Fireworks

Today most of Web 1 and Web 2 (Period 4) will start the Fireworks tutorials. This is new for Web1 and review for Web 2.

We only spend a few days on this. Mainly so you stop using MSPaint. Please complete all of the image effects tutorials. Save your work in your WDrive.

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.

Today is a sandbox day. Just play around.

Web 2--Period 7 will work on their presentation for tomorrow for the Trinity Church. The class did and excellent job of designing their website. Prepare your "cheat sheets" for your client. What do they need to know?

Flash

Web 1:

Today you will take your Flash quiz. In the UDrive: Web Schneider is a movie called "FlashQuiz". Please replicate this movie as exactly as you can using Flash. When done, save to the UDrive (bschneiderflash). Hint: there are two layers in the movie.

When you finish your project you will "Export Movie". This converts the .fla file to a .swf file which we can view. It is this movie that you save to the UDrive.

Web 2:

Continue on your Flash activities. Try to have three of the five activities (bouncing ball, rocket ship, flower, race car, slideshow) done today. Save your best examples to the UDrive. Remember to "Export Movie" (bschneiderball or bschneiderflower)

Web 4:

Continue John McCain website replication. Save draft of folder to UDrive today.

Monday

Web 1 and Web 2:

Continue the Flash introduction/review. Everyone should finish the bouncing heart today. Note: to get a borderless shadow you need to delete the stroke on your shadow. Click the outline of the ball and delete it.

Please aim to finish 3-5 tutorials today. Again, this is sandbox time. Just get in and play around with it.

Web 4 will continue the John McCain websites.

Friday

Several students have organized the Day of Silence for today. This year's event is dedicated for a specific purpose. Check out this article and this article about the shooting.

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. Once you are done with moving the balls across the screen you will move on to the Flash tutorials. We will spend a few days in these tutorials. Some of you may have some experience in Flash. Review what you know, then move on to more advanced tutorials.

I advise that you save all of your work in your WDrive. You might use it later.

Web 4:

Today we will attempt to recreate a website. You will recreate the John McCain homepage (not the splash screen that asks you for money, but the main page). Please collaborate with your groups but you will each do all of the coding yourself. You should follow these steps:

1. Look at the page. Check out the code. Get familiar with the different components. What parts of the page will you not be able to execute or copy? I will not require you to add the drop-down menus at the top of the page.
2. Discuss with your group. What tools should you use?
3. Create the backgrounds and logos. I will allow you to copy the image of John McCain on their page--but that is the only thing you can copy and paste.
4. Set up the layout. Discuss with group easiest way.
5. Populate the page with the links, images, and background.
6. You will replace the video on the page with the news video that you created yesterday. You will have to convert the .wmv file in Flash.
7. Save to UDrive when done. (bschneidermccain)

Videos

I have posted several videos to teachertube. There were many excellent examples but I did not have time to upload them all yet. Now the fun begins as we watch how the view counts change. Who will win and get the most views? Check it out here.

Video

Yesterday was the Democratic Primary in Pennsylvania. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote over Barack Obama. Here are two news stories about the contest (you can search for more):

• NY Times
• MTV.com

Today you will produce a 28 second news braoadcast about the primary. This segment must tell the viewer the "who, what, where, why, how" about the event. This will be challenging to do in 28 seconds.

Of course, news can be biased. What headline will you choose? "Clinton Wins!" "Obama Loses!" "Obama closes gap to 10%!" Each headline tells a different story about the same event. This choice will drive your script and the choice of images that you include.

Steps for process:

1. Look at previous examples that students made about the Iowa Caucus.

2. Choose your headline. Write your script. Time the script, remembering that you will need a second or two on each end as a buffer. Make sure you have answered viewers questions (who, what, etc..). Finish your script with something like "This is John Smith for Seymour High School news".

3. Choose your images (free and non-copyrighted) using clip-art, flickr or make your own. Some of you might think "out of the box" for a second and realize we dont need only pictures of Clinton and Obama to tell this story (photos of voting booths, Pennsylvania, etc...). Choose images that match your headline. Import images to moviemaker. Arrange images. Test movie with script.

4. Record script directly to moviemaker or use Audacity. You must use your own voice as the reporter.

5. Edit movie. Save movie file to your UDrive class folder by the end of class on Thursday. I will post best examples to teachertube.

6. Don't waste time searching for pictures. Seriously. Move fast.

Welcome Back

Well, we are back after some time off for all of us. Now the big push through the Spring until graduation is upon us. Please bear with me over the next two days as I tackle the grading of the work you did while I was gone. Yes, I expect it to be ready. I will do blogs and summaries today and website/project grading tomorrow.

Please read back in the blog for your quiz and other assignments if you didn't finish them before vacation.

In the "don't put your eggs in one basket" file I received a letter today that Gibbs College is closing.

Molly Ann Schneider was born early Sunday morning. Everyone is doing well.

Work hard while I am gone. I will be monitoring your work from home for awhile.

Thanks for all of your support the last few months.

Quiz

I am posting the quiz for next week. You should do the quiz when you have completed the bookwork and blog entries. I expect some of you will be working on these quizzes when we return from vacation.

Web 4:

Create a one-page website where you review the sites you have written about in your blog. This page should include:

• Links to the programs. Organize effectively so the page is highly usable.
• An attractive, modern layout
• Title, alternate text, headings, etc...
• No scrolling.
  

Save in Udrive.

Web 2:

Assignment 1: Complete your Crosby High School website. Your site should include.

• A modern layout.
• 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
• Be sure all technical items are correct (alt text, VSpace, titled pages, etc...)
• Save in Udrive
  

Assignment 2: Parts of the Face. Many of you did this in Web 1. Now you will do this in Dreamweaver. There are a TON of great examples in the Udrive. Save in Udrive when done.

Web 1: Your Quiz will be the Parts of the Face. Have Fun! Save in Udrive when done.

Commitment

Today is the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in 1968. This event came at a tumultuous time in our history. In many ways it shaped racial conflict and conversations that we still have today.

Dr. King had travelled to support the two thousand Memphis Sanitation workers who were on strike. The conditions that these men worked in are alarming by today's standards. This strike was a nasty one.

While there he gave his "I've been to the mountaintop" speech. He was killed the next day. I would like you to watch the video with your headphones today. Try not to have chills run up your spine as you think "Did he know he was going to die within 24 hours??"

Dr. King is revered in this country because of his commitment to peace, equality, and justice. He was 39 years old when he died.

Schedule

Today I will be grading evaluations and exams/projects. This is a ton of work so be patient with me. The quieter the room, the faster I can go. Please be sure to completely answer the questions for the evaluations. Check your classmates blogs for examples.

So.....the baby still isn't here yet. So I think the best thing to do is to plow ahead in our books and try to finish as much as we can. I think it is fantastic that you have been working together during this last project so well. You should rely on that help as you try to finish the book over the next few weeks.

Here is the list of work:

Web 1:

Any files you need are in the UDrive-WebSchneider. I won't be sending them to you. I will assign the quizes and extra projects after vacation. If you catch book errors (and there are a few) please note them in your blog for all to check. I note some errors below.

Project 4: Project, Summary. (notes: the (x,y) coordinates for the surf picture may not exactly match what they say in the book because our image size is a little off. Use common sense to fix it)
Project 5: Project, Summary.
Project 6: Project, Summary, Lab 3.

Web 2:

Any files you need are in the UDrive-WebSchneider. I won't be sending them to you. I will assign the quizes and extra projects after vacation. If you catch book errors (and there are a few) please note them in your blog for all to check. I note some errors below.

Project 4: Project, Summary. (notes: the no frames and frames versions of pages are not the same thing!)(notes #2: the flash buttons will not work, ignore them) (notes#3: BE SURE to start a new site!!)

Project 5: Project, Summary.

Project 6: Skip

Project 7: Project, Summary. (notes: you have to turn the layer code marker on by going to Edit:Preferences:Invisible Elements)

Project 8: Project, Summary.

Project 9: Skip

Web 4:

Well, you are finally done with thinkquest. We will take the next week to decompress a bit and review what we have learned. We will discuss this in class, but I will expect daily blog entries until vacation.

New Week

Web 1 and Web 2 (Period 4) exams must be complete by Wednesday.

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.

One note:

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.

Web 4: This is the final day for Thinkquest. Triple-check your work on the thinkquest site. Please do the evaluation when you are done.

Tuesday

OK, its Tuesday and still no baby. Its got to happen soon...

Web 4: Try to get final drafts of your diversity and collaboration pieces in my hands today. I will post your sites to thinkquest on Monday whether I am in school or not. Be certain that you have checked all your sources. Triple check that the site works on thinkquest.

Web 2 and Web 1: We will briefly review noodletools and how to properly cite your information. Remember, if you include ten pictures in a video, you need to cite them.

For all: Here is an audacity tutorial if you are interested in exploring it further.

All of you should read this report from the NY Times about bullying. What can you do to make sure this is a safe school where things like this do not happen?

Thursday

All students will be working on their projects today.

Web 4 students should be exploring the idea of video. A new version of their thinkquest paragraphs should be submitted to me as well.

Web 1 and Web 2 students must answer the following on their blog today:

• What are the 3-5 main points that answer your question?
• Include at least one link to your primary, or best source.

At this point Web 1 and Web 2 students will be locked into their topic. No more switching.

Video

Today Web 1 and Web 2 will review Movie Maker. Short, 30 second movies can be powerful vehicles for your message. Each of these videos has over 3000 views.

Blog Entries

Web 4:

Please evaluate your rough draft using the language from the evaluation criteria. You should focus on between 5-7 of the bulleted points. Please include points that you think you did well on, and points you think you must improve over the next week. Your blog entry should be formatted using bullets (unordered list: UL).

It is important to take time to reflect on your work before we jump ahead for the final draft. Take the time to analyze your work so you can build on your strengths and try to improve your weaknesses.

Web 2 and Web 1:

Please submit a blog entry that answers the following questions:

• Which topic will you choose? Why?
• You have looked at several examples. List 3-5 characteristics of a successful exam.
• What will be your biggest challenge for this exam (research, technical things, etc...)??

Exams

Today we will launch the exams for Web 1 and Web 2.

Both Web 1 and Web 2 have the same exam questions. If you were in my class for Web 1 you will recognize the format and questions. I repeat the questions on purpose. I want to see how you have developed your design skills and techniques.

This is a serious research project. You will need to follow directions and be sure to cite your work correctly.

In conjunction with the project I will be doing a series of short demonstrations of programs we have on your computer. You might decide to incorporate these techniques into your project.

Of course, our baby is still due. So soon I will need to take care of that. Hopefully I can make it through today and fully explain the exam.

Due Dates

Any work for Project 3 (including quiz) will be due by the end of class on Friday. No exceptions!

If you are in Web 1 you should not move on to Project 4. Help your classmates get done.

If you are in Web 2 then you SHOULD move on to Project 4. I will add more notes later but let it be known that the Flash buttons will probably not work in this project.

Web 4? Tick tock tick tock. Monday's rough draft deadline approaches.

Get it done.

Reading

Some interesting articles this weekend in the NY Times. Please be sure to write or comment about one, or all, of these articles in your blog.

The first is about athletic scholarships for college and all the misinformation that is out there. Athletes are continually surprised at how many scholarships are actually out there. I can't tell you how many times I hear of coaches or trainers saying they have the "secrets" for getting scholarships.

A second article is the growing trend of academic scholarships. This was talked about by the coaches in the first article, that you have a MUCH better chance of getting a full ride academic scholarship. MIT just announced that if your family income is under $75,000 per year that they will waive tuition for accepted students. Several other schools have adopted similar programs.

Finally, there is an article about paying students to excel. This article focusses on younger students. Many people object to this idea, that students should receive cash for getting high marks. However, I do see some inconsistencies as we certainly support "paying" students by giving academic scholarships.

And, this one is just for fun. What do you think about texting?

So, what do you think? Be sure to include links to the articles in your blog entry. Web communications is about taking many sources and forming your own message. This is how we practice. Your article should be a few paragraphs long (at least) and should invite more conversation. If people leave comments, then you made a good article.

Monday

Web 1 and Web 2 students should be working on Project 3. If you finish Project 3 please do not move on to project 4 yet. We do several activities (including a big exam) between these projects.

If "done" please work on:
1. Web2 Quiz.
2. Web 1 Quiz. Take your quiz from Project 1 (your class schedule). Code this project again, but use tables to format the page and your schedule.
3. Blog connections. Several of you choose colors on your blog that are hard to read like this or this . Please change this!!