December 1, 2014 - LAST CLASS 91 minutes91 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. November 24, 2014 44 minutes* Student Presentations: Students had about 10 minutes to practice their presentations at the beginning of class today.  The presentations were then 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.  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)      After the presentations we talked about being on camera and the possibility that many current students will be presenting to online audiences in the future. * Class time was shorter today due to the half-day schedule November 20, 2014 Mr. McNulty was Absent Today:  Students were directed to do the following activities: Internet Moment:  Students were shown GeoGuessr.com today and allowed to spend 5 minutes playing the game at the beginning class.  The highest score in our class today was Colton with 12,368 points. Student Technology Use Survey:  All students in this class participated in the annual NMS Student Technology Use Survey.  After the survey students had an opportunity to view the results from previous years.  All results going back to 2006 can be viewed here.  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 should 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) SLIDE REQUIREMENTS: 1. Introduction/Title Slide/Your Names (first names only) 2. COMPUTER ANCESTORS: early mechanical calculators, Pascal’s Pascaline Calculator, Babbage’s Difference Engine. 3. EARLY ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS: the COLOSSUS (in England), and the ENIAC (in Philadelphia, PA) 4. THE FIRST HOBBY/HOME COMPUTERS: Altair, Lear-Siegler ADM3-A, and the Xerox Alto Computer 5. TWO GUYS IN A GARAGE: Steve Wozniak & Steve Jobs create the first Apple Home Computer: Apple I, Apple IIe, Macintosh 6. COMPUTERS TODAY: What do you use your computer for? Commonly used programs, Common uses, favorite programs 7. WORKS CITED: For this project you should copy and paste the web address of any resources on the last page and make it an actual hyperlink. Follow the CRSD format for your Words Consulted. To Be Completed Today:  All groups should do the following today:
Presentations:  All groups will be presenting in class next Monday.  November 18, 2014 91 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 online presentation software like this to collaborate on future projects at home or with partners elsewhere in the world.  Students will have more 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:  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. November 14 , 2014 98 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 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)  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 stretch for your neck. After the break everyone had a chance to get up and walk around. 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. * Class time was shorter today due to the Veterans Day Assembly November 12, 2014 44 minutes  Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from OnGuardOnline.gov about being careful about what you share online. November 10, 2014 75 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.  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 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 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) * Class time was shorter today due to a scheduled fire drill November 5, 2014 104 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? November 3, 2014 44 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.  Today students were shown how to collect old yearbook photos from the S: drive for their shows and how to prepare their narration for each slide by typing into the notes at the bottom of the screen.  Most students have completed at least 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)Technology Current Event Video:  To finish class today we watched a short video that explained inflation and the importance of investing. October 30, 2014 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. 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 2010 and how to find additional backgrounds on the internet. Unfortunately we experienced a district-wide network outage during our class so we were unable to access our network drives.  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) 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.  (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.A, 15.5.8.J)  October 28, 2014 104 minutes    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:  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) October 24, 2014 94 minutes  Internet Moment: Students looked at a website from Microsoft today called PhotoSynth.net. They were able to view 360 degree, high resolution images, from all around the world.  Finish 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. Everyone had time to print and turn in 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) 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.  After the break everyone had a chance to get up and walk around. Technology Current Event Video:   To wrap-up the earlier presentation about Photosynth we watch parts of a TED presentations by Blaise Aguera y Arcas who is the Microsoft Engineer in charge of developing Photosynth.net. October 22, 2014 91 minutes Class Blog:  Students were shown TodayInComputerClass.com and told that they can check here anytime to review what work was done in class.  We also discussed what a web log or blog was, how blogs developed into microblogs like Twitter and now mobile phone based apps like Instagram.  This website is the blog or web log for our class. Students were also told that their parents will be sent an email with a link to this website so they can also review what we are doing in computer class each day. Finish Business Letter #1:  All students had time to finish the first business letter. Everyone also had time to practice their typing skills before the typing test. 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:  30.9 WPM  Click here for more information about typing speeds at Newtown Middle School.   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.   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. 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) 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) October 20, 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)  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:
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 students got up and searched for the other student in the room that had the same birthday as they did.  Statistically speaking we only need about 30 people in a group to get a match.  CRSD Acceptable Use Policy: Students were shown how to access the CRSD Acceptable Use Policy online and they were reminded that they are in a network environment where their actions on the computer can be easily tracked. Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video about a new flexible TV screen. October 16, 2014 44 minutes Introduction to Basic Computer Skills Class: Basic rules and classroom procedures were explained. Students were specifically reminded that because technology is constantly changing they should get into the habit of helping each other out and demonstrating the ability to learn new computer skills through experimentation. All students reported that they had helped an adult with computer skills. They were reminded that they also need to get used to helping each other with technology. (PA-BCIT Standard 15.2.5.L, 15.3.8.C, 15.3.8.D, 15.3.5.M, 15.8.5.C) Log On & Explore: All students were given time to explore the start menu and the various programs available to them at school. MS Paint Project: Students were shown how to open and use MS paint to make a simple drawing. Students then shared their drawings using various district network resources and basic skills such as saving to a network drive and using drag & drop. The best use of the H: & X: drives was also explained. (PA BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.F)  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.   |
