October 17, 2018 - LAST CLASS 110 minutes  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. Students were also reminded to check out the free eSchoolPLUS Family app that's available from Google Play and the iTunes Store as well as a free app called Graded.us which can also be used to check your grades on a smart phone. 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.  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.  Next class we will create formulas to determine if the company made a profit or a loss and make necessary 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) 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. October 15, 2018   Internet Moment: As a follow-up to the Think Before You Post activity from last class we watched a video from the Kim Komando Show about ways you can clean up your online image. October 11, 2018   Students finished their slideshows for the 6th graders who will be transitioning to our school next September.  Students had one last chance to make any final adjustments to their shows. Navigation buttons, hyperlinks, and sound quality was checked. Everyone then had some time to make any final changes. Students then turned in their completed shows using the CRSD network drives. 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) As Seen Online Slide Show: Students used a shared Google Slide show and different search engines to create a show that consisted of all the pictures of Holland Middle School students that we could find online. We then reviewed the slide show and discussed some of the positive and negative effects of a digital footprint. Students were reminded to search for themselves from time to time and to think more carefully before posting and sharing pictures online. We also discussed some techniques for controlling your online image and some strategies for repairing any damage to your online reputation. (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) 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) October 9, 2018 110 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 5-10 minutes to see who could get the highest score possible. Students were shown how to use the remove background feature and how to create a quiz question at the end of their show.  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. October 5, 2018 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 watched the very end of a physics lecture about 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. Students were also reminded that as they create their slide shows for the 6th graders they are going to be using the internet to instruct the 6th graders, just like the professors at M.I.T. do.  (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)  Students then Technology Current Event Video: We finished class today with a short video that explains what a M.O.O.C. is (Massive Open Online Course) October 3, 2018 91 minutes  Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a TED presentation by Tanvee Patankar, a student at Stevenson High School in Illinois.  In the video she described the importance of teaching financial literacy at the high school level.  (PA BCIT Standards:  15.2.8.E, 15.2.8.J, October 1, 2018 110 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. A Day At School PowerPoint Presentation: Students worked on their slideshows for the 6th graders who will be transitioning to our school next September. Students were reminded to only use license free and public domain images from the internet using advance searches in Bing.com. Students were also shown how to access and use the Slide Master.  Next class we will be inserting a video from a file and adding narration to the slideshows.  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 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) September 27, 2018 44 minutes  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. 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.  Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from USA Today about 5 of the coolest things they saw at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. September 25, 2018 110 minutes   Break:  Students are always reminded to not spend too much time sitting in front of computers.  Breaks should be taken every 30-40 minutes.  For our break today we practiced a simple yoga stretch for your shoulder and then everyone had a chance to get up and move around some. 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 Holland 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. 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 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) September 21, 2018 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 your thigh.    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) September 18, 2018 44 minutes INTERNET MOMENT: Students had a chance to explore Plane Finder which is an online resource that displays the locations of all the commercial airliners in the world. This website is an example of using public domain information to create a profit making website and app. We also discussed how the information about airline locations is collected by a government agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, and is therefore in the public domain. (PA BCIT Standards: 15.3.5.V, 15.4.8.A, 15.6.5.L)  Email Etiquette For Students Video:  We finished this activity with a short video about how to email a teacher.  (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, 15.4.8.G) September 14, 201891 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. INTERNET MOMENT: In continuing with the theme of protecting yourself online students were shown the website OnGuardOnline from the Federal Trade Commission.  Students were shown the current Scam Alerts list and reminded that this website was a reliable resource for identifying scams.  Students also had an opportunity to try some of the games in the Video & Media section. Some of the games were: Phishing Scams, Invasion of the Wireless Hackers, Cyber Criminal & Invest Quest. Students were encouraged to go back to this site and explore it on their own.  (CRETS:  2a, 2d, 3b) INTERNATIONAL ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE COLLABORATION PROJECT:  Today we did an online collaboration project with Mrs. Palupi's English language students in Pekalongan, Indonesia.  Each of her students prepared an essay in English and asked our students to edit it for grammar and spelling.  Each of our students was assigned an Indonesian student to work with and they opened their essay in a shared Google document.  Our students were then able to edit the Google Docs in real time  in Indonesia while some of the students and Mrs. Palupi watched.  This was a great opportunity to introduce our students to online collaboration using free resources such as Google Drive.  It also gave us an opportunity to discuss cultural and language differences.  Below is a sample of what the project looked like on our screens.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.U, 15.3.12.W, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.A, 15.4.8.B, 15.4.8.D, 15.3.12.W)  TECHNOLOGY CURRENT EVENT VIDEO:  To finish our class today we watched a travel vlog video from Jessica Tanuwijaya about touring a batik factory in Pekalongan, Indonesia.  This is the region of Indonesia that the students we worked with today are from and batik is a major industry in that area.  This was also an example of a what a Vlog is. September 12, 2018 110 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:  BUSINESS LETTER #1: Students finished typing the block formatted business letter that we started last class. 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 had time to finish this project in class. Click here to enlarge the project description. (CRETS: 2a, 2d, 2e, 6a) (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.A, 15.3.8.B) (ISTE Standards: 1a, 1c, 5a, 5c, 6b)  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. KEYBOARD HISTORY:  Students were shown a short presentation about the development of typewriters and computer keyboards.  The reasons for the QWERTY layout were also explained and students were reminded that the only way to really improve their typing speeds are to use the home row and learn to touch type. 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 a spreadsheet.  The average typing speed for this class was: 28.4 WPM. 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. 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 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 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) |
