Last Post for 2012!

Wow!  It was so fun to host Ms. Kroetz's fifth grade class.  You all were awesome and I am so proud.  A class period to produce a video is a lot to ask, and you did it.  Thanks so much - you will each be earning extra credit for your hard work.  

This last post of 2012 is a little bit lengthy, therefore, I won't be grading these until Wednesday morning.  Be sure to have your post completed by Wednesday at 8am :)

• Please tell me how your experience with the fifth grade student went.  Did you enjoy working with him or her?  Do you think they enjoyed the experience?  Add any suggestions for next time we do this.  Which video tool did you end up using and was it a good choice?
• We used TimeToast to make a timeline.  What did you like/dislike about this tool?  Have there been opportunities for you to use this tool in school?  If you used a different tool, please provide a link and a brief description of this tool.
• Take a minute to reflect on 2012.  I remember reading this in a book I recently read; "The days are long but the years are short."  So, so true.  Did your year go well?  Were there things that you wish you could go back and change?  Did you accomplish what you had hoped to?  What are your goals for 2013?  
• Finally, you were to watch two Google Search videos and answer a few questions.  That information is below.

After watching "Searching Within a Page" answer the following two questions:

1. In your own words, what does the intext operator do?
2. How do you get to the Advanced Search tools?

After watching the "Search by Image" video, complete the following:

While sorting through some trinkets at a garage sale, you find the image below (you will find this image in our News Forum in Moodle). There is a note scrawled on the back that says, "ancestor of manga." Since you are interested in manga, you decide to learn more about the image.  What temple loaned this painting to a national museum?

I wish you a restful break.  Enjoy time with your family and friends, relax, regroup, and I look forward to seeing you in 2013!

December 7, 2012

Winter Break is creeping up on us.  Only ten school days remain for 2012.  Only two blog posts remain for 2012!  Be sure to answer all the questions this week.  I will not be going back to reread your blog once it is published and graded!!!  This week you are asked to answer the following:

This week you watched a short video titled "Searching by file type" which is less than five minutes long.  When done with the video you need to answer these questions:

1.  What is a .kml file type?  Search for and open a kml file in Google Maps and tell us what you learned.

2.  You want to find a sound file that will teach you Morse Code for "I love you". Your friend told you that Wikimedia has all these audio files of people saying things in different languages, in a format called .OGG. Which of the following queries can you use to most easily find the file you want?

[i love you morse code ogg:filetype]

[i love you file morse code type:ogg]
[i love you morse code filetype:ogg
[i love you morse code filetype: ogg]
All of the above

3.  Your teacher is going to Japan, where she will be taken to see a Kabuki play. She asks you for a bit of background on Kabuki. You know that she prefers to read on paper. What would your search look like to find a PDF to print for her?

4.  Give an example of a time when this search technique could be useful or could have been useful to you.

We watched a variety of presentations this week, if you could give advice to the presenters (no names please) what would it be?  What stands out in your mind regarding the presentations?  

Of the four video tools we checked out, which would you use for personal use and why?  

Tell me about your week!  As always, I like reading about how things are going for you both in and outside of school.  Take a paragraph to reflect upon your week.

Timeline Test

End of November, 2012!

Wow!  We start December tomorrow - hard to believe.  We spent our final week of November using SlideRocket, continuing our Google Search Skills, and beginning an evaluating of online video editing sites.  For this week's blog post please respond to the following:

• Answer these questions related to searching in Google via different types of media:

1.  Your friend was telling you about this new term for a kind of urban protest graffiti called "Yarnbombing". Despite the name, the friend said it is a completely light-hearted, non-violent art form, but you do not understand what it is.

Of the following four choices, which is the most efficient way to find recent News articles about yarnbombing?

[yarnbombing news article]
[yarnbombing] then click News in the left menu
[i would like to find news articles about yarnbombing]
[what are some recent publications about yarnbombing]

2.  You would like to learn or perfect a skill.  Decide what you'd like to learn and find a video teaching you that skill.  Link your video in this week's blog post.

3.  Your mom loves Hummel figurines.  First, find some news about Hummel and locate two places you can purchase these figurines.  Tell us what you found in this week's blog post.

• Write a one paragraph review of SlideRocket.  I am looking for pros and cons, and an overall opinion of the site.  
• Tell us the online video editing site you are evaluating and include a link to it.  What is your first impression of the site?
• Finally, the week is done.  How did yours go?  Reflect on the last week of November.

Test

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Friday, November 16

Thanks for a great week!  You truly are a great group and I am lucky to have the opportunity to get to know you.  This week, we spent a good amount of time working with presentation tools.  I hope you have found the sites we've explored to be ones you might find useful for another purpose.  You had an opportunity to check out a few of your classmates' Prezis.  Write a short paragraph telling what you liked and disliked about Prezi.  We also continued learning about various Google search tools.  This week you were asked to watch the video titled "Finding Text on a Web Page" Then practice what you learned by answering and trying the following:

• What are two things you learned from this video?

• In 2006, Ms. Makovec completed the Berbee Derby 5k race.  What was her time?

• Find how many people from Verona ran the Madison Half Marathon in 2012.

• Using the data in the US Geological Survey's list of historic world earthquakes, when was the last time an earthquake hit our area?  Describe how you found your answer.

Finally, and as always my favorite part to read, please write a short recap of your week overall.  Have a great weekend!

A Sample of an Embedded Prezi

Friday, November 9, 2012

The first week of the second quarter is complete.  Most of you had a little break, which I hope you enjoyed.  Sorry Joselyn, I know you had to be here for testing.  Next year, you might get an extra day off - well, the rumor is that you might not - sorry :(  In any case, I hope testing went quickly and that you did well.

The election is also complete!  I don't know about you, but I won't miss the continual advertisements, phone calls and emails.  I did have fun watching the results and was amazed how quickly they can determine the results.  What did you think of the election?

You will want to make sure your blog is complete.  Here is what you need:

• An embedded Animoto video (be sure you included a link in Moodle as well)
• An embedded Google Form asking your blog readers to provide input on your blog or to gather some data about your readers.  You need to ask at least three questions of your readers
• Your News Forum responses
• In two sentences summarize “The Art of Keyword Searches.”  
• Then try this:
• You received this letter from a friend.    Hi, I am a chef and a food blogger. Recently, I wanted to write about this really yummy French sandwich with tuna and peppers and anchovies and stuff called a Pom Mignon, or something like that. For the life of me, I don’t know precisely what it is called. I spent half an hour last night typing every possible spelling I could think of into Google, but could not find it. What do I do now?   Thank you,  L.  Given what you know about this problem, what query would you use to solve it?  What is the name of the sandwich?
• After watching “Word Order Matters” write about the three most important things you learned from this short video clip. 
• Compare the results for two variations of a query. Do the non-ad results for two variations differ from each other?   Which of the following searches result in different results?  Open two new tabs with Google search in each, so you can compare the following searches.
• [cars][the cars]
• [flower spider] [spider flower] 
• [Adobe Acrobat] [adobe acrobat]
• [who] [the who] [a who]
• [150 computer] [$150 computer]
• [% students paying off college loans] [students paying off college loans]
• Find Ms. Makovec on twitter?  Her twitter handle is makovect.  What search query did you use?
• And, as always, add a few sentences recapping your week.  Enjoy your weekend!

Try our slideshow maker at Animoto.

Friday, November 2

A short week! I hope your week went well. I can definitely feel the end of quarter stress in many of my classes. Hard to believe how quickly time has gone. This week we began focusing less on desktop applications and more on Web 2.0 applications. One of your assignments this week was to begin exploring Google Search tools. Specifically, you were to:

• Watch two videos found in Section 5 of Moodle. They are titled "How Does Google Work?" and "Filter Image Results by Color." 
• In your own words, and a maximum of three sentences, tell me how Google Search works. 
• Practice your image search skills by locating images of the field at Miller Park. Search for Miller Park or Milwaukee Brewers and use the paint chips to narrow your search results. What color paint chip would you choose? 
• You are looking for a new phone case and only want orange. After seeing orange phone cases, you change your mind and now want to see those that are red. How would you change the results to show you red? 
• What is yarnbombing? Find out by looking at images.

What did you think of the VoiceThread project?  Of all that we viewed, which one stands out most in your mind and why?

Take a moment to add a paragraph reflecting on your week overall.  Finally, in a new blog post, be sure to embed your Animoto video.

Thursday, October 24

A short week, and a much deserved break for you.  This week's post will be your choice!  You can write about what you'd like, reflect on the week, talk about your long weekend plans, think about how your semester is going so far, etc.  The only requirement (other than it is school appropriate) is that you write two good paragraphs.

Have an awesome four days to relax and recharge.

Friday, October 19

This has been a long week!  I don't know about you, but it felt like Friday should've arrived two days ago.  I must say a thank you to your parents and you for making PTS Conferences a success.  Wow!  It was the busiest I remember in quite some time.  This week we learned a few new things in Excel and hopefully you are feeling more comfortable with this powerful piece of software.  We also explored VoiceThread and wished Mr. Pratt well as he moves onto other areas to student teach in.  Here's what you should write about this week:

• Rate your Excel skills on a scale of 1 to 10.  One is you are totally lost and 10 means you feel confident in everything we've learned so far.  Explain your answer.

• In our Moodle News Forum you were asked to find out what digital storytelling is, find some examples of digital storytelling that appeal to you, and think of a project you've done in the past that could've been told as a digital story.  Including links is always helpful to your audience :)  Please share with your blog audience what you learned.
• If you have any late work, include a plan to get that in before the October 31st deadline.
• My favorite part of your blog...please just write a paragraph reflecting on your week.  Remember, this doesn't need to be about our class, just a general reflection.

Have a great weekend :) 

Friday, October 12

This has been one quick week!  I hope yours has been good.  You'll be getting a little break soon, so stay focused.  This week we learned quite a bit.  I'd like you to blog about the following topics, again, keeping in mind that your audience is not in our class so provide them with some context as you write.

• You were to check out a new site this week.  Please write a complete paragraph either recommending or not recommending this site.  Be sure to include rationale for your opinion as well as a link to the site.
• Assume your readers are also learning Excel.  Explain the difference between absolute and relative references to your audience.
• Write one sentence providing positive feedback to our student teacher, Mr. Pratt.  He'll be winding up his experience with us mid-week next week.  
• Write one sentence that describes your reaction to something in the video "Digital Nation."  You'll have an opportunity next week to provide a more thorough reaction using Voice Thread!
• Finally, take this opportunity to reflect on your week.  This doesn't have to be about our class, or even school.  

Have a great, safe weekend!

Friday, October 5

Homecoming Week!  

I have enjoyed seeing the great costumes and the enthusiasm for Homecoming Week.  I find this to be a fun week, hope you did too.  This week we've focused on Excel and Wednesday marked the mid-quarter point already.  I'd like you to reflect on the week and answer the following questions.  A reminder to consider your audience as you write.  (Next week I'll be asking you to share your blogs with your parents/guardians).

1. I asked you to check out Penzu.com.  What did you think?  Write 3 to 5 sentences critiquing this site.  What did you like/dislike and who would find it a valuable site?
2. Excel can be challenging.  Write about what you've learned in Excel this week.  You can include anything that is not clear as well.
3. We checked out three videos/sites:  200 years in 4 minutes, worldometers.info, and The World's Most Typical Person.  What did you think of these various ways to share data?
4. Have you seen the video "Digital Nation"?  I am considering showing it at some point.
5. Feel free to write a reflection about your week in general (hope it was a good one).

Friday, September 28

Thanks for a great week!  I appreciate all of your hard work, and your helping each other.  You are a great group, I mean that sincerely.

A few reminders as you write your blog post this week:  First, remember that your audience might not know about our course.  Please be sure that even if they aren't a member of our course, they would have a good understanding of what we do.  Always write in full sentences and avoid text language (LOL, for example).  Finally, I will be grading your blog posts over the weekend.  It is due by midnight on the day assigned, which is generally Friday. I sometimes am up early Saturday and at school working, so you don't want to lose points for posting late.

Your blog post topics for this week:

• Write a paragraph about our trip to Central Office to visit with our District Network Manager.  Please include any additional questions you might have.  I will be forwarding along what you say with a small thank you on Monday.  
• Second, tell me what you have used Excel for in the past.  I can see from our first activity that there are a variety of experience levels with this software, so that will help me in teaching you.  
• Third, tell me what Google Reader is all about.  What blogs did you subscribe to (when referring to your peers, no last names please).  You can include the URLs of the blogs in your post.  
• Finally, I love reading your weekly reflections even if they aren't about our class.  Reflect on your week and write about what has been exciting, interesting, new, challenging, fun, etc.

Next week brings October and Homecoming Week - always a fun week at school!  I can't wait to see what you wear for dress up days :)

Friday, September 21

The last Friday and the last full day of summer.  You can definitely feel fall is in the air!  Thanks for being such a great group to work with.  I do appreciate you, and I hope you are enjoying the class and getting to know one another.  We've worked hard this week, so I ask that you reflect on that work in this week's blog post by answering the following questions:

• I asked you to check out the LibraryThing website.  I'd like you to write minimally one paragraph critiquing this site.  You should either recommend or not recommend it and provide rationale why.  Assume your reader is looking to find out if this is a good site or not.  Also, provide a link to this site in your blog post.
• We watched two short videos this week.  We saw the newest version of "Shift Happens."  What is one thing that surprised you, had you asking a question, or confirmed something that you already knew?  We watched a Frontline video around electronic waste.  Write a quality paragraph describing your reaction to this video.
• You had an opportunity to get to know a classmate a little better.  Tell me what you learned and what you liked/disliked about this project.
• Finally, now that we have settled into the school year, write a paragraph about how your year is going.  This is an open-ended question, in other words write about what ever comes to mind, it doesn't need to necessarily be around our class.

Have an awesome weekend! 

Friday, September 14

Our first full week of school is nearly done.  The week went rather quickly, and it feels like we are back in the routine of school.  I hope your first semester is off to a good start.  We did  a few Word projects this week, visited the LMC areas with Ms. Voss, and checked out a site following political information to help keep you informed prior to this November's election.  Here's what I'd like you to do:

1. If you are having any trouble with anything in class, go ahead and write about that.
2. What did you learn on our visit with Ms. Voss?  Will you be more inclined to use the LMC now?
3. Write minimally one paragraph about the Google Politics & Election Hub site you were to check out this week.

Have a super weekend!  I look forward to seeing you all on Monday.

eTechnology - Week One!

Short introduction

 

Scale of 1 to 10 - rate your technology skills and why

 

What is a digital footprint?