continued working on their slide shows about being 7th graders at Newtown Middle School. Students were reminded to use license free images and old yearbook photos on our school network.  Students were then shown how to drag and drop slides from another show.  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) (ISTE Standards: 1a, 1b, 2b, 3b, 3c, 4b, 6d)Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video about how packet switch technology works on the internet.  (ISTE Standard: 6a) April 10, 2015 104 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 was also described.  We also discussed 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. 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 2013 and how to find additional backgrounds on the internet.  Students were shown how to find license free images from the internet using advance searches in Google and Bing. Accessing old yearbook photos on our school network was also demonstrated. Students were then shown how to drag and drop slides from another show.  All students had 5-6 slides done by the end of class today. 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) (ISTE Standards: 1a, 1b, 2b, 3b, 3c, 4b, 6d)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 thigh. 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) (ISTE Standards: 1d, 3b, 3c)  Khan Academy: The future of education? April 8, 2015 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) (ISTE Standards: 1d, 3a, 3b, 3c) Finish Final Word Project:  All students had enough time to finish this project and turn it in.  Computer Vocabulary Quiz: Near the end of class today all students participated in an easy computer vocabulary quiz using Kahoot.it.  The quiz was based on Computer Vocabulary List #1.  The highest scoring students are listed to the right. 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)  (ISTE Standard: 1d) April 6, 2015 91 minutes Old Technology Video:  Unfortunately our district computer network wasn't allowing students to log on this morning so instead of starting class with am Internet Moment we started class with a video clip from the HBO series "From the Earth to the Moon." Before the video students were shown a slide ruler and reminded that the entire Apollo Program was conducted 40 years ago, before the advent of the personal computer as we know it today.  A sample from the video is posted below: 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 Munich, Germany and used the street view feature to explore the city.  It was explained to students that in Germany people can ask to have their residences removed from Google Maps. We also traveled to Tokyo, Japan 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) Final Word Project:  All students had  Technology Current Event Video:  Instead of a current event video we watched a slide show that had been prepared by one of our students about his favorite movies.  Next class we will start our first PowerPoint project. March 26, 2015 104 minutes   Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short TED presentation by Keller Rinaudo about a mini robot that's powered by an iPhone.  (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.A, 15.5.8.J) March 24, 2015 44 minutes  Technology Current Event Video:  To finish class today students were shown an old video about how early computers were used to predict the weather.  We then compared the speed and performance of early electronic computers with common smart phones of today.  (PA BCIT Standards: 15.3.5.V, 15.4.8.A, 15.6.5.L) March 20, 2015 86 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 #2: Students practiced professional communication and typing skills by finishing 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. Everyone will have time to finish and print this project next class.  Click here to view the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.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.  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.  Students were also specifically reminded that they should not do anything inappropriate with the cameras on their cell phones and that there are serious consequences for miss use.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.1.5.B, 15.2.5.L, 15.2.5.M, 15.3.8.D, 15.3.5.M)  Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a video from Source Fed Nerd that highlighted the Top 10 gadgets at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show that was held in Las Vegas in January.  (PA BCIT Standards:  15.4.5.A) * Class time was shorter today due to the Circles Schedule March 18, 2015 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)  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.  The text of the letter was based on a sample letter from the FTC that would be used to inform a credit card company of and identity theft concern, which was something we discussed last class.  All students finished this project in class today. Students were shown how to make a new folder in their H: drive, name the folder and save their Word document into that folder.  Click here to enlarge the project description. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B)  Assigned Seats: All students have an assigned seat/computer in the 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. Everyone should use the same computer every time they come to the lab. Students were also reminded to adjust the keyboard, mouse, chair and monitor to meet their ergonomic needs when they come to class. (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:  34.6 WPM  Click here for more information about typing speeds at Newtown Middle School.     Start 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. How to Set up a table, merge cells and copy/paste text was demonstrated. Everyone will have time to finish and print this project next class.  Students were also reminded that they needed to develop a personalized signature and we will discuss the use of a written signature on legal documents next class. Click here to view the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B) 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) March 16, 2015 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. 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 our 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) Setting up Student Passwords: All students were given some suggestions to help them develop good passwords.  Some suggested good password practices were:  Come 
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 will be conducting a probability experiment about matching birthdays that you can read about here.  Everyone will be asked to get up and find the other person in the room who shares their birthday.  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:
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. This 2014 revision of the presentation was created by Jose Esteves, a professor of Information Systems at the IE Business School in Spain.   |
