7th Grade :: Technology Applications

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please save all of your text files as .rtf
Rich Text Format

CONTACT

sherill.maddox@fwafa.org

SCHEDULE

4th period
10:51a-11:41a
fwafatech4@gmail.com
6th period
1:09p - 1:59p
fwafatech6@gmail.com
7th period
2:02p - 2:52p
fwafatech7@gmail.com

9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31	1	2	3	4	5

Video progress check dates (you are the red days):

Tuesday, 5/11 Group's Video Plan
Thursday, 5/13: work in class (progress check grade)
Monday, 5/17: work in class(progress check grade)
Wednesday, 5/19: work in class (progress check grade)
Friday, 5/21: editing videos in MovieMaker
Tuesday, 5/25: FINAL VIDEO DUE - begin watching videos in class
Thursday, 5/27: VOTING

ASSIGNMENTS

Tuesday, 5/25: Finish Line!

Guess what - I'm not there! And you will get your movies turned in just fine - I'm not worried! These are your insturctions for turning in your movie:

Saving Your Movie to Your Computer
- Remember that finishing your movie is different that saving your movie project file! VERY different! Not the same thing at all! The difference between passing and not passing!
- If you are not sure of this difference, please use the link above and/or remind each other in a respectful manner how this process works
Name your movie advice_nameNameNameName.wmv, or .avi
IF YOU'RE NOT SURE HOW MAKE AN .AVI OR .WMV FILE, use FormatFactory!

Place this video in you maddox folder and I will look for it there. IT MUST BE IN YOUR MADDOX FOLDER!

For today, please just try to focus on finishing your movie, rather than making it perfect! When I get back, we'll begin watching them all toegether! IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'll try to be online during your class periods, so I can help.

DUE TODAY: Final Advice Video

Friday, 5/20: Movie Maker Tips

We'll look at some video footage and edit it together in class using these tricks:

splitting video
deleting and joining sections of video
seperating audio from the video
adding sound
creating titles/text
some special effects

Movie Maker Basics handout (pdf)
This is an excellent resource guide - it covers all of the above tricks in case you didn't catch something in class!

REMEMBER, YOUR VIDEO IS DUE WHEN WE HAVE CLASS TOGETHER AGAIN - TUESDAY!

(this is just a reminder of the original assignment as you finish up your final video segment)
Some guidelines for your video segments:

This is a Movie Maker project - the assignment that you turn in to me must be done in Movie Maker.
The shorter the segment, the better.
- This is not intended to be a video that has a beginning, middle, end with a plot - this is not a full length video!
- Your videos will be created as segments that can then be put together with other "segments" into one, longer video project.
Every person in your group does not have to be in the video!
Be respectful of everyone involved - you as the creator, the students who will watch your video, and the people that your video is about!

Monday, 5/17: Preparing for Movie Maker

Today we'll assess where everyone is in the video process. Depending upon that, we'll spend some time looking at Movie Maker and talk about some editing tricks.

If most everyone in your class is still shooting their videos, we will do this on Wednesday.

Today is a participation/completion grade

Tuesday, 5/11: Preparing to Shoot Your Videos

As a class, review some of the pieces of advice that was given for each of the 3 categories:

organization
teachers
social

Now, identify your classmates that have access to a video camera that can be used for this assignment. Divide yourselves into groups around those who have cameras. I am not going to assign a size for your groups - you need to make sure that however large or small your group, each person will be able to contribute to your video project. I would like each group to focus on one of those categories as the topic for your video segment(s).

For today's assignment, each group will create a document, named advice_category_teamname.rtf (advice_social_myteam.rtf), and save it in your maddox folder. This document must contain the following items of information:

The name of your "team" and the names of each person on your team
Each item of advice that your group will focus on:
- Write a step by step description of what that particular video segment will look like (storyboard)
- Include a list of props/costumes that you'll need and how you will get them
- Make a list of special arrangements that need to be made before you start shooting and who will be responsible for making them

Please be as detailed as you possibly can. The more complete your plan, the quicker and easier it will be to shoot your video footage!

When you are finished with your plan, print it out and turn it in to Mr. Coleman.

DUE: at the end of class today, Tuesday, 5/11

Some guidelines for your video segments:

This is a Movie Maker project - the assignment that you turn in to me must be done in Movie Maker.
The shorter the segment, the better.
- This is not intended to be a video that has a beginning, middle, end with a plot - this is not a full length video!
- Your videos will be created as segments that can then be put together with other "segments" into one, longer video project.
Every person in your group does not have to be in the video!
Be respectful of everyone involved - you as the creator, the students who will watch your video, and the people that your video is about!

Monday, 5/3: Advice for Next Year's 7th Graders

Well. You've been at the business of being a 7th grader for nearly a year now. Today's assignment is to write sopme advice for next year's 7th graders - things they need to know so that they will have a successful year! Who better to ask than you?

DUE: Today, Monday, 5/3 - print out and turn in before you leave class today.

Wednesday, 4/21: Summary Practice

How Stuff Works

I want you to go to the How Stuff Works website and find a "school appropriate" article about something that you don't know anything about. Read the article and then write a 200 word (minimum) summary about the article. Be sure to include the URL of the actual article and cite any other sources that you used!

Save this as hsw_name.rtf (hsw_sherill.rtf) in your maddox folder. I will deduct points if it is not saved in the .rtf format - if you have a question about that, be sure to ask me!

Be sure to also put your name and class period on your assignment!

DUE: at the end of class today - print this out and turn it in to me!

Thursday, 4/15: Finish Up Prezi's

Today will be the last day that we look at each other's Prezi's.

Tuesday, 4/13: We'll Give it the Old FWAFA Try.

Depending on what you think about the smell in the room, we'll either be looking at our Prezi's in here, in another room, or meeting somewhere else for a study hall time. Bring something to do, just in case!

You need to have turned in your Prezi by now in order to recieve a grade for this assignment for this 6 week grading period. [See the instructions posted on Monday, 4/5.] If you are having trouble turning it in, you need to let me know ASAP.

Friday, 4/9: Meet in Mrs. Taylor's room today!

I will have some survey questions for us to discuss today.

Wednesday, 4/7: Fire!

No kidding. Due to the smoke damage in the computer lab from the fire last night, we'll be meeting in the auditorium today. bring something quiet to do so we don't disrupt the class that meets on the stage.

Monday, 4/5: Prezi Presentations!

In case you haven't gotten your Prezi turned in, these are the instructions:

On your Prezi desktop page, use the "share" option and send it to:

fwafatech4@gmail.com
fwafatech6@gmail.com
fwafatech7@gmail.com

IF, for whatever reason, it will not send, close that box and reopen the box. Look for the "copy link" on the lower right side and click that button. Then, open an email in your own email account and paste the link in the body of your email, then send it to your class's email address. Make sure I know who it's from!

Thursday, 4/1: April Fools!

Make sure that I have your Prezi by the end of the period. Then, and ONLY then, you may have a free day!

Monday, 3/22: Welcome Back!

We'll take a diversion from your CyberSaftey work, but we will get back to it! I promise!

Prezi.com

Click the Sign Up button
scroll to the bottom of the chart where you see a blue box that says "Free", and click the white button that says "Get"
Fill out the form completely - be sure to check the Terms of Use box above the Register and Continue button
Once that is done, we'll look at Prezi together

Your assignment will be posted here at the end of the day!

DUE: TODAY is a participation/completion grade.

We'll take a diversion from your CyberSaftey work, but we will get back to it! I promise!

Tuesday, 3/9: Questions to Answer about your Danger Term...

Danger Terms Assignment

(This information is also in the Danger Terms Assignment file. Please read and follow those directions for your assignment!)
In your team, define your danger term and answer the following questions. Also, copy and paste the URL of the website where you got your answers from.

What is "it"? Are there other variations of "it"?
How does "it" work or what does "it" do?
Where did "it" come from? (give some history about "it")
How does "it" affect and/or infect your computer?
What are some specific examples of how your danger term works?
How can you protect yourself against "it"?
What advice do you have for parents when they monitor their kid's computer use to avoid problems?
What sites would you recommend others visit for more information about your danger term?

How will this be graded?

30% - Is each question answered completely, or does it make me ask more questions?
50% - Is the URL for each answer copy and pasted with each answer?
20% - Based on my observations: teamwork and staying on task to complete the assignment.

DUE: Thursday, 3/11 in class

Friday, 3/5: Danger Terms

We talked about some dangers out there online. Maybe some words were mentioned that I said that we would talk about later - it's later! Only you're going to become the expert and teach the rest of us about these danger terms:

viruses
worm
trojan horse
spyware, malware, adware
pop-ups
spam
cookies
hoaxes, phishing, scams, fraud
identity theft

Divide yourselves into pairs, and let Mr. Schneider write down your names. Then, each team needs to choose one of these terms - all terms must be equally represented (as can be). Mr. Schneider can help you to choose your terms if you can't do it yourselves. He will also record who has which terms.

For today

gather your teams and choose your term
open a Word document and save it as cyberSaftey_name.rtf in your maddox
Begin to read about your danger term. Use the sources in the following links to help you learn more about your term:
- Resources for Learning About Danger Terms
  
  (click on the logo too!)
Copy and paste some website URLs into your document that you think will be useful for more information.

DUE: TODAY, team lists and terms, and begin looking up some information

On Tuesday next week, I will give you a specific list of questions that you'll need to answer about your danger term. Then I'll explain what our final product will be....

Monday, 3/1: CyberSafety

Open a Word document and save it as safetySurvey_name.rtf in your maddox folder. I want you to write about these 3 things:

What I know about online dangers
What I know about how to avoid these dangers
What do I want to know about online safety?

When everyone has finished answering these questions, you will then have a class discussion and create a class list for these 3 questions. I want someone to record these ideas on the board and Mr. Coleman will record them as well so that I can see your class's list.

DUE: Today at the end of the period: your individual Safety Survey list. I will gather these out of your folders. Mr. Coleman will also make notes about your participation in the class discussion for a grade as well.

Catching Up!

Due to a holiday, 2 snow days, and various and sundry technical/computer issues, we've lost a big chunk of time for working on this audio editing project! We will get back on track and resume our class rhythm. This is a brief synopsis of what/where we've been and where we are:

Ripped/Copied an audio file from a cd using Windows Media Player
Converted the file format using FormatFactory
- We also discovered that FormatFactory can rip music files from a cd too.
Edited the file in Audacity
Exported the file as an .mp3 file into your MyMusic folder with the proper file name.

These are links to download the software programs that we use in class:

FormatFactory - for converting the format of any type of media file
- Just a note about installing FormatFactory - once you reach the "finished" screen and click "next," be sure to look at what is on the next screen before you close the installation program! If you don't, FileFormat will automatically install the Ask.com search bar in your browser and add links to eBay. You will need to UNcheck those boxes!
FDDShow - You should also download and install this file as well. It is necessary in order for some file formats to be converted. You won't see anything happen once you install this file. That's ok!
Audacity - audio editing software
- Lame for Audacity - You'll also need this file in order to export files as .mp3 files.
- Installation instructions for the lame file.
SourceForge.net - the open sourceware site that has all kinds of free programs to download!

Tuesday, 2/22: Bell Files DUE TODAY!

Just a reminder about how to finalize your bell file:

Go to file > Export as MP3.
Be sure to name the file (bell_songTitle_name), that the file type is .mp3 and that it goes to your MyMusic folder.
Once the processing box is closed, your .mp3 file is saved.
When you close Audacity and it asks you if you want to "save changes to this file," click NO.

Monday, 2/8: Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!

ASSIGNMENT:

In what format is the music file that you wish to use for a bell?
We know that Audacity won't accept this file type. Why won't it accept this file type? (Answer this question for a .wma format)
What is another format that Audacity will use? Where did you find this answer?
How can you change the format of your original bell file?
- Can you do this in Windows Media Player? (yes or no) Where did you find this answer?
- Can you do this in Audacity? (yes or no) Where did you find this answer
When you find an answer to how you will convert your file, write down the instructions so that you can follow them yourself.
- Also include where you got those instructions.

Save this document as audioConversion_name.rtf (audioConversion_sherill.rtf) in your maddox folder. Also print it out and turn this in to me during our next class meeting on Wednesday, 2/10.

I will not help you with this assignment. You must find these answers yourself. You must ask the right questions that will lead you to the right answers. This is called "critical thinking." This is also an example of something that you will need to be able to do in real life...

DUE: Wednesday, 2/10 in class

Week of 2/1 - 2/4: More Bells....

We spent time making sure that everyone has ripped/copied a song to use out of which to make a bell file. This turned out to be more tedious than I expected!

Friday, 1/29: For Whom the Bell Tolls

Mr. Wolf is your sub today - be nice! He may be asking you about file formats and things that we've been talking about - be ready!

He will have a CD for you to listen to from which you need to choose at least one song that you can make a bell out of - you may choose a few songs if you wish. I want you to write down the CD you've listened to and the name of the song/s that you've chosen.

YOU WILL NEED TO SHARE HEADPHONES! PLEASE BE PATIENT!

DUE: at the end of the period TODAY
Print this out and turn it in to Mr. Wolf - make sure your name is on it!!!

Monday, 1/25: Sounds.... Bells......

How are sounds used? Where do we hear them? Why do we hear them? What do they mean?

Consider these questions regarding our bells that begin and dismiss classes here at FWAFA. I want you to write a few guidelines that we can follow as we choose and create our own bell files. Remember that we are a fine arts school that performs musicals, ballets, operas, choral music and instumental music.

Also, list 5-10 song titles that you think would make a great bell file. There are no right or wrong answers

DUE: IN CLASS, today. Print this out and turn it in to me.

Tuesday, 1/19: File Format Test

File Format Test

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE CLICKING ON THE LINK!

RIGHT click on the File Format Test link
Choose "save as" or "save target as"
Don't change the file name that it shows, BUT add your name to that name:
- fileFormat_test_sherill.rtf
make sure it saves to your maddox folder!

First Semester 2009

These are some additional notes that you will need for reference:

MOVIE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE:

Please note that I've changed the due date to the last day of school - we will work on these as long as we can and then view them when we get back from the holiday break!

Monday, 11/30: Introduce Movie Maker
Wednesday, 12/02: Introduce Audacity, work on timelines
- participation/completion grade based on productive use of class time
Friday, 12/04: work on timelines, begin edits
- participation/completion grade based on productive use of class time
Tuesday, 12/08: finishing up,
Thursday 12/10: "Saving your movie" video
- This will be an assignment grade.
Monday, 12/14: finishing movie.....
TBD: final test over MM vocabulary and PowerPoint skills.
Final movie file due Friday, 12/18 - before you leave for break!

I will stay after school each day at least until 5:00 so that if you need extra time or help, you can have it - let me know in advance if you'd like to stay later than 5:00. If we need to set up some time on Saturday too, we will do that.

Monday, 11/23: Final Project Assignment

Final Project Assignment. This is the same file as what I gave you in class.

DUE TODAY: files for your movie

This is an ambitious project and it's success will depend upon your ability to plan your content! I want you to use your family for resources so any of their contributions are welcome. I will send an email to your folks telling them about this assignment so that they'll be ready for you!

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT is for a participation/completion grade: do you have the files you need for your video, and your attention to the "how-to" videos that we'll view together.

FINAL PROJECT DUE: Thursday, 12/10: This will count as a test score..
We will have graded check points as we work through this.

Friday, 11/13: Today...

TypingAce login link: TypingAce login page

I want you to continue with the TypingAce program that we've been doing. Mrs. Cox will assign your username and your password is fwafa. You need to work on typing exercises. At a certain point, Mrs. Cox will tell you that you can play the typing games that are part of TypingAce - you man NOT play any other games, typing or not.

I've already told you guys this, but I want to record it in writing so that there are no questions: Mrs. Cox has my complete permission to issue a detention if she thinks one is needed. She will leave me notes and if I have issues with anything that she did not deal with, I will issue a

Monday, 11/09: Keyboarding for Keeps

Use this link to login to TypingAce: TypingAce login page

(You may need to delete any unsername/password that is already showing.) I will assign you your username - it will be the word "student" with a number between 01 and 20. Please listen closely to the username I give you! The password for all usernames is "fwafa" (without the quotation marks).

This is a trial version, so we'll be figuring it out together!

Tuesday, 11/03: Getting Back on Track!

You are going to create your own memory games.

use 1 powerPoint slide
use 30 CLIP ART images
- if you do a search for clipart, you MUST use the words "clip art" in your search
add some sort of animation
include a list of your items
save as memory_name in your maddox folder (memory_sherill)

Thursday, 11/05 at the end of class

Monday, 10/19: PowerPoint 2007: conclusion

You must finish your online tutorial today in class! If you have finished it, you may begin to re-work your original "aboutMe" powerPoint that we did before the tutorial. Save the update one as Xred_undatedName, (7red_updatedSherill) in your maddox folder.

I will post a rubric here so that you can see what I will be looking for in your udpated aboutMe powerPoint.

A note about the Collin powerpoints - I'm still putting them all together! We will look at them together in class on Wednesday!

Thursday, 10/8: PowerPoint 2007: Customizing Presentations

Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 in pictures

Continue from where you left off on Tuesday. Work through the section titled "Customizing Presentations." Again follow the instructions carefully with these exceptions:

1. On the first page of Insert Charts and Tables, simply open your redX_tutorialName.pptx file from your maddox folder.

PLEASE READ THIS extra information about the slide series that says Insert a Chart:

Instruction number 5: this is the page that shows you how to create the chart - follow these instructions.
Instruction number 6: An Excel spreadsheet will automatically open up over the top of your powerPoint - do not close it!!!
- As the instructions say, highlight the information you see on the spreadsheet and delete it by using the "delete" button.
- Copy exactly the chart information shown in #6.
- Once you have copied the chart exactly into the spreadsheet, you do not need to save it. Simply close that window.
- The chart now showing in your powerPoint slide represents the information that you typed into the spreadsheet. This is very good!

When you get to Employ design templates, please stop and wait for everyone to catch up. You may quietly help someone or play a game. Quietly, so that when we're all caught up, you will know.

We will progress from that point as instructed.

Tuesday, 10/6: PowerPoint2007 from Scratch

Your AboutMe powerpoints were so cool! I love learning about each of you! There was also some mad PPT skills being demonstrated! We're all going to learn those mad skills together now.

We'll be using an online tutorial to work our way through learning how to use PowerPoint 2007 from the beginning. Some of this will be a review for some of you and for some of you, you'll be thinking "why did no one ever tell me this?" So, PLEASE BE PATIENT with your classmates! It is very important that we are all able to work together in any piece of software!

Click on this link to go to our tutorial: Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 in pictures. We will begin with the first section, Creating a Presentation and work through it in class together. Let me know when you have completed this section for further instructions.

DUE: in class today, a completion grade - Tuesday 10/6

Monday, 9/28: Finishing PowerPoint

You powerpoint will be due at the end of class today. Be sure to save this as aboutName example: (aboutSherill). Also be sure to save it into your maddox folder in your MyDocuments folder. If you don't have a maddox folder, you will need to create one. This is all part of your grade!

If you finish early, please spend some time typing in any of our typing applications.

If you already named your file with your class period, you don't need to change it!

Tuesday, 9/22: PowerPoint - All About Me!

Well, it's about time to do something fun. Right? Enter: Power Point.

You will create a Power Point presentation about yourself. You will need to do it exactly as I instruct:

You will only have 6 pages, and each page will be about each of these topics:
1. Introductory Page
2. About My Family
3. About My Art
4. About My Friends
5. About My Favorite Vacation
6. Resources: a list of sources for each of the images that you used

You will need to keep a text file in which to record all of your sources
- name this file: resources.rtf and place it in your maddox folder
- record the name and/or description of the picture
- record the entire url of the actual page that that picture comes from.
  Google Images is NOT a resource!
- (example) help button - http://fwafatech.net/index.html

Save this powerPoint as aboutName
- (example) aboutMaddy - this is Maddy's powerpoint.

You will be graded on content alone. We will add the cool stuff together later...

Thursday, 9/24 at the end of class.

You only have 2 hours of classtime - don't spend it talking and looking at everyone else's powerpoint! We will look at them all!

Wednesday, 9/16: Keyboarding Theory

I want you to read through the 7 Keys to Success when learning to type. When you've finished it,

Open a new document in Word.
Go to File > Save As and save this document as: keyboardQuiz_myname.rtf in your MyDocuments > maddox folder
Re-read the 7 Keys to Success when learning to type
As you read, write a quiz about these 7 Keys that can be answered by someone who has viewed the slide show.
Write in this format:
- Write the question
- Write the answer, and color the answer text red.

This is a sample question/answer that you might write:

1. How many keys are there to successful keyboarding?
7

2. When starting to type, the most important thing is:
a. speed
b. accuracy

You will need to write a minimum of 10 questions! The quality of your q&a's will impact your grade. Also, more that 10 questions will be considered to improve your grade.

DUE: Friday, 9/17 in class

< br />

Monday, 9/14: More, More, More - Faster, Faster, Faster!!!

ASSIGNMENT: Spend your time in class today focused on keyboarding. Use any of the typing apps that are listed on the right:

Typing Pal: use your user account we set up in class
Typing Web: login with fwafa/fwafa
Type Racer: at the bottom of the login screen, choose GUEST login
*NEW* Typing Games: no login!

DUE: Wednesday, 9/15 - 10 minutes on Typing Pal (after class today)

Thursday, 9/10: Keyboarding!

Your parents are all asking (as are some of you): will they learn keyboarding? Well, I'm going to teach it, but YOU are going to have to learn it.... by practicing!

Typing Pal

We will be creating your accounts today in class. Please pay close attention while we do this! You'll get a participation grade for this process.

ASSIGNMENT: Spend at least 15 minutes on Typing Pal.

DUE: Monday before class.

Type Racer

Friday, 8/28: Great Moments in Communication History

OK. I got it. You want bullets? You got bullets!

You'll be creating a "poster" that represents your Great Moment in Communication History.

If you don't have your notecard, click the link for a list of dates and events to find yours:
- List of Great Moments in Communication History

You poster will:

be no smaller than an 8x10 piece of paper and no larger than ½ of a poster board
show the date and the title of your "Moment"
show interesting facts about your "Moment"
- You'll need to look up your event to learn more information about it
- I do not want a full report - just interesting facts - BULLET POINTS!
- Just this one time, you do not need to cite your sources unless you choose to.
have your name and your class period on the back (unless you want it on the front)
- I take 5 points off for no class period
- I also take 5 points off for no name

I will grade your poster based on these elements:

When I look at it, is your "Moment" immediately visible?
- Do I have to get up close to it to see it or read it?
- Is your "Moment" easily identifiable?
Is your poster neat?
- Is there a sense of order to it?
- Does it look "thrown together?"
- Is it balanced? Is there space for everything?
Is your poster creative?
- Did you use some creative artistic mediums?
- Does it look like you made an effort to make it look unique?
- Does it use a variety of mediums? (pictures, textures, colors, etc)
Does your poster display something that shows me that you spent some time looking it up to learn more about it?
- Is there something new on your poster that isn't on your card?
- Does your poster just say what your card says?

(are the bullet points ok?)

DUE: Thursday, 9/3 at the beginning of class. You will not have time during class to finish it.

Remember, come talk to me asap if you are having any problems with this assignment!