Transition

The next six weeks will be an interesting time for this class. Next week we enter the CAPT testing period. For two weeks we will bounce around in the schedule. Some days we meet, some days we don't. It can be difficult to keep up with the work.

As many of you know, my wife and I have a baby due soon. At some point in the next month or so I will be out for about a week.

Finally, I will not be in class tomorrow and a few other days (track meets).

It is important during these periods that you keep moving forward. I will be disappointed if some of you (you know who you are!!) take a step backward. When I am out I will monitor your work from home through both this blog and your blogmeister.

Today I will be grading. There is a lot of work for me to check. In addition I am giving you the assignments for Project 3 if you are ready to move on:

Web 1:

• Chapter Summary for Project 3.
• Project
• Apply your Knowledge
• In the Lab 1
• In the Lab 2

Web 2:

• Chapter Summary for Project 3.
• Project
• Apply your Knowledge (Lawn Service)
• Lab (Plant City)
• Quiz

Web 3:

• Complete or Edit blog entries from yesterday.
• Rough Draft due March 17. That is sooner than some of you think.

Quiz: Monday

Web1: Quiz: (20pts total). Due end of class Tuesday.

• Create a folder in your WDrive-Web1. Label it "Quiz2".
• Download a clip-art image of an American Flag. Save in Quiz2 folder
• Create a two-page website.
• Title Page 1: "American Flag". Add heading, background color, and flag image.
• Center image. Add alt text to any images.
• Title Page 2: "American Flag History". Add heading. Add short description of Flag history with two links to further information.
• Link pages together: Make image on Page 1 the link to Page 2. On Page 2 include a "home" link back to page 1.
• Save folder in UDrive-WebSchneider-Web1-Period. Test links.

Web 2: We will start the quiz for Project 2 today.

• On your Crosby High site add a new page for directions. Add content.
• Link the two pages.
• Have the same format, colors, etc...
• Add a clipart picture of a "school" to the front page. Format the picture correctly.
• Save a copy of your folder in the UDrive in the Crosby folder.

Web3: Thinkquest

One member of your Thinkquest team must write a blog entry that answers the following questions:

• What is the most important fact that you want to use in this site? Why?
• What is your most important source? Why?

One member of your Thinkquest team must write a blog entry that answers the following questions:

• List as many facts (use proper HTML in blog entry) about your subject as you can. Put most important facts on top.

One member of your Thinkquest team must write a blog entry that answers the following questions:

• How can you ensure you will meet the coding requirements for Thinkquest? How will you stay under the 50mb limit? Be specific.

One member of your Thinkquest team must write a blog entry that answers the following questions:

• How is your team working? Are you producing your best work? What can you do differently?

History

I have been working on my family history. I have a relatively small family. Both of my sets of grandparents had two children. My sister and I are their only grandchildren.

I had a fair amount of history on my father's side, but only back to around 1880 or so when that part of the family arrived from Germany and Ireland. By using familysearch I was able to go back an additional generation, which was kind of exciting.

But last night I started to work on my maternal grandmother's side. I had a name Thaddeus Stocker and that he lived during the Revolutionary War. From that name I was able to use the site to travel back an additional ten generations!! I got all the way back to 1470 in England (John Wyllie). Needless to say this was pretty amazing to me.

I found out that our family lived in Fairfield, CT (Henry Jackson, Mary Morehouse, etc..) for over 150 years and were among the first European settlers. I found that parts of the family were Tories and parts were fighting in the Continental Army. And this was only in about an hours worth of work. I am probably related to half of Connecticut.

Much of this was inspired by the amazing PBS series by Henry Louis Gates which traced the history of several African-Americans. Now history can be enlightening, powerful, and painful. But the internet is a VERY powerful tool in this regard. I urge you to try to connect with your past.

Update: I think I got back to the year 1256!! Alexander de Forbes in Scotland.

Tuesday

Web 2:

Finish quiz first.

Start Project 2: Adding Web Pages, Links, and Images. Be sure to check Erica's blog for the changes. This project is LONG and will require a lot of work and checking. There may be many new concepts for you. I would read the whole thing first, then do the project.

Items to complete:

Chapter summary for Project 2
Chapter Project
Apply Your Knowledge
In the Lab 3 (beware: the border image thing might not work quite right)

Monday

Web 1: You will continue in the HTML book. Often in the directions they ask you to add code on a certain line. Please note, that these line numbers may be slightly different for you. This project is LONG. Take your time. I would read the whole thing first, then do the project.

You will complete the following:

• Chapter summary for Project 2
• Project
• Apply Your Knowledge
• In The Lab 1 and In The Lab 2

Friday

Today is the twelfth day of class. I hope that I have given you something of value over these days and that we can only add to the fun over the next months. I wanted to take a moment and review my expectations.

1. Make connections every day. The power to make connections in this global, digital, networked world is essential. Instead of having one teacher, have many. For example, on blogmeister there are thousands of teachers and students from around the world. Write to them, read their stories, and then write about the experience on your blog. Take a moment today and read some of the blogs from K-2 grade classrooms. They are fun to read. There is a saying that "isolation is the enemy of improvement". Make connections, collaborate, and improve.

2. Always do your best. You never know who is watching your work or reading your blog. Often people do not realize the power they have until it is lost. You are in a time unique to human history. You can read everything ever written at anytime. You can contact almost anyone at anytime. You can publish your ideas and thoughts instantly. That translates to huge gains in productivity. If the world is moving faster then you must as well. There is no substitute for hard work.

3. Add something to the conversation. Have a story to tell. This could be about how to make a ball bounce, issues you have in learning math, or how you are trying to work together with your classmates. Learn how to get your point across. Spend some time today looking at the read counts on your blog. How can you increase them? If you have a story to tell people from all over the world will read what you have to say. If we all add some thing of value to the conversation everyday (remember R1-R4?) there will be an incredible amount of learning going on in this classroom.

OK. Enough reading. Notice that you read (and I wrote) the above in 3D (links, etc...). Start writing that way!

Today (Web1-2): Grading. I will be looking at all of your work to date. If you are done then help others, read blogs, edit your writing. Web 4 will be revising their ThinkQuest presentations.

Technorati Tags: k12education leadership Lulu blogmeister Seymour

Web 1 Quiz

The quiz for web 1 will be due by the end of the Period on Friday. Some of you will finish early, some of you will have to work fast...

You will create a one page website about your current class schedule. This website should include:

• A title in the header.
• A clear heading on the page.
• A list of classes.
• A brief paragraph describing yourself (junior at Seymour High School, etc...)
• Background color.

Save the file to your WDrive-Classwork when done.

Projects Start

Web 1: You will start the HTML book. You will complete the following:

• Chapter summary for Project 1
• Project
• Apply Your Knowledge
• In The Lab 2

Notes for Web 1: page 1.17--save to WDrive (not floppy disk). Skip 1.20-1.22. Don't print page (1.31)

Web 2: You will start the Dreamweaver book. You will complete the following:

• Chapter summary for Project 1.
• Project
• Apply Your Knowledge
• In the Lab 3

Notes for Web2: pages 1.12 through page 1.20 will require some network navigation. Create your "parks" folder in WDrive-Dreamweaver-folder. Read carefully and ask if you are not sure. Skip the step on 1.65--select browsers. Click f12 to preview web page. Click here for the book errors wiki.

Web 4: You will start the ThinkQuest project.

Introduction Unit Quiz

This quiz is for Web 1 and Web 2.

Please answer the following questions on your blog.

In your answer you must:
1. Link to the described websites.
2. Write effectively. Spell correctly.
3. Try to start a conversation. Blog entries that elicit comments will receive higher grades.
4. None of the answers should be more than 4 sentances.

Questions:
1. Does this website demonstrate gender bias in its design? Or is it neutral? Defend your answer.
2. Rate the usability of the following sites (choose one). Daylife OR Don't Click It

Usability

Today we will finish our introductory unit (test to come shortly).

Here is what bad design looks like according to Vincent Flanders: Check out the worst website ever and his checklist for how to ruin your website.

Top ways to ruin a website:
1. We've designed our site to meet our organization's needs (more sales/ contributions) rather than meeting the needs of our visitors.
2. It takes longer than four seconds for the man from Mars to understand what our site is about. Example.
3. Our site looks like we've never seen another web site. Example.
4. We use design elements that get in the way of our visitors.
5. Our site doesn't make us look like credible professionals.

1. Read the following article. Save it in your favorites. Web Usability Guidelines.

2. Skim this basic article about usability from Great Britian.

3. There is also this great site from the US Government.

Start a MS Word document. Please answer the following questions:

1. Define the following. The answers are in the readings.

• bandwidth
• web usability

2. Which of the following websites has a higher usability for teenagers. Why??

Newsmap
Connecticut Post

3. Find a website that you think has a high usability rating (the opposite of above). Provide a link to this website and explain why you think its usability rating is high. Possible examples: Bobby (use headphones), Swingset

Please post your answers on your blog.

Accessibility

I think everyone got off to a good start on their blogs. A few notes:

1. Many of you wrote well thought out responses that show evidence of reading and discussion. Some of you didn't. I won't be accepting sloppy work.
2. Be sure to save your work in the correct folder on the UDrive---not just in the UDrive.
3. Put a line break between paragraphs.
4. When you comment be sure to leave your URL (not your email).

There are four main categories we are covering in this unit; bias, accessibility, usability, and ethics. Today we will focus on accessibility.

Read this article. Introduction to Web Accessibility. And this post from David Pogue. We will watch this CBS News Video together in class.

Create an MS Word document.

Answer the following questions:

• List and summarize the major categories of disabilities (visual, hearing, motor, cognitive). Find the link on the AIM site that describe each of the four disabilities.
• Try using the computer without using the keyboard. How would this change this experience?
• Briefly write about the challenges and opportunities for disabled people as computers become more mobile and cheap.
• What is our obligation to serve those with disabilities?

Copy file to your blog and submit.

Bias

Today Web 1 and Web 2 students will finish their Bias assignments and save them to the Udrive. Please ask your partners or me if you need help saving the files.

By the end of today please complete your evaluation of the project by answering the following questions on your blog:

1. Briefly describe the two types of bias (content, design).
2. Provide a link to additional reading about bias (see below).
3. How does your assignment display design bias?
4. Whose assignment in the Udrive is the best? Why?

If you finish early I would like you to take the opportunity to visit another class blog. This teacher wrote to me looking for students to communicate with his students. Visit their blogs. Maybe you can find an entry from a student to comment on. Be sure to follow the protocal for leaving your URL correctly in the comment boxes so they can find YOUR blog (first name-last initial, leave email blank). Remember to follow our code of conduct and always be productive, responsible, and appropriate.

Bias, Usability, Accessibility, Ethics

There are four main criteria that we use to assess the validity of a website; bias, usability, accessibility, and ethics. Today we will focus on bias.

This is also an exercise in communication skills and page design. Can you get your point across effectively? Do you know your audience?

1. Class Discussion about bias (Barbie Doll website, GI Joe website)

2. Read the following articles:
Gender Bias
Journalism Bias this is a longer article. Skim the whole thing (except the studies and theories of media bias section). Click on links that interest you.
More on gender bias. Skim the comments--this is how a blog is different, there is a conversation/debate happening.

3. Create a one page flyer (Web1: MS Word, Web 2: notepad) that contains bias.

Girls: Boys are silly. Why can't they act right so I can get my work done? They should treat women with respect and not be so clueless.
Boys: Girls are silly. Why can't they act right so I can get my work done? They should treat men with respect and not be so clueless.

Think about your audience. Who are you writing it for? I am looking for two things. First, do you have good ideas and understand bias? Second, can you format the flyer well so you communicate these ideas? This is your first task in design.

This flyer must include the following:

• A clip art or free-non-copyrighted image. Using copyrighted images is illegal. I can google it to check, so be careful. You could make your own image if you want using Paint or Fireworks. Check the links on the right for clip-art images or go here or to Flickr and use creative commons search.
• At least three quotes (from real or imaginary people)
• Web 2 must contain at least one link in their flyer. Choose the BEST link for your page and be able to support WHY you choose it.
• Have fun with this, stay respectful and appropriate.

4. Save in WDrive first (Classwork). Then save in UDrive-WebSchneider-Web1-Period-Silly. (bschneiderbias). Check the Rubric for the assessment.

Technorati Tags: genderbias webdesign k12 education

Monday

Todays assignments:

Web 1 and Web 2:

First you will complete the typing test. Put your score in your blog (be honest!) and see if it improves later. Don't say "I took a typing test". Say "I took a typing test". Demonstrate that you know how to code a link (look on the board).

You will then learn how to put a clustrmap on your blog.

• Go to the Get One page.
• Complete the form. Be sure to use the correct address for your blog. If you do not have an email to submit this will not work.
• The password will come to your email.
• Submit password on clustrmap page. They will then give you a long code that you copy.
• Go to your blog, log-in and open the control panel. Paste the long code in the About Me section.
• Submit new code. Wait for me to approve it.

You can also check out meez if you want to add an avatar to your site (which seems to be blocked at school right now...). You could also try voki.com. What image do you want to portray to the world?

Friday

Web 4: Complete your Flash revision. We will do some CSS and Javascript work starting on Monday.

Web 2: Complete your pizza site revision.

Web 1: I will be giving you your blogs today and reviewing the protocal for making entries and comments. We will also review the bloggers code of conduct.

• This is a school site.
• Treat this site as a place for learning, a place to learn from each other and a place to have conversations.
• Would you be happy to have your mother, grandmother or favorite teacher read this comment, (view this Internet page, listen to this podcast?)

Your assignment is to make one entry and one comment today. Please copy and paste your MSWord document from Day1 as your first entry.

New Semester

Well, its the first day of school all over again. I am pretty excited to start the new term and hope I don't screw anything up for you. Bear with me these first few days as we get started. I ask you to recognize this is your chance to make a lasting first impression. Make it a good one.

All should read this article.

Assignments for today:

1. Welcome discussion. Review plans and rules.
2. Organize W:Drive.
3. First assignment.

Old and New

What's old is new again. Today we complete a semester. Tomorrow a new group arrives. I think this semester went very well overall. The quality of exams overall is certainly higher than last year. Some exams were professional quality.

This new semester will have some changes. We will be adding the Web IV class for the first time. I will try to incorporate more video and Flash into our Web 1 work and I hope to publish at least one more Lulu book.

Good luck!

Exam

Web 1:

Be sure you have completed all requirements for the exam. Test everything. Print out memo and vocabulary. Save HTML to UDrive.

Web 2:

Web 2 Final Exam is below. Choose the assignment appropriate for your topic.Be sure to save final copy properly in UDrive before the bell rings for your exam. TEST IT!!!

You are the editor of the Missouri Times. It is November 7, 1860. Your state is the only state that the Northern Democrats won. Your state has played a strong role in the slavery debate through the Missouri compromise and that information is important to your readers (and is perhaps why they voted for Douglas).
Prepare a breaking news website that reflects the results of the election.

You are the editor of the Montague Times. You have just heard that Juliet may have died and Romeo is missing. Your newspaper is owned by the Montague family.
Prepare a breaking news website that reflects this news.

You are the webmaster for the Washington Post. It is July 2, 1898. You have to be as objective as possible, but you know that everyone in Washington reads your paper and there is a lot of emotion surrounding the attack.
Prepare a breaking news website that reflects the events of July 1 in Cuba.

You are the editor for the Chicago Tribune. It is August 27, 1968 and the Democratic Convention is experiencing more and more protests. Many of your reporters sympathize with the protesters and you support the free speech of the protesters. However, many of your readers think the police are correct to “restore order”.
Prepare a breaking news website that reports the growing protests at the convention.

Lulu

The Web 2 book: A Beginner's Guide to Web Design is published. I am waiting for a copy. It will be fun to see if our sales rank rises above 57,000.

Final Exams

We will begin the semester exams today.

Click here to view the exam page. All exams are due by the end of your respective exam period.

The Web 1 Vocabulary section will be given at the beginning of your designated exam period. No notes are allowed for this section.

Web 2 will prepare their research and most of their website. They will be given their position at the beginning of the exam period.

Web 3 will have to work very fast. Make good decisions to improve your efficiency.

The most important thing for each exam is to THINK before you code. What is the best tool for this job? Remember to follow all directions. I am not available for help.

Good luck!

Web 1 Information

Tyler did a good job with his answers to the four questions. Check them out.

I posted the videos from the Iowa caucus only a few days ago. One student is already over 1000 views! The value of making connections is obvious. We need to explore the network more, and not leave our work in the Udrive. Check out the standings.

Here are my teachertube stats:

My Videos / My Support Files have been viewed 18,383 times
I have 0 Friend(s)
I've watched 22 Videos
My Profile has been viewed 368 times

That second line is depressing.

Exam!

It is exam time. I use the exam to evaluate whether you have learned the concepts we have covered. The most important thing I will look for is that you choose the correct tool for the task. Do you use code that is efficient and clean? Does your design demonstrate the usability concepts I have beaten into your head? Is your page accessible to those with disabilities?

A few other general notes about the exam:
1. Web 1 will not be allowed any notes for the vocabulary section.
2. For all other parts of the exam you can get assistance from anything but me. Ask for help from your partners when stuck, use the book, check the web. Obviously, copying a classmates words, codes or ideas will be subject to a zero on the exam.
3. I will judge you against the highest standard of excellence. You have been great students and I will expect great work.

Web 1:
Complete the second marking period work by answering the questions on the blogmeister. I will use one of those questions on the exam. Be sure you are reviewing the study questions and list of vocab words.

We will not do any more book work. You should review the tutorials I link to on the blogmeister. I will post the exam on Tuesday. You can preview a version by finding last years exam.

Web 2:
The exam prep is posted. You also must complete your Lulu projects. Read this article from yesterday's New York Times about Lulu.

Web 3:
Exam review is posted. The real exam questions will be posted Monday. I want to give you a few days to review. Second marking period grades are closed.

Some of you will be exempt from the exam which means you are my better upperclass students. I ask that you work on the exam and the review regardless of your exemption as your exam (being my better upperclass students) will tell me much about how I taught the class. We can negotiate this individually.

Survey Results

1. Evaluate your technology expertise since September 1.

I've learned a lot more than I thought I would. 76%
I've learned about what I thought I would 14%
I've learned some. 10%
Nothing so far... 0 %

2. Have you read or edited your blogmeister from home?

Yes 71%
No 29%

3. What has been the best learning experience?

Textbook or Tutorial work 30%
Flash/Fireworks projects 50%
Videos 6%
Working with classmates 14%

4. Are you producing your best work?

Yes 87%
No 13%

5. Which of the following would you like to explore more? Click all that apply.

Educational gaming simulations 70%
Blogging and global networking 27%
Wikis/Collaborations 13%
Web-based phones 43%

6. If you look at the assignments from September do they look...

Much easier now 91%
Same 7%
Still can't figure it out...1%

7. Do you feel comfortable creating and editing a basic webpage?

Yes 91%
No 6%
Whats a webpage? 3%

Wednesday

We are approaching the end of the semester. I am very happy with the progress we have made. I believe all classes have a solid understanding of the objectives (usability, accessibility, bias, design) of the course. If you look back at your work for the semester I think you have gained a lot of technical expertise, probably without even realizing it.

This is my second year teaching web design here. I know the Web 1 and Web 2 classes did better this year than the crew I had last year. The work I assigned was roughly the same, but the quality of the work is much higher and more consistent.

Web3 has been a challenge for me as the both the content and the class are new. Learning pacing on a new class is a challenge. How long will each concept take? I have tried to set up an environment where you can learn at your own pace and according to your learning style.

The first day of class I spoke of moving the class from dependent learners (R1) to independent learners (R4). I think we have succeeded in that. Do you agree? Let me know in the survey.

Please take the survey.

Web 3:

Continue to do some extra tutorial work in Flash as we close up the semester. Now that your knowledge base is broader I think you are finding these much easier to do.

Web 2:

We are almost done with the book. Your websites should be almost done as well. Check rubric.

Web 1:

While we have had some coding difficulties I think we have a small understanding about style sheets and Javascript. Most of you will move on to Chapter 9 today. Chapter 9 is simple. You have a form and you will add a formula to it. Think before you type. If you get stuck I put the solution in the UDrive.

Tuesday

I posted several Web 1 videos to teachertube yesterday. They have been getting a lot of hits. Whose video will be the most popular?

Web 3:
Please work on the following tutorials:

• Text legibility.
• Flash Detection scripts (for usability). Read through this before you start it.
• Preloader (optional)
• Improve search results. Pretty cool explanation.

Web 2:

Put drafts of website in Udrive. Continue to improve sites.

Web 1:

Be sure you understand style sheets and have almost completed Javascript by the end of class. Work fast and discuss with your partner. Check out the vocabulary study sheet.

Exam notes, Iowa, etc...

For all: keep track of the news from New Hampshire. What web tools are being used?

For all: test the new search engine from Wikipedia called Wikia Search. Do some reading about the search function. There are some profound differences between this system and google or yahoo searching. Since the algorithms are brand new (it launched today) the searches might not work great. But the point is that YOU can help them fix it by ranking the results. Just like wikipedia, if we ALL pool our knowledge we might come up with something very productive.

On another note, a software launching can be a messy business. It might be neat to track how this does over the next few days.

Web 3:

Finish Iowa website. Be sure to create a blog entry analyzing the usability of your page AND analyzing the usability of the three leading candidates pages. That should be four total paragraphs. Track the CHANGES these pages make over the next few days.

Web 2:

Work on website for book. Book deadline is this week and we will be sending you edits to make.

Web 1:

Finish news segment and post to UDrive. Check your work. Write a blog entry analyzing your work and comparing it to your classmates. Who has the best 28 second segment? Did you answer who-what-when-where-how and have a good headline?

Technorati Tags: Obama Seymour WebDesign

Iowa

Today is the Iowa Caucus and many of you are working on projects related to this start of the election season. Learning how to analyze, communicate, and CREATE is an essential skill in today's world.

Knowing what is going on in the world is important. Don't be ignorant. Bad things happen to ignorant people. You should know about the candidates, what their positions are and be able to articulate why you support a candidate.

Democracy can be scary. Check out what is happening in Kenya today. Or Pakistan (I warn you that these are brutal images). How do you want your next President to represent YOU as he or she faces this crisis?

The world views us through the web now. As web designers you must understand the choices that you make can have a profound impact.

I have given you several links that should give you ideas for your presentation. All Iowa assignments will be due Monday. Remember, Web 1: You must use Audacity to record your voiceover (VO).

Welcome Back

For the next eight school days we will be in project mode before we turn to our final exams. While our final exams are all scheduled for different days I expect to start our exam early on the 15th as I expect it to take more than one class period.

Web 1:

• Review vocabulary. Here is a sample from last years exam. If these questions are unclear you have some studying to do. All important vocabulary should be in your chapter summaries.
• Read and practice the exercises in the "extended book" (that's the eleven chapter HTML book). My expectation is that you have a basic understanding of these chapters. You can find the files in the UDrive. Share the books (or use the PowerPoint files for instructions--in Udrive).
• Continue to practice Flash and Fireworks by using the tutorials.
• Make a 28 second news segment about the results of the Iowa Caucus (see below) using MovieMaker. You MUST include sound that you record with Audacity in this news broadcast.

Web 2:

• Revise book chapters.
• Start to create web companion to your chapter in Dreamweaver.

Web 3:

• Create Flash based website about Iowa Democratic Caucus results. The caucus is Thursday. I will grade your website at the end of class on Friday.
• Create a site that includes graphs of the results, non-copyrighted photos of the three leading candidates, and an easy to use navigation system .
• This site should have only the most basic information. The most important thing is that your data is animated (the graphs move, the pie charts hop, etc...).
• Check out Barack Obama's explanation of the caucus system (in Flash).
• Check out Hillary Clinton's Iowa page.
• Check out John Edwards's Iowa page.
• Create a blog entry analyzing the usability of your page AND analyzing the usability of the three leading candidates pages. That should be four total paragraphs. Track the CHANGES these pages make over the next few days.

Google Earth

Assignments for Friday:

Web 1: Evaluate your exam on blog. What went well? Do you feel confident in your HTML skills? Who do you think did the best exam? Then do the Google Earth assignment.

Web 2: Finish your draft and submit to Lauren in the UDrive. Then do the Google Earth assignment.

Web 3: Google Earth testing and blog entry.

Yesterday an issue with our firewall was resolved so now we have access to Google Earth. We will spend today exploring the program. Google Earth is a program that is starting many trends in web design (remember everyscape.com?). Google maps and Google Earth is a profound shift forward in how we process and present information.

Check out this (some content seems to be blocked):
Gallery
Sightseeing
Google Earth Blog
Google Earth: education

Things to find (some of these might require extra google skills):
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Yankee Stadium
Science station on Antartica
Google's headquarters in California
The Pyramids of Egypt
The Great Wall of China
Then play around with the program. What do you think?

Web 1 Exam

Web 1 exams are due today. Please save your folders to the correct spot in the UDrive and test your work. Be sure that you have completed the assignment (go back and check!!).

I highly advise you have a friend check your work in the UDrive.

Accessibility

Good essay from David Pogue about accessibility. Check it out.

This link is from the HTML tutorial and explains how to embed a Flash movie.

Web 3 has been working on their thinkQuest projects and we think we have the leading candidates for project ideas:

• Desserts around the world. Connect desserts with geography and history. Do the desserts of Mexico have similarities to the desserts of Spain?
• Impact of LED lights. How can the switch from old light bulbs to LEDs have an impact on the environment? If we replace all the lights in Times Square with LED lights how much energy will we save?
• Viking Mythology. Where are there traces of Viking mythology around the world? Did the travels of the Vikings in the Middle Ages produce a lasting cultural impact in other mythologies?
• Backtracking. Are there hidden messages in albums?
• Body image in different cultures. What is beautiful? Is the idea of beauty different around the world?

What do you think? Should we include other ideas?

Tuesday

Today I am away at a special education workshop.

Web3: Continue to refine your list of 12 category ideas. Use the web and other students blogs to find the BEST idea for each category. Leave comments on blogs to start conversations around topics.

Web2: Yes, you can make decisions when the teacher is not in the room. Lauren will lead a discussion about format. Try to make decisions as a group about how long each chapter should be, the format, and the activities.

Web1: Continue coding.

Monday

I was really happy with our progress on our projects last Friday. Things have been a bit crazy the past few weeks with all the weather related days. We must keep our deadlines however.

I will not be in class tomorrow. I am at a Special Education workshop all day. I will be back for the schools Winter Concert tomorrow night.

Today:

Web3: Make two comments on student blogs about topics. Continue topic research.

Web2: Submit summary/outline to Lauren. We MUST finish the first draft of our chapters this week. All work should be saved in the UDrive.

Web1: Continue working on exam.

On a non-exam note there was some interesting reading in the NYTimes this weekend:
1. Food issues.
2. Middle Schools
3. Cyberbullying

Technorati Tags: webdesignexam lulu thinkquest

Friday

Last week most of us did a decision making activity in our Advisory Meetings. This past week has been an interesting study in how famous athletes make decisions. Has Roger Clemens suddenly switched from the greatest pitcher of all time to a cheater? Every story about his retirement and fight to get in the Hall of Fame will now include information about how he cheated by using steroids. Little decisions make a difference. What would you want in your wikipedia entry?

Web 1 will start the 2nd part of the exam.

Web 2: Get summary/outline done today.

Web 3: Continue with ideas for Thinkquest.

Web 1 Exam

Web 1 Exam Part One. This is due by midnight on 12/13. Part two will be posted Thursday.

Web 2 will be working on their Lulu book.

Web 3 will start their ThinkQuest.

Monday schedule

In all classes today I will be working on progress report grading. Be sure to have all work completed and checked.

Web 1: Help classmates finish work. If done, clean up blog, work on Flash/Fireworks tutorials, or play with Scratch. Tomorrow we start the marking period exam.

Web 2: Launch Lulu project.

Web 3: Finish or improve Fireworks assignment. Tomorrow we launch the Thinkquest contest.

Thursday

We will work on our Fireworks assignment today. This assignment will connect with tomorrow's celebration of Pearl Harbor Day.

The image you see here was a propaganda image from the war that was produced in 1942. However, it may give you ideas on how to blend images, text, and emotion.

More information on Pearl Harbor Day can be found here:

• Wikipedia entry
• Great site from National Geographic

Your assignment is to design an image that celebrates the 66th anniversary of the date. You will use Fireworks and choose the appropriate tool or tools for your image. My favorite image will be displayed on this blog.

Assignment parameters:
1. You set up the image size when you create a new document: Height=300 pixels, Width =600 pixels.
2. Your images MUST be non-copyrighted. I will publish this!!
3. You must be able to defend your choice of a tool in your blog post.
4. You must include "66th Anniversary" and "December 7, 1941" somewhere in your image.
5. You must finish by the end of the period Friday.
6. Save in Udrive when done (bschneiderpearl)

Fireworks

Today most of Web 1 and Web 2 will start the Fireworks tutorials. We only spend a few days on this. Mainly so you stop using MSPaint.

Some of the tutorials do not quite match the Fireworks we have. Just be aware of that. Use the help menu to find help find any buttons that may have moved in the newer version.

Anyone who missed the Flash quiz yesterday should see me.

The Lulu books are getting started. For more information click here.

• I will choose the editors. If you have a real desire to be an editor see me.
• Editors will choose their authors.
• Other classes are getting involved. Mr. Pagliaro is starting a Lulu project today.

The idea is to create an "old-school" document (a book) along with a "new-school" component (a website). By making these connections I hope we can develop some serious understanding of the literacy involved.

Tuesday

Web 3:

Save draft of project to Udrive by end of period. Save in folder as normal. Save both project and movie. We will get comments back and do any revisions tomorrow.

Web 1 and Web 2:

Quiz today on Flash Introduction. In the UDrive-WebSchneider is a Flash Movie called "FlashQuiz". Watch movie and then I ask that you replicate this movie. This movie contains a motion tween, a shape tween, and two layers. When done you want to "Export Movie". Save movie to folder in Udrive (bschneider-flashmovie).

I will not help you on the quiz. You need to figure this one out yourself.

OLPC

OLPC was featured on 60 Minutes last night. Was an interesting profile that talked about the difficulty of creating a computer that would work in harsh conditions but also the difficulty the OLPC people are having in distributing these computers.

Technorati Tags: OLPC 60Minutes

Flash

Everyone will be working on Flash now.

Web 3:

Create a 15 or 30 second web-commercial advertisement for "Suzy's Hair Salon". Don't go crazy with this, it is just to practice writing a script and recording sound. We now have 5-6 microphones to use.

Required elements:

• A script.
• Start button and "play again" button.
• Voice-over that you record. Sound tutorial.

Web 2 and Web 1:

You will work on the motion and shape tween tutorials for Flash. I will demonstrate each at the beginning of class then you will play with them.

Wednesday

Today I expect a visting teacher from the middle school in the morning so I may be a bit occupied (be patient). I am working hard on getting the Lulu and Thinkquest assignments ready (I have assigned one person already as an editor) and hope to get those assignments fleshed out this week. I am collaborating with other teachers on all of this so I have to run a lot through them.

Today:

Web 3:

• Be sure you have checked and completed your Flower assignment and the blog entries associated with it.
• Clean up blog entries (spelling, grammer, etc..).
• Progress report check.
• Make at least one substantial and specific comment on a classmates blog that continues a conversation. "Good job" does not continue a conversation.
• Explore and analyze everyscape.com. Is this a fundamental shift on how we search for information? Is this a fundamental change in how maps are produced? Or is it the same concepts--just packaged differently?

Web 2:

• Complete Form/Map Quiz.
• Make any needed changes to improve format of WHS page.
• Progress report check.
• Make at least one substantial and specific comment on a classmates blog that continues a conversation. "Good job" does not continue a conversation.

Web 1:

• Explore and analyze everyscape.com. Is this a fundamental shift on how we search for information? Is this a fundamental change in how maps are produced? Or is it the same concepts--just packaged differently?
• Make at least one substantial and specific comment on a classmates blog that continues a conversation. "Good job" does not continue a conversation.
• Yes, we are going to be in a "holding pattern" for a few days while I get every person done with Project Six. Be patient--but do something. Choices: Scratch, clean blog, help classmate, play 3rd world farmer.

Plan for the next week or so:

Web 3: Project assignment (Lulu, Thinkquest, or both).

Web 2 and Web 1: Flash introduction.

Then:

Practice exams posted around December 15 (we work on them until break)

After break:

Small projects/units and prep for exam. Just a note that I take the exams very seriously and they will be a challenge. I will give you lots of time to prepare. You can get ideas of what to expect by looking at last years exams in the UDrive and the assignments on the wiki.

Tuesday

Web 3:

1. For most users the major difference I see between Flash and Scratch is the simplicity of the actions. You were all able to make your animations do something fairly easily. Of course, the actual making of the animations is easier and more powerful in Flash. But....what if you spent a few weeks using Scratch as you did Flash??
2. Please focus today on actionscripts and buttons. I want everyone's movies to have working buttons by the end of the period. Work together. Try to figure out more than one way to make your button work (script, using menus, different codes, etc...). Post a correct method/tutorial for adding a Start Button on your blog.

Web 2:

Quiz: Add a survey and map/movie to your Watertown High School website.

• Survey/Form: What would a high school use a form for? Keep the form simple and be sure to link back to home page.
• Map: Create a map that gives "directions" from Seymour High School to Watertown High School. This is an adaptation of the skills you learned when you made your RV travel around Florida. You will probably want to create the map yourself rather than trying to download one. I realize this map may be a bit clunky.

Web 1:

1. Bookwork. I want to make sure everyone is comfortable up to Chapter 6 before we move on. If you feel completely comfortable then help a neighbor.

OK.....be prepared, this site is amazing.

Monday

Today we will examine the Scratch programming system. Scratch was developed at the MIT Media Lab (where Negroponte-the inventor of the One Laptop is from). I think it is intended primarily for younger students than you, but it does present some very complex programming concepts.

Check out some of the news about Scratch. Notice that much of the news is another language than English. Is there an assumption in the world of the inventor and business that you speak more than one language??

Here are some ideas to get started. You must do at least one of these.

Here is the Guide to Scratch.

So please test and play with this program today. Read some of the press, search for more information, check for blog references to the program. Be sure you complete at least one of the ideas.

Answer the following questions on your blog (include links!):
1. What did you do with Scratch today? Share any insights to the program that might help your classmates.
2. Is this a valuable program? What criteria should we use? Be specific! Use Web Design terms!!
3. For Web3: Compare Scratch to Flash.

Technorati Tags: Scratch MediaLab MIT

Energy

Recently, I have been obsessed with energy usage in my home. I have been looking at various ways to monitor how many watts I use daily and how certain things draw electricity. I want one of these for Christmas.

I am an Oberlin alum so I have followed their work with the Lewis Environmental Center. Oberlin has been a leader in "green design".

So I thought; "If I can monitor the watts being used in my house, what about at SHS?" So I checked the Oberlin website and I found that they have a website dedicated to monitoring the impact of the Lewis Center AND they monitor the energy use of buildings around campus. Very, very cool!

I did some more searching and found the Lucid Design Group and their page from Williamstown Elementary School. This might be my website of the year. The usability rating for this is through the roof. No extra info, perfectly formatted, speaks directly to the target audience.

I am convinced that these monitors save energy because people instinctively will try to lower the figures on the charts. Do we know how much energy we waste at home or here in school? Could we make a significant impact on our energy footprint? This may become the most important issue of your lifetime. What tools will you create for this environment?

Todays blog entry will be about these websites. Please write about their usability and accessibility. What thoughts do you have about how we can use the web and our global network to find solutions to our growing climate crisis?

Technorati Tags: LewisCenter LucidDesign energy

Things to do...

This will be a crazy week.

Everyone will be working on their projects:
Web 1: Frames
Web 2: Movies and Timelines
Web 3: Flash Movie replicating.

Please also check out Scratch and Squeek programming. I want to start doing more game and simulation programming and I read that these might be the platforms to use. The files are in the UDrive if anything doesnt load. Using this could you create a much cooler "Faces" assignment???

Now its tempting to just play the games they have. I want you to MAKE the games--not just play them. This might be a good project for home as well.

Please make a blog entry each day. What did you do? What did you learn?

Web 3

Web 3 assignment: Replicate this movie in Flash.

Flatclassroom Evaluations

We are once again part of a global collaborative project: The Flatclassroom Project. We are the lead class of peer evaluators for this project. As you know, we work very hard in class on evaluating the work of our friends and classmates. Today you will give feedback to students who are involved in this project. Before you begin we will review our evaluation protocal, words to use, and phrases to start with.

Who is involved in the project? Click here. Be sure to know where these students are located before you begin. While all of these students speak and write English, most are not from America.

Your assignment is posted here. Be sure to really check your writing on this one. Its important.

Once you complete your blog entry I will post all the entries on this page.

Technorati Tags: flatclassroomproject2007

Veteran's Day

The armistice treaty ending the "Great War" was signed on November 11, 1918. It is said that throughout the world nobody had seen so much rejoicing. The world had just experienced unimaginable turmoil, suffering, and pain.

The following year Armistice Day was established on November 11. President Woodrow Wilson said:

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation.

It was a tradition for many years that at 11am on Armistice Day that all traffic would stop, conversations cease, and all focus be made on remembering those who had sacrificed.

In 1953, in Kansas, a town observed "Veterans Day". They felt this paid tribute to the veterans who had served in World War II and the Korean War. While there was much optimism in the country at the time there was also an incredible need to remember those who had served and sacrificed. Vast amounts of men had not come home from these wars.

Congress thought this was a great idea and in 1954 made Veterans Day a national holiday.

Many of you have friends, brothers, sister, fathers, or mothers who have served. If you have a story about them you want to tell please do so today.

Image Map

Click here for the Quiz.

Stories you should read:

1. What is happening in Pakistan. You have all studied democratic movements, but these modern movements have a twist that we focus on here--technology. Actions that happen in Pakistan are reported instantly. Does this help democracy? I am not sure. Does this allow the marginalized voice to be heard? Certainly.

Do not be ignorant of what is happening in the world. It effects you directly. Just ask your brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbors who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan right now. Be informed!

2. Are newspapers disappearing? Newspapers have been a fabric of our society for decades. Now, while printed newspapers are disappearing online news is increasing its audience. So, is the definition of newspaper changing?

3. Really interesting article about girls in high school. The competition is increasing. Check the interactive feature on the page. Nicely designed web page combining video, pictures, and text.

Projects

I am working this week on developing three project choices for students. These would be a focus for students joining me for the second semester, but any students are welcome to get involved.

1. Thinkquest is a national competition that has serious projects and serious prizes. Check it out. I will choose the elite team for this competition.
2. I want us to start publishing books that go in our libary, you can give as gifts, or you can put on your resume. Lulu.com (currently blocked--no idea why?)allows us to do that. Want to become a published author? We will have a designed project on family history but we could also publish books on web design, blogging, or even the SHS soccer team.
3. The third project is the Fox 61 student news program. This is a great opportunity for you. Again, prizes, resume building, and EXPERIENCE!

I will be working on the formal process soon. If you have ideas, please let me know.

If want you to think of using web design to work on a project for another class. Faculty have specifically offered to work with us. So---do you have a project that could get graded in both classes? Do you have an "essay" that you could instead do a website, movie, or Flash display? We encourage you to suggest alternative assessments.

Technorati Tags: thinkquest fox61 lulu

Track

Here is my track advertisement:

Track starts November 26. For years Seymour has been one of the only schools that started track in March. All others started in November. The Indoor season for track is, in my opinion, the most exciting season. 1500 athletes in a fieldhouse is an absolute circus.

I believe in working my athletes exceptionally hard. We are here to win and to win the right way.

If you are ready to work join us at a meeting after school on Monday November 12.

Things to check out

Check these out and put them in your favorites.

CSS Examples: A good place to get some help with your page coding.
Fireworks Tutorials: Some of these are really good tutorials, some are a bit confusing.
Dreamweaver Tutorials: Web 2 and Web 3 should start working on these. Swap images, behaviors, jump menus, and layers are all good things to review.

Plan:
Web 1: We are going to plow through the book.
Web 2: We are going to plow through the book.
Web 3: Reviewing Dreamweaver.

End of Exams!

I will spend most of today doing the remainder of the grading. As of 7am Monday morning the highest grade is 100 and the lowest grade is a 66. Overall: good job.

I have been impressed by the depth of your evaluations. Also, how some of you use HTML to improve the usability of your blog (check here). On the blogmeister I give some examples of outstanding work that you can find in the Udrive.

Today you will do the following:
1. Take ten minutes to look at student work and then leave comments.
2. Leave comments on two students blogs on why you think their work is outstanding. Use the language of evaluations (phrases, adjectives, terms, etc...) that we talked about this week.

After the ten minutes looking at student work then:

1. Play one of these serious games:

• Ayiti
• 3rd World Farmer
• The Redistricting Game

2. Leave time to answer the following question on your blog:

• Should serious games have a larger role in learning? Be sure to provide a link to an example of a serious game.

Technorati Tags: ayiti serious_games 3rd_world_farmer redistricting_game

Done

Today we finish the exam. Follow all directions!

If you are done then practice with your catapult. (as of Period 2 this wasnt loading....)

Or:

3D Farming: Can you succeed as a farmer?
3D Architecture: Can you build a successful house.
Tall Buildings: Super-cool site about tall buildings
Power Play: Can you build a better mousetrap?

Thursday

Today, Thursday, I will be in and out of the room most of the day. I apologize, it is beyond my control....

Checklist for exam:
1. Web 2 and Web 1: Do you have a link to a blog on your subject?
2. Citations are formatted properly.
3. Alt text, titled pages, etc...
4. Saved in Udrive correctly, checked all files.

When Done:
1. Save folder in udrive: bschneiderdogs-DONE. When it is marked Done I know to grade it.
2. Complete and score evaluation and submit on blog.
3. Move on in tutorials or book.

I leave for the State Open tomorrow at lunch time so tomorrow I will not be in Period 6 or Period 7. On Monday I wil miss Period 7 as Mrs. Schneider has a hospital appointment I need to be at. So....7th period especially needs to make sure they send me a question if they have any!!! Use your blog.

I really apologize for the disruption this causes.

Monday we will move on and do any last minute grade fixes. I will have to spend Monday grading your exams. Be patient.

Peer-Evaluations

Today we will spend about 15 minutes peer-evaluating our exams. Start adding to your vocabulary the adjectives (creative, professional, interesting, thoughtful) and terms (usability, bias, layout, format) and statements ("I noticed that...") needed for these evaluations.

Final exam deadline is Friday. Be sure you are working on your self-evaluations.

Sick

A cold quickly attacked me yesterday and has completely overtaken me. I will not be in today. Again. I ask that those who feel they are done work on their evaluations today. If I am upright I will try to leave comments during the day.

Anyway, I have tried to take the philosophy that it is better to stay home and avoid sneezing all over you guys all day. But I know some of you need guidance as the projects get completed. Hopefully I am in tomorrow and we can do the planned activity to check our work.

Exam

Today rough drafts of your exam are due. Final drafts by Friday--no exceptions. I have seen all of you use this exam to make progress in your learning. Don't have a deadline screw this up--be sure to get your work done.

Please put drafts in the Udrive as you go. That way in "case of emergency" you have your latest work saved.

You must complete this exam evaluation by Friday at midnight if you want credit for the exam. I would start that work now.

Items

I will post exam thoughts throughout the day here. A few early reminders:

1. Citations!! Work on this.
2. Your site should be visual and interactive. Give a the reader something to click on.
3. If you write paragraphs be sure it is in three dimensions by including linked text.
4. Modern design is essential. It is hard to find a legitimate website with anything but a white background. Many of you are using pictures as backgrounds and it just doesn't work. Sorry.
5. Dog link.
6. For Dreamweaver movies vs. Windows Movie Maker. Go to Flash. Import the movie you made in Movie Maker. When you save the movie in Flash you can then embed that Flash movie in Dreamweaver.
7. Olivia's Blog has the code to embed a movie in HTML.

Please make a blog entry today about your exam progress. I hope you have learned something in the last few days. A great entry will be very clear to the reader about your exam. Use descriptive details, talk about examples you have seen in the UDrive, link to information or students blogs that you have enjoyed.

Here are an example example2 from the NY Times of how graphics and images can improve the usability of your page. Can you compare and contrast these pages with the ones you are creating (graphics, font, background, link set-up, etc...)?

CECA Update

I am here at CECA listening to the keynote address by Dr. Henry Lee. He is talking through the cases that he has worked on (OJ, Vincent Foster, JFK). Very interesting. My presentation is at 11am and I will update more later.

Update:

I finished my presentation a few moments ago. There were about eighty educators in the room and it was a lively discussion. I spoke about what goes on in our class and how writing is undergoing a fundamental shift from two dimensions to three dimensions.

I showed them your clustrmaps, a few of your blogs, and the survey we took a few weeks ago. I think everyone enjoyed it and I predict that many educators will be visiting your blogs today. If you are a "visitor" and reading this I encourage you to click on this blogmeister link and leave comments on the students blogs! Or here on this blog! Don't be afraid....

I am sitting in the room that they set aside for presenters. It is nice and quiet and they have really nice chairs, Cokes, and snacks. Of course, it is nice to have wireless access as well.

I hope things are going well in school and I hope to see great progress on your exams when I return tomorrow.

This week

This week will be devoted to your exams. I will be checking work on Monday and Wednesday.

It will be an interesting week for me. On Tuesday I am presenting a blogging workshop at the Connecticut Educator's Computer Association conference in Hartford. I usually bring back lots of new ideas. On Thursday and Friday I will be at a workshop along with five other teachers and administrators related to including students with special needs in the classroom.

I set up the schedule so you had one week of exams before I missed time, and one week after I get back so it should work out fine. I do expect a complete draft of your exam to be done on Monday so we can talk about revisions. Final drafts are due November 2. No exceptions.

Technorati Tags: ceca07_schneider

Movie Maker

We have been taking very short tours (10 minutes or so) of some of the programs available on your computer. On Wednesday we looked at Audacity.

It is important to note that if we took time to learn all the programs on your computer from first to last program by the time we got to the last program the first program would already be obsolete. It is impossible to keep up.

So I believe in the just in time, just enough theory of learning. If you take charge of your learning you learn what you need to complete a project.

Today we will look at Windows Movie Maker. Here are three examples from last year that we posted on teachertube.com. Each of these videos have had over 2500 hits.

Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying
Darfur

Notice that none of those videos used copyrighted images or music. We create original work here. Their assignment was to create a 28 second long Public Service Announcement. Did you notice how they used music to create an emotion?

Technorati Tags: cyberbullying Dafur movies

Exam Thoughts

Some random exam thoughts:

1. Think before you start coding your page. Think about usability, bias, accessibility. Remember your audience is a 5th grader. Can they find the answer to the question?
2. Is your site interactive or does it look like an essay? Is there stuff for a kid to click on?
3. Have you really thought about your layout and how many pages/frames/links make it most usable? Don't put in 10 links simply because you can.
4. Citation page is essential.
5. The Japanese keyboard question should not be just a description of the keyboard. Be sure to find an expert to consult (use blogs!). Do people ACTUALLY use it the way it is described in wikipedia.
6. The iTunes question is not about iTunes, it is about musicians and their music. Will they record more or less? Find data to back up your claim.
7. Tell a story! Don't write an essay!

Above all, expect to revise, rewrite, and revisit your sites many times.

Several blogs got comments from New Zealand yesterday!

Technorati Tags: web_design exams

Exam

Web 1 Exam.

All exams are posted now. All exams are due November 2.

Please do the following today for your exam:
1. Create a folder in your Favorites section of your browser. Call it "Exam".
2. When you research information, put relevant pages in this folder. Remember that you must have a professional citations page for your exam.
3. Create a blog entry about your progress on the exam. Your blog is where you can show evidence of collaboration. Connect with someone who is doing your topic. If you have trouble finding someone leave a comment on my blogmeister so you are easier to find.

Examples from prior years are in the Udrive.

Good luck!

Survey Results

Here are the results of the blogging survey. We had 68 total responses.

1. I have viewed or edited my blogmeister from home.
Yes 76%
No 24%

2. I have edited an article in blogmeister to improve it or fix a mistake.
Yes 80%
No 20%

3. I have read other students work in blogmeister.
Yes 95%
No 5%

4. I write more in blogmeister than I would if I wrote using pen and paper.

Yes 47%
No 53%

5. I monitor my clustrmap and read counts on my blog to see if people read my work.
Yes 59%
No 41%

6. I learn something by reading other students blogs.
Yes 89%
No 11%

7. Writing in a blog is more fun than writing on paper.

Yes 76%
No 24%

Survey

Please take the survey first today.

Today:

Web3: Exam work. By Monday you should have a working outline for your story.
Web2: Grading Project 3 and Project 4.
Web1: grading Project 3.

TED Talks

(this is Thursday assignment. I put it up early as some will be out tomorrow).

One thing you want to do in life is get around smart people. I was lucky to go to a school that had really, really smart people around. Listening to them makes life interesting.

Many of you have seen some of the TED talks before. TED is a place where smart people get together and kind of do a show and tell.

I would like you to watch at least one video today from start to finish. I give you some prompts to start a discussion on your blog. Each of these videos is about 10-20 minutes long. They say teenagers can't pay attention to anything. Prove them wrong.

I asked you all to bring headphones today. Use them.

Hans Rosling: How data is cool. Think of your little Excel charts. Will you be ready to use data like this. This guy is fun to listen to.
Jeff Han: How displays will change. This would profoundly change how we use computers.
Jimmy Wales: How wikipedia started and works. Here from the founder. These guys take an idea and make it work. Listening to inventors can be fun.
John Maeda: A smart, funny guy talks about simplicity. Think about how simplicity is the driving force in design (hint: iPods).
Nicholas Negroponte: Would you spend your life on a project that helps others? Does listening to the originator of the idea change your vision of this program?
Theo Jansen: Freaky. Mind-blowing. But pay attention. What is life? Can you make something that lives out of PVC pipe? He does. Cyborg alert!

What did you learn? Share what you learned. Start a conversation. Can you add something to a discussion?

Technorati Tags: TED innovation k12 education

Story

All should check out this site. A bit mind blowing.

Here is an example of a portfolio for a senior in high school. What will be in your portfolio?

I push very hard on having my students tell a story, whether that story is in a website, a blog entry, or in a conversation.

The Web 3 exam requires students to use Flash to tell a 50 second story. Here are some examples that you might adapt.

Nike Football: Notice that this story is about the "essence" of both football (soccer) and the shoes. It is less about the narrative than about the emotions athletes feel and how Nike is a part of that. The movie is about 50 seconds long.
Sharp Aquous: Notice how there is again no real narrative. The message is clearly that the product has simple, clean lines. The movie is again about 50 seconds long.

How does sound enhance both of these movies? I think the sound on the Nike site is essential to the story (we are alone with our own sounds, etc...).

I think you realize from the above examples how essential it is to really think out your story BEFORE you start to create anything on the computer. The story and feeling that you want your audience to get will drive the tools that you use.

Do you have a story to tell?

Exam and Blog Notes

Many of you made very perceptive comments about your blog. Now put those ideas into action!

Today I am launching the Web 2 and Web 3 marking period exams. The content and questions are the same for both exams. Web 2 students saw these questions last year. But the techniques will be different as Web 2 will be using Dreamweaver and Web 3 will be using Dreamweaver and Flash. Exams are due November 2.

Check out the Best Flash Websites. Get any ideas?

Examples from last year are in the Udrive.

I will grade your projects and your evidence of collaboration. You must show evidence of collaboration on your blog. Who else is working on your question?

I also include the amnesty program for anyone needing a grade boost.

Web 1 will continue their work in the textbook.

David Pogue is the leading technology person at NYTimes. He has a cool video about the OLPC. Hope it gets through the filter (aargh--not coming through filter yet...). Try doing this at home, its worth it.

Do you know how to use tags? Those are the things at the bottom of this post. You can use tags to see what people are blogging about on a subject like the OLPC. Want to impress me and get more clicks on your blog? Write a response to one of the posts about OLPC that you read. Put a comment on their blog linking back to yours.

Technorati Tags: Pogue OLPC webdesign exam

Assignments

All students will start today writing in their blog. The assignment is on the blogmeister and below. I encourage you to go back and edit some of your entries today.

Web 3: We are going to progress to a more advanced type of animation. Do this globe animation. I suggest watching the entire tutorial first THEN going back and doing the work. I put a map you can use in the UDrive. If you watch this and think it is too advanced see me and we will find another tutorial for you.

Web 2: Complete project 3 editing. Analyze other students' work. Clean up any files, check for errors, etc...

Web 1: Continue Project 3 work.

There is an interesting article in the NYTimes. A teacher in New Jersey is assigning homework to his students and their parents. The parents need to log-in occasionally (once per week or so) to comment on the topics in class. Research is clear that meaningful parental involvement in school is very important for student success. This article seems to show that the teacher is providing thoughtful and productive assignments. I am certain that if teachers, parents, and students learn together it is a far more productive environment.

Shouldn't our expectations be:

• Students learn something new.
• Parents learn something new.
• Teachers learn something new.
• Everyone shares and collaborates.

If only the student is learning something new I think it is much less fun, productive, effective, or efficient. Modeling life-long learning is probably the most important thing we can do in a world that will be changing drastically. Remember, we are training you for jobs that don't even exist yet, to solve problems we don't even know about yet (for example, the internet industry is HUGE; but didn't exist ten years ago).

A parent in this article says "I'm too busy, and I'm done with school! I graduated.". Lets accept as a truism that successful parents and student are way too busy. I agree. I also obviously agree that any "assignment" must be truly collaborative and meaningful for all.

But, shouldn't parents be very involved in classroom work? Is this type of parental involvement more meaningful than helping with fundraisers or other activities? What do you think?

Web 1

All Web 1 students will start Project 3 today.

Assignments:
1. Summary
2. Theater Club project
3. Apply 1
4. In the Lab 1 (careful of colspans!)
5. In the lab 2
6. Quiz

Test

This is a test. If you can view it, you can probably make your own animation and post it to your sidebar on blogmeister.

Tuesday

Today is a half day for students (full day for teachers) so be aware that the periods are short.

Web3: Finish Exam. Please be sure you completely answer each question. I will also be checking your animations (ball, walking, ball tossing, plus one more) and blog entries (daily Flash progress) today.

Web2: Project 3 Quiz.

Web1: I will send you the files for Project 3 (tables).

For all classes I will finish any last grading before progress reports.