Easy Day

Why is this so good? It tells a STORY. Clearly, succinctly, awesome. Today is a crazy day and I probably won't be in class.  You might be in class either....

Please do the following today:

1. Write a blog post about your rockets website if you didn't already.  I really saw some great website work in the UDrive.  Please tell me in a blog post who you think has the best website!  Leave a comment for them.
2. Be nice.  Stay quiet.
3. Finish any missing work.
4. Check out my favorites.  Which ones do you like?  Lets start a discussion on your blog.

Rockets!

 We had some fun this weekend doing physics experiments. We shot rockets.

 Can you make a website that teaches kids how to shoot rockets?

Think about all the tools you now have to use: HTML, CSS, Java, Voki, Fireworks, Flash, video, ShowMe, Google, YouTube, your blog.  How will you use these tools to tell your story?  How will you tell your story so a four year old can shoot rockets safely and have fun (with the help of a parent...)?

Scroll back through this website to remember some of the tools we have used.  I often forget about tools.

Some ideas:
1. Embed a video.  Maybe you create one.  You can use my video.
2. Use a Voki for instructions (Step 1, Step 2, etc...).  Kids love clicking on a voki.
3. Use Flash to create a "rocket ship" in your title.
4. Use CSS and table to create a cool layout for your webpage.
5. Use a prezi or google presentation to layout instructions.  Or maybe put them in a Flash movie.

Some essentials:
1. Make your code spotless, clean, and efficient.
2. Save everything in a folder.  Copy to UDrive when done.
3. Write a blog post about the project.  Embed a video in the post and talk about why you choose the tools you did.
4. Really try to keep your design on the screen, no scrolling.  Would multiple pages be better?

Coding and Videos

Today and Friday we will split the class.  We will be doing two activities.

• Coding.  I want to push ahead on the Codecademy work.  I want each student to add at least 30 points to their total.  Focus on the Web/HTML classes.  Before we start please show me how many points you have so I can put a note in my book. 
• iMovie.  We will spend some time using iMovie and creating movie trailers. iMovie has templates set-up.  This is sandbox time.  You must save the movie to "camera roll" when done.  Be sure to title tit and add your names to the credits.  

Olympics

NBC has a cool thing where you can vote on your top Olympic moment.

I'd like you to spend some time watching the moments today.

Then I'd like you to create an HTML website that highlights your #1 moment.  You should:

1. Create a modern design to the website.  Be sure to include a title.  Don't have your website make some of these mistakes.
2. Include cool graphics for a Header.
3. Embed the video.  You can grab the embed code off YouTube.
4. Save everything to a folder (example: bschneiderOlympics).  Save to Udrive.

Be creative!  Include Flash, Fireworks and any CSS or HTML you picked up doing codecademy.

These websites should be looking more modern each time you build them.  Spend some time building clean code.

I love this stuff.  People love the Olympics because of the total focus and guts shown by the athletes.  Can your website celebrate that?  I remember watching almost all of these.  Ali lighting the torch makes me cry each time I see it.  I love Kerri Strug's vault.  Watch her face on the slo-mo.  Michael Johnson's 200m was the greatest race ever.  I don't know which one I would pick!

End the day with a blog post writing why you choose your clip.  Be sure to embed code in blog post and include links.

Thursday

 Nice job. Perhaps some of you can go back and revise your animations?

 Today:

 1. Everyone writes a blog post about red dots. Where were you last month, how many do you have today? Any "exotic" dots from far away places?

2. Many of you will be in catch-up mode.  Choose an assignment you need to make up and submit (or improve!).  Many of you did not finish the Bohnsack blog post, the Flash replication, or part of this last project.  I'm giving you a chance!

3. I will give some of you a fun project to do with the new iPads.

If there is a comment on your blog, please respond!  I will spend much of today making comments and grading your blogs.

Memorial Day

Please complete the self-assessment on your blog today.  I realize there are some stragglers that need to finish desk work.  iPads are away.  If you still need them you will need to see me.

1.  Please write an introductory paragraph.  Introduce the project to your readers.
2.  For each task you completed (including blog posts) please write a separate paragraph.  Tell us what you did, how many points you should earn, and why.  Click here for possible points.
3.  Conclude with a summary paragraph.  How many total points did you earn?

When done please start the Memorial Day project

Your assignment is to make a poster about Memorial Day.

More information on Memorial Day can be found here: Wikipedia entry Be sure you understand the purpose of Memorial Day before tackling this assignment.

Your assignment is to design an image that could be posted in schools. You will use Fireworks and choose the appropriate tool or tools for your image.

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.

3. You must be able to defend your choice of a tool in your blog post.
4. You must include "Memorial Day" somewhere in your image. You might decide to include additional text (date, slogan, etc..).
5. You must finish by the end of the period on Monday 5/21.
6. Save in Udrive when done (bschneider) as a .jpg file. All students will save in the same folder so be sure you name it correctly in the WDrive BEFORE you copy it to the UDrive. Be sure to test your work in the UDrive.

Now, lets recognize that there are several functions this week (music trip, honors breakfast, etc...). Plan your work accordingly so things get done. I anticipate adding a Flash component to this assignment on Thursday.

Good luck!

Grading

I will begin grading your projects today.  This will be a bit cumbersome as I need to find them all.  Please be sure you have emailed me your book, shared with me your game, posted your showme on our Seymour High page, put your Flash in the Udrive, and/or finished your coding.

All 9th-11th graders need to fill out this form today.

Click here to see the eBooks as they are published.  You need to view books from an iPad.  Give link to your friends.

Project

Here is your project.  Good luck.  Work hard.

iPad reviews

You must have the Flash replication project done and the two coding courses done to do todays assignment.

I would also like you to help a classmate who may be struggling with the Java work if they need it.

Today we will work on doing some iPad reviews.  There is some issues with wifi connectivity in the computer lab so I may send you away.

Please write a review of three iPad apps on your blog.  This review must include:

• Link to iTunes page for the app.
• Educational uses for the app.
• How easy was it to use and any other review.

Some of the iPads dont have all the apps.  Apps to choose from:

• Six Strings
• Morris Lessmore
• DustBuster
• My Story or Scribble Press
• Noteshelf (or any other note program)
• Skitch
• Guardian Eyewitness
• Molecules

You can write your reviews right on the iPad if you choose (and we have internet connection).

If you complete the iPad reviews you should head back to codeacademy and work on a new course.

Coding

We will finish up the initial part of codecademy today.  The javascript is hard!  Keep using the help section and the hints.  It helps to go back and redo some sections to remember the code.  Many of you noticed how easy the HTML section is.  Hopefully the javascript will be easy soon.

I will grade you today:

4 = HTML and Javascript courses finished

3 = One course finished, have over 50 pts.

2 = No course finished but over 40 pts

1 = under 40 pts

0 = under 20 pts

If you finish up you can:

• Start a new course.
• Work on your blog.
• Do some Flash or Fireworks tutorials.

Codecademy

Please finish the Flash Replication project first.

Today will start working on learning Java Script using the website Codecademy.  Java Script is a modern code that runs a lot of technology including websites, computers, and apps.  This is how you will learn how to program your robot.  It is important to learn.

I'll be doing it along with you!  I've forgotten Java Script and I think its time to relearn using this new site. We can help each other.

I would like you to create an account on the site.  This way we can keep track of your progress.

Some of you will really get into this.  After we get the basics down we will have a project option to develop computer programs and apps.

5 rules for social media

5 rules for social media:

License Some rights reserved by Mister Norris

Flash Replication Project

Create/name a folder. Call it first initial last name flash (bschneiderFlash)

• Set up a basic HTML page.  Name it "home".  Title it "Awesome Flash Animations".
• Be sure all your items are in the same folder.
• Embed a shiny headline into the webpage.  When you create the movie be sure the canvas is the correct size (long and thin)
• Center it
• Use the <embed src="shiny text.swf" align=center> command to embed the movie title.  Note that you are embedding the Movie, not the Flash file.
• Create two Flash Animations
• Stick Figure I give you direction for this.
• Flowers I don't give you directions for this.  Solve the puzzle!
• Put the two animations in a 1 row table. You may need to play with the height/width of the movies.
• <Table align="center" border="1">
• <TR>
• <TD><embed src="stick.swf"></TD>
• <TD><embed src="flower.swf"></TD>
• </TR>

All of the tutorials (text, stick, flower) I encourage you to be creative.  Feel free to stick to the script, but once you "get it" I would like to see you take it to the next level.

Copy your folder to the UDrive.

Who is he?

Recently 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 (583 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.

Growing You Blog Audience

Step One

Your task is to create an audience for your blog.  How will you do this?  The best way is to comment on other people's blogs.  Creating an audience for your work is HARD.  It took me a long time to build even my meager audience.

Using the first page of blogmeister you should search for other blogs.  This is not an easy process as that search engine does not recognize new blogs.  One way to do it is to click on Featured Articles.  Or you can search by state, country, or age group.

Perhaps start here -- Leave a comment on a 1st graders blog,or here.  Be sure to log in first if on blogmeister and leave SUPER nice and SUPER polite short entries for the kids.

When you leave a comment be sure it extends the conversation about the blog post.  Don't spam them ("Hey, check out my blog!" or "If you click this link you can read my new eBook!").  But be sure the information boxes are filled out correctly (first name, last initial: leave email blank; your blog address).

Now, when they return to your blog do you have interesting content?  Will you have something for them to read?

How will we measure/grade this?  Write a blog post RIGHT NOW where you list:

• How many countries have visited your blog.
• How many red dots do you have.
• How many comments from non-SHS people.

Then we measure the growth.  Good luck.

Step Two

Each of you should have a blog post measuring the reach of your blog.  Some of you began your campaign to grow your audience by commenting on blogs.  We will continue this now.

Click here to go to student blogs.

We discussed the difference between spam comments and valuable comments.  We discussed the proper way to format your comment (no email, first name last initial, blog address).  We discussed the value of responding to comments.  We recognized how hard it is to build an audience.

Building an audience is one of the most important skills we will work on.  Nearly every product, service, and idea is sold via the web now.  You MUST know how to get your work out there to survive and eat.  This blog is practice for that.

I'm also hoping to raise the level of work on your google profile.  For many of you your twitter feed is your #1 result on google.  For many of you this is NOT good.  Seriously.  And remember, swearing is bad.

Today you will do three things:
1. Write blog posts to increase the quality of your blog (see topics below).  You need posts that people will link to, email their friends, post on twitter.  We want people to be saying "Read this!".
2. Comment, comment, comment.  Using blogmeister or google you will find blogs to comment on.  You will leave comments everywhere.  You will make the comments interesting and they will extend the conversation.  
3. If you find an interesting blog post you will write about and link back to the original blog.  This is "polite blogging".  This is how traffic gets generated.

Suggested blog posts (remember to include links, a cool title, embed video/images if needed).  Choose one or all:
1. If you are a football player: Explain when you would punt the ball and when you "go for it" so anyone can understand it.
2. If you are a cheerleader: Is cheerleading becoming more dangerous?  Describe how cheerleading has changed over time.  Where is the line between OK and too dangerous?
3. If you are a musician:  How have headphones and iPods changed music?
4. If you are an artist/photographer: How has the internet changed how we view art?  Does the internet help or hurt art?
5. If you eat: What should we eat?  Should we be allowed to eat whatever we want?  What if we know what we eat is slowly killing us?
6. If you breath: Whats in the air that you breath?  Is it safe to breath?

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).