Publishing to the Web

Students in the Intro to Computer classes are practicing publishing their work on the Web. Using tools such as Weebly, Google Sites, Blogger, and Wix, we have been creating content and publishing it to the Web. As we begin to use the Common Core Curriculum next year students will be increasingly called to publish and present their work on the Web. This unit will give them a head start on doing just that.

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Closing in on Winter Break

With the completion of the Hero Project, students are once again in Office 2010 for their third trip through Word and Excel. We will be finishing up before winter break with an Internet unit that will have students create their own Website and Blog as well as study Internet Safety and Ethics vocabulary.

Heroes!

Once again, we have made it through another round of Microsoft office and are working on our Hero Project. Students need to research a hero of their choice, create a presentation using Prezi or Slide Rocket, as well as create a timeline, newsletter, work cited page, and presentation feedback form. Students have been working hard in class and will begin presenting this week. Ask your son or daughter who they are presenting on.

Vacation time!

We have quickly moved through the review portion of Microsoft Office covering Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. We have also learned about Access and databases. Students are currently working on the Web Traveler Project where they have seven days and $7000 to take a trip anywhere in the world they would like. Along the way, students must thoroughly research their vacation destination, create a number of Office documents, and post them to their Wiki page for all to see. Ask your student where they are going on their trip!

Fast start to the year!

We are off to a fast start to the year in my Intro to Computers class. We have completed pretesting (ask the state of Michigan why), and are moving quickly through introductory units of Word, Excel, PPT, and Access. We have also used Photoshop to resize and crop photos of ourselves. On the way, the famous Web Traveler Project! Stay tuned.

Finish strong!

The finish line is in sight. The year is quickly coming to a close. Finish strong. Now is not the time to slack of in class, on a project, or on a test. Finish this school year off strong!

Off and Runnning in the New Semester

Thanks for checking in. We are off and running in all of my classes in the 2nd semester. Here is an update on each class.

My Introduction to Programming class recently completed their beginning unit on Small Basic. We learned basic programming concepts such as variables, decision making, and looping. Students completed a final project for Small Basic by making a first person role playing game. Students worked in pairs to complete the game, publish it online, and link it to their Wikis. Check them out. (You will need your student to log you in.) We are also listening as students present their games to the class.  We have moved on to the next stage of the class where students are learning programming concepts using Visual Basic 2010 Express. We will be using this program for the majority of the semester.

My Intro to Computer class has completed its first pass through Microsoft Office 2007. We completed units in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. We have also learned how to save documents as PDF files upload them to an online drop box and link them to their own Wiki page. (You will need your student to log you in.) We are currently do a BIG project call the Web Traveler Project. Students have $7000 and seven days to take a trip anywhere in the world. Along the way, they will have to not only thoroughly research their vacation destination, but complete documents in all of the Office programs. Ask your student where they are vacationing! After this project, we will be diving back into Office to learn more skills in Word, Excel, PPT, and Access.

My Desktop Publishing class has finished up learning all about Photoshop CS4 and Illustrator CS4. They have watched a lot of movies, learn a ton of techniques, and created some very cool designs. Check out their design Wikis to check them out. (You will need your student to log you in.) We will be beginning a unit on Logo design. We will not only study logos, but students will create personal logos for themselves and for teachers at Sparta.