Mrs. Mac's Computer Classes

Rolling Study Halls, etc.

2010-05-18T09:58:00.003-04:00

Whether you are forced to endure long school bus rides or not (don't forget those long bus rides to athletic events!), here's an idea to think about. Read this article and think about whether EK should try something like this. For a better idea of how this whole things works, here's another article about rolling study halls. After you read both articles, come back here and leave comments about whether rolling study halls are something we should consider at our school. Also, what other places or situations come to mind that might benefit from WiFi? What would be positive aspects and what would be negative outcomes of having Internet access in these places?

Photo by: Twix

8th Grade: Could you survive 24 hours unplugged?

2010-05-04T10:04:00.004-04:00

photo from FeaturePics

What would it be like for you to go 24 hours without any type of media? That means you would give up your:
cell phone
iPod
television
car radio
magazines
newspapers
computer
Xbox360
No texting, no music, no IMing, no Facebook, no video games.

Could you do it? Would it be possible? What do you think would happen? What would you miss the most? What would you do instead? What are your thoughts about this? How successful would our class be if I gave you the assignment to go 24 hours without media?

5th & 6th grade: Internet Vocabulary

2010-05-02T23:43:00.002-04:00

Below are some key words and phrases that will help us speak the language of the Internet. Even though you think you know them all, be sure that you can really define them.

Directions for assignment

1. Open a new Word document and type in the header as you have been taught.

2. Do a Save As and title the document "Internet Words."

3. Type the Internet vocabulary words in bold type just the way you see them below. Don't forget to number them and be careful to spell each word or phrase correctly. All words should be justified to the left margin.

4. Under each vocabulary word, correctly type the definition of the word or term.

5. Print out the completed list.

1. Address/URL

The place where a Web site lives on the Internet.

2. Address bar/Location bar
The space on the top of your Internet screen where you type in a Web address.

3. Browser

The software program that lets you view what's on the Internet.

Examples: Internet Explorer and Firefox

4. Home page
The first page of a Web site OR
The page that appears when you open your browser.

5. Password

The top secret word that let's you into your computer, OR your e-mail, OR sites for members only.

6. Refresh
The button you click on to reload the Web page you have been using. This updates the information on the page.
7. Search engine
An online program designed to search for information on the World Wide Web.

8. Bookmark/Favorites

The way you save the address to a Web site so you can get back to it quickly without typing in the address again.

9. Link
Text or image you can click on to open a new page.
10. Back button
The button you click on to return to the Web page you just left.
11. Cyberspace
The invisible space that connects all the computer networks in the world.

12. Surfing the Internet
Exploring the Internet by going from place to place without having a specific destination in mind.
13. Internet
The huge computer network that allows computers all over the world to communicate with each other.
14. Cookie

A short line of text that a web site puts in your computer when you access that site.

After you finish typing the vocabulary words and definitions, explore the web sites below and complete the form that you will be given for this part of the assignment. Refer to the defintions you just completed if you need help answering some of the questions.

Kids Know It Network

Educational Web sites- be sure you scroll all the way down the page to see all the topics you can explore.

KidsClick!

Web search for students

Fact Monster

Another search site for students

5th & 6th Grade Web Site Review

2010-04-29T23:09:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Here are three Web sites I want you to visit.
Just click on each title below to get to the site by that name.
Spend 15 minutes on each site and find out what's on each site.
Play the games and watch the videos that you will find there.
In a gmail message to me, type the title of each site, give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down rating, and give two reasons why you rated that site that way.

OBAMA'S DOG

PHOTOGRAPHY FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

APLUSMATH

8th Grade: Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

2010-04-20T13:20:00.002-04:00

Photo by ronnie44052

When you use a photo that someone else took, you must give credit to the photographer. You must also be sure that you take the photo from a site that gives you permission to use that photo.

I took the photo above from Flickr, a Web site with millions of photos that are licensed under Creative Commons for reuse. Please note that the photographer's name is a link back to the Flickr page where the photo is available. I will show you how to do that in class.

5th & 6th Grade Typing Games

2010-04-16T07:15:00.002-04:00

Hello to all of you who have finished the Typing Pal Online exercises! If you have finished all the typing lessons, taken the final test, and turned your final log into Mrs. Mac, then you can check out the links below to find more typing games and exercises. There's quite a variety to choose from, so have fun trying out several of them. Be sure to read the directions before you start!

Current Tech News: Texting Can Hurt

2010-04-14T19:00:00.005-04:00

While we have been discussing wonderful new developments in technology, we should be aware that our favorite "gadgets" can bring us problems as well as fun and enjoyment . It's no secret that teens love to use their cell phones to send lots of text messages to their friends and family. Click here to watch a current news item about a potential text messaging hazard and read the accompanying article Teen Gets Carpal Tunnel from Texting to learn more about the problem.

Return here to find out what exactly is "carpal tunnel syndrome?" Watch this video for a clear explanation of this painful condition.

How many text messages do you send a day? week? month? Do you know someone (no names, please) who sends as many text messages a week as Annie Levitz does?

Leave your comments regarding your reaction to this current tech issue.

8th Grade: Blogs for you to explore

2010-03-30T09:26:00.006-04:00

Below are links to six very different blogs that I want you to explore and then answer the questions about them.

You should spend at least 10 minutes on each blog and then answer the following questions. I expect complete answers to the questions so don't rush through this exercise!

Type your answers in a gmail message to me, and use the subject line exploring blogs.

1. What is the title of each blog?
2. What is the date of the most recent post (entry)?
3. What is the blogger's name if you can locate it? (hint: look for blogger's profile)
4. What is the date of the blog's first post? (hint: check the blog's archives)
5. What is the overall purpose of the blog?

The blogs:

Winfield City Schools Pirate Blog

The It's My Life Blog

Today I Saw

One Hungry Chef

Faces In Places

Traumador The Tyrannosaur

Video: Online Scam

2010-03-22T12:59:00.001-04:00

"Operation Pfish Pfry"

The CNN video below showed up in my news reader last fall ago. It's a timely example of a downside of the Internet, one we should all be able to recognize and guard against. Watching and discussing the video with your students will help to reinforce the constant need for online vigilance.

5th & 6th grades: Cybersafety

2010-03-16T07:33:00.000-04:00

We have been discussing many ideas for keeping yourself safe while using the Internet. By now you should be able to pass the test for your Internet Driver's license. Please go to the Web site below and become a licensed Internet cruiser. When you get there you will need to type in your FIRST NAME only and click on "drive."

Follow the red road until you have stopped at every stop along the way.

PBS Internet License

After you have your license, help me check out the games on the next page. I'm going to be asking your honest opinion of them, so be sure to check them out thoroughly!

We Are the World 25 - YOU can help Haiti

2010-02-15T08:35:00.024-05:00

You have all heard Mrs. Eggerton's plea for help for the people of Haiti who are still in desperate need of help following the devastating earthquake on January 12th. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie's wonderful song, "We Are the World". In a tribute to that song and in an effort to help the earthquake victims, many well-known recording artists came together to record a new version of that song as a reminder that we ARE all one world and that Haiti still needs our help.

WE ARE THE WORLD 25
Watch this new recording, listen to the words,
and remember that there is still time to help.

Items that are needed:

First aid kits
Bandages
Gauze
Towels and washcloths
Cereal
Peanut Butter
Blankets
Snack foods like granola bars, etc. (Nothing that will melt in heat - like chocolate)
Personal hygiene products - soap, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.

The deadline for bringing in items is Monday, March 1, 2010.

You CAN make a difference!

8th grade - Animoto and Your Blog

2009-11-18T00:37:00.008-05:00

You can add your newly created Animoto video to your blog. Just follow these steps carefully:

1. Sign into Animoto and bring up your video.

2. Open the toolbox.

3. Click on "Embed", choose the size you want, and copy the code you see in the window. (You may have to experiment with the size. For this blog, I had to use the smallest size in order to make the video completely visible on my blog.)
4. Open the post you want to put the video on or start a new post.

5. Click on "Edit HTML" and position your cursor on the blog where you want the video to go.

6. Do a right click paste.

7. Type in the text that you want to accompany your video.

The only way that you can view your blog with video is to actually publish it. If you aren't pleased with the way it looks, click on customize and edit the post until you have it the way you want it.

8th Grade - 11/6/09 Animoto Assignment

2009-11-03T21:03:00.035-05:00

On Friday you will present a 30 second Animoto video to the class using my computer and projector. The things that will determine your grade for the assignment are:

1. A brief (30-60 second) explanation to the class about your video (5 points)

2. The 30 second video on a theme of your choice: (20 points)

12 copyright permissible photos -
1 Photo Credit slide containing the photographer's name and title of picture
Music chosen from Animoto collection

3. You will turn in: (10 points)

Copy of MS Word document containing Web addresses, photographers, and photo titles
Copy of Photo Credit slide
Short description of your video: length, song and artist title

I will give you a form to fill out about your video that will help you organize this assignment. I will use this same form to grade your video.

8th Grade Assignment for Oct. 20, 2009

2009-10-19T22:01:00.002-04:00

1. For those of you who created your blog yesterday, please send your blog address to me today. Make the subject line of the message My Blog Address.

2. Please investigate the following blog sites to see what other people have done with their blog. Be looking for ideas that you can use. Subscribe to ones that you like. Take notes on any ideas that might be helpful to you.

3. Gmail your comments on these six blogs to me with the subject heading of 6 Blogs. This assignment will be worth 30 points so make sure your comments show that you have investigated each blog and given it some thought before you write.

8th Grade Blogging 101

2009-10-09T13:25:00.002-04:00

As you begin to develop your first blog, you will need to think about the online identity you want to establish. Below is a list of some things you can include in your blogger profile. We will discuss these things more in class, but you can start planning what information you will include in your blog to create you online personality.

Location- Keep this very general. Ohio will be sufficient.

Your major interests- Name 2 or three of your favorite interests.

Your favorite movies- 2 or 3 will do

Your favorite music- style of music or favorite performer

Your favorite books- 2 or 3 will do

About Me- this is the paragraph you write about yourself to tell your readers who you are and why you're blogging

Blog Title- This title is the main title that will show up on all your blog posts. Example: Mrs. Mac's Computer Classes

Your Blog Name- Make up a pen name for yourself. Remember that you should use nothing that gives clues to your identity.

These are the items you should work on in today's class. Open a new gmail to me and use a subject line of My Profile. "About Me" requires a paragraph. The rest of the items may be short anwer. All items must have correct spelling and capitalization.

8th Grade - Sept. 25th Friday 5

2009-10-05T14:31:00.001-04:00

In case you still need the directions and Web sites for the Friday 5 on Sept. 25th, here they are. Some of you have not yet turned in this assignment. You can still get credit for it if you gmail it to me by the end of the day on Wed., Oct. 7, 2009.

Friday 5: Sept. 25, 2009

Directions

1. Start a new gmail to Mrs. Mac with the subject line: Friday 5 Sept 25 09

2. Explore each of the 5 sites below for 5 minutes each.
3. In your gmail, write your comments about each of the sites. Include the title of the blog so I know which one you are commenting on.
4. Send the gmail. You can do all 5 comments in the same gmail.

Blog Sites

How to of the Day

Eco Kids: An Environmental Blog for Kids

It's My Life

iBlog

Winfield City Schools: Middle School

8th Grade - Friday 5 + 2 Oct. 2, 2009

2009-10-05T09:29:00.000-04:00

Here is the assignment from last Friday that must be completed in class today.

Directions

1. Open a new gmail message to me with a subject line of Friday 5+2
2. Visit Blog each blog below and spend 5-6 minutes exploring each one.
3. In the gmail message, write your comments about each one.*
*Include the title of the blog. *Your comments should consist of at least 3 sentences.

1. P90X

2. Education 101

3. David's Workout

4. Photography 101

5. History of Photography

6. Irish Stories

7. Chemistry