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

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

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

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

Week of Apr 18th–Apr 22nd

Highlights for the week: 

• TEKS for this week –

Monday 18th:

- Part 1) Review

- Part 2) New

1. Watch cats video clip

- Part 3) Do 

- Part 4) Through?

Tuesday 19th:

- Part 1) Review

- Part 2) New

- Part 3) Do 

- Part 4) Through?

Wednesday 20th:

- Part 1) Review

- Part 2) New

- Part 3) Do 

- Part 4) Through?

Thursday 21st:

- Part 1) Review

1. Pivot 10 competition entries are due today!

- Part 2) New

- Part 3) Do 

- Part 4) Through?

Friday 22nd: HOLIDAY

- Part 1) Review

- Part 2) New

- Part 3) Do 

- Part 4) Through?

1. Check out the Media Shows from this Week!
   •  

Additional Help and Information:

1. YouTube How-to Videos for this class
   • Take screencaptures in OneNote
   • Drawing toolbar in OneNote
   • What is a Browser?
   • How to use Photovisi
2. G-Apps How2 Videos
   • Create and share a folder in BISD G-Docs
   • Upload a file in BISD G-Docs
3. Prezis
   • This Semester at a Glance Prezi
4. TED talks (browse TED talks list)
   • 6th Sense Device
   • What adults can learn from kids

Week of Nov 1st - Nov 5th

Highlights for the week: 

• This is the last week of the 2nd 6 weeks!  We are 1/3 of the way through the year and 2/3 of the way through this class.
• Please check your grades frequently this week to make sure you are caught up in all of your classes!

Monday 1st:

- Review

1. Please test this link to your Glogster Account Information
2. Try again to create a new Prezi Student Account using your Gmail address
3. 7th grade students, please review these vocabulary words for today’s vocabulary quiz on Spanish Exploration.
4. 8th grade students, please review these vocabulary words for today’s vocabulary quiz on Weather.

- New

1. View this Presentation of Space Glogs and this Presentation of Halloween Glogs

- Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with QuickTime for best results!)

1. *Watch Overview screencast
2. *7th Grade Comp Lit classes take this Vocabulary Quiz on Spanish Exploration
3. *8th Grade Web Design classes take this Vocabulary Quiz on Weather
4. Watch the Docs overview video clip which is called Docs in the folder for today’s screencasts (pay close attention… there’s a lot to see in this very short clip!)
5. *View the Group Chat Demo G-Doc to get some ideas for your group assignment
6. *Use your Group chat document to work together to choose your 3 favorite Glogs and capture and paste them into your group doc.  (You will need to resize the images to make them fit).  This assignment is worth 7 points (or 2 regular daily assignments): 1 point for each picture (for a total of 3), 1 point for each working link (for a total of 3), and 1 point for formatting your name and area.

- Through

1. Watch this Amazing Amazon Slide Show
2. Check out this Fun Prezi and click on Videos (with the arrows) to watch the Ship under bridge clip

Tuesday 2nd:

- Review

1. Check Gmail and documents for updates (logon link, top right, link 2).  Anything from Prezi?  (…if there is, please forward that email to me so I can see what it looks like!  Thanks!)

- New

1. Please take this very brief Extra Curricular Activities Survey on things you are involved in outside of the school!
2. Try this Online Stopwatch (with lots of other functions).  There’s also a link in the Tools section to the right.

- Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with QuickTime for best results!)

1. *Overview
2. *View the demo to see what step 6 from yesterday should have looked like.  If yours doesn’t look like that, please correct it!
3. *Finding my stuff in docs
4. *Finding and using templates
5. *Go to our campus website public calendar and try to copy an event (like the early release day on Nov 17th) to your G-Apps calendar
6. Try the Checkers Drawing template (share with a friend to play)

- Through?

1. If you need to retake your vocab quiz from yesterday, here are the links to do so:
   • *7th Grade Comp Lit classes take this Vocabulary Quiz on Spanish Exploration
   • *8th Grade Web Design classes take this Vocabulary Quiz on Weather
2. Browse templates to find some you might be able to use
3. Explore the Online Stopwatch functions
4. Continue exploring the Fun Prezi and click on Videos (with the arrows) to watch the Ship under bridge clip and base jumping from the world’s tallest tower.

Wednesday 3rd:

- Review

1. Use the star function in your G-Docs to mark and find your important documents
2. Use the search window to find your G-Docs
3. See who your G-Doc is shared with

- New

1. View this Prezi on the first few days of the gulf oil spill to show how Prezi can be used to replay images and video from an important event

- Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with QuickTime for best results!)

1. *Overview of today
2. *Use the Google News Timeline to find information on the oil spill by month.  Choose one article that interests you and copy the URL.  (If the site doesn’t work for some reason, just use a normal Google Search).
3. *Open your Google Doc with your name as the title.  Paste the URL from step 2 into your Doc along with a little of the text so we can read what it’s about
4. *Try another search on Google News Timeline to find information on any appropriate topic which interests you.  Again paste a link and some text in your Doc (with your name)
5. *Use Google Squared to search for information on roller coasters.  (If the site doesn’t work for some reason, just use a normal Google Search).
6. *Find some images on a roller coaster that interests you and and copy and paste the URL into your Google Doc.  Add a few images of coasters to your doc (this site might help with images)
7. *Open this G-Doc spreadsheet called Roller Coaster Image Links, choose and open block and paste the link to your favorite coaster image in the block

- Through?

1. If you need to retake your vocab quiz from yesterday, here are the links to do so:
   • *7th Grade Comp Lit classes take this Vocabulary Quiz on Spanish Exploration
   • *8th Grade Web Design classes take this Vocabulary Quiz on Weather
2. Checkout these photos from the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition
3. Check your grades for missing assignments or low grades and complete or update them.

Thursday 4th:

- Review

1. How to copy and paste links and text into Google Docs and Spreadsheets

- New

1. Watch this ‘What’s my sentence’ project clip as a class
2. Think about what your sentence might be and enter it in this form
3. Check out the 3 new folders in your Google Documents called ‘Nice Work!’ (with examples of work well done from yesterday’s assignments), ‘Today’s Assignments’ with an example of what we will be doing today, and ‘How-to (for students)’ with helpful information.
4. Some of you added the date in the title which was very helpful to me.  Thanks for doing that!  If you’re not sure what your documents should look like, look in this folder!

- Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with QuickTime for best results!)

1. *Overview
2. Complete steps 3-5 from yesterday and please add the date (Nov4) in the title after your name.
3. *Complete step 7 and add links to cool or unusual coasters so we can all see them!
4. *Create a new spreadsheet with your name and the date in the title, and share it with me to receive credit for this assignment (example: Mark Twain Nov4). 
5. *Create 2 multiplication tables (one with the numbers 1-10, and one with the numbers 60-70).  Format the colors of your tables like the example.

- Through?

1. Watch this Animal Tracks Slideshow
2. Check your grades for missing assignments or low grades in all classes and complete or update them.

Friday 5th:

- Review

1. Calculator formula and tips for making your tables work correctly!

- New

1. Test this calendar link.  Try to copy events to your calendar.
2. Updated assignments list with links to the week in which they were assigned.  The key assignment step is highlighted for each assignment.

- Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with QuickTime for best results!)

1. *Overview screencast
2. *Watch the Spreadsheets intro clip to show you some of the spreadsheet features
3. *View the examples of student work
4. *More help with the calculator spreadsheet
5. Complete your G-Apps Spreadsheet assignment from yesterday

- Through?

1. Check the Graded Assignments List to make sure you have completed all assignments for this grading period
2. If you have completed an assignment but the gradebook still shows a zero for a grade, please send me an email letting me know you have completed it (with the name of the assignment in the email!)

Additional Information:

• Prezis

Week of Oct 25th – Oct 29th

Highlights for the week: 

• Begin working with Google Apps (Docs, Drawings, Spreadsheets, and Forms)
• Wednesday is an early release day 
• This week is Red Ribbon week!  Here is the schedule for the week.

Monday 25th:

- Review

1. Test your logon to your G-Apps account (use the same logon info you use when you start your computer)

- New

1. View the new Bulletin Board Document to see if you have correctly completed your Wolfram Alpha assignment (this is a Google Doc which you can only view when logged onto your Google Apps account!).
2. Check to see if your Prezi account email has arrived!  If so try experimenting with Prezi.  It’s fun :)

- Do

1. Complete your Wolfram Alpha Assignment (from Tues Oct 19th on this blog last week)
2. 7th grade students review this Study Stack with Spanish Exploration terms and definitions
3. 8th Grade Students, review this Study Stack of weather terms and definitions
4. Robotics Students view these NXT programming tutorials
5. Continue working on your Halloween Glog (you may create more than one if you like)

- Through?

1. Checkout these photos from the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition
2. Complete assignments from last week (including your Wolfram Alpha assignment)!
3. Please check your grades to make sure you have completed everything in ALL of your classes!

Tuesday 26th:

- Review

1. Checkout the updated Student Submitted Links  section and the new Webpage View
2. This week is Red Ribbon week!  Here is the schedule for the week.

- New

1. Check your Gmail for an account confirmation from Prezi.  If you have received it, please forward it to me!
2. Introduce Google Drawing
3. New and returning students: Please pickup the Google Apps permission form and get it signed and returned to me as soon as possible!

- Do   (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with Quicktime for best results!)

1. *Watch the overview screencast
2. *Watch the Google Drawing tutorial in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder (drag it to your desktop and open it with Windows Media Player)
3. *Create a new Google Drawing and name it Red Ribbon Week exactly!
4. *Add 4 shapes, an arrow, a curve, a polygon, a text box, and upload a small image of a pumpkin to your drawing.
5. *Share the drawing with me and download it as a PDF.  Move your new PDF drawing file into your S-drive.
6. *Copy your drawing to your clipboard and add it to your Google Document with your name on it (if you don’t have one, please make one and share it with me!)
7. Make another drawing called ‘Practice Drawing’ and share it with another person in the class and your teacher.  Practice editing it together.

- Through?

1. Complete assignments from last week (including your Wolfram Alpha assignment)!
2. Please check your grades to make sure you have completed everything in ALL of your classes!
3. Work on Halloween or Red Ribbon Week Glog
4. Try Funbrain activities

Wednesday 27th: Today is an early release day (bell schedule)

- Review

1. This week is Red Ribbon week!  Here is the schedule for the week.
2. You’ll get your Progress Reports on Friday, but you can see what will be on them by checking your grades online anytime.  If you need to bring up your grade, complete any assignments which are zeros and let me know when you’ve completed them (in person or by email) so I can grade them.
3. Check missing Google Apps Permissions list… if you’re on the list, please return your form as soon as possible!

- New

1. Interested in UIL Calculator Competition?  If so, we will meet here in this room on Tuesdays and Thursdays during den time for practice.  Let me know in person or by email and if any of your friends are interested, ask them to stop by before or after school.  I need 5 students for a team and I will post more information later.
2. Check your Gmail for an account confirmation from Prezi.  If you have received it, please forward it to me!
3. Introduce Google Drawing
4. New and returning students: Please turn in the Google Apps permission form as soon as possible!  Here’s a link to list of students who need to turn in forms.

- Do   (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with Quicktime for best results!)

Google Drawing didn’t work yesterday, but I’ve installed a component on all of the laptops and it should work today.  Because of that, the steps below are repeated and the screencasts are the same (so the dates are wrong) except for step 1, the overview.

Logon here to get to your Google Apps Account

1. *Watch the overview screencast
2. *Watch the Google Drawing tutorial in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder (drag it to your desktop and open it with Windows Media Player)
3. *Create a new Google Drawing and name it Red Ribbon Week exactly!
4. *Add 4 shapes, an arrow, a curve, a polygon, a text box, and upload a small image of a pumpkin to your drawing.
5. *Share the drawing with me and download it as a PDF.  Move your new PDF drawing file into your S-drive.
6. *Copy your drawing to your clipboard and add it to your Google Document with your name on it (if you don’t have one, please make one and share it with me!)
7. Make another drawing called ‘Practice Drawing’ and share it with another person in the class and your teacher.  Practice editing it together.

- Through?

1. Please check your grades to make sure you have completed everything in ALL of your classes!
2. Work on Halloween or Red Ribbon Week Glog.  Check New Glogster account information here! 
3. Try Funbrain activities and other games (Physics and Math) in the new Games section on the right.  If you find good sites to add to the list, please use the Share Websites Form to let me know about them.  Thanks!

Thursday 28th:

- Review

1. This week is Red Ribbon week!  Here is the schedule for the week.
2. Check missing Google Apps Permissions list… if you’re on the list, please return your form as soon as possible!
3. Tomorrow we will be on a Pep Rally bell schedule (there’s a link at the top right of in the Bell Schedules section)
4. How to get screencasts each day: Open J-drive TODAY folder (which is the only folder in all CAPS), and in there look for the folder for today.  Do not open that folder… just drag it to your desktop and then open and play the screencasts.  Watch and then do each step!

- New

1. Create and share a practice drawing with another student and your teacher
2. Learn how to add a drawing to a Google Doc

- Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with Quicktime for best results!)

1. *Watch overview screencast
2. *Logon to your G-Apps account and complete your Red Ribbon Week drawing from last class (Wed 27th steps 3 & 4)
3. *Add your Red Ribbon Week drawing to the Google Doc you made with your name on it (Step 4 on Wed 20th)
4. *make a new Google Document with your name and one core subject in the title and share it with that teacher and Mr. Mercer.  The title might look like this: ‘Mark Twain – History’ and it might be shared with Ms. Cheshire and Mr. Mercer for example.  Add a greeting to your document or copy and paste this example and fill in the blanks with your information: Hello _________, my name is ________ and this is my first shared document with you!  Please add something so I know you have received this and thanks very much for helping me with this test document!  When you share the document with your core teacher, leave the email checkbox checked so they will get an automatic email telling them about your new document.
5. 7th grade students, please study these vocabulary words for a vocabulary quiz on Spanish Exploration tomorrow!
6. 8th grade students, please study these vocabulary words for a vocabulary quiz on Weather tomorrow!

- Through

1. Study for Vocabulary Quiz tomorrow! (steps 5 & 6 above)
2. Try this online version of tic-tac-toe
3. Checkout this slideshow ‘Halloween pups on parade’
4. Work on Halloween or Red Ribbon Week Glog.  Check New Glogster account information here! 
5. Try Funbrain activities and other games (Physics and Math) in the new Games section on the right.  If you find good sites to add to the list, please use the Share Websites Form to let me know about them.  Thanks!

Friday 29th:

- Review

1. Today we will be on a Pep Rally bell schedule although it is for an event at the end of the day which is not a pep rally (there’s a link at the top right of in the Bell Schedules section)
2. Continue working with Google Drawings using templates
3. Review for Vocabulary Quizzes which have been postponed until Monday

- New

1. Copy, rename, edit, and share several drawing templates

- Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with Quicktime for best results!)

1. *Watch the overview screencast
2. *Logon to your Google Apps Account and open the Pumpkin Color Template Drawing.  Make a copy and change the name to Pumpkin Color and your first and last name (example: Pumpkin Color Mark Twain).  Share your copy with me and then try to make a cool design of your own using your copy.  I’ll collect them all for a class collage and you can see how your class collage compares to the others.
3. *Open the Tic-Tac-Toe template, save a copy and rename it Tic-Tac-Toe and your first and last name (example: Tic-Tac-Toe Mark Twain).  Share your copy with me and then use your new copy to make a complete game.
4. *Make another copy of the template and rename it Tic-Tac-Toe Share.  Share this copy with another student and me and then play a couple of shared games.  Add your names as text boxes when you’re through playing.
5. *Make a new folder in Google Documents and name it Practice Drawings.  Add all of your drawings to that folder.
6. Work on Halloween or Red Ribbon Week Glog.  Check New Glogster account information here!  New students have Glogster accounts added on this list.
7. 7th grade students, please study these vocabulary words for a vocabulary quiz on Spanish Exploration Monday!
8. 8th grade students, please study these vocabulary words for a vocabulary quiz on Weather Monday!

- Through

1. Check out this Halloween Safety Guide (especially if you have younger brothers and sisters to look out for!)
2. Check your Gmail and G-Docs for responses from your teachers.  Try adding something else for them to see (like a drawing for example).
3. Try Funbrain activities and other games (Physics and Math) in the new Games section on the right.  If you find good sites to add to the list, please use the Share Websites Form to let me know about them.  Thanks!

Additional Information:

• Prezis

Week of Oct 18th – Oct 22nd

Highlights for the week: 

• This is the last week before 2nd Progress Reports go out.  Please check your grades frequently in all of your classes to make sure you have everything turned in!
• Begin working with G-Docs  

Monday 18th:

- Review

1. Turn in forms for Google Apps
2. How to logon to your G-Apps account (use the same logon info you use when you start your computer)

- New

1. This video clip explains sonic booms (which happen when you break the speed of sound)
2. Please use your Gmail account to email me when you have completed a missing assignment or improved a grade!

- Do

1. Try to logon to your G-Apps account (use the same logon info you use when you start your computer).  If you can’t get to your account, please let me know using this form, and then go to step 6.
2. Go to your Gmail section and add your teachers to your contacts
3. Please send me a test email to let me know how your weekend went (bmercer@bastrop.isd.tenet.edu)
4. Go to your documents and try to open the Class Edit Document.  Then try the Group chat document (2nd Period only)… try to find out the names of the people in your group.
5. Learn how to create a new document (and share it with your teachers)
6. Use the project template which I gave you for your Space Glogs.  Please copy your 6 pictures and quotes over to the template! (Sorry for the inconvenience!)

- Through?

1. Check your grades for missing assignments or low grades and complete or update them. 
2. Please use either your email account or your Glog messages to let me know when you’ve completed or updated your assignments so that I will know to grade them again!

Tuesday 19th:

- Review

1. Try to logon to your G-Apps account (use the same logon info you use when you start your computer).  If you can’t get to your Gmail or Documents, please let me know using this form, so I can get your account repaired!

- New

1. Watch this short video explanation of Wolfram Alpha which explains how it is different from other search engines like Google or Bing.
2. There’s a copy of the video in my J-drive/bmercer/Today folder which must be opened with the Windows Media Player shortcut… copy both to your desktop (it’s called Wolfram Alpha in a Nutshell)

- Do  (There are 3 videos in my J-drive today folder which explain the steps below.  Each of the video files start with Oct19.  Copy them to your desktop along with the Quicktime shortcut (blue Q) and open them with Quicktime to make sure you can view them)

1. Open your OneNote Practice file (in your S-drive) and create a new page called ‘Wolfram Alpha’
2. Use Wolfram Alpha to answer the questions (type or copy/paste what you see in the search window).  Capture at least 2 blocks of your answers for each question on your new OneNote Wolfram Alpha page.  Watch the screencast for step 2 for an example of how to do this… it’s in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder

• Size of Earth, Size of Mars (capture at least 2 blocks of information)
• temperature of Earth, temperature of Venus, temperature of Mars, temperature of Mercury (capture at least 2 blocks of information)
• mix blue green (capture the color and complementary colors for that combination)
• mix 2 other colors of your choice (capture the color and complementary colors for that combination)
• enter the date of your next birthday in this form October 19 2010 (capture the number of days until then and the anniversaries for that date)
• enter your first name (capture any 2 blocks of information)
• Houston TX Austin TX New York City NY Los Angeles CA (capture the Populations info)
• United States England Australia China (capture the map and life expectancy information)
• Choose one other topic from this list (capture at least 2 blocks of information)
• Publish your Wolfram Alpha page as a PDF file to your S-drive

- Through?

1. Check your grades for missing assignments or low grades and complete or update them. 
2. Complete your Space Glog (using the project template which I gave you!)

Wednesday 20th:

- Review

1. If you are on this list, you have not turned in your permission form.  Please turn this form in as soon as possible!  I have extra forms if you need them.  After school today I’ll be turning the list over to Administrators for action.

- New

1. Watch this clip on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. There’s a copy in my J-drive today folder if you would like to watch it again (or show others in another class).

- Do   (If you have not turned in your permission form or you are having problems with your account, you may not be able to the steps in this section, but these are graded assignments and must be made up!  Skip down to the ‘Through’ section and complete the items there.)

1. Logon to your Google Apps account, go to Gmail and add your teachers email addresses to your contacts. The format for email addresses is first initial last name @bastrop.isd.tenet.edu, so my email address is bmercer@bastrop.isd.tenet.edu.
2. Create a Group called My Teachers and add your teachers email addresses to your new group
3. Compose a new email to your My Teachers group and paste this phrase in the email (with your first and last name added where the blank is): Hi!  My name is _____ and I’m testing my new gmail account by sending you this email.  Please reply to let me know you have received this.  Thank you!
4. Create a new document and replace the  ‘Untitled Document’ words at the top with your First and Last Name.
5. Click on the share button and add my email address bmercer@bastrop.isd.tenet.edu
6. Copy the information from your logon file (in your S-drive) to this new document.  If you don’t have a logon file, add your Glogster Logon information.
7. Open your Group Chat document and find the names of the students in your group.  Practice using this document to communicate.  Remember, everything you type in any of your Google Applications is recorded, so do not type anything you wouldn’t want school officials to see!

- Through?

1. Complete the Wolfram Alpha assignment from yesterday.  The videos which explain how to do this are in this folder:  Jdrive/Today/Screencasts (Daily)/Oct19 Tues
2. Check your grades for missing assignments or low grades and complete or update them.
3. Complete your Space Glog (using the project template which I gave you!)

Thursday 21st:  

- Review

1. Turn in forms for Google Apps (check this list for missing forms) 
2. How to logon to your G-Apps account (use the same logon info you use when you start your computer)

- New

1. Check your gmail!
2. View photos from the Paris Auto Show and notice how many electric and hybrid vehicles there are.

- Do   (First, please complete steps 1-5 from yesterday if you haven’t already done so!)

1. Open your Calendar and add an event ‘Check grades for missing assignments’ to Fri 22nd.
2. Copy ‘End of 2PR’ to your calendar from the Calendars page on the BMS Website 
3. Open your Group Chat document and find the names of the students in your group.  Practice using this document to communicate.  Remember, everything you type in any of your Google Applications is recorded, so do not type anything you wouldn’t want school officials to see!
4. Open your Practice OneNote file in your S-drive, go to your Wolfram Alpha Page, and publish it as a PDF file to your S-drive

- Through?

1. View this Marvels in Engineering Slideshow
2. Copy the ‘Drift with the Supercars’ video clip from the Jdrive/bmercer/Today folder to your desktop and watch it
3. Tomorrow is the last day of the 2nd Progress Reporting period, which means we are 1/4 of the way through the school year!  Please check your grades in all classes to make sure you have completed everything in ALL of your classes!

Friday 22nd:   (2nd Progress Reporting Period ends today!)

- Review

1. Test your logon to your G-Apps account (use the same logon info you use when you start your computer)
2. If it works, please make sure you complete the assignments from the last 2 days using Gmail and Google Docs!
3. Check for a calendar reminder (Gmail) that today is the last day of the 2nd PR grading period.

- New

1. Watch this TED talk on Origami

- Do  (There are no ‘step’ videos today)

1. Create a Prezi Education Account here using your new Gmail address for use later on
2. View Prezi Just for Fun Demo… we will be starting Prezi next week if everything goes well with your Prezi accounts
3. Add the dates for the end of the 2nd 6 weeks, end of 3rd Progress Reports and End of 3rd 6 weeks to your calendar.  Use the dates from the Calendars page on the BMS Website
4. Create a fun Halloween Glog for next week’s Red Ribbon Week (use appropriate photos only… if you have any doubts or have to ask, it isn’t appropriate!).  Best Glogs will be published on the web for the entire campus to see.  Top 10 will be printed and posted on the wall outside of the classroom.
5. There’s a short video clip in J-drive/bmercer/today on a 950lb pumpkin.  If you would like to watch it, copy it to your desktop and open it with Windows Media Player.

- Through?

1. Check out this pumpkin carving slideshow.  View a tutorial on how to make your own here!
2. Today is the last day of the 2nd Progress Reporting period.  Please check your grades to make sure you have completed everything in ALL of your classes!

Additional Information:

• Prezis

Week of Oct 11th – Oct 15th

Highlights for the week: 

• Begin introducing Gmail and Google Docs.  It is critical that you turn in your Google Applications permission form in order to participate! 

Monday 11th:

- Review

1. Look in your S-drive folder and make sure there’s a folder in there named this exactly: screencasts
2. Make sure you turn in your Google Applications permission form!  There was another copy attached to your 1st 6 weeks grades.  That form must be turned in for you to get a school email account and to be able to use many of the new features offered by Google for Education!

- New

1. Checkout the new Student Submitted Links sections on the right-side panel near the top.  Those links will help you to search for colleges for your Glogs.
2. As a class, watch this iPad light painting YouTube clip
3. Today we will introduce 2 quote search tools and 1 new wordmapping tool called Visuwords.

- Do

1. Use one of the 2 new Quotes Tools (new in the tools section) to find 3 positive quotes that you like.  (Try searching terms like change, growth, education, family, happiness, attitude)
2. Send me your 3 quotes using the Questions or Comments Form.  You can enter all 3 in one form.
3. Use Visuwords (also in the key sites/Words section) to create a visual wordmap of the term ‘Browse’.  Click ‘Fill Browser with scalable Visuwords’ to see a larger version which you can zoom into.   There’s a How-to video clip on Visuwords in my J-drive/Screencasts folder to show you how to use this tool if you need it.
4. Open your OneNote Practice file (in your S-drive) and capture your Visuwords wordmap of the term ‘browse’ on a new page called ‘Visuwords’.
5. Create 2 other Visuwords wordmaps (you choose the words) and add them to your 1N (OneNote) page.

- Through?

1. Make sure you have added the new folder in your s-drive called screencasts and drag all of your screencasts (sc1, sc2, sc3, sc4) into that folder.
2. Complete the screencast of your College Glog and save it in your S-drive screencasts folder as sc5.  In your screencast must say and show these 3 things: 1) the name of your college or university, 2) the city and state where it is located and 3) at least one detail of what your Glog looks like.
3. Logon to your Google Apps account and see if you can get to your Gmail or Google Docs pages.
4. Check out these free educational game sites and send me your recommendations using the Share Websites Form.

Tuesday 12th:

- Review

1. Questions on Quotes or Visuwords assignments?

- New

1. View this clip on The Internet of Things by IBM, which shows how devices are being connected together to provide information and improve efficiency.
2. Open and use Google Sky
3. View IW demo file

- Do

1. Make a new folder in your S-drive called Interwrite.
2. Copy the Sky IW file from my J-drive/Today folder into your new Interwrite folder.
3. Open Google Earth and switch to Sky by clicking on the planet at the top.
4. Open the Sky IW file and follow the directions.  Make sure you have the advanced toolbar (with the camera) loaded.
5. Be sure to save your Sky IW file when you’ve finished!

- Through?

1. Browse Google Moon and Mars (try Fly Along Mars Tour)
2. View the Google Sky Website
3. Watch this Marine Life slideshow (an MSNBC slideshow. Details: The Census of Marine Life has issued its final report on the 10-year effort to document the diversity of the world's oceans. More than 2,700 scientists cataloged 28 million observations of new species as well as old favorites.
4. Check out these free educational game sites and send me your recommendations using the Share Websites Form.

Wednesday 13th:

- Review

1. How to delete unwanted slides and add new pages in Interwrite (J-drive/bmercer/today/Screencasts)
2. View list of students who have turned in Google Apps permission forms.  If you are not on the list, please turn in a form!  If you think you’ve turned on in already, but you’re not on the list, let me know and I’ll check on it for you).

- New

1. Watch this Project Natal (Microsoft Kinect) demo of interactive technologies
2. Watch Google Mars tour (there’s a copy in my J-drive today folder if you would like to see it again later)
3. View the Google Sky Website and the Chandra Observatory catalogue of exploding stars (for those who like space imagery especially)

- Do  (I’ve added screencast demos for each of these steps in my J-drive/today folder… if you need to hear the instructions again for any of the steps, use those clips to help you!)

1. Copy the SkyTour kmz file from my J-drive/Today folder to your desktop and open it.  When Google Earth opens, be sure to put it in ‘Sky’ mode.
2. Open the Sky file in your S-drive/Interwrite folder and add a new ‘last page’
3. Change the new page background color to the color of your choice (anything but white)
4. There are 8 stops in the SkyTour.  Capture an image from each of the 8 stops and put them on the new Interwrite last page (step 2 above)
5. Copy the Mars in Google Earth video clip (2 minute clip) from my J-drive/Today folder to your desktop and then open it.
6. Explore some of the features of Google Mars which you saw in the clip.
7. Use the comment form to tell me what you liked best and what you liked least about our visits to Google Sky or Google Mars

- Through?

1. Try Google Moon (and at home you can watch this YouTube explanation of Google Moon)
2. View the Google Sky Website and the Chandra Observatory catalogue of exploding stars
3. Watch this Marine Life slideshow (an MSNBC slideshow. Details: The Census of Marine Life has issued its final report on the 10-year effort to document the diversity of the world's oceans. More than 2,700 scientists cataloged 28 million observations of new species as well as old favorites.
4. Check out these free educational game sites and send me your recommendations using the Share Websites Form.

Thursday 14th:  

- Review

1. View list of students who have turned in Google Apps permission forms.  If you are not on the list, please turn in a form!  If you think you’ve turned on in already, but you’re not on the list, let me know and I’ll check on it for you).
2. Yesterday Step 7 results

- New

1. Watch Thrust SSC clip
2. Watch 1000MPH car development clip

- Do

1. View list of students who have turned in Google Apps permission forms.  If you are not on the list, please turn in a form!  If you think you’ve turned on in already, but you’re not on the list, let me know and I’ll check on it for you).
2. Complete Step 7 from yesterday (those with 2 or 3 checkmarks may skip this!)
3. Take this Quiz on Interwrite
4. Begin working on a Space Glog with your favorite images from Google Sky, your Sky Interwrite file (in your S-drive), or using images from the Google Sky Website or the Chandra Observatory catalogue of exploding stars.

- Through?

1. Watch this Marine Life slideshow (an MSNBC slideshow. Details: The Census of Marine Life has issued its final report on the 10-year effort to document the diversity of the world's oceans. More than 2,700 scientists cataloged 28 million observations of new species as well as old favorites.
2. Check out these free educational game sites and send me your recommendations using the Share Websites Form.

Friday 15th:  

- Review

1. View list of students who have not turned in Google Apps permission forms.  If you are on the list, please turn in a form! 

- New

1. Learning from Sherman the Shark
2. Chrome Speed Test
3. The making of Chrome Speed Test
4. Explore Google Moon

- Do

1. Watch the clips in the New section as a class
2. Complete Space Glogs

- Through?

1. Explore Google Moon
2. Check out these free educational game sites and send me your recommendations using the Share Websites Form.

Additional Information:

• Prezis