Additional Flash Work

I will pass out grade sheets today for the third marking period.  If there are errors or omissions please let me know.  Some of you lost 7-10 points off your grade because you didn't do some blog entries.  I don't get that.


You need to complete the basic tutorials form the last session first.  Be sure to understand shape tween, motion tween, layers, and masking.

Today please try to complete the following.  These are much more complicated.  Some of these are video tutorials.  Be sure to use your headphones to respect your neighbors.  I suggest splitting your screen when doing the tutorials (tutorial on left, Flash on right)

Zoom In Zoom Out
Shiny Text
Drag and Drop (action Script coding)
Basic Slide Show
Importing Sound to Flash

And.....how to stop your movie!  

Want to do something else?  Search on google or YouTube and find a tutorial.

Flash is dead, but....

Flash is kind of dead.  Adobe just pretty much killed it.  But, we have the software and I think it will be an excellent way to introduce you to animation.  We will explore several tools.

Save your Flash documents in the WDrive (make a Flash folder).  Save them in two formats.  First save the Flash document as an .fla file.  Then save the Flash Movie as a .swf file.  Then you will have two files for each project.  You can edit the .fla file.  You watch the .swf file.

Flash is probably new to most of you.  GO SLOW.  Skipping a step will cause your project to crash.  Coding is about being patient, paying attention to details, and seeing the big picture.


Please complete the following tutorials at a minimum on Monday:

• Motion Tween
• Shape Tween
• Layers
• Mask
• Ball Bouncing

Students who have those completed should work on:

• Rotating Globe
• Fog Effect
• Zoom in

If you get excited please start more tutorials (see link on right).

TED Talks and Writing Effectively

I am on a field trip to WCSU today to rehearse iAlchemy.  I am eager to see what you write about these subjects.  There is plenty to write about! This is your first grade of the fourth marking period.  Write well!

Today's objective is to write three blog posts about these TED talks.  I would like to see that you can:

• Title the blog post effectively.
• Format a link correctly.  Like this.  Not like http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_links.asp this.
• Write a post that interests your readers.  Each post should be between 50-100 words.

You must write about THREE of the videos.  This should take you just about exactly 85 minutes.

1. Keith Barry.  This will blow your mind.  How is brain magic different than regular magic?

2. David Blaine.  Is he crazy, or determined?




3. Robert Lang and his origami.  Why has origami changed?



4. Bryan Stevenson and injustice.  Reflect on the connection between this talk and the Trayvon Martin case.



And a few extras if you have time:

Rives 1, Rives 2  This guy is a great storyteller.

If anything does not work or is blocked please use google to search for the video.  Make it happen.

Catch-Up

I will be catching up on grades today as I close grades for 1st marking period.  I will pass out grade sheets.

If you notice errors, let me know.  If you notice anything missing please submit to "MISSING WORK" folder in the UDrive-WebSchneider.

Many of you have lots of missing work.

Good job

I was about to give Caitlin a zero for manipulating her Fireworks image. I thought "she just took a picture and didn't change it". Then I read her blog. Cool.

Check out some of our images (I'll add more).

HTML and Fireworks Exam

Here is your marking period exam.  This is worth 20% of your grade and is due by the end of class.

Please prepare an HTML website using notepad about the October Snowfall.  I am looking to see that you can use your new Fireworks talents to enhance your website.  The site should include:

1. Create a website using HTML that demonstrates the following:

• That you can use proper HTML codes.  

• You can create links that work, are effective, and efficient.

• You demonstrate attention to those with vision issues by including alt text for all images.

• A modern, usable design.

2. You must include a table or other device that shows how this snowfall ranks all-time. Cite where you obtain your data.
3. You must include an image or animation that has been manipulated using Fireworks. This image must be obtained using Creative Commons (Flickr,wikicommons, etc...). You may create the image yourself if you choose.  Save the link, you'll need it later.
4. A summary paragraph.  You must include at least one link to valuable information about the storm.
5. Your audience is 5th graders in Seymour.
6. Your website must be free of bias and be highly usable.


How to save your project:
1. Rename your folder in the WDrive. Name it first initial-last name-test (bschneidertest).
2. Copy folder.
3. Find class folder in UDrive. (Udrive-WebSchneider-Class-TEST)
4. Paste folder into UDrive.
5. HAVE NEIGHBOUR TEST WORK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WORKS!! Format the links correctly! Remember, just use the file name (don't add w;drive in code....).
6. Saving correctly is one of our standards.  I will not grade your test if I can't find it!



Blog Post:
1. Where did you get the image?  Include link.  If you created it yourself then please state that.
2. What aspects of coding or image manipulation have you gotten better at?
3. How did you manipulate your image in Fireworks?
4. What do you need to improve on?

Website 80%, Blog Reflection 20%

Rubric


You have two things due.  Test and Blog post about test.  The bell is your deadline.  Do GREAT work.

Tuesday

I am in Manchester to today visiting their high school.  Please ensure your FINAL copies of your folders are saved correctly to the UDrive.

Please complete the following activities today.  Each activity has a corresponding blog question that should be answered in separate blog posts.  If you do not finish in class then you have homework.

You MUST include link to the topic in your blog entry.  It should be formatted correctly! If needed then a video should be embedded to your blog.  Create blog entries that people will want to read.  Tell a story!

I will try to approve your blogs during the day, but I'm not sure I will be able to check.

Answer 5 of the 6 questions.

1. Draw A Stickman.  Do the new story (you did the first one in January).  Why does this work?  How does it keep you on the page?

2. Read this: Facebook/Twitter Shoulder-surfing.  Are you prepared to have a college interviewer have you log in to your Twitter or Facebook page?  What you write on the internet or text is there for ever.  Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is public.

3. Watch this video about green men.  Would you do that?

4. Watch this video about an escalator.  Do you know people who are like that?  Someone who just will not walk up the escalator?

5. Should students wear pajamas and slippers to school?  Are they sloppy/lazy or are they just being comfortable?  Take a side.  Where is NOT ok to wear pajamas and slippers?

6. Do teens who text 100's of times per day have a need for attention?  Or do they have a lot to say and people are listening?  Take a side.

Blogs?

I think your blogs are active.  Finally.

Please update them today with some of your prior work including your analysis letter to Mrs. Goodrich, your accessibility and usability questions, TED and games questions and anything else that you can find.  Double check spelling, spacing, links, etc...

I expect much of the project to finish today.  Do not turn in a new folder yet, we will do that next week.  If you want to have me check something then let me know.

Funny

Cyberbullying

I wonder why people feel its OK to be mean. Take a moment and reflect how you talk about other people.

Fireworks Projects

We will be doing fireworks projects for a few weeks.  Of course you could use any image manipulation software but we happen to have fireworks on our machines.

I've taken ideas from past projects and from my colleagues to develop this.  I've tried hard to find projects that are fun and that you can be creative.

Create a new folder and name it (first initial, last name, project).  bschneiderfireworksproject

Major Options (do at least 2):

• Design the front and back of a postcard that might be sent from the location of a work of fiction. Both sides of the cards must be created as graphics.
• The front should use graphic design elements that provide a sense of place or use the classic motifs of old postcards (“Greetings from ______”)_, both pictures and text. The back of the post card should contain a stamp and postmark that fits with the theme of work, as well as an addressee and a message that fits the plot as well.
• How big is a postcard?  What would the stamp look like? Were they different sizes in the era of your fiction book?
• Be sure to author the postcard as if you are the character.  Use their style of writing.
• This is TWO canvasses (front and back) and TWO separate files (bschneiderpostcard1, bschneiderpostcard2)
• Design the cover of your autobiography. What pictures or graphics would you include? What would you title it? Make sure it really shows off who you are and what you want your audience to see in you by the cover.
• How big are book covers?  What is on a book cover?
• You can use my camera to take pictures.
• Create a minimalist poster of any work of fiction, fable, or allegory.  Example 1. Example 2.  I don't want to show you too many examples as it can ruin your ideas. 

Minor Tasks (do all):

• Take this picture of Molly.  Change her outfit so its the same color as the girl in front of her.
• Change the H to an S.
• Change STOP to GO.  Make it green.
• Use a text tool to make your name super cool.
• Put President Obama in a crowd at a Yankee Game.

Funny

Fireworks Continued

Today we will continue the Fireworks Tutorials.  This is sandbox time.  Please complete 8 tutorials today and have the completed products in your Fireworks folder.  Now, some of these might not work perfectly as the software has changed.  If somethings not working, please substitute another tutorial.  Take your time and FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS.

Some of these will be blocked.....

1. List of tutorials (choose one or all)

2. Another list (choose one or all)

3. More tutorials (have fun!)

You should have 13 examples of images tutorials by the end of class today.  This will be the end of sandbox time, we will start our projects on Tuesday.

In addition, I believe our blogs are opened.  I would like you to take some of your saved work (usability questions, web analysis letter to Mrs. Goodrich, etc...) and put that content on your blog.    This will involve some copy and paste.  Be sure to work on your links and include interesting titles.

Plenty to do today.  There should be no down time.

I think this might work?

A new unit starts today as all classes will work on Fireworks tutorials.  Whether this is new or review I would like all to do the same work to start.  You should move straight down the "image effects" category.  Then move to the other categories.  This is sandbox time today and Friday.  Create a fireworks folder to save all of your work.  Every thing you do should be named, saved, and put in a folder.

Everyone must complete (at least):

• Image Color 
• Photo Frames
• Old Photograph
• Pencil Drawing
• Fading  

A few hints:

• Read the directions.  If you call me over I will just read the directions for you.  Take your time.
• Choose photographs from Clipart that are high quality and appropriate for the task you are trying to complete.  Some photographs do not work very well in some tutorials.
• Save and label everything you work on in a Fireworks folder.
• Help your classmates.

If you finish please start on the text tutorials.  

I'm not sure...

I'm not sure how the filter will be working today.

I have copied some of the Fireworks Tutorials to our wiki site.  I would like you to complete all five of the fireworks assignments on that page.

1. Are your blogs unblocked?
2. Does the video (last assignment) play?  If so, watch it.
3. Can you reach the tutorials from last Wednesday?  If so, use that link.

Option 2:

TED and Games

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!
Wear your headphones.

When done check out the educational games and simulations. Can you find any other quality games?

• 3rD World 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?
• Check out the Ayiti game.
• Driven to Distraction don't crash!
• And finally we will review the game Darfur is Dying.

Questions please answer in a MS Word document.  Put name on and print out for teacher:
1. Are the the Jansen creatures alive?  Why or why not?  This is a really hard question to answer--what is life?
2. Review each game in a 3-4 sentence paragraph.  What is the game, what is trying to teach you, and did it work?
3. Do games help learning?  

Great Video

I love this. How graphics, music, and video come together to tell a great story.

And Everything Nice from John Jensen on Vimeo.

Fireworks Unit

A new unit starts today as all classes will work on Fireworks tutorials. (this is blocked today?) Whether this is new or review I would like all to do the same work to start.  You should move straight down the "image effects" category.  Then move to the other categories.  This is sandbox time today and Monday.  Create a fireworks folder to save all of your work.  Every thing you do should be named, saved, and put in a folder.

If you are feeling behind--study!  I do not assign specific homework.  I expect you will be working on any issues that you have.  If you need to practice coding, then practice!


I think your blogs are working?  If so, we will start posting old work later today.

Happy vacation

If you need to catch up, today is the day.  I'm giving you 87 minutes and no new assignments.

If you are caught up have some fun (quiet fun).  If you haven't watched all the videos I have posted yet or done all the reading take the time to do that now.

I may call you up and talk about your work and ask you to fix a few things.

Last html

Today is your last major HTML assignment.  You will create a four page website about your favorites.

A few notes:

• Pay attention to the order that you do the codes.  Be neat.  Be exact.
• Be sure the links work.  Links should include just the file name.
• Keep the design of the pages in the website the same.  They should look like they are from the same website.
• Maybe include video?
• Think about using a table for your page layout.
• Spend some time in the tutorials.  Are they any codes you should add to your page?
• Be sure to name your folder and save your files correctly.

HTML: American Flag Assignment

With the HTML practice I am trying to do the following: 

• Get you accustomed to naming files, saving them, and opening the pages.
• Understanding basic structure of code.
• Switching from one teacher (me) to many teachers (you).
• Have you acknowledge what a good website, good writing, and good design looks like.  

So.....

• I will guide you, model some items, but I will try not to give you the answers.  This is a coding class, which is problem solving.  You need to learn how to solve the problems.
• I will begin to insist on your best work.  Some of you will struggle and I will say "try again".  Don't get frustrated, I do that because I know you can do better.
• At just about anytime I will allow you to work on your own projects.  Some examples of student led projects include this music video or maybe creating an advocacy campaign to change the world.  Seriously, this is your chance to really think about what you want to do.

We will make our first webSITE today. Until now we have made webPAGES. Today please do the following:

• Create a folder in your WDrive-Web Design. Label it correctly (first initial, last name, assignment) "bschneiderFlag".
• Download a clip-art or Creative Commons image of an American Flag. Save in flag folder
• Create a two-page website.
• Title Page 1: "American Flag". Add heading, background color, and flag image.
• Center image.
• 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.
• Does your font choice matter?  Read this.
• Save both pages. Test links.
• Save entire folder to the UDrive-WebSchneider folder.  Find your class and the flag folder.

When done:

• A Google A Day
• Put in your headphones and play with Bobby or Incredibox
• Watch this these awesome grandparents send their grand son a birthday video.  Yes, that is tap water catching on fire at the end.  
• I get amused when people tell me they play guitar.  Really?  Check this out. Or this.  Stop talking, start practicing.
• Read some stories.  Try this one about plastic bath toys.

Nobody finishes early.  There is always something to work on.

Web Design: Introductory Quiz

Today's quiz #1 is a letter.

In this letter you must:

1. Include links and examples where necessary.
2. Provide evidence.
3. Be persuasive, yet friendly and helpful.
4. Your letter should be between 100-150 words.

Please evaluate the design bias, usability, and accessibility of the Seymour High School website. This letter should show evidence that you paid attention for the past few lessons.

You might want to look at some examples of other schools:

1. Science Leadership Academy
2. Naugatuck High School
3. Lewis Elementary

Compare and contrast the sites.  Why do you go to a school website?  Who is the audience (teachers, parents, students, community, etc...).  Can you find what you are looking for?

Start your letter with "Dear Mrs. Goodrich".  


Save to your W Drive Web folder (on blog if blogs work..).  Print out for teacher.


Quiz #2 is HTML

The quiz for web 1 will be due by the end of the period on Monday. 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 code.
• A clear heading on the page.
• A list of classes.
• A brief paragraph describing yourself (junior at Seymour High School, etc...)
• Background color other than white.  Keep the color light (no bright red, black, etc...if you disagree go back and look at the bad websites)

If you do the above correctly the maximum you can score is 3/4.  You must do at least one of the extras to be able to score 4/4.

Extras:

1. Can you include an image that you created?  Remember that the image must be in the same folder as the webpage.

2. Can you place the schedule in a table?

3. Can you create a link to Seymour High School?

Usability

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

Usability involves design and it involves hardware. First I must have enough bandwidth to get my information to the user. Bandwidth is the "size of the pipe" that carries information. The larger the pipe, the more information I can send. Second I need to think about the hardware at the end of the line. Is my user viewing the information on a phone or through a dial-up connection? Is my user using high speed DSL?

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 a man from Mars to understand what your 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.  The chart at the bottom is awesome.

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

3. What's wrong with Google?  Wouldn't you like to learn how to do that?

Please answer the following questions on your blog:

1. Define the following. Provide definitions that make sense to your readers.

• 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. Provide a link to this website and explain why you think its usability rating is high. Possible examples: Bobby (use headphones),  Baby Names (blocked??) Tall Buildings.

All three assignments (bias, accessibility, usability), the evernote biography recording, plus the two HTML webpages are due Tuesday.  Work hard today and produce your best work.

Accessibility

We will start the HTML Tutorials today.  I will start with a bit of a group lesson and then I will see what you can do.  Most of the class time will be reading time today.

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. The website contains lots of useful information. Take your time reading it.

We will watch this CBS News Video together in class.

Read some of how Apple focusses on accessibility.

Answer the following questions:

• Of the four major categories of disabilities (visual, motor, cognitive, hearing) which one do you think would pose the greatest challenges for a computer user. Why? Include specifics.
• Dealing with a disability can be frustrating. What are three ways a web designer can design a less frustrating website for those who have a disability?
• Try getting to the CNN website without using your mouse. How did that change the experience? Did you get frustrated?
• What is our obligation to serve those with disabilities?

Post to your blog.  Please include any needed links.

When done here is your first HTML assignment.

Bias, Usability, Accessibility, and 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 (collector site, real site blocked...)
• GIJoe Movie
• Legally Blonde: The Musical

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.

3. Create a one page flyer in MSPaint that contains bias.

Girls: Boys are silly. Why can't they act right so I can get my work done? They should treat us 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 us 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 page 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. 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 toFlickr and use creative commons search.
• At least three quotes (from real or imaginary people)
• Have fun with this, stay respectful and appropriate.

4. Save in WDrive (Web Design folder). Check the Rubric for the assessment.

5. If you finish early you should start on the HTML Tutorials (link on right side of page).

Using Evernote to Tell A Story

7:01am: We are again having some issues with the wifi today.  Be patient as we do this assignment.  We will adapt!

Today students will tell a story.  For many this will be exceedingly difficult.  Not because they can't write, or record, but because they have to interview their peers.

This entire class is about telling a story.  Telling a story through words, images, animation, links.  A bad web page story will be immediately discarded!  Nobody stays on a bad webpage or keeps listening to a poor recording.

Each student will write and record a 60 second biography for radio broadcast.  This biography will be of a classmate.  Students will record using Evernote.

Please be sure to name your file in Evernote as your first initial and last name (bschneider).  Save in the Web Biography notebook.

We will post the biographies here.  

Here are some posts that were created last semester:

• Danielle
• Tyler

Please write a blog post summarizing the process of creating the broadcast and include a link to your story.

Blogs

We were having issues with the wifi this morning so we decided to get our blogs set-up instead.  I hope to have wifi settled for Friday.

Today we will set-up our blogs:
1. We will discuss digital footprints and blogging code of ethics.
2. We will log-in to our blogs and make our first post.
3. Next, we will leave a comment on a classmates blog, using the proper procedure.
4. Control panel will be discovered and we will add a simple sentence to it.
5. We will choose a template.
6. We will explore voki.com and then place our voki in the control panel.
7. Clustrmaps will be added to the control panel.
8. We will evaluate each blog and choose the best voki, leaving comments on that blog.

A New Class!

So...

A new semester.  I am very excited to teach this "new" class.  I taught this for four years, took a two year break, and now I am back teaching two sections this year.  So much has changed!

This class should be fun and exciting.  You will write and read A LOT in here.  You will code, create, tape, video, and publish.  This will be an odd class for some of you as YOU take charge of your learning. You will have lots of choices as the year progresses.  This often makes students nervous as I rarely stand in front of you and say "now we will turn to.."

Today you can do the solo activity for the iPad.

Other things need to happen today:

1. You need to be sure you returned your Internet Use form (I imagine you have).  I can't do anything without that.

2. Fill out this Info Sheet.

3. Please solve a Google A Day.  The site times you.  So move fast.  We will be learning how to search effectively throughout the year. 

4. Then Draw a Stickman.  Wouldn't you like to learn how to do that?  Guess what?  You will.

5. Write yourself an email that will be delivered on June 1, 2012.  Use Futureme.org.  Keep the post private.  Write yourself and completing the following questions "By June I hope to have learned..." "I think the most important aspect of web design is...."

6. Swearing is bad.  Please don't do it.

7. Put in your headphones and play with Bobby or Incredibox


8. Read this longer, but fascinating, story in the NY Times about a student with autism.


9. Watch this movie trailer.  Yes, that is tap water catching on fire at the end.  

If we finish all this and you work hard we will have a hockey tournament.

Web Design Final Exam

You have reached your destination.  Your final exam should demonstrate a full semester of learning.  The exam should demonstrate a keen sense of story telling, recognition of audience, and technical knowledge.  Good luck.

Exam:
Create a website about the history of the internet.  The website should include how the internet has changed family and school life.  I would like you to focus on the years 1980, 1995, and 2010.

You have many tools at your disposal including HTML, Flash, Fireworks, Creative commons searches, etc.... Be sure to create a website that is easy to read, highly usable, and accessible.

You may notice that I have not included specific guidelines about pages, images, and the like.  By now you should know how to tell a good story by using a website.  You should know how to effectively include links.  You should know not to include copyrighted images.  You should know how to embed video, animation, and images.

When done you must copy your exam folder to the Udrive: Web Schneider.  You MUST finish during the allotted time for the exam.  I will begin grading once your folder is placed in the UDrive.
 

FInal Exam Prep

Today is a prep day for the final exam.  You need to know how to do the following.

1. Make a basic webpage using a table for layout that is highly usable.
2. Use fireworks to manipulate an image.
3. Create animations using Flash.
4. Tell a story.
5. Search and evaluate internet sources.
6. Develop an audience.

It will be very hard to complete the exam during the allotted time so I am giving you some assignments now.  I urge you to work hard today.

Your exam will be a website that demonstrates the "web" in 1980, 1995, and 2010. I will give all the details next week.

• Create a folder in your WDrive.  Name it correctly (BSchneiderFinalExam).
• All work will be stored in this folder.
• Research the following questions.  Keep the notes in your folder.
• Who is credited with inventing the internet?  
• How did the internet develop?  Who used it first?
• How many internet enabled devices existed in 1980? 1995? 2010? (you will have to estimate, but you can find this information).
• How many people regularly accessed the internet in 1980? 1995? 2010?
• Think, research, review the following questions.
• How is your family/social life different than a high school student in 1980 or 1995?  Focus on how the internet has changed daily life (for better or worse).
• How is your school/academic life different than a high school student in 1980 or 1995?
• Prepare a very simple Flash animation to display on "the internet" page (see above).  For example, a computer zooming into focus, or a smartphone "buzzing".
• Prepare simple Fireworks images of "The Internet", 1980, 1995, 2010 to display as headings at the top of each page.

Impress Me

This is your final grade for the semester before the exam.

Impress me.

You have one hour to produce something.  Anything.  It could be a blog post, a flash animation, a website, or anything else that is Web1 related.  This should be you best work.  People should look at it and go "cool".

I will put a folder in WebSchneider for you to turn stuff in if you aren't submitting on the web (blogpost, voicethread, etc...).

Who is he?

Yesterday I got a comment via twitter and started an interesting exchange.

Cool.  New followers.

So I spent a little time trying to find out who was this guy?  Twitter is interesting because I have so many colleagues on twitter that I never met (567 followers currently).  We exchange ideas, debate lessons, and support each other.  I have never talked to Jay, yet we exchange information.  He reads this blog (and your blogs?) and now I will read his.

And he has an interesting blog! Here is his school blog (leave him a comment? Get a red dot back?)

So we are going to find out some answers as a google review activity.  Find answers to each of these and post in an entry in your blog.  Each answer should contain a link, image, or video.  All of these answers require some thinking.  You should demonstrate that you can search effectively, process the information you find, select the best sources, and write about what you find in an interesting manner using links.

I guarantee he will be reading your answers.  Much of Moline High may read your answers as well.  Write smart.

1. Mr. Bohnsack teaches at Moline High School in Illinois.  Where is this school?  Find it in google earth.
2. If he had to fly to New York which airport would he likely fly out of?
3. Estimate the total weight of his cattle.  His cattle are Herefords.  You will have to estimate how many cows he has and how much each weighs and do some math.  Show your work.
4. If you go to Moline High School which college team are you most likely to root for?
5. If you lived in Taylor Ridge, Illinois and you wanted to take your wife out to dinner where would you be likely to go?
6. There are two Mr. Bohnsacks at Moline High School.  Are they brothers (this one is hard)?
7. If you were driving from Moline High School and drove west for six hours where would you be likely to stop?  How about south?  East?  Now choose your favorite of the three spots and why.
8. If you live in Moline what colors are your tractors most likely to be? (Hint: a big company is headquartered there).

Answers will be posted on student blogs.

January

I can't believe we made it to January.  For a variety of reasons (October snow, heating issues, etc...) we are two weeks (!!) short of classes.  I have had to let a movie unit and a coding unit go.  I hope to sneak a few items in over the next week.

Our exams will be in two weeks....

Today:
1. HTML review.  We will do this together.  This will be turned in today for a grade.
2.  Play around with MyHeritage.com  and FamilySearch.org . I give you the option to create an account and explore this software.  There is a free account option that asks for your email address.  This is an optional assignment.  I've done this with previous classes and they have loved using it.

• Rate the usability of the MyHeritage site.

3. Check your comments and red dots on your blog.  Any progress?

• What if you got 1 point for each red dot and needed to get to 100pts to pass.  How would your strategy change? 

4. Create an online resume using Vizualize.Me, Google Sites, Re.Vu or Weebly.  Which site works best for your needs? Check out some of these resumes:

• Should you have a traditional resume and an infographic website?  

5. Codecademy.com is getting a lot of press lately.  100,000 people signed up in the first 49 hours.  Create an account and get started.  Again, this is an optional assignment but I think you will like it.  I'm working on my badges too.

• Should coding be a required course?  Should it be a math credit or science credit?

Answer one of the above blog reflective questions based on what you do today.

I hope to have extra credit assignment done shortly.