June 16, 2015 - LAST CLASS 104 minutes91 minutes  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. 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 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:  In this TED presentation Jane McGonigal shared her ideas about Online Computer Gaming and the importance of online collaboration skills.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.4.8.A) June 12, 2015   Office Yoga Break:  For our  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.   Excel Simple Budget Project:In our final project in Excel we created a simple budget for a fictitious bike company. We inputted a budget with income and expenses.  We then created formulas to determine if the company made a profit or a loss and we made changes to the expenses to balance the budget.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.1.8.A, 15.1.8.E, 15.1.8.K, 15.1.8.L, 15.1.8.Q, 15.1.8.W, 15.1.8.Y, 15.1.8.Z)  (ISTE Standards: 1c, 3c, 3d, 4c, 6a, 6b) Household Budgeting with Microsoft Excel:  We finished these activities with a short video about how to use Excel to create a simple household budget. Technology Current Event Video: We finished class today with a short video from SafeInternetBanking.be about an amazing mind reader and how he knows so much about his clients.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.2.8.H, 15.2.8.L, 15.6.8.M, 15.3.8.T, 15.3.8.T, 15.3.5.V, 15.3.8.Q, 15.5.8.J, 15.6.8.M, 15.8.8.J)  (ISTE Standards: 1d, 2c, 3c, 4a, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6b) June 10, 2015 94 minutes  Student Presentations: Students were shown  a presentation about time management, group projects and the business concept of "Man Hours".  After the presentation students had about 20 minutes to prepare and practice their slide shows.  The presentations were broadcast live through the internet using Ustream.com so other teachers elsewhere in the world could watch.  We were fortunate to have Mr. Wigglesworth, a science teacher from our own school, watch the presentations and give our students some feedback.  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.  In the images below you can see screen shots of the groups as they presented online.  Notice the difference that high contrast and a large font makes for an online audience. (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)     June 8, 2015 76 minutes* Internet Moment: Students were shown GeoGuessr.com today and we spent about 5 minutes playing the game at the beginning class today. The highest score in our class today was over 9,000 points. Turn in Slide Shows: After having a little time to make any final changes everyone had time to turn in the slideshows we had finished and evaluated last class.   History of Computers Slide Show - Students worked in groups of 4-5 to make a slide show about the history of computers. In this project students using online collaboration tools such as 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  Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from Google about using the collaboration tools in Google Drive. *Class time was shorter today due to a scheduled fire drill June 4, 2015 104 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)  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. Block Format Business Letter Quiz:  All students took an online quiz to check for retention of knowledge from the block formatted business letter projects that we did several weeks ago.   (PA BCIT Standard:  15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B) Technology Current Event Video: We watched the second half of a 2009 TED Presentation by Juan Enriquez about the convergence of various technologies and how it might effect the human species. June 2, 2015 44 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)  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. Students finished adding voice narration to their shows. We also started adding a quiz to the end of the shows 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, 2b, 3b, 3c, 4b) 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. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.2.8.H, 15.3.8.M, 15.6.8.M, 15.4.8.A, 15.8.8.M) May 29, 2015 91 minutes   Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video about the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.  (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.A, 15.5.8.J)  (ISTE Standards: 1d, 6d) May 27, 2015 104 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. Students were shown how to add action buttons and a table of contents to their shows so they could be set-up in a kiosk format. Next class we will be adding voice narration to our shows so student's added speaker notes to each slide.  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)  (ISTE Standards: 1a, 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. 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. May 22, 2015 44 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. Technology Current Event Video: We finished class today with a video from Boston Dynamics that shows one of their most recent creations. 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 Standards: 1d, 3b, 3c) May 20, 2015 82 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) 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 back. Log on and Check Grades:  All students were asked to log into the Home Access Center and check their grades.  Since January 1st, 2015 all HAC accounts have been updated so that students can accessed their grades using their regular district log in and password.  All students should be able to log in and check their grades routinely.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.4.5.A, 15.4.8.F) (ISTE Standards:  5a, 5c, 4c, 6a) 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? May 18, 2015 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 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)  (ISTE Standards:  1a, 1c, 1d, 2c, 3b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b) Finish the Final Word Project:  All students had  Mystery Skype Activity:  Our students played an online game with Mr. Karnoscak's 3rd grade class at Willow Brook Elementary School in Glenview, Illinois.  To play the game students went back and forth asking each other yes and no questions in an attempt to figure out where they were located.  After the game we visited Willow Brook Elementary School on Google Maps and explored their neighborhood.  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. 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. All students will have more time next class to complete their first 6 slides. 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, 2b, 3b, 3c, 4b, 6d)Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class with a video about how Google Street View technology was used to create a virtual version of the White House. May 14, 2015 44 minutes  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.  (PA BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.E, 15.8.8.C, 15.9.5.M) Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video that was prepared by students at the Nexus International School in Singapore about the recent earthquakes in Nepal. May 12, 2015 91 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. 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)  (ISTE Standards:  1d, 5b) May 8, 2015 104 minutes Video: Our class was very concerned that we had many students missing today due to a field trip. To start class we watched Shakespeare's famous St. Crispin's Day Speech from Henry V for inspiration. 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.  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 had time to finish and print this project today.  Students were also reminded that they need to develop a personalized signature and we discussed the use of a written signature on legal documents.  Click here to view the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B)  (ISTE Standards:  1a, 1c, 5a, 5c, 6b) 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.  Technology Current Event Video: To finish class today we watched a short video from PBS Off Book about the process professional go through to design logos.  May 6, 2015 91 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)  (ISTE Standards:  3b, 3c, 4c, 5c, 5b, 6a) Student Technology Use Survey: Students participated in the annual NMS Student Technology use survey. After the survey everyone had a chance to review the results from previous years.  (ISTE Standards:  1d, 3d)  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 an identity theft concern, which was something we previously discussed in 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)  (ISTE Standards:  1a, 1c, 5a, 5c, 6b)  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)  (ISTE Standards:  5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c) 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 sides.  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:  42.6 WPM  Click here for more information about typing speeds at Newtown Middle School.    Online Typing Activities: As a follow up to the typing test students were given some time to find some 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:  We finished class today with a short video demonstrating smart phone keyboard technology. May 4, 2015 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 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:  We finished this presentation with a short CBS News video about the growth of identity theft among children.  (PA BCIT Standards:  15.6.8.M) |
