Wednesday 3/21/2007

Good morning students :)  If you have not already completed the assignment from yesterday please go back to the Wednesday 3/14/2007 post and do that.  When you are done creating your blog and writing your "Introductions" post please finish today's assignment.  For today you need to create a new post on your own blog titled "Research for My Project". 

If you already have an idea of the project you would like to do please write that down in your post for today.  Begin looking up websites that will help you do that.  The easiest ways to do that is to start at google , type in your project idea and see what comes up.

If you are not sure what kind of project you would like to do use a science book to look up key words from the chapter you are currently studying.  For example if you are studying chapter 2 in the book you might look up words like "displacement" or "velocity".  For the links that provide good information (we're talking about information you can understand and use in a project) copy the link information for the page you like and paste it into your blog entry.  After you do that link pasted url to the web by highlighting it and clicking on the button that looks like a globe with a piece of chain on it.  Then paste the link into the box and hit enter.

For this blog entry you should have at least 4 different links to useful websites with a sentence after each one that says what information you can find on that website.  Ask for help if you need it.  Also see the example student page for an example of what your post should look like. 

Thursday 3/15/2007

Today and Friday you will be working on your packets in class. Your class period folder is in the bin on the lab demonstration table (under the ceiling mirror). The sub and Anna will have copies of the keys for the packets you are working on. For these two days though you will need to find many answers on your own. Before you come and ask for help from either Anna or the sub YOU MUST READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER! The person you are asking for help will ask if you have read the chapter and will attempt to help you only after you can answer yes. Remember that you should have your third packet done by this Friday the 16th. If you need a new packet feel free to ask the sub for the next packet after the one you are working on. The packets are all copied and the originals are behind the computer desk should you need more. Here are the rules for while I am gone.

1. Anyone who is disruptive or not working during class will be written up. The sub will write your names down for me and I will write you up when I get back.
2. If a large part of any class is disruptive or disrespectful in any way the sub will report that to me and all of the class involved will be required to stand without chairs for at least one class period and maybe more depending on how bad the disruption was.
3. There will be no movies!! Don't ask for one!
4. There are no passes to anywhere except for the restroom and only at the sub's discretion.

Finally I want to tell you that I know you will treat my subs with respect while I am gone because I know that you are wonderful people :) Have a great weekend and I will see you on Monday!

(p.s. If you have questions or comments you may post them as comments to this entry. I will be watching the blog and will post responses.)

Wednesday 3/14/2007

Today you will create a gmail account for yourself and a personal class blog to showcase your project at the end of this term in. This term you will be learning a little bit about the professional world you will have to compete in when you graduate. In order to understand what I am talking about watch the following video (if you have headphones you may want to plug them in to listen to the music):

Here are some of the important points in this presentation:

1. China and India both have WAY more people than the US (which means that they have way more people that need a job than we do).

2. More and more people are online and spend a significant portion of their day online. As this becomes more and more common with advancing technology jobs will require basic and advanced Internet Skills more and more often.

3. Within your lifetime computers will be able to equal or out-distance the human brain in working capacity. People who expect to earn money will have to be able to do something a computer can not do.

In otherwords in order to compete in the job market after high school you will need to have LOTS of computer skills and the ability to think critically and solve problems.

 

Because of this we will be learning how to produce your work and do research for your work online this year. This is the first of a series of assignments you will do this term in order to learn how, and for those of you who are doing projects your presentation will not be for a physical audience but for a web audience. You will post it on your blog.

To get started creating a blog you must first create a professional email account. This is different from your email account you use with friends. For one thing, just like you sometimes use a nickname with friends and a different name with everyone else, you must create an email for your friends and a professional email for school and work. To create a gmail account you should click here and follow the following steps.

1. Enter all of the information that the form requests. Make sure to use some version of your name for the login name. If your name is already taken try writing it a different way or adding your zip code onto the end.

2. When you are done click on the "I accept, create my account" button at the bottom of the page and sign in to your new email.

3. Then go to the Blogger.com sign in page and click on the "create your blog now" orange arrow at the bottom of the page.

4. Right click on the "sign in here" link and sign in to your gmail account.

5. Go back to the Create Blogger Account page and enter your gmail account and a password. Choose a display name for yourself that will show on your profile and when you post comments to the class website. Please use your first and last name.

6. Enter the word verification and click to accept the terms and click on the orange "Continue" arrow.

7. You will come to a page that says "Name Your Blog". Create a title for your homework blog. Something like...."Joe's Homework Blog". You can change this part anytime you want.





8. Click on the blog address url box and enter your FirstnameLastnameHomeworkBlog. An example would be JoeSmithsHomeworkBlog. Click on the "Check Availability" link. If that is available click on the orange "Continue" arrow at the bottom of the page.

9. Choose a template.

10. Click on the orange "Start Posting" Arrow.

11. You are about to create your first post to your blog. Enter the following title for your first post "Introductions". In the box below that introduce yourself to the world wide web. Write anything you want. Where do you come from? What tribe(s) are you a part of? Your assignment is to write a paragraph (at least 5) sentences introducing yourself to the world and the rest of the class. Try to write something the rest of us may not know about you. Click on the orange "Publish" button.

12. When the next page comes up click on the "(in a new window)" phrase to see your blog.

13. Return to this page and post a comment to this blog by clicking on the "comments" link at the bottom. In your comment paste in your new gmail address and the internet address of your homework blog. You can do this by clicking on the address bar at the top of your blog and copying and pasting the address into your comment. Make sure you save your comment and can see it on the blog.

14. When you have finished all of this your homework is done for the day. You may check your email or surf the web. Remember that if you log on to "MySpace" you can get kicked off the computers permanently.

15. Have a good day and I'll see you on Monday.