Today's Challenge

Challenge #1: 

Complete today's Google A Day.

• Do you know some tricks for Google Searching?
• Can you start a countdown clock using google search box?
• Can you convert 30ft to meters using google search box?

Challenge #2:

Coding!!

We are going to work on coding.  If you have taken Web Design this will be review.  If not, it will be new.

Please go to Code Avengers site and create an account.  Mr. Oberdick has recommended this site for us.  Some of you may have used Code Academy last year. 

Have your CodeName be your First Name and Last initial.  Remember to use your professional email.

When in the account...

Linking Students to Teachers

1. Click the Menu button in the top left, then Settings
2. Enter the teacher's email address in the Teacher's email (bschneider@seymourschools.org) box
3. Click Save Changes to complete the setup

We will work at our own pace throughout the class.  Start wherever you want.  I suggest you work with your partner so you can solve some of the puzzles together.

Challenge #3:

Complete three additional Fireworks tutorials.

• Be sure to save completed projects in your Fireworks folder.
• Try to work with your partner.

Challenge #4:

Make additional changes to your blog (I realize some of you are blocked at school--do it at home).

• Update the layout.
• Check your clustrmap
• Check Google+ and read/comment on classmates blogs.

Images and Fireworks

Things that should be done:

• Your Blogger blog is created
• You made your first post (typing test)
• Clustrmap on blog
• In Google+ community

Today:

This class we 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.  Create a fireworks folder to save all of your work.  Everything you do should be named, saved, and put in a folder.

This program is a bit outdated.  Sometimes the buttons have moved from where they state in the directions.  Figure it out.

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 in your WDrive.
• Help your classmates.
If you finish please start on the text tutorials. 


**When done create a blog post that describes your learning today.  Be sure to include links to relevant tutorials.

Blogging Platform

Today we will set-up our blogs:

1. Go to your SeymourSchools Google Account.
2. Click the boxes, go to Blogger.
3. Create a blog (we will discuss).  This is a professional blog.
4. Go to settings.  Enable Google+ comments.
5. Make it pretty.  

Assignments/Activity:  
1. Blogging:

• We will discuss digital footprints and blogging code of ethics.
• We will log-in to our blogs and make our first post.  Share the post with the Google+ Class community (I'm not sure how this will work yet...)
• Next, we will leave a comment on a classmates blog, using the proper procedure.  Make the comment in Google+.
• Much of today is us figuring out the Google+ to blogger integration.

2. Next 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.

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

• Communication and Collaboration is our 2nd standard. We use the clustrmap to collect data about how well our message gets out.
• Go to the Get One page.
• Complete the form. Be sure to use the correct web 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. 
• Click Layout
• Click Add a Gadget
• Click "HTML Script"
• Add embed code that you copied.  
• Your clustrmap should appear on your blog.

4. Add some other widgets?  Remember, this is a professional blog.

5. You can also check out meez if you want to add an avatar to your site . You could also try voki.com. What image do you want to portray to the world?  These codes go in the sidebar as an additional HTML script.

Welcome

Welcome!

Things to do:

1.  Establish a school Google account.  Many of you already have one.   If you do not have a SCHOOL google account please follow this procedure:

• Head to Google.com
• Click Sign IN
• Your Username is same as computer log-in PLUS address
• 14JSmith@students.seymourschools.org
• Initial Password is seymourschools
• Immediately update your password to your lunch code
• This is your school/professional google account.  It is not "your" account.  It is owned/managed by Seymour Schools.

2. Fill out this Info Sheet.

3. Please solve a Google A Day.  Use your Google+ profile to log-in.  The site times you.  So move fast.  We will be learning how to search effectively throughout the year. 

4. Introduce yourself to the people around you.

5. Write yourself an email that will be delivered on June 1, 2014.  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 communication is...."

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

7. Read the class syllabus.

8. Create a dropbox account.  Take the Dropbox tour on the site.

9. Create an Evernote account.  Watch some videos about Evernote.

10.  Create a note in Evernote called "passwords".  Put your accounts, usernames, passwords in it.

11. Join the Google+ community "SHS-Web Applications".  I think I have to approve you.

12. Create a soundcloud account.  Follow "Brandt Schneider" and "Seymour High Music".

13. Did you put all your usernames and passwords in the Evernote note?

14. Scroll down in this blog and find work and assignments from previous classes going back 8 years (!!).

Computer Applications Final Exam

Choose ONE of the following tasks for your exam:

Choice One:

You just started a wedding designing business.  You are looking for clients.

"Suzy Jackson" is a 28 year old who is getting married for the first time.  She wants to get married at the beach here in Connecticut.  You want her business.  She has told you she can spend up to $20,000 on her wedding.  There will be 100 guests.

Your exam must include the following:

• A formal business letter written to Suzy outlining the main points of what you hope to create and why she should hire you. 
• A spreadsheet with properly formatted formulas outlining the projected costs of the wedding.  This may involve some research and some creative writing.  You can make stuff up if you aren't sure.
• A sample printable wedding invitation.

Choice Two:

You just started a party business.  You are looking for clients.

"Jimmy Jones" is a 45 year old who wants to have a great super bowl party for 40 of his friends here in Seymour.  It will be a family affair.  There will be about 15-20 kids there.  He wants to spend about $1000.  He has a TV and a big living room but he wants everything else prepared.  This will be a "dry" party.  No alcohol.

Your exam must include the following:

• A formal business letter written to Jimmy outlining the main points of what you hope to create and why he should hire you.  
• A spreadsheet with properly formatted formulas outlining the projected costs of the party.  This may involve some research and some creative writing.  Make sure you have something for the kids to do! You can make stuff up if you aren't sure.
• A sample printable party invitation.

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Exam hints:

• Make stuff up if needed (like addresses).
• Include extra stuff if time (like your business logo?)
• You will save this in your google shared folder.  Create a folder within that folder called "EXAM".  If printer is working we will print this exam out.
• Make sure everything is EXACTLY right.  

Done!!

We're done.

If you are done with your work I thank you!

If you are not done, finish today.

Exam on Monday.

Can you find a scarier picture than this?

This sounds like a party.  Flour, eggs, and firecrackers.  I'm not suggesting any of you try this.

Finishing Up

The marking period will close for this class on Tuesday January 22.  I will not assign any new work on that day.  I've built five "catch-up" days into the schedule so be sure you get all work in.

Your exam will be on Monday January 28.  It will involve some research, writing a formal letter, and creating a spreadsheet.  It is designed to take about 60-70 minutes. Some students will be quicker.

There seems to be some problems with the Google Sites links on blogmeister.  Lets try to figure it out.  I'm copying the links and pasting to make it work, but that isn't fun.  Not sure if this is the "google issue" we have had.

You have two assignments to finish today.

Some quality work from:

• Alicia
• Allison
• Alyssa
• Cassie R
• Christina

______________________________________________________________________________

Design an invitation for the Presidential Inauguration.  I want this invitation to be on regular paper (8.5in x 11in).  It should be traditional but you don't have to exactly mimic the real invitation.  You will print this out when done.  It may look different when printed than it does on your screen.

You have many tools to choose from to do this assignment.

____________________________________________________________________________

Blog:

Please check and answer any comments on your blog.  This is a blog-wrapup assignment.

1. Has your digital writing improved?  How?
2. How many red dots did you get?  Any cool places visit you?
3. What assignments in class helped you learn the most?  Which ones were least successful?
4. Who has the best student blog?  Link to them and leave a compliment comment on their blog.

Portfolio

Please write a blog post about your ePortfolio.  Be sure to include a link to the portfolio.  If you keep the link "private" nobody will be able to see it.

Tell me about the design of the portfolio.  What decisions did you make?

____________________________________________________________________

I will try to get grades out today.  Be sure everything is turned in.

Portfolio

Your final major project is to create a digital portfolio.  I suggest using Google Sites.  You might like Weebly, WikiSpaces, or some other site.

This portfolio should include work from this class (blogs, podcasts, documents, video) as well as other classes work, artwork, sports, clubs, and/or hobbies.

I will not give directions about length, topics, etc... The portfolio should be an accurate depiction of the work you have done.  What do you want to show the world about your academic work?

I hope this is a portfolio that will grow with you over time and you will use it throughout your career.  As we stated many times, the internet is your resume.  What do you want to appear when people search for your name?

You have many choices in setting up your portfolio.  Use google to find some examples that you like.  I like how this school does it.

First draft due Tuesday.
_________________________________________________________________

Some great work by:

• Makayla
• Jeanette
• Cassie R

_________________________________________________________________

I will catch up on missing grades, errors, omissions on Tuesday.

Car

So....my car alarm won't stop going off every two minutes. I took the fuse out for the horn, but the alarm still activates, draining the battery. It has been fun.

I'm taking a personal day to deal with this. Please be sure to finish your work. Some of you still owe me work from December!

Where is Dean?

 Worth watching. Does your social media elevate others? Or tear them down? I see lots of "hater" posts. They get shared and retweeted. Our administrators spend a significant amount of time on twitter and facebook hating. Don't hate. ___________________________________________________________________________

 Each semester we do a Google activity where I use a colleague of mine to focus your searching skills.  In this assignment you must:

• Effectively search for information.
• Analyze that information and formulate an answer.
• Write creatively.  You MUST include links in your answers.  Also consider including images, video, and other cool stuff.
• All your answers will be on your blog.  Be sure to include the questions in your answers and link to this assignment.  Be clear to your readers!!!

Dean Shareski is a well know education expert who travels the world working with teachers.  He has an interesting blog.

Answer at least seven of the questions (I am adding more throughout the day).  Show your work (links, math, etc...):

• Dean lives in Moose Jaw, Canada.  Where would he have to drive to watch Les Mis this weekend? 
• If Mrs Shareski sent Dean to buy cool coffee mugs, where would he go?
• What is the #1 TV show in Canada this season?
• Would you say "hello" or "bon jour" if you saw a friend on the street in Canada? Does it depend where you live in Canada?
• On average, is the daily temperature in Moose Jaw above or below Seymour?  By how much?
• Dean has $10 in Canadian dollars. Can he buy a ticket to Les Mis?
• What is the best golf course in Canada?  If Dean was home and he wanted to play golf, where would he go?
• Dean wants to take his wife to a romantic dinner after seeing Les Mis.  Where does do you think his wife wants to go?

Open, Deep, Interesting

Before you start today: this is simply awesome work.

________________________________________________________________________

We will begin working on projects that require you to choose the tool to present.  We have spent time on the following tools (amongst others..):

• Google Docs
• Documents
• Spreadsheets
• Presentation
• Drawings
• Video
• Evernote
• Garageband/Podcasts
• Blogging
• Java/HTML
• Meograph
• Google Search Stories
• iMotion HD
• WikipediaVoki

Hopefully you learned a bit about each of these.  You learned when and why you would use a specific tool.  Also, I hope you became more efficient in your work flow.

_______________________________________________________________________

An ODI question is open, deep, and interesting.  There is no one answer to the question.  I want you to present your answer in an interesting way using some of the above tools.  Have fun, be creative.

Each of these questions requires some research, some thinking, and some creative ideas for presentation.  You might write me a blog post, a memo, make a stop action movie, a podcast, or spreadsheet.  Or a combination.

You can print it out or display on your blog.  If you need alternative ways to present, ask me.

This will be due at the end of class on Wednesday.  I will assign more work on Monday.

Choose one question to answer:

• If dinosaurs were alive which one would be tastiest?
• How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?
• Why do earthquakes STOP?
• How do Chinese language writers type?  They can't use our QWERTY keyboard, can they?
• Who has the best nickname ever?

Snow Fall

Today we will read the Snow Fall.  Everyone is talking about this piece in the NY Times.  It is an amazing blend of video, text, graphics, and audio.  You should read it with your headphones on.

That's right, a newspaper piece you read with your headphones on.

This is a "long read".  Take the time.  It is worth it.  I realize that some of you are slower readers and this might end up being homework.

Your test grade is a blog entry.  We have not had a test yet this marking period.  Your question: "How will writing change in the digital age?".  Be sure to reference this Snow Fall text.

Please think about your answer.  Plan it out.  Include links.

_______________________________________________________________________

Many of you know I grew up in Newtown and have many connections to Sandy Hook School.  This week has been challenging.  I appreciate the support of my colleagues and from you.

Many students have asked "what can we do?".

I think above all we must ensure that no student lives in isolation.  Know your neighbor.  Make a new friend today on the bus or in the cafeteria.  We can do more.

I favor the 26 acts of kindness campaign that is growing.  Check it out.

Project is done.

We will hopefully get the presentations done today.

Here is the form we will use to evaluate the presentations.  

___________________________________________________

Please evaluate your project on your blog.  How did you do?  What did you learn?

Please score each aspect of the project:

Presentation: 40pts
Memo: 30pts
Spreadsheet: 20pts
Drawing/Blogging: 10pts

And then add those numbers up for me for your total score.

Connect your score to items we discussed or that you worked on.  Be sure to fully explain your thoughts to your readers.  For example:

"After Mr. Schneider explained creative commons I learned that the images on Google Drive are all creative commons so I inserted those in my presentation"

"The first draft of my memo had many spacing issues.  After looking at the drafts of my classmates I adjusted the margins"

Presentations

Here is the form we will use to evaluate the presentations.  Each student will have an iPad to score their classmates work.  We will then average the 20 or so scores to get your grade.

We will present in the music room on that TV on Monday.  You can use the iPad or laptop.  Be sure to practice!  The presentation score is 40% of your project grade.  30% for memo, 20% for spreadsheet, 10% for drawing and blogging.

I will need the printed part of your project as well on Monday.  You can print it out at the beginning of class in case you do some work over the weekend.  Your packet should have memo-spreadsheet-drawing in order.  Your packet must include a drawing (not done in marker...) even if you have a 3d version for your presentation.

Expectations for groups with 3-4 people will obviously have higher expectations of detail than someone flying solo.

Be sure to improve your rough drafts.  Connect the money you are spending to student learning.

Project Rough Drafts

On your memos please use this heading:

To: Mr. Schneider
From: Suzy Jones, David Smith, Johnny Rogers
Re: Computer Lab
Date: December 11, 2012

Recommendation:
I recommend that Seymour High School.....

Background:
All parties agree that....

etc......

________________________________________________________________

Please turn in by end of class your rough draft versions of your memo, spreadsheet and drawings.

We will do our presentations next Monday.

________________________________________________________________

Put in your headphones.  I think this is worth the ten minutes.

Project Work

Podcast #4 is due today.

_____________________________________________________________________

Imagine you are waiting to present your work and the person before you hits it out of the park.  Great ideas, polished presentation, and a 3D video design of the room.  Really think about how you will present your project.  Will it look like a 2012 project?  Or like you could have made it in 1996?

I want a rough draft of your project in my hands on Tuesday.  I'm going to move final presentations to the following week.  I want this to be really good.

_____________________________________________________________________

Can you imagine if you were in high school 71 years ago today?  I find it hard to imagine.  We've seen the movies, but the mix of hope, fear, and determination must have been electric.  Those high schoolers went through so much.  They still do.

Lets take a moment and reflect on the sacrifices of the past and present.

____________________________________________________________________

2nd marking period graded activities:

• Resume
• Testing Blog, Meograph Blog
• App Review Blog
• SchneiderCorp Spreadsheet
• Schedule Presentation
• Podcast #4
• Project

When we finish the project there will be basically three more weeks of class.  Be sure these grades are done.

Podcast #4 and Project Notes

1. Podcast #4 will be due Friday December 7.  I warned you last week to prepare a script.

2. When preparing your presentation you have several choices for tools.

• Google Presentations
• Prezi
• Keynote (on iPad)
• Haiku Deck (on iPad)

Be sure to choose the best tool for you.  I expect we will present in the music room as there is no screen in here.  You can present from the iPad or laptop.

3. As of today I am planning on having you present on Thursday December 13.  

4. If you feel a bit behind you might have some homework.  Perhaps you need to put your phone away during class.  This project is the major assessment for the 2nd marking period.

5. Thanks to LaurenK question I learned how to do this today.  This would be a very neat tool to make your spreadsheets more relevant.  

Computer Lab Design Project

Imagine you cleared this room out.  No chairs, no computers, no nothing.

Imagine I gave you $50,000 to outfit a new computer lab.  What would you design?  I want you to prepare a proposal.

Your lab might look like a Starbucks with a juice machine, couches and a few tables.  It might have a bunch of round tables for people to collaborate.  Your lab might have PCs, iMacs, Laptops, or iPads.  Will it have a TV or a Smartboard?  Should there be a rug?  Posters?  Ergonomic furniture?

What are some of my parameters for the computer lab?

• There should be seating for 25.
• You must budget for everything.  This includes chairs, wifi hubs, printers, etc... You must budget for software.
• This is a "general purpose" lab for a high school.

What must you prepare?

• A spreadsheet outlining how you will spend the money.
• One page memo.  Memo must start with the words "I recommend that...."
• A slideshow presentation to the class.  You will present this to class.
• Drawings or video of proposed lab.
• You must turn in a paper copy of your proposal as well as post all work on your blog.

What will I look for?

• That you contribute to discussions and documents.
• Thoughtful design and research.  Will the lab be effective? You should show evidence of research ("I emailed Microsoft", "I surveyed the English department")
• Accuracy and proper use of tools (google docs, spreadsheet formulas, etc...).  
• Presentation is consistently designed.  For example, your fonts on the spreadsheet match the fonts on your memo.

You can work in groups of 1-4 on this project.  Some of you will enjoy working and collaborating.  Some of you will work better by yourself.  

I will set a due date soon, but I expect this will be due in two weeks.

I will nitpick this project like crazy.  Be ready.

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet practice:

Challenge #13 (extra):
Can you attach a chart to the Challenge #13 SchneiderCorp spreadsheet that shows me how much farm equipment stuff we sold?

Challenge #15:
Clean up your google a day spreadsheet.  What is the average time it took you to solve the puzzle?  Yes there is a formula for time.  Thats todays puzzle, I suppose.  Can you find and apply this formula to get an average?  I don't have an answer yet, but I'm sure its really simple.

Challenge #16:
Create a Google Presentation of your class schedule.  A few rules:

1. You can only have 10 slides.  Not 9, not 11, but 10.
2. You must spend some time reading about Presentation Zen.  Really check out some of the tips.  I will not accept poorly designed slides.
3. You can only use YOUR photos or drawings OR photos you find using a CC search.  Plagiarism applies to photos as well as text.  If you search within Google Docs (click insert image) those images will be CC images.

Name the presentation "Schedule" and save in your shared folder.

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Podcast #4 is due Friday December 7.  Start working on your script in Evernote.  I'll bring the iPads next time.

Some of you gave me random podcasts last time.  Please ensure your podcasts all go off the same theme.

______________________________________________________________________

Edit your blog.  Check for comments.

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I'm going to unload a project next class so I want to use this class to get everyone caught up.  Some of you may finish early.