2014-15 8-A.3

January 26, 2015 - LAST CLASS
44 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).  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)
http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FirstAidPosters.JPG

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.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  Almost everyone finished today.  (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)

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.

Skype with Mr. McCutchen's Class:
  Today is Wayne Gretzky's birthday and 
Mr. McCutcheon second graders at Archie Stouffer Elementary School in Minden, Ontario, Canada were celebrating it all day. We called them to 
sing happy birthday and find out what they were learning.  We also talked to them about the upcoming snow storm and we were surprised to learn that in the last ten years they only closed his school for snow once.

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 (now called Lightbeam) 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)









January 22, 2015
91 minutes

Finish the Online Collaboration Project:  All groups had some time to finish and turn in their completed projects.  Each group prepared a 7 day travel itinerary for a trip to Austria.  As part of the project they had to do internet research, collaborate with a shared Google Doc, and stick to a budget.  Click here for the project directions.  The completed itineraries can be viewed here. The rubric for the project can be viewed here. Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.M, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.U, 15.3.12.W, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.D)

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. 

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 Noodle Tools (available to CRSD students) 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)

FIRST AID PROJECT DIRECTIONS:

Think Before You Post Slide Show: 
To start class today we reviewed the "As Seen Online" slideshow that will be displayed in the cafeteria during lunch sometime.  Students were reminded that all the images and videos in the show were publicly available online and available for the whole world to see. The show was created using Google Image searches and some other websites that compile photos and videos. It was explained to the class that last year 29% of college admissions officers reported using online searches when reviewing applicants and 39% of businesses reported researching job candidates online. All students who have posted anything online were reminded to spend some time reviewing their privacy settings and to always "THINK before you POST."  Students then had some time to search for themselves online. (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)

Technology Current Event Video: As a followup to the Think Before You Post slide show students were asked to watch this story from Fox 47 News in Madison, Wisconsin about employers who use social media searches to investigate job applicants. (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)

 








January 20, 2015
104 minutes

Internet Moment:  As part of the Online Collaboration Project that we started today in class, students were shown how to use Google Maps to learn more about Austria. The class was shown how to search for specific destinations, hotels, restaurants and activities. They were also reminded to research youth hostels and public transportation options.

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/images/onlinecollaboration01.jpg
Online Collaboration Project:
 Today we started a group project in which students will use online collaboration tools to plan a travel itinerary. Students will work in groups of 3-4 and they will use a shared Google Doc to create a travel itinerary.  For this project our students will be planning a 7 day trip to Austria where they will participate in some tourism activities of their choice. Click here for the project directions  and here for the project rubric. 
Using Google as a currency converter was also demonstrated and students were reminded to use the calculator on their computers to total their travel expenses. Click here to enlarge the project description.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.M, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.U, 15.3.12.W, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.D)

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. 

Online Collaboration Demonstration:  students were shown an example of an international online collaboration project which was organized by Stefan Nielsen, a teacher in Denmark, and involved 30 teachers around the world. The 121212-1212 Project can be viewed to the right.  Students were reminded that tools like Google Docs and Microsoft 356 will be an important part of their future.  

Technology Current Event Video: In the coming year we hope to introduce Microsoft Office 365 to all our students. In today's video some of the collaboration features in Office 365 were explained and demonstrated.






 




January 15, 2015
44 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  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.4.8.A, 15.6.8.M)

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 9,200 points.

Finish Full Page Ad Project:  All students had a chance to finish and print their full page ad project today.   Click here to enlarge the project description.   (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.H, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.B)

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









January 13, 2015
91 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  
http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FullPageAd.JPG
the earth, the sky, Mars and the moon. The whole class followed a specific list of locations.  Next class all students will take a quiz to see how much of the Google Earth tour they can recall.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.4.8.A, 15.6.8.M)

Work on Full Page Ads:  All students had time today to work on 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.  Some students finished today but all students will have some time to finish and print next class.  Click here to enlarge the project description.   (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.H, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.B)

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










January 9, 2015
104 minutes

Google Location History Demonstration:
  To start our class today Mr. McNulty demonstrated how Google uses GPS data from cell phones to track the locations of individuals.  In the demonstration Mr. McNulty showed the class a detailed map prepared by Google of exactly where he and his family were during their vacation on August 11th.

Finish Brochure Project:  All students had time to finish this project today.  Students were shown how to print on both sides of a sheet of paper and how to trifold a brochure.  Everyone had a chance to review a rough draft with the teacher before turning in a final draft.  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:  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.

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 login and password.  All students should be able to login and check their grades routinely.

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 were also shown how to copy and paste images into either MS Word or PowerPoint and use that program to remove the background in a picture. 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)

The Universal Arts of Graphic Design:  As a review of the projects our students have done in Publisher we watched a short video from PBSoffbook about what graphic arts is and what a graphic designer does.









January 7, 2015
12 minutes*

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, and the Business Department at our high school.  Specific classes that were reviewed included:  Computers for College & Careers, Personal Finance & Investing and Entrepreneurship  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.  Students were also reminded that they could join the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) once they get to the high school.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.2.8.E, 15.2.5.J, 15.2.8.K)


* Class time was shorter today due to the High School Arts Presentations rotation schedule






January 5, 2015

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.

Technology Use Survey: All students in this class participated in the annual NMS Student Technology Use Survey. After the survey students had time to review the results from previous years. All results going back to 2006 can be viewed here.

Brochure Project: Students had time to work on 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. 
 Students were also reminded to not use any copyrighted material from the internet to make this project.   Each student will have an opportunity to review a rough draft of their project with the teacher next class.  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)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx96pzlXH2o

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 follow-up activity to the financial literacy game we played at the beginning of class we watched a short video from Bank America about setting up a personal budget.  Students were also reminded that they can learn a lot more about money by taking the Personal Finance class at the high school.



 





December 22, 2014

104 minutes

Internet Moment: Today we looked at three online resources for free ebooks and audio books. We started with the Gutenberg Project (Gutenberg.org) which offers free access to 46,000 ebooks and over 100,000 additional free ebooks from other resources. We then looked at Lit2Go which is a free online collection of audio books 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. Students were also reminded to search for free ebook reader apps for their phone and tablet devices. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.1.5.B, 15.2.5.L, 15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.B)

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/Brochure.JPG
Start Publisher Brochure Project: Students take an existing brochure about copyright laws and recreate it in Publisher 2013 using a template as a starting point. The original brochure they were given was about copyright laws. Students were be shown how to use Google Images and Bing Images to find free images that they could even use for commercial purposes. Students also practiced their typing today by re-typing the text of the original brochure. We will finish this project next class. 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:
  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,)

Finish Basic HTML: Today students finished creating a simple webpage using HTML code. We finished the webpage by adding images, hyperlinks and JavaScript from DynamicDrive. Students had some time to experiment with the Javascript. 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 TED presentation by Margaret Stewart about how copyright laws are handled on YouTube.







December 18, 2014
44 minutes

http://scratch.mit.edu/
Internet Moment: As a follow-up to our Hour of Code activity last class (the Blockly Maze Tutorial) students were shown Scratch which is a free coding tutorial activity that is available from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab. Everyone had a chance to explore the sample projects and then try making a project of their own. Many of our students particularly liked experimenting with the sound effects that were available in Scratch. All students were encouraged to explore this website more on their own.

http://www.anymeeting.com
Introduction to Webinars: Today 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. During the sample webinar today Mrs. McNulty from McDonald Elementary School in Warminster, PA visited our class and watched some of the presentation. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.5.J, 15.3.5.K, 15.6.8.M, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.A)

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/BasicHTML.JPG
Started Basic HTML: Students learned about computer coding by creating a website in basic HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). Students typed the HTML into Notepad to create a simple webpage. We then made adjustments to this page that included adding a background color. Next class students will be shown how to change the font color, font style, insert imagesand add a hyperlink. All students will also have some time to experiment with adding JavaScript from Dynamic Drive. Click here to enlarge the project description.(PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.S, 15.4.8.H)

Technology Current Event Video: Unfortunately we ran out of time for a video today







December 16, 2014
91 minutes

Internet Moment: Today we looked at two online resources for fonts. DaFont.com offers over 26,300 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)


http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/FontGuide.JPG
Finish Font Guide Project:
  All students had time today to finish this project. Students were shown how to change the line spacing and print the final draft using a 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) 

Break:  Students are always reminded to not spend too much time sitting in front of computers. For our break today we did a gallery walk to share project ideas. We then practiced a simple yoga stretch for your spine.

Hour of Code:  Today our class participated in the Hour of Code. We started by viewing the source code for this webpage.  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.  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.  

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)










December 12, 2014
104 minutes

Internet Moment: We looked at a Microsoft Web Application for creating zoomable high resolution photos.   Students were also shown two other examples of zoomable photos that were created using the web application:  the NMS Mosaic 
Project and the Deep Zoom image of Yosemite National Park. Students had time to explore these websites.

http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/8th/PublisherLogo.JPG
Publisher Logo Project
:  We started with an introduction to MS Publisher 2012 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, 
http://class10dreamteens.blogspot.ru/2014/11/keeping-fit-and-healthy.html
15.4.5.G, 15.6.5.M, 15.3.8.X, 15.9.8.A, 15.9.5.L)

Student Blogging Activity: Our students prepared a one paragraph response to a blog entry Ms. Chernaya. an english language teacher at the City of Moscow Secondary School with Advanced Study of Foreign Languages, Number 1302. Mrs. Chernaya's English Language students are practicing their writing skills by blogging and they will be reading our student's comments and replying to them. The topic of the blog is health and fitness and our students shared what they do to stay healthy and fit. You can view the comments here. In this activity our students are demonstrating appropriate internet communication skills and paragraph writing skills by commenting on their blog entries. We also used MS Word as a resource to help with spelling and grammar. Students were reminded that whenever they post anything online they should make an effort to make sure it will reflect positively on them. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.G, 15.3.8.M, 15.4.5.A, 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 arms.

Font Presentation:  In this presentation the development of the two basic font families (serif & sans serif) as well as the best uses for each was discussed. 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
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":









December 10, 2014

44 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/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. Everyone will have time to 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:  We watched a short video from TechnoBuffalo  about some new mirrored and transparent computer monitors.









December 8, 2014
91 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)

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:
After the presentation students were asked to use various online search engines to search for themselves to see what their "digital footprint" looks like.

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: 35.1 WPM Click here for more information about typing speeds at Newtown Middle School. We also reviewed the graph below:



Technology Current Event Video:  Unfortunately we ran out of time for a video today.







December 4, 2014
104 minutes

Mr. McNulty was absent today.  Students did the following activities:

Seating Chart:  At the direction of the substitute teacher seats were assigned. 

Log on and Explore:  All students logged on and explored what was new on our computers this year.  They were reminded that in the computer lab we now have Microsoft Office 2013 instead of 2010.  All students should be able to find the 2013 programs on their own.

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 2013.  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.  Follow this link to a complete online tutorial that explains all these skills.  All students should have time to finish typing, print the document two-sided using Printer #1 and turn 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)

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. 
http://www.todayincomputerclass.com/forms/ComputerClassSurvey.pdf

Computer Class Survey
:  All students will took 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.  The survey will also be used as the outline for a presentation next class.  

Business Classes at the High School, WebQuest Project:  All students researched the computer class opportunities at our high school by completing an online webquest activity.  Follow this link to view the questions.  They used the Council Rock High School - North web site to find the answers.

Biography of Bill Gates Video:
  Students watched a video about Bill Gates.  The video talks about his parents, his childhood and his education as well as the development of the Microsoft Corporation.  During the video students answered these questions.

YouTube Video