October 18, 2018 - LAST CLASS

110 minutes

Internet Moment: Students had a chance to explore FreeRice.com today. This website, created by John Breen who also created Poverty.com. It gives students and others a chance to practice their vocabulary skills while helping to support the United Nations World Food Program. 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). We then looked at several bogus websites such as this one about the 1993 Velcro Crop Failure in California, DHMO Awareness, All About Explorers, the Bureau of Sasquatch Affairs, and the endangered Tree Octopus. We also watched videos about being a Google Autocompleter and West Jet Airline offering child-free flights. These websites and videos serve as a good reminder that we all need to be skeptical of what we find online and to always independently verify the facts. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.I, 15.4.8.A, 15.6.8.L)

Formal Interviewing Using Skype: Our students practiced formal interviewing techniques by Skyping with English language students at Winners Education, in Athens Greece. Before the interview we discussed how a formal video conference is different from a more informal video chat with friends.  During the video conference the Greek students asked our students about job preparation and favorite things to do after school.  The students also talked about cell phone rules at school and favorite sports.  We were surprised to learn that the cell phone rules seemed to be the same in Greece and the U.S.  After the interview we reviewed what went well and what we could improve next time. (PA-BCIT: 15.2.8.H, 15.3.8.K, 15.3.8.M, 15.7.8.I, 15.7.8.J)

Asynchronous Collaboration Project:  Today we finished the online collaboration project with  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)

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. Students were also reminded to check out the eSchoolPLUS app that's available from Google Play and the iTunes Store as well as a free app called Graded.us which can be used to check your grades on your phone.

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)

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October 16, 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.

Asynchronous Online Collaboration Project:  Today our students finished an international editing project with English language students at Winners Education in Athens, Greece. On October 4th our students prepared a writing sample that we posted in a shared Google Doc.  The students in Greece were assigned to read and comment on our student's essays.  Today we met the students who had been doing the editing and they had an opportunity to meet our students via a Skype video conference.  The Greek students were able to do the editing in real-time on their phones while our students watched and some of our students were brave enough to answer their questions on camera.  After the video conference we discussed the experience and our students expressed that they would like to try doing it again.  (PA-BCIT Standards:  15.3.8.E, 15.3.5.M, 15.4.8.F, 15.4.8.G, 15.3.5.X, 15.3.8.X, 15.4.8.A, 15.4.8.B, 15.4.8.D, 15.3.8.S, 15.3.8.U, 15.3.12.W)

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

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October 12, 2018
91 minutes

Internet Moment:  We looked at eBay.com today and discussed buying and selling things online.  Most of our students have bought things online and some of them have sold items online.  Using auctions to find the true value of something was explained.  Students shared the names of various e-commerce websites that they have used.  We discussed the development of internet commerce and ways students can get involved with buying and selling online.

Introduction to Scratch: As a follow-up to the Blockly Maze Tutorial the class was shown Scratch which is a free online code editor that was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Students who enjoyed using Blockly, were told that Scratch would be the next step for them to try. All students had about 10 minutes to experiment with Scratch and to view some featured student projects. Students were also encouraged to check out the Scratch Tutorial Videos page on their own and consider joining Scratch. 

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. Next class we will work on changing the background color, the font color, the font style and inserting images. Students will also be shown how to embed a youtube video into their page and everyone will have some time to experiment with adding free Java-Script from  Dynamic Drive.com. 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 video from Code.org about why schools should teach computer coding.

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October 10, 2018

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)

Poster Voting Results:  All 8th grade Computer classes participated in voting for the best posters that were created in MS Publisher.  Below are the winning posters that will be printed.  The students who made these posters were asked to turn them in to be printed in full color.

Internet Moment: Today we started class by researching people who are computer coders.  We started by visiting Marcos Weskamp's Blog.   He is a self described software architect. He was also part of the team that founded Flipboard which seeks to bring the design experience of magazines to web and tablet technology.  Students also had a chance to search for other famous coders online as well as Mr. McNulty's Great Aunt, Kathleen Antonelli who was one of the world's first computer programmers.  Students were reminded that all of the digital technology that they experience every day was created by ordinary people.  We also discussed what working in careers that involve technology might be like.  (CRETS:  4a, 4c, 6c, 6d, 7c) (PA BCIT Standards: 15.2.8.B, 15.2.8.C, 15.2.8.D, 15.2.8.E)

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 Star Wars Tutorial to write JavaScript.  

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from Boston Dynamics demonstrating a Robot called Atlas.  This was an example of a modern day DARPA project.

* Class time was shorter today due to the half day schedule

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October 8, 2018

44 minutes

Internet Moment: Today we explored the online version of  Google Earth and discussed how a three 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 the earth.  The whole class followed a specific list of locations. Next week 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)

Poster Voting:  Our class looked at the Poster projects from all three 8th grade classes and voted on their favorites.  Students were reminded to look for things like good color choices, easy to read fonts and good graphics when making their selections.  The best posters will be printed in full color and posted around our school.

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a video from PBS News Hour about the effects of screen time on teenage brains.

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October 4, 2018
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. Students were also reminded to check out the Personal Finance & Investing class at our high school. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.6.8.B, 15.6.8.G, 15.6.8.H, 15.6.8.I, 15.6.8.K) (ISTE Standards: 1c, 5c, 5a)

Finish Full Page Ad Project:  All students had time to finish the advertising project that we started last class.  Finished projects were turned in using a shared Google Slideshow.  Next class we will be voting to select the best posters that we will print and post around the school.  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)

Asynchronous Online Collaboration Project:  Our students started an online writing project with English language students at Winners Education, a private language school in Athens, Greece.  Our students prepared a writing sample that the students in Greece will read and comment on.  Later the students in Greece will share a writing sample that our students will read and comment on.  Because of the time difference most of the work will be done asynchronously but we do hope to have a video conference so we can meet our partners sometime in the future.

Video Conference: We had an opportunity to meet Mr. Marx who is a physics and science teacher at Realschule Sundern which is a middle school in Westfalia, Germany. In Germany middle school ends at 1:30 every day so his students had already gone home but today there was going to be some visitors from his local department of education and we wanted to demonstrate international video conferencing for them. Unfortunately they didn't stop by until after our class ended.

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, 

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October 2, 2018
110 minutes

Internet Moment: Today our students were introduced to the "joy of statistics" by viewing Gap Minder.org which is a free online resource where statistics from all around the world are presented in an easy to understand visual format. We looked at the "Wealth & Health of Nations" chart. As a demonstration of how the website works we tracked the life expectancy and income changes in the USA and Japan over the last 200 years. We also looked at how 8th grade math scores had changed in Japan, Canada and the United States. Student were also shown that countries where students have poor dental hygiene also tend to have higher math test scores as an example of a spurious correlation. Everyone then had time to explore the website on their own. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.4.8.A, 15.7.8.A, 15.7.8.F, 15.7.8.H, 15.7.8.L, 15.8.8.A, 15.9.8.J)

Finish the Library Database Project:  To do this project students worked in small groups to create and share a Google Doc and then completed their project by adding hyperlinks and arranging it using a table.   

Click here to enlarge the project description. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.E, 15.4.5.G, 15.3.8.U, 15.4.8.D)

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 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.  As a class we created a list of activities, sports teams and events at Holland Middle School to advertise.  Click here to enlarge the project description.  We will finish this project next class.  (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)

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class with a video of Hans Rosling talking about the changes in statistics over the last 200 years.

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September 28, 2018
92 minutes

Internet Moment: Everyone had a chance to explore khanacademy.organd look for video lessons that relate to what they are currently learning in 8th grade. The creation of Khan Academy was briefly explained and everyone had a chance to try it out. Students were also reminded that this online resource is also available on their mobile devices. The Apple App Store and Google Play both have Khan Academy apps. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.6.8.M, 15.4.8.A, 15.8.8.K) (ISTE Standards: 1d, 3b, 3c)

Finish Brochure Project: All students had time to finish typing this project today.  Students were reminded to use Google Images and Bing Images to find free images that were in the public domain.    Everyone had a chance to finish this project in class today.   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)

Library Database Project:  Students worked in small group to create a shared Google Doc with the username and password information for 9 Library Databases that our students have access to.  To do this project students had to access their CRSD Google Accounts, create and share a Google Doc and then search online for the URL's for the various databases.  Students then made their own copies of the shared documents and completed their project by arranging it using a table.   

Click here to enlarge the project description. (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 short video from PBS OffBook about careers in graphic design.  

Internet Moment: Today we looked at two online resources for fonts. DaFont.com offers over 34,000 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)

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 check and grammar check your own work.

Publisher Font Guide Project: Students made a Font Guide in MS Publisher. When finished the student version should look just like the original. We also discussed the concept of WYSIWYG in graphic design. This project gave students another opportunity to get familiar with the program's features.  They also had to demonstrate the ability to make something very specific. Click here to enlarge the project description. Everyone had time to finish this project in class today. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.E, 15.4.8.G, 15.4.2.K, 15.3.8.X)

Office Yoga Break:  Students are always reminded to not spend too much time sitting in front of computers.  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.

Copyright Brochure Project:   Students take an existing brochure and recreate it in Publisher 2016 using a template as a starting point. The original brochure they were given was about copyright laws. Students were shown how to use Bing Images to find public domain images that they could even use for commercial purposes. Students also practiced their typing today by re-typing the text of the original brochure. Everyone will have time to finish and print 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)

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).

Online Game:  Our class played an online corporate logo game from Kahoot.  Using a Google Hangout to broadcast the game was also demonstrated.  After the game we discussed why logos are so common in our graphic rich world and how they can be very effective way to communicate.   In our class Bella came in first place, Liv came in second place and Aryan came in third.

Publisher Logo Project:  We started with an introduction to MS Publisher 2016. 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 2016 by making a simple logo. We saved this project and shared them with the class during a gallery walk activity. Click here to enlarge the project description. (PA-BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.S, 15.4.5.G, 15.6.5.M, 15.3.8.X, 15.9.8.A, 15.9.5.L)

Technology Current Event Video:  We finished class today with a short video from PBS OffBook about graphic design.  

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September 17, 2018
91 minutes

Language Differences Video: As a follow-up to the dialect activity we watched a short video from The Atlantic about the various dialects in the United States. 

September 13, 2018
97 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. 

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 back and then everyone had a chance to get up and move around the room some.

September 7, 2018
44 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. Students were also asked to explore their own digital footprint by searching for themselves on various news sites. (PA BCIT Standards: 15.3.8.E, 15.6.5.L) 

Profile Pictures: Students opened up their school Google Accounts and we talked about how their profile picture works and that it is public. They were then shown Cartoonify.de and students had time to make a custom profile picture. Students were also shown a collection of generic profile pictures that they could use. We discussed the difference between your professional and personal persona and what online "personal branding" was all about. Students were reminded of the importance of learning to manage what they looked like online. Students then shared their images using network drives. 

Technology Current Event Video: Today's video was inspired by an original presentation created by a high school teacher in Colorado, Mr. Karl Fisch. Here is a link to his blog: THE FISCHBOWL for more information.   This remix of the original presentation was done by Katy Scott in July 2018.  (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.A)

September 5, 2018
53 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, Cortana and the various programs available to them at school.  We also discussed the importance of not being distracted by online games, social media and other online distractions while at school and when they need to get something done at home.

Setting up Student Passwords: All students were given some suggestions to help them develop good passwords. Some suggested good password practices were: Come up with a collection of passwords to rotate through instead of just one, make a pass phrase instead of a password, mix numbers, letters and symbols together. Student passwords must fit the following parameters: Upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers and symbols. (PA-BCIT Standard: 15.4.8.F)

Gmail Accounts: Students were shown how to access their CRSD Google Gmail today. Students were reminded that they will have access to their google accounts and school gmail until they graduate from high school. Students were also reminded that they can access their Google email from anywhere in the world where they have internet access. Everyone had time to experiment with sending and receiving emails. Students were also reminded to not use their school email for anything inappropriate. 

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