Last week of the term!

What a great week!  I think info tech class really enjoyed learning about emerging technology, and especially liked participating in the hour of code.  Hopefully it opened some eyes to see that it can be fun to do, and that there will be a big demand for it when they start looking for jobs.

Next week we will be wrapping things up for the term.  We will do some video editing on Monday and Tuesday.  Wednesday we will review for our final exam and make sure all of our make-up work is complete and turned in.  Thursday we will take our final (I will send home a study guide).  Friday we will clean shop (empty out our network drives, save anything we want to keep to our google drive, reset user-name and passwords for info tech accounts, etc...).

Although we are near the end for this class, do not slack off at the end of the term.  We have a big video project grade and obviously our final exam grade that will have a huge impact (positive or negative) on our grades as we finish up.

Emerging Technology & Hour of Code

Next week we will be learning about emerging technologies and will do some activities that are centered around an hour of code.

On Tuesday we will look at some examples of emerging technologies.  Some of the technologies we will talk about are text-to-speech http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/17/4596374/machine-language-how-siri-found-its-voice, and google project glass.  We will discuss pros and cons of various emerging technologies, then students will research and find more about other emerging technologies.  We will finish up with predicting what technologies we will see the most advancement in the next 5 years and discuss what that will look like.  Many of the most in-demand jobs for the next ten years haven't been created yet, so it is important to discuss this.

On Wednesday, we will be participating in a world-wide initiative called hour of code, the largest learning event in history.  The goal is to introduce programming and coding to as many people as possible in one week.  Information about the event can be found here http://hourofcode.com/us.

Wednesday we will be introduced to the basics of code, Thursday will be activities centered around block-coding, and Friday we will have an introduction to java.  Hopefully the kids will have fun, learn lot, and are looking forward to it as much as I am.

Access and Database

We were able to get our presentations all finished up and now have a short week before Thanksgiving break.  We learned the basics of Microsoft Access and database building.  We started off creating a database together as a class that included information about various colleges that we are interested in.

After our introduction database we will move on to create and manipulate other database projects that deal with other business and real world applications.

Everybody have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Presentation Software

Our next few projects involve working with various presentation software.  We will first make a non-linear powerpoint where students troubleshoot their way figuring out how to make a user-centered non-sequential slide show.  It can be a virtual tour, choose-your-own-adventure story, interactive diagram, etc.

Students will also research available web 2.0 presentation software examples.  Next they will choose one to learn more about, and will create a presentation with that program.

The last part students will do is collaboratively work together to create presentations using their google drive.

It is important to include sources where you find your information, pictures, videos, etc...  Remember google and google images are not sources.  Those are search engines.  List your sources correctly for your projects.

Finishing Spreadsheets

This week we will be finishing up our individual spreadsheet work.  Students should all have a solid foundation on how to utilize various functions, formulas, and features of Microsoft Excel so that they can create and manipulate spreadsheets.

Next we will do a few collaborative group projects by taking what we learned from Excel and applying it to Google Spreadsheets.  We will work with our groups through Friday.  On Monday November 17th, we will review for our spreadsheet assessment, and we will take the test over the unit on Tuesday the 18th.  This is a performance based test, so students will be expected to demonstrate what they have learned by creating a series of spreadsheets.

More Spreadsheets

Info Tech students have really been catching on to spreadsheets quickly.  Now that we have a good idea of how to use formulas, functions, filters, sorting, and other features of Microsoft Excel, we are ready to get into charts.  Here is a quick tutorial to watch to show you the very basics before we start jumping into these next week.

Spreadsheets

As we get our digital citizenship projects all finished, we are soon ready to start learning how to create and manipulate spreadsheets.  Here are some important videos to look at that will help you as you problem solve your way through some of our introduction work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_e0EOy1Ydo

Assignment: Digital Citizenship Project

Now that we have finished up our unit over digital literacy, you will be creating a product that demonstrates to me what you have learned.  The project will be a digital product of your choice.  This could be a brochure, poster, powerpoint, prezi, animoto, etc...  All I ask is that you be as creative as you can, and that you include all of the required information.

Required Information:

You will need a definition (3 points), general information (4 points), and properly listed sources (3 points) for each of the 5 areas that we learned about in class.  Digital Literacy, Social Media, Cyber Bullying, Online Safety, and Digital Footprint.  This comes to a total of 50 total points.

Remember to list your sources correctly.  Listing google, or google images as a source will count as 0 points for your sources.  If you get information from your class notes (your word document we added to each day), then be sure to list that as well.

When you are finished with your projects, we will save them to our drop box for grading.  Again, this project gives your the opportunity to demonstrate how much you have learned from our digital citizenship unit.  Give as much information as you possibly can, be creative, and make it something that you can be proud of.  Good luck!

Digital Citizenship

This week we will be learning about information literacy and digital citizenship.  Each day will include different topics that activities will be centered around.

Monday- information/digital literacy
Tuesday- social media
Wednesday- cyber bullying
Thursday- online safety
Friday- digital footprint

At the conclusion of the week, students will start putting together a final project that summarizes their learning from this unit.

Google Scholar is one of many tools students will be learning about with information/digital literacy.

Cloud Computing Activity

Today in class we had a discussion about cloud computing.  We then got familiarized with google drive.  Students were assigned groups and are creating a newsletter that reviews various technologies.  Students will be collaborating on the project using google drive from different computers.  I'm excited to see the types of technologies that they chose to review, and see what their opinions are of them.

Word Processing

Last week we got started with introduction information in Information Technology class.  We talked about why info tech skills are important, and looked at how technology is integrated into our lives.  We made a human time-line with examples of influential technologies throughout history.  We then started with the basics of word processing, and editing header/footer contents and using fields, like in this example tutorial here....

We then created a wordle using wordle.net that we imported into our first word processing document, which we used as a way to introduce ourselves.

Finally, we went through our editing assignments that allowed us to demonstrate what we know about the program Microsoft Word.  This next week, we will be learning about business letters and communication with technology.

New Term

Hard to believe the second quarter is already here.  Each quarter seems to go by faster than the previous.  I'm looking forward to this term of information technology students and getting to know them.  We will start off getting set up with our user-accounts and passwords, and learning the in's-and-out's of information technology.  We will probably end the week with word processing and business letters.

Be sure to follow @np_techbiz for assignments and class announcements, as well as updates on various school activities.  Looking forward to seeing everybody on Tuesday!

Term 1 Reflections

What a great term I had for Information Technology Class.  I was blessed with having very good classes with respectful students who did a great job of staying up on all their work, and asking questions if there were things they didn't understand.  Hopefully they were all able to get some trouble-shooting and problem solving skill sharpened that they can use as they go through further school and life.  End of this term is bitter-sweet.  Tough to see these classes leave, but am excited to see them progress towards their high school graduation, and excited to meet my new classes next Tuesday.

Final Week

Last week of information technology!  I was fortunate to have 2 great classes, and am hopeful to see many of them later again in graphic design.  As we get things wrapped up for the term, the class is finishing up their video projects, then will prepare for their final exam which will be on Thursday.

Video Editing

Students have started learning how to use various functions of video editing software.  Our first project involved making a video using pan/zoom effects with still images.  We will now start creating our videos targeted towards 8th graders about how to be successful at NPHS.  I think kids enjoyed looking at examples from previous years and seeing some of our upperclassmen when they were their age.  I'm excited to see how these projects turn out.

Database

Today we finished up our digital presentation unit with some collaborative group work using google presentation to make a slide show about cloud computing.  Tomorrow we will start our next unit which is over database.  We will learn the basics of Microsoft Access and will put together a database that has us researching possible colleges we would be interested in attending.

Web 2.0 Presentations

Now that we have finished up our powerpoint projects, we are moving on to our next presentation.  For this assignments students learned what web 2.0 means.  We then looked for examples of web 2.0 presentation applications on the internet, and everybody chose one they wanted to learn about.  Some of these included emaze, powtoon, prezi, capzles, popplet, and animoto.  After we learn about our apps, the class will create short projects demonstrating their knowledge of the features and functions that those programs have.  Students will finish up by comparing and contrasting their web 2.0 application to powerpoint.

Non-Linear Powerpoint

We are finally done with spreadsheets!  Great job everybody!!  This week we will be working with digital presentations.  As a powerpoint review, we will be taking a different spin with this program.  You will make a presentation that allows users to navigate through the powerpoint in a non-sequential way.  It can be a choose-your-own-adventure story, a virtual field trip, an interactive diagram, a review game, or anything else you can think of.  The tough part is that you will trouble-shoot your way to find out how to make a non-linear powerpoint.  Use your background knowledge and resources available to find out how to accomplish this.  Good Luck!

Spreadsheet Final

We are in the process of finishing up our spreadsheet unit.  September 10, we finished up our spreadsheet assignments and worked collaboratively on a spreadsheet using google drive.  We then converted it into a spreadsheet to turn in to the drop box.

On September 11 we will review what we have learned and will go over any questions anybody may have to make sure we are sharp on our skills using Microsoft Excel.

September 12 we will take our spreadsheet test.  Remember this is a performance-based test.  There are two parts where you will be asked to make spreadsheets, demonstrate how to use formulas/functions, and to select and utilize appropriate charts.  Review your past assignments, watch our class tutorial videos, and make some practice spreadsheets to help you be successful on this test.

Flipped Classroom: Charts

We will be adding charts to our spreadsheets within the next few days.  Look over this tutorial to have a better understanding of how we will be adding charts in class and be prepared to demonstrate what you learned.

What are the types of charts that this tutorial discussed?  Think of an example where one chart works better than the rest.  Why would we want to use charts if we have a spreadsheet of numbers?

Flipped Classroom: Spreadsheets

As we near the completion of our digital literacy project, sometime during the next few days watch these youtube tutorials dealing with spreadsheets.  We will be discussing these Microsoft Excel features and using them in class as soon as tomorrow.

 

These videos deal with functions, formulas, and the fill button.  All of these will help make your spreadsheet assignments go much faster!

Info Tech Digital Literacy Project

We have finished up our unit over digital literacy.  All that we have left is to demonstrate our learning by completing a final project.  Students will create a product of their choice that demonstrates their understanding of the 5 following areas:  1. Information/Digital Literacy,  2. Social Media,  3. Online Safety,  4. Cyberbullying, and 5. Digital Footprint.  For each section students should be able to give a description about each of the listed areas, give information, pictures, and  useful information about each of the areas, and list their sources where they found their information.  These projects will no doubt, be very creative and I'm excited to see the quality of work that we turn out.

Students can go to the classroom digital bulletin boards for links to the information we went over this week, and may use their word document that contains all of their notes.  Students may also use any other sources to find more information to add to their projects.

information literacy

This week we are learning about digital literacy in information technology.  We will start off by learning how to determine if a web site is valid.  Some tools we used today where how to read a web address (identify a URL, domain, and extension), how to find an owner/publisher of a website with easywhois.com, how to find the history of a web page using archive.org, and how to find web sites with external links that take you to a specific web page.  The internet can be a very useful tool when doing research, but it is important to use multiple sources, and to understand that not all information online is reliable.

Above is a quick tutorial showing the basics of google scholar, a useful searching tool when finding journals and scholarly papers online.

Communication, Collaboration, and Google Drive

This week we learned about professional communication in information technology.  We learned how to create business letters and how to select appropriate templates that are available in Microsoft Word.  We also were introduced to Google Drive and cloud computing.  We learned how to use the word processor, and share a document with other people.  Students worked in groups to create a story on one document from different computers at the same time.  We also worked in groups to create technology review newsletters on Google drive. 

Introduction to Business Letters

We are working through our word-processing section in information technology.  We reviewed over the basics of Microsoft Word, and are going over communication with technology.  One way to do this is with the use of business letters.  Here is an example of the format of the Block Style Letter with open punctuation that we are using in class.

We will also discuss forms of electronic communication and proper ways to use it.

First Week Summary

Information Technology classes are off to a great start!  We learned about trends in technology, and finished up today with our human timeline of technology history.  Once we finished we got started with word processing.  We learned how to set up our header and footer.  We also learned how to save this to our network folders and to our network drop box.  We created a wordle, screen-captured it, then cropped it to a word document as well.

Next week we will finish up word-processing, and learn how to communicate professionally through business letters, email, etc...

Here our a couple of brief tutorials of what we used on Friday in case you need to refresh your memory, or if you want to see what was going on in class.

Importance of Technology

Great first day of the school year!  Glad to know the class of 2018!!  We will be learning about the importance of information technology, and how technology has been influenced throughout our lives.  We will then take this information and predict what trends will be showing up in emerging technologies.  This video clip is a great example of showing how our world is always changing, and how technology is a central piece of this change.

Welcome to 2014 school year!

Welcome to the 2014/2015 school year!  Hope you all had a great summer and are ready to start the next stage in your learning here as a BULLDOG!  Wednesday we will be getting acclimated to classroom procedures and expectations, as well as getting our technology and computer accounts set up for class.

Stay tuned to this blog for assignment/homework postings, and also if you are on twitter, give a follow to @np_techbiz for assignment and school activity reminders at NPHS.  I will be looking forward to meeting you all soon!  Let's have a successful year!