Week of Jan 17th–Jan 21st

Highlights for the week: 

  • Begin   

Monday 17th:  Holiday!

Tuesday 18th:

- Review

  1. Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Turn-in G-Apps permission forms.  Starting this week MISSING FORMS will lead to Parent Contact and then lunch detention and finally ISS unless there’s a green highlight by your name in the Assignments Track Sheet (which means you already have an account).   It is critical for this class that you get this form turned in!
  3. View the student reflection comments from Week 2
  4. View grades from 1st 2 weeks (logon here)
  5. Check the Assignments Track Sheet

- New

  1. View student screencast of how to create a Pivot monster
  2. How to save screencaptures from OneNote to a Pictures Folder in your S-drive
  3. How to use Lookup Function in OneNote to find definitions (and other resources like web searches and Thesauri)
  4. How to create a photo collage using Photovisi.  View the BMS Homepage Collage.

- Do 

  1. If you don’t have one already, create a new folder called pictures in your S-drive
  2. Save the photos from your OneNote Screencaptures page to your pictures folder
  3. Create a photovisi collage using the photos you were supposed to collect.  Here is the original assignment: 
    1. Add 2 screencaptures from each of the following to the Screencaptures page
  4. Download your collage and save it to your S-drive pictures folder as Practice Collage
  5. Add a new page to your OneNote ‘My Screencaptures and Drawings’ file and name the page for a topic you choose (like sports, food, fun, travel, pets, games, or special topics like space, the oceans, Google Earth locations, etc).
  6. Begin collecting screencaptures on your topic which we will use to design another photovisi collage

- Through?

  1. View Happy Birthday Message
  2. Retake the Power Words Vocabulary Quiz to raise your grade if you like
  3. View the 2010 Year in Space slideshow

Wednesday 19th:

- Review

  1. Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Turn-in G-Apps permission forms.  Starting this week MISSING FORMS will lead to Parent Contact and then lunch detention and finally ISS unless there’s a green highlight by your name in the Assignments Track Sheet (which means you already have an account).   It is critical for this class that you get this form turned in!
  3. Check the Assignments Track Sheet

- New

  1. View the Incredible Music Machine and discuss web content validity
  2. View Word Lens Application demo clip
  3. View some Photovisi background examples

- Do 

  1. Test logon to your Google Apps account (using the same logon information you use when you start your computer at school)
  2. Open your S-drive pictures folder and make 2 new folders inside of it named ‘backgrounds’ and ‘collages’
  3. Open the Paint application and create a few backgrounds to use with Photovisi.  Save your backgrounds to your S-drive backgrounds folder.  Experiment with screencaptures as backgrounds (for example, try a fireworks screencapture as a background)
  4. Try SumoPaint to create additional backgrounds
  5. Upload your backgrounds to photovisi and upload some pictures from your pictures folder to see how your backgrounds look
  6. Save your new practice collages to your S-drive collages folder

- Through?

  1. View this Animal Tracks Slideshow from Jan10-17
  2. Retake the Power Words Vocabulary Quiz to raise your grade if you like

Thursday 20th:

- Review

  1. Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Turn-in G-Apps permission forms.  Starting today MISSING FORMS will lead to Parent Contact and then lunch detention and finally ISS unless there’s a green highlight by your name in the Assignments Track Sheet (which means you already have an account).   It is critical for this class that you get this form turned in!
  3. Check the Assignments Track Sheet

- New

  1. View Google Demo Slam Epic Docs
  2. View Chrome Speed Test
  3. Demo We Feel Fine (Help)

- Do 

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account
  2. Create a folder in Docs named ‘103’ and share it with me:  bmercer@bastrop.isd.tenet.edu  (Help)
  3. Upload Thanks from your S-drive to the ‘103’ folder (so you will be able to share it!) (Help)
  4. Screencast at least one (more is optional) cool effect or technique you learned with sumopaint so we can learn from you!  Name your screencast ‘sc2 sumo’ and upload it to your G-Docs/103 folder
  5. Complete 3 (or more) Photovisi collages and download them to your S-drive/pictures/collages folder
  6. Create one final (graded) collage which includes your 3 (or more) collages from step 4 and name it ‘My Collages’.  Here’s an example: Photo Collage Demo
  7. Upload your ‘My Collages’ file to your 103 folder in G-Docs (or save it to your S-drive/pictures/collages folder if you can’t access your Google Account)

- Through?

  1. Continue experimenting with sumopaint.  Upload your coolest creations to your G-Docs/103 folder.
  2. View the Census of Marine Life Slideshow

Friday 21st:

- Review

  1. Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Turn-in G-Apps permission forms.  MISSING FORMS will lead to Parent Contact and then lunch detention and finally ISS unless there’s a green highlight by your name in the Assignments Track Sheet (which means you already have an account).   It is critical for this class that you get this form turned in!
  3. Check the Assignments Track Sheet

- New

  1. View student work example screenshots
  2. The making of Chrome Speed Test
  3. Excerpt From RSAnimate Drive

- Do 

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account
  2. View ‘This Semester at a Glance Prezi’ to give you some ideas for the weekly reflection form
  3. Complete the Reflections for the Week Form
  4. Retake the Power Words Vocabulary Quiz to raise your grade if you like (missing quiz grades for 2nd– Chynna, 5th- Brian, Nick, 6th- Chris, 7th- Kylie, Michaela, Payton)
  5. Complete 3 (or more) Photovisi collages and download them to your S-drive/pictures/collages folder
  6. Create one final (graded) collage which includes your 3 (or more) collages from step 3 and name it ‘My Collages’.  Here’s an example: Photo Collage Demo
  7. Upload your ‘My Collages’ file to your 103 folder in G-Docs (or save it to your S-drive/pictures/collages folder if you can’t access your Google Account)  (Help)
  8. Complete your Screencast of at least one (more is optional) cool effect or technique you learned with sumopaint so we can learn from you!  Name your screencast ‘sc2 sumo’ and upload it to your G-Docs/103 folder

- Through?

  1. Continue experimenting with sumopaint
  2. Play 3D Chess

Additional Help and Information:

  1. YouTube How-to Videos for this class
  2. G-Apps How2 Videos
  3. Prezis
  4. TED talks (browse TED talks list)
at

Week of Jan 10th–Jan 14th

Highlights for the week: 

  •    

Monday 10th:

- Review

  1. Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Student G-Apps forms turned in for extra credit
  3. Review Reflections from last week
  4. Comments on politeness

- New

  1. Why do you need to turn in your Google Apps permission form?  View Google Overview intro clip
  2. Why do you need collaborative documents?  TitanPad Demo (NOTE: these pads are permanent so add wisely!) – choose the pad which matches your card do each of the following
    • add a link  to 308 Today
    • add a link to the weather forecast for the next couple of days (dress warmly!)
    • add a link to a picture of a winter scene (lots of ice and snow)
    • add a link  to the BMS Webpage
    • add some comments about what you noticed in the Reflections from last week

        Use these TitanPads: (Links have been deactivated)

  • TitanPad Hearts
  • TitanPad Spades
  • TitanPad Diamonds
  • TitanPad Clubs

- Do 

  1. View the Responsible Use Policy (RUP) Prezi.  You may view the screencast of the RUP Prezi if that helps you (it’s also in the J-drive screencasts folder for today).
  2. Complete the RUP form by filling in the questions as you view the Prezi. This is a graded, paired assignment and only 2 names per form will receive credit for completing it!  The easiest way to complete it is to view the RUP presentation on one computer and this form on the other.  You may work alone if you choose to, but you might find it easier to complete the form if you work with a partner!
  3. Check the assignments track sheet and complete anything in yellow or red! 

- Through?

  1. View the New Year’s Day celebrations around the world slideshow
  2. Test this online Chess link.  (Can you open it?  Does it work correctly?)

Tuesday 11th: 

- Review

  1. Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Student G-Apps forms turned in for extra credit
  3. Questions or comments from yesterday
  4. How to lock your workstation (in case you need to leave it).  Lock your workstation until we have finished watching the next 3 video clips (highlighted in green below) as a class.
  5. How to make your Thanks screencast (view student Inspiration example)

- New

  1. Why do you need to turn in your Google Apps permission form?  View Google Docs intro clip
  2. About Google Search Story… view a way to create videos of your searches on YouTube

- Do 

  1. Make a screencast called ‘how to get to J-drive screencasts’: Screencast the process of how to get to the screencasts for the 4th 6 weeks.  Create a folder called ‘Help’ in your S-drive and save it in your S-drive/Help folder
  2. Complete RUP assignment (continuing where you left off yesterday).  Here are the 2 links you need:  1) RUP Prezi 2) RUP Form.  If you need it, you can listen to me read the RUP slides in the J-drive screencasts folder.
  3. Check the Assignments Track Sheet, complete anything in yellow or red and if you have completed an assignment and it isn’t marked that way on the Track Sheet, please let me know so I can update it! 
  4. Complete your Thanks assignment and the Screencast of how you made it.  I’ll be checking your S-drives today for completed assignments.

- Through?

  1. Create a TitanPad with your lunch code whenever you need to chat with me (for example, when you have a question or need a link)
  2. Check out last week’s Animal Tracks Slideshow
  3. Test this online Chess link.  (Can you open it?  Does it work correctly?)

Wednesday 12th:

- Review

  1. Agenda Check today - Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Student G-Apps forms turned in for extra credit
  3. Questions or comments from yesterday

- New

  1. Why do you need to turn in your Google Apps permission form?  View Google Spreadsheets intro clip
  2. Demo: The Wilderness Downtown (Chrome Browser only)
  3. Demo: Chrome experiment 1 and experiment 2
  4. Recommend sites like these?  Use this link
  5. Introduce Study Stack site and functions
  6. Introduce Google Translate

- Do 

  1. Practice using this Study Stack on Power Words for a quiz on Friday
  2. Open the Power Words Translations file in your S-drive and follow the directions in the file.
  3. Create a translations table using Google Translate. 
  4. Once you have completed it, publish your table as a PDF file into your S-drive

- Through?

  1. Complete RUP assignment (continuing where you left off yesterday).  Here are the 2 links you need:  1) RUP Prezi 2) RUP Form.  If you need it, you can listen to me read the RUP slides in the J-drive screencasts folder.
  2. View these frosty photos

Thursday 13th:

- Review

  1. Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Student G-Apps forms turned in for extra credit
  3. Starting next week MISSING FORMS will lead to Parent Contact and then ISS unless there’s a green highlight by your name in the Assignments Track Sheet (which means you already have an account).   It is critical for this class that you get this form turned in!
  4. Please check the Assignments Track Sheet regularly!

- New

  1. Why do you need to turn in your Google Apps permission form?  View Google Presentations intro clip
  2. Watch Demo Slam on Google Translate
  3. Demonstrate Screencaptures  and Drawings in OneNote

- Do 

  1. Complete Power Words Translation Table
  2. Open ‘My Screencapture and Drawings’ file in your s-drive
  3. Add 2 screencaptures from each of the following to the Screencaptures page

- Through?

  1. Review this Study Stack on Power Words for a quiz tomorrow

Friday 14th:  Have a great 3 Day weekend and see you all Tuesday!

- Review

  1. Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Student G-Apps forms turned in for extra credit
  3. Starting next week MISSING FORMS will lead to Parent Contact and then ISS unless there’s a green highlight by your name in the Assignments Track Sheet (which means you already have an account).   It is critical for this class that you get this form turned in!
  4. Please check the Assignments Track Sheet regularly!

- New

  1. Why do you need to turn in your Google Apps permission form?  View Google Forms intro clip
  2. How to publish a OneNote page as a PDF file so everyone can view it

- Do 

  1. Take the Power Words Vocabulary Quiz.  You may retake this quiz to raise your score, but not on the same day (only the first quiz score per day will count)
  2. View ‘This Semester at a Glance Prezi’ to give you some ideas for the weekly reflection form
  3. Watch this 8 minute TED talk on What adults can learn from kids
  4. Complete the Reflections for the Week Form

- Through?

  1. Complete any missing assignments (check the Assignments Track Sheet) from this week (Thanks activity, Thanks screencast, RUP questions form, Power Words Translations)
  2. View ‘What is a Browser?’ help clip in the J-drive screencasts folder (or on YouTube at home)
  3. View this slideshow on recent mudslides in Brazil
  4. Chat with these TitanPads

Additional Information:

  1. YouTube How-to Videos for this class
  2. Prezis
  3. TED talks (browse TED talks list)
at

Week of Jan 3rd–Jan 7th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Welcome to the Spring Semester of 2011!

Monday 3rd: Holiday!

Tuesday 4th: Holiday!

Wednesday 5th: 

- Review

  1. There are always problems with technology and usually several ways to get around the problems… please be patient while we sort things out!

- New

  1. Test your logon to your laptop
  2. Add this blog to your 1) Favorites, or 2) bookmarks bar or 3) create a shortcut to it on your desktop or 4) a shortcut in your S-drive so you can get to it again easily.  Does anyone know how to do all 4?  Why is the green highlight the best option?
  3. Discuss the weekly and daily sections of the blog
  4. Discuss links in the top, right 5 sections
  5. Test access to Google Docs
  6. Hand out permission forms for those who do not have access
  7. Write the yellow highlights below in your agenda for today

- Do 

  1. Think of someone who has had a very positive effect on your life or who has helped you when you needed it… maybe a relative, friend, teacher, etc.
  2. Create a thank you for that person which includes what they’ve done for you and how that has helped you or made you feel good about yourself.  Decorate it to make it look nice (for example, add colors, clip-art, photos, etc.).  Use any computer programs that you’re familiar with to create your thank you (like Word, Powerpoint, Paint, etc.)
  3. Save your work to your S-drive folder as Thanks
  4. Time permitting, we will explore this screencasting program and practice using it.

- Through?

  1. View The Year in Pictures slideshow
  2. Explore the other links at 308 Today

Thursday 6th:

- Review

  1. Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Questions or comments from yesterday
  3. Logon problems list? 

- New

  1. Watch a student screencast from last semester
  2. View screencast video tutorial.
  3. Introduce Screencast-o-matic.
  4. Record the first rule
  5. Use 800x600 as your recording size
  6. Practice pausing, restarting, and truncating
  7. Discuss how to save and upload screencasts
  8. Record all five class rules and save your recording to your S-drive as SC Rules

- Do 

  1. Complete the Thanks activity
  2. Record a screencast of how you made your Thanks.  Imagine you are teaching someone how to create the same effects you used so I can put the videos together in a software demonstration for us all to view later.
  3. Your recording should be about 2 min.
  4. Save your screencast in your S-drive folder as SC1 (software)  .  For example, if you used paint, it would be named SC1 Paint or if you used PowerPoint, it would be SC1 PowerPoint

- Through?

  1. View The Year in Pictures slideshow

Friday 7th:

- Review

  1. Agendas out and copy yellow
  2. Questions or comments from yesterday
  3. All students who could not logon have had their passwords reset

- New

  1. G-Apps form handed out – the sooner you turn it in, the more extra credit you receive! (Mon 10pts, Tues 9pts, etc.)
  2. Discuss how grading works
  3. Test Google Voice (512-703-0308): If you call (rather than text), please speak slowly and clearly for voice-to-text translation!  Call or text these 2 sentences “Hello Mr. Mercer, this is ____ from your ___ period class.  One of the best things that happened to me this week was____”. 
  4. Introduce Online-Stopwatch

- Do 

  1. Complete Reflections Form from this week (we will do this on this last day of every week, but you can use this form anytime you think of something to add!)
  2. Play one online chess game (or more if you like it) to see if you would like to come to the online chess den activity
  3. Complete Thanks activity and SC1 if you haven’t already done so
  4. View TED clip on 6th Sense Device the last 8 min of class (stopwatch?)
  5. View student pivot demonstrations in J-Drive (I’ll explain how to get there during class)

- Through?

  1. Why play chess? Scan this article on how playing chess can make you wiser
  2. View this slideshow on Christmas lights from around the world

Additional Information:

at

Week of Dec 13th–Dec 17th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Complete Project 2 and any missing assignments for the 3rd 6 Weeks.  Friday we release for the Holidays at noon.   

Monday 13th:

- Review

  1. Logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  2. List of assignments and links for the 3rd 6 Weeks (since Progress Reports).  The two marked in red are the fastest way to raise your grade if you need to!

- New

  1. Check your grades for the most recent information.  Use the list above to help you find and complete your assignments.
  2. Good luck with your midterm exams this week!

- Do 

  1. Remember to upload your Project2 Pivot creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  2. If you’ve made a Prezi for Project2, please send me a link to view it!
  3. If you’ve created something with Aviary, I’ll be able to see it automatically once you save it.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it! 
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Watch this Winter Storm Slideshow on the weather from yesterday

Tuesday 14th:

- Review

  1. Logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  2. List of assignments and links for the 3rd 6 Weeks (since Progress Reports).  The two marked in red are the fastest way to raise your grade if you need to!

- New

  1. Try this Snowline Game (thanks Jacob!)
  2. Aviary Creations made by other students should now be visible to you when you login. Login here and check them out.
  3. My intent for you this week is to give you an opportunity to get caught up on any missing work for the end of the semester, but also to let you relax a little with all of the midterm testing which is going on.  If you find a cool website with games (like the one above) or photos related to the holidays, please share them with me through the Share Websites Form  so I can add them here for others to see and try!

- Do 

  1. Remember to upload your Project2 Pivot creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  2. Your Project2 screencasts need to have P2 in the Title please!
  3. If you’ve made a Prezi for Project2, please send me a link to view it!  If you’ve created something with Aviary, I’ll be able to see it automatically once you save it.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it! 
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Watch this Christmas at the White House Slideshow
  2. Try this holiday trivia quiz (you have to do better than I did… 50%)
  3. Explore this Google Earth Gallery

Wednesday 15th:

- Review

  1. Check your grades for the latest updates!
  2. Logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  3. List of assignments and links for the 3rd 6 Weeks (since Progress Reports).  The two marked in red are the fastest way to raise your grade if you need to!

- New

  1. Here’s a link to send an e-postcard to support our troops!

- Do 

  1. Remember to upload your Project2 Pivot creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  2. Your Project2 screencasts need to have P2 in the Title please!
  3. If you’ve made a Prezi for Project2, please send me a link to view it!  If you’ve created something with Aviary, I’ll be able to see it automatically once you save it.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it! 
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Check out this Animal Tracks Slideshow
  2. Check out this Gallery of The Most Amazing Science Images Of 2010

Thursday 16th:

- Review

  1. Logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  2. List of assignments and links for the 3rd 6 Weeks (since Progress Reports).  The two marked in red are the fastest way to raise your grade if you need to!

- New

  1. Please complete this 3 question survey
  2. Explore the Macy’s make a wish foundation site where you can create a letter to Santa and Macy’s will donate a dollar to the Make a Wish Foundation

- Do 

  1. Remember to upload your Project2 Pivot creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  2. Your Project2 screencasts need to have P2 in the Title please!
  3. If you’ve made a Prezi for Project2, please send me a link to view it!  If you’ve created something with Aviary, I’ll be able to see it automatically once you save it.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it! 
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Check out this updated Holiday Lights Slideshow
  2. …or this NYC Holiday Windows Slideshow
  3. …or this World’s wildest Christmas gifts Slideshow

Friday 17th:

- Review

  1. 2010: Was it a good year for you?

- New

What person has had the biggest positive effect on your life and what have they done that has had such a positive effect on you? (if you have trouble narrowing it down to 1 person, just choose any one of your top picks)

There are 3 ways for anyone who sees this to respond...

  1. Use this 1 question form
  2. Reply to this email (or send an email or text to bmercer@bastrop.isd.tenet.edu)
  3. Call or text this Google Voice number with your response 512.703.0308

- Do 

  1. Have a Merry Christmas…

- Through?

  1. …and a Happy New Year!

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at

Week of Dec 6th–Dec 10th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Begin Project 2  

Monday 6th:

- Review

  1. Key vocabulary for Math and Science

- New

  1. Introduce Project 2 and a stickfigure animation program called Pivot
  2. Here’s a Study Stack for Algebra students

- Do 

  1. 7th Grade take this quiz on Graphing Terms.  If you don’t do well, you can take the quiz again once-per-day until you are satisfied with the score.
  2. 8th Grade take this quiz on Plate Tectonics.  If you don’t do well, you can take the quiz again once-per-day until you are satisfied with the score.
  3. View this Prezi on Project 2 (your final project for the semester)
  4. View the tutorial on the Pivot Stickfigure Animation Progam and the examples of  student-created animations using Pivot in the J-drive/TODAY/screencasts/P2 folder
  5. Explore the Pivot animation program (there should be a shortcut on your desktop, but if not, there’s one in the J-drive/TODAY folder which you can drag to your desktop).
  6. Complete this P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form.  Add any questions you have about the project and any applications you explore to the form.

- Through?

  1. View this Animal Tracks Slideshow

Tuesday 7th:

- Review

  1. Retake the vocabulary quiz if you would like to raise your grade.  Here are the links to the quizzes:

- New

  1. Explore the Prezi Presentation software website.  There are copies of the Introduction and Tutorial Video clips in the J-drive Project2 folder.
  2. Check out the new animation examples (6&7) in the J-drive Project2 folder.

- Do 

  1. Copy the Prezi Presentations folder from the J-drive/TODAY/Project2 folder to your desktop
  2. View the Prezi Introduction and Tutorial Video clips in that folder
  3. Create a Prezi Public Access account here.  Later on if you like this software, you may want to create an education account which will give you more storage space and other benefits.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it!   Remember to upload your creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. View this Unlikely Friends Slideshow about unusual animal families

Wednesday 8th:

- Review

  1. If you’ve created a cool Pivot Animation, please upload it to your Google Docs and share it with me so I can add it to our demo collection!

- New

  1. Explore the Aviary editing tools at their homepage

- Do 

  1. Watch the Aviary tools demo clip (there’s a copy in the J-drive P2 folder)
  2. Explore these Aviary photo-edit examples
  3. Try to logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it!   Remember to upload your creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Check out this Prezi on Playing to Learn
  2. View this Animal Tracks Slideshow

Thursday 9th:

- Review

  1. View this Prezi on Project 2 (your final project for the semester)

- New

  1. The voice recorder in the Aviary Music Creator (Myna) should work for you now, but if it doesn’t, you can still import your voice by recording it with the Windows Sound Recorder (in programs/accessories/entertainment), saving it to your desktop, and importing it into Myna.  It’s cool… try it!

- Do 

  1. Try to logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  2. Explore these Hall-of-Fame Myna tracks.  Try this one called Birdsong which uses a voiceover from Nature videos and this one called Bells & Gizmos (link to edit mode) sounds Christmassy!  You can open them with the editor to see how they were made (and to experiment with changing them).
  3. Test the voice record function in the Edit Audio option (3rd item in the drop-down menu)
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it!   Remember to upload your creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Check out this Christmas at the White House Slideshow

Friday 10th:

- Review

  1. Remember to upload your Project2 Pivot creations to Google Docs and share them with me!

- New

  1. Watch this animated talk on reforming education

- Do 

  1. Logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  2. Explore these Hall-of-Fame Myna tracks.  Try these: Marooned theme, Hall of Mirrors, and Together Forever. You can open them with the editor to see how they were made (and to experiment with changing them).
  3. Try the voice record function in the Edit Audio option and experiment with ways to alter your voice.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it!  
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Watch this Holiday Lights around the World slideshow

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at

Week of Nov 29th–Dec 3rd

Highlights for the week: 

  • Learn some new functions using Google Docs (like the lookup function and Google Forms)  

Monday 29th:

- Review

  1. All Project 1 Materials Due Today! 
  2. If you add anything to your files, please send me an email so I will know to grade your file again!
  3. Make sure you upload your screencasts to Google Docs and share them with me so I can access them to grade them!  The files in your S-drive Project1 folder will not be graded!  If you don’t remember how to do this, there’s a screencast in the folder for today, Nov29 Mon, which explains how to do it.

- New

  1. View this Street Riding clip

- Do 

Check all of your Project 1 materials, especially your Glogs which count the most,  to make sure they have the following:

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page

        -----Your finished Project1 should contain these things-----

  1. Your daily log (3 pts)
    • should have a title like this:  Mark Twain Project1 Notes
    • it should be a diary of your project work
  2. Due to the problems we’ve been having opening Google Docs and Drawings, I will count them as extra credit (worth 1 pt each) for those who were able to make them
  3. Please make sure your Glogs contain the following (6 pts for each Glog)
    • At least 3 images involving your topic (3 pts)
    • At least 2 links to websites related to your topic (2 pts)
    • At least 1 animation, audio or video clip related to your topic (1 pt)
  4. Your screencasts should document some part of your project like the following:
    • A search tour which follows you through your topic research
    • A tutorial which teaches others how to do something you’ve learned about

- Through?

  1. Check your progress report grades and complete any missing work.  Today is your last chance to complete missing work before Progress Reports go out (they will be handed out Friday)
  2. If you are satisfied with your Progress Report Grade, you may start on the assignment for tomorrow (there’s a folder with the screencasts in it which you need already in the J-drive/TODAY/screencasts folder called Nov30 Tues)
  3. 8th Grade classes should review the vocabulary terms on Plate Tectonics from your science classes for a vocab quiz later on this week.  Here is a link to the Study Stack review site.

Tuesday 30th:

- Review

  1. How to logon to your Google Apps account
  2. Make sure you upload your Project1 screencasts to Google Docs and share them with me so I can access them to grade them!  The files in your S-drive Project1 folder will not be graded!  If you don’t remember how to do this, there’s a screencast in the folder for yesterday, Nov29 Mon, which explains how to do it.

- New

  1. Learn how to use the Google Lookup function to find information automatically and put it in a table
  2. It looks like Progress Reports will be extended for another week.  I will let you know when I hear the final decision!

- Do 

  1. Copy the screencast folder for Nov30 Tues to your desktop
  2. Watch screencast 1 called “How to use Google Lookup”
  3. Logon to Google Apps and find the file called “Google Lookup Practice” (search for Lookup if you have trouble finding the file)
  4. Watch screencast 2 on how to copy, rename and share this practice file
  5. Make a copy of the file, add your name in front of the title, and share it with me
  6. Watch screencast 3 on how to create lookup tables
  7. Follow the instructions on the spreadsheet, in the screencast and in class to complete tables 1, 2 and 3 in the Google Lookup Practice file (6 pts for this assignment – 2 pts per table)
  8. Create a screencast (here’s a link to Screencast-o-matic) of how you completed Table2 of the spreadsheet.  The title of your screencast should be ‘Table2’.  Upload your screencast to your Google Docs and share it with me! (3 pts for this assignment)

- Through?

  1. 8th Grade classes should review the vocabulary terms on Plate Tectonics from your science classes for a vocab quiz later on this week.  Here is a link to the Study Stack review site.

Wednesday Dec 1st:

- Review

  1. Progress Reports will go out this Friday as originally planned

- New

  1. Watch the funny clip collection as a class

- Do 

  1. Take this Quiz on the Google Lookup Assignment (it’s worth 5 pts)
  2. Complete lookup function spreadsheets and screencasts from yesterday.  If the function doesn’t work in some cells, check your spelling on the names of the states with the problem.
  3. To make your screencasts, clear out the data from table 2 and record how you used the lookup function to fill out the table for you.

- Through?

  1. 8th Grade classes should review the vocabulary terms on Plate Tectonics from your science classes for a vocab quiz later on this week.  Here is a link to the Study Stack review site.

Thursday 2nd:

- Review

  1. Progress Report Cards go out tomorrow.  Check your grades to see what it will show!
  2. Please complete your Google Lookup Practice file and your screencast of Table2 if you haven’t already done so!

- New

  1. Learn how to create a form

- Do 

  1. Complete this form to receive extra credit (it’s worth 3 points)
  2. Retake the Quiz on the Google Lookup Assignment if you would like to raise your grade (it’s worth 5 pts)
  3. Watch the screencast for today (from my J-drive folder) on how to create a form. 
  4. Create a form which asks 3 questions that you would like to know the answer to. 
  5. Send an email to me with a link to your new form so I can see your 3 questions.
  6. Explore this Time Special on the 50 Best Inventions of 2010.   Tomorrow we will use a form to post your 3 favorite inventions and a sentence describing each (so we will know what they’re about).  

- Through?

  1. Watch this slideshow of Americas tallest Christmas trees
  2. Watch the ‘What’s new in Google Earth 6’ Video Clip (in today’s screencasts folder)
  3. Try the Google Earth Explore the oceans tour (click on the file in today’s screencast folder)

Friday 3rd:

- Review

  1. Progress Report Cards go out today!

- New

  1. Watch 2 video clips together as a class

- Do 

  1. Retake the Quiz on the Google Lookup Assignment if you would like to raise your grade (it’s worth 5 pts)
  2. Take this Class Favorites Survey
  3. 7th Grade classes – use this Study Stack Review for a Quiz Monday on Math vocabulary
  4. 8th Grade classes – use this Study Stack review for a Quiz Monday on Plate Tectonics Vocabulary from your science classes

- Through?

  1. Check out the NORAD tracks Santa Website and this article about how to use it.
  2. …and this Winter Wonderland Slideshow!

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at

Week of Nov 22nd - Nov 26th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Begin   

Monday 22nd:

- Review

  1. All Project 1 Materials Due Tomorrow!
  2. Make sure all Glogs and Screencasts have Project1 in the Title
  3. Make sure you upload your screencasts to Google Docs!

- New

  1. Check your grades today.  The progress check grade from Friday was only based on 3 things: 1) your daily log, 2) your first Project1 Glog, 3) your first Project1 screencast
  2. You can vote for the High School player of the week here (our own Josiah Monroe is included in the list of candidates!)

- Do 

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page
  2. Watch the screencasts for today – One explains Friday’s Progress Check2 Grade and the other 3 review important parts of the project
  3. Continue working on your Project1 assignment

- Through?

  1. View this Prezi on all of the things we’ve learned about over the last several weeks
  2. Explore Larry Ferlazzo’s The Best Sites to Learn and Teach about Thanksgiving
  3. Try this Interactive What Really Happened at Thanksgiving or this  First Thanksgiving Web Adventure

Tuesday 23rd:

- Review

  1. All Project 1 Materials Due Today!
  2. Make sure you upload your screencasts to Google Docs and share them with me so I can access them to grade them!

- New

  1. Check your grades to see the Project1 assignments and points (grades will be entered over Thanksgiving)
  2. Watch this TED demonstration of card tricks

- Do   Check all of your Project 1 materials, especially your Glogs which count the most,  to make sure they have the following:

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page

        -----Your finished Project1 should contain these things-----

  1. Your daily log (3 pts)
    • should have a title like this:  Mark Twain Project1 Notes
    • it should be a diary of your project work
  2. Due to the problems we’ve been having opening Google Docs and Drawings, I will count them as extra credit (worth 1 pt each) for those who were able to make them
  3. Please make sure your Glogs contain the following (6 pts for each Glog)
    • At least 3 images involving your topic (3 pts)
    • At least 2 links to websites related to your topic (2 pts)
    • At least 1 animation, audio or video clip related to your topic (1 pt)
  4. Your screencasts should document some part of your project like the following:
    • A search tour which follows you through your topic research
    • A tutorial which teaches others how to do something you’ve learned about

- Through?

  1. Check out this critters caught on a high-speed camera slideshow
  2. Explore this First Thanksgiving Interactive
  3. Here’s a website which describes how Thanksgiving is celebrated around the world
  4. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Wednesday 24th: Holiday

Thursday 25th: Holiday

Friday 26th: Holiday

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at

Week of Nov 15th–Nov 19th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Continue working on Project1

Monday 15th:

- Review

  1. Please make sure your Project1 Glogs include Project1 in the name so I can find them!!!   (For example: Project1 Sports)
  2. If you’re interested in UIL Calculator Competition, please let me know as soon as possible!

- New

  1. Test this Den Time locations page
  2. Add the Project1 Due date to your calendar with an email reminder
  3. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page 

- Do 

  1. Check to make sure you have named and shared your project1 files correctly!
  2. Continue working on your Project1 materials
  3. The next Project1 Progress Check grade will be this Friday.  All materials are due before the Thanksgiving break!
  4. Robotics Students view Prezi Showcase Video updates and record new clips

- Through?

  1. Check out this video of the World’s Tallest Building (twice as high as the Empire State Building in NY)

Tuesday 16th:

- Review

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page 

- New

  1. Check out this Project1 Glogs Presentation

- Do 

  1. There are no new screencasts for today!
  2. Continue working on your Project1 materials
  3. The next Project1 Progress Check grade will be this Friday.  All materials are due before the Thanksgiving break!

- Through?

  1. View this Earth as Art Slideshow

Wednesday 17th:  Today is an early release day!

- Review

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account
  2. AFTER you logon, view the Project1 Progress Check page 
  3. Check the Early Release bell schedule for your bell schedule today

- New

  1. Please watch today’s screencast!
  2. Check out the updated Project1 Glogs Presentation so you can see what other students are doing for their projects

- Do 

  1. Check to make sure you have named and shared your project1 files correctly!  I cannot find them if they don’t have project1 in the title and aren’t shared with me.
  2. Watch the screencast on how to upload your screencasts to Google Docs and then upload them.  If you upload your screencasts to you G-Docs, you’ll be able to see them and all of the rest of your project1 materials from anywhere with an internet connection!
  3. Continue working on your Project1 materials
  4. The next Project1 Progress Check grade will be this Friday.  It will be worth 5 pts and should have links with entries for your Daily Log, Notes and Sketch files, as well as your first project Glog and screencast.  All materials are due before the Thanksgiving break!
  5. Robotics Students copy ConeTest1 program to your desktop,  view it, and modify it for a practice run.

- Through?

  1. Check out this Animal Tracks Slideshow for this week

Thursday 18th:

- Review

  1. Project1 Progress Check grade tomorrow!  

- New

  1. Check out the updated Project1 Glogs Presentation so you can see what other students are doing for their projects. It will be worth 5 pts and should have links with entries for your Daily Log, Notes and Sketch files, as well as your first project Glog and screencast. All materials are due before the Thanksgiving break! 

- Do 

  1. As a class watch student screencast demos
  2. Watch the Progress Check2 Grade screencast which will show you what you need to get a good grade on tomorrow’s progress check
  3. Continue Project1 work
  4. Check to make sure you have named and shared your project1 files correctly!  I cannot find them if they don’t have project1 in the title and aren’t shared with me
  5. Robotics students program 5 basic moves course

- Through?

  1. Check out this Extraordinary microscope images slideshow

Friday 19th:

- Review

  1. Project1 Progress Check grade today!  It will be worth 5 pts and should have links with entries for your Daily Log, Notes and Sketch files, as well as your first project Glog and screencast.  All materials are due before the Thanksgiving break!

- New

  1. Check out the updated Project1 Glogs Presentation so you can see what other students are doing for their projects.

- Do 

  1. Watch this TED Talk: How web video powers global innovation
  2. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page 
  3. Check to make sure you have named and shared your project1 files correctly!  I cannot find them if they don’t have project1 in the title and aren’t shared with me
  4. Continue working on your Project1 materials

- Through?

  1. Check out these concept car photos from the L.A.Auto Show
  2. …and this World Population Clock

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at

Week of Nov 8th–Nov 12th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Begin the 3rd 6 weeks Project Phases of this class, which will include 2 Projects.  Project 1 is due by 3rd Progress Reports, and Project 2 is due by the end of the semester.

Monday 8th:

- Review

  1. Check the missing work list for your class which you should see by logging on to you G-Apps account and looking at all files.  Make sure you have shared your Google Drawing (Red Ribbon Week or Halloween Drawing), your Google Doc (with your name and Nov3 as the title), and your Google Spreadsheet (with your name and Nov4 as the title). If you don’t share them with me, I can’t see them to grade them!
  2. Students with low grades after today will be assigned to tutorials during den time!

- New

  1. View Project 1 Assignment information and templates.  This is your chance to explore things you’re interested in and get credit for it!

- Do 

  1. Complete missing work for the 2nd 6 weeks.  Grades must be submitted tomorrow after school, so you have until then to complete any missing assignments.
  2. Check the missing assignments list for each class period (in your Google Docs list).  Quizzes count the most so make sure you do well on those!
  3. Read the Project 1 Bulletin (in your Google Docs).  Check this bulletin daily for updates!
  4. Copy and rename each of the 3 templates for your Project 1 in your Google Docs (replace Mark Twain with your first and last name).  Start thinking about what you might like your Project1 topic to be and jot down some of your ideas (and questions if you have any) on your Project 1 Notes Document.

- Through?

  1. If you finish completing makeup work, start working on Project 1!

Tuesday 9th:

- Review

  1. Complete missing assignments.  The missing assignments G-Docs have been updated as of this morning.  Grades are due today!

- New

  1. Start Project1 today!

- Do 

  1. Make a new folder in your S-drive and name it exactly Project1 (with no spaces)
  2. Watch the screencasts in the Today/Screencasts/Project1 folder
  3. Copy, rename and share (with me) the 3 templates files in your Google Docs list
  4. Record what you did today in your Project Log

- Through?

  1. Check out this sports photos of the week slideshow

Wednesday 10th:

- Review

  1. How to copy, rename and share a Google Document

- New

  1. If you have ideas or comments about your project, please add them to your Project1 Notes document!

- Do 

  1. Watch the new screencast on how to copy, rename and share the Project1 Templates
  2. Continue Project1 work.  Make sure you copy, rename and share the 3 Template files.
  3. Update your project1 Notes file.  Add 3 possible project ideas and any specific questions you have to your notes.
  4. Update your project1 Daily Log file.  Add what you’ve done today and any links you’ve visited that you will use for your project to you Log file.

- Through?

  1. View this slideshow of National Parks

Thursday 11th:

- Review

  1. If you have ideas or comments about your project, please add them to your Project1 Notes document!

- New

  1. Learn how to find the Project1 Screencasts when you need help

- Do 

  1. Open the J-drive/TODAY/Screencasts folder and copy the Project1 folder to your desktop
  2. Watch the screencasts for today and continue Project1 work
  3. Update your Project1 Notes and Daily Log files.  Your progress on these will be graded over this weekend!
  4. Make new groups in your gmail contacts for ‘My Friends’ and ‘My Teachers’ (if you haven’t already, and start adding contacts to those groups (watch the screencast to see how to do this)

- Through?

  1. Watch the Jetman clip in your screencasts folder for today

Friday 12th:

- Review

  1. Make sure that all of your Project1 files have your name and Project1 in the title, and that your Glogs have Project1 in the Title

- New

  1. As a class, watch this TED Talk by Will Wright (the creator of SimCity and Spore) to see a different way to learn

- Do 

  1. There will be a Project1 progress check grade assigned this weekend.  You should have these 3 things:
  • A Daily log with entries for each day named (your name) Project1 Daily Log
  • A notes page with 3 project ideas named  (your name) Project1 Notes
  • At least 1 Glog started with Project1 included in the title:  example name Project1 Pro Football

- Through?

  1. Explore Bing Maps and the State Capitol

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at
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