January 26, 2018 - LAST CLASS 84 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.  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. * Class time was shorter today due to a scheduled fire drill January 24, 2018   Students finished their slideshows for the 6th graders who will be transitioning to our school next September.   As Seen Online Video: As a follow-up to the think before you post presentation we watched a short video from Kim Komando about some of the negative consequences that have happened from posting photos without thinking first. (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) January 22, 2018 91 minutes  Internet Moment: Today we explored Sketchup which is a great example of a free CAD program. CAD, or computer aided design & drafting, has become very common across many fields and students should have some knowledge of what 3D designing looks and feels like on a computer. We also discussed how this program 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: 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 the shoulder blades. Technology Current Event Video: We finished class today with a video from the Corning Corporation about some of the potential uses for their glass products in the future. (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.A) January 18, 2018 104 minutes  Technology Current Event Video: We finished class today with a video from Engadget about some of the best technology that was on display at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. January 16, 2018 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. 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) January 11, 2018 91 minutes * Mr. McNulty was absent today. Students did the following activities.  Internet Moment: Students had an opportunity to explore the free online tutorials provided by the Goodwill Community Foundation in Raleigh, NC. At their website, GCFLearnFree.org our students could explore tutorials that range from mathematics to using an ATM to everyday life. Students were reminded of the importance of leveraging the power of the internet to augment their learning. They were also reminded that we were creating an online learning experience for the 6th graders using PowerPoint.Work on PowerPoint Slide Shows: Students continued working on the PowerPoint slide show that they started last class.  These shows are made for 6th graders who will be transitioning to our school next September. Everyone should have Adding Narration to the Slide Show: Next class we will begin adding audio narration to the slides. At the bottom of the screen, in the area labeled "Click to add notes", students should type in a script of exactly what they want to say for each slide:   Next class we will use microphones to record students' voices. Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video about the Google Self Driving Car prototype.  January 9, 2018 92 minutes*   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. We also discussed the origins of PowerPoint and the importance if using good images and graphics in your slide shows. 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 2016 and how to find additional backgrounds on the internet. Students were shown how to find license free and public domain images from the internet using advance searches in Bing.com. Accessing old yearbook photos on our school network was demonstrated. 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:  As a followup to today's internet moment about online education we watched a CNN 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 becoming an online instructor, just like Sal Khan.  (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.6.8.M, 15.4.8.A, 15.8.8.K) *Class time was shorter today due to the 2 hour delay schedule January 5, 2018 0 minutes* * No class today due to a snow day January 3, 2018 91 minutes   (PA BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.B, 15.3.8.E, 15.8.8.C, 15.9.5.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. As part of our break today we practiced a simple office yoga stretch for your thigh.  Technology Current Event Video: We finished class today with a short video from Pond5.com about how public domain works. In the video the three ways content enters the public domain is explained (through government, through dedication and time). December 20, 2017 44 minutes Internet Moment:  All students went to http://geoguessr.com/ and tried the online geography game. It drops you off in a Google Street View picture and students had to guess where they were in the world.  Students had 5 minutes to see who could get the highest score possible. Word Flyer Project: Using one of the pre-made templates in MS Word and the pictures that are available on our S: drive & school website students will created a flyer for one of the following school activities:  Crossroads Day, Magazine Drive, Winter Concerts, Any School Dance, Any Athletic Event, The School Play. Students could watch this tutorial video if they need help getting started. Block Format Business Letter Quiz:  All students will take an online quiz to check for retention of knowledge from the block formatted business letter projects that we did several weeks ago. Click here to take the quiz.  (PA BCIT Standard:  15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B) Technology Current Event Video: We finished class today with a review of some of the new TV's that were advertised at the 2017 Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. December 18, 2017 91 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 directions 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.  We also discussed how Google Maps collects traffic data using personal cell phones.  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)  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 the deltoid muscles.  Email Etiquette Video:We finished class today with a short video about email etiquette tips for college students from Dr. Tracy Brown at California State University in San Marcos. (PA-BCIT Standards 15.3.8.E, 15.3.8.M, 15.3.8.O, 15.3.8.Q, 15.3.8.R, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.U, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.D, 15.3.8.M, 15.4.8.F) December 14, 2017 92 minutes*  Internet Moment: Students were shown Weather.gov (the National Weather Service) as an example of a huge online database that's full of real-time and archived information. We checked our local weather and spent a few minutes checking the satellite images and Doppler radar for the whole United States. Students were also shown how to access the hourly weather graphs for our area to get precipitation predictions. We also discussed how federal government publications, such as the NWS website, can not be copyrighted and are therefore in the public domain. Students were reminded that the NWS is the original source for most of the weather information they receive on the internet, TV, and their phones. This website was also used as an example of "unbiased" information on the internet. Students were also told how predicting the weather motivated early computer pioneers. Finally, students were shown an old video about how early computers were used to predict the weather. (PA BCIT Standards: 15.3.5.V, 15.4.8.A, 15.6.5.L)We also discussed some of the advances that have taken place in the last 65 years:   Online Game: Our class played an online logo quiz game from Kahoot.  After 20 questions third place went to Sophie, second place went to Sam and in first place went to Zac. This activity gave all our students an chance to get familiar with playing online educational games like Kahoot. We were also able to demonstrate using Google Hangout as a video conferencing tool.   Word Logo Project: To get more familiar with the drawing and graphics tools in Word students were asked to create a unique logo as if they were starting their own business. After the logo game we discussed what a logo was and what visual communication is all about. Students also had a chance to share their completed logos with their classmates. Click here to view the project description.  Click here to view the logos we created.  (PA BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.E, 15.4.5.G, 15.3.8.U, 15.4.8.D) Technology Current Event Video: We finished class today with a 2 minute speed art video from Tozfu, a graphic designer in the U.K., showing multiple logo designs featuring the letter "S". * Class time was shorter today due to the 2 hour delay schedule December 12, 2017 44 minutes   Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from DNewsChannel about teaching cursive writing and typing in schools. December 8, 2017 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 asked to search Google News for themselves and people they know.  (CRETS:  1a, 2a, 3a, 3b, 3d, 7d) (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.G, 15.6.5.L) (ISTE Standards: 3b, 3c, 4c, 5c, 5b, 6a) 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.   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. (CRETS: 2b) (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.5.D, 15.4.2.B, 15.4.8.F) (ISTE Standards: 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c) 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:  33.6 WPM Click here for more information about typing speeds at Newtown Middle School.  (CRETS:  2e)   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 video about a new typing technology called the tap strap. December 6, 2017 104 minutes Introduction to the 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)   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 conducted a probability experiment about matching birthdays that you can read about here. Everyone was asked to get up and find the other person in the room who shares their birthday to see if there was a match.    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:
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