Assessments, About Me's, and Thanksgiving Activities

I don't know about you, but I spent most of yesterday outside.  I could not believe the difference in the temperature between the two days!  I spent about 3 hours raking leaves yesterday, but didn't really mind.  Why do those leaves fall from the trees?  Check out the USDA Forest Service site to get the answer.  Unfortunately we are in for some crazy weather over the next couple of days.  I hope you stay dry and warm.  What did you do over the weekend?

We will start our day with your first assessment.  I know you are ready for it so please don't be nervous.  I would like you to take this assessment on your iPad.  There is a resource with QR codes next to each work station.  Please be sure to scan the correct code for your ILT section!  If you aren't sure which section you are in, please ask.  Once you have scanned the code with your "qrafter" app, select the option to "Open URL in Safari."  This will open the assessment.  Read questions carefully and do your best with spelling when typing.  When you have finished please go back and review your answers before hitting the "Submit" button on the bottom.
Simplified Steps:
1.  Find Qrafter app on iPad
2.  Take picture (using camera) of the correct QR code for your ILT section
3.  Once you've heard the "beep", select "Open URL in Safari
4.  Take the quiz, reading questions carefully
5.  Double check you answers
6.  Submit the form.
7.  Close out open app, close cover, and place iPad "Apple Up" in safe spot.

You were given some feedback on your "About Me" first draft.  Today you will make corrections on this draft (it's living in your Google Drive) and then copy and paste your information to your blog.  You will find this section under the "Blogger Profile."  To find this, log in to Blogger, drop down arrow under your name in the top right corner of your blog dashboard.  You will see "Blogger Profile."  Click on this and you will be there.  Please double check your work and ask a neighbor to take a look as well.  Once you are sure it's correct, save it.  If you would like me to check it first, please ask.  :)
Simplified Steps:
1.  Log in to Google Drive
2.  Open your About Me doc
3.  Make corrections based on my feedback
4.  Log in to Blogger
5.  Go to Dashboard
6.  Drop down arrow in top right corner of Dashboard
7.  Select "Blogger Profile" and select "Edit Profile."
8.  Complete profile by copying and pasting information from your Google doc
   *** You will only change what is on your Google doc.  Scroll down to the word "General"
   and begin there.
9.  Be sure to save your changes; look for the orange box.
10. Sign out of Google (both Blogger and Drive)

If there is any time  left in class you may check out some of the interactive Thanksgiving activities on either
i Teach With Technology or Gamequarium:  Thanksgiving.  You should not be on any other sites, and should not be on these if you haven't completed the assessment and your About Me.

I hope you and your families have an enjoyable few days off.  If you are traveling, please be safe.  If you are staying around here, be safe as well.  Don't eat too much pie!!
                                          ~Mrs. White :)  

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Mind blowing...Game-Changing!!!

I had an amazing and "mind blowing" two days last week.  I attended the iPad Summit which was hosted by EdTech Teacher.  At this point I am still trying to organize my thoughts.  I have so many new thoughts, ideas, and yes Apps to share, but I need to figure out the best way to share what I have taken away.  This will come in due time.

To get back to the tasks at hand....my students will continue working on blogs.  Designing the "skin" of your blog is the most exciting part in some regard.  First of all, it seems real.  Secondly, it is a way to convey to the world (your global audience) a little bit about you.  After all, this blog design is unique to you.  So please take your time and put some effort and though in to it.  I changed my blog around for a solid month before I became satisfied with it.  I will occasionally add some pieces and even take some away if I feel they have lost their usefulness.  So explore and have fun!!

We will be creating a "study guide" for an assessment you will have next week before we leave on break for Thanksgiving.

I hope you had a super weekend and are ready to design and share a piece of you with the world! :)

Preview to Coding

We are taking a break from our blogs during class two this week.  During class you will preview "coding."  In December we will take part in "Hour of Code."  This is a very fun activity and I hope it will encourage some of you to pursue coding as a career.  I found a great resource from our friends at Google.  They have created a site called, "Made With Code."  You will be using this site during class today.  Please follow the procedure below.  Be sure to read all of the directions in this post before you start clicking!  *Notice I have not given you any links to this point.
Step 1:  You will go to the site, Made With Code, and watch the opening video, "Things You Love Are Made With Code," as an activator.

Step 2: You will then select one of the "mentors" to explore.  You will do this by watching the video about  this person.  There are 6 different mentors.  Please scroll through and find one you find to be interesting.

Step 3:  You will then select one of the "Projects" to complete.  There are many projects.  Please       scroll down and read the descriptions and levels before selecting one.**You will not be able to do "Accessorize" as you would need an image for this.  We may try it another day.  Follow the instructions.             You will need to think and may get frustrated, but will feel so great when you complete this project. **While working on a project, if you get stuck or frustrated look for the "?" or "Help" tab somewhere (usually in the top right hand corner.)  Use this information to problem solve!!  If you want to try to save your project, please be sure to save it to your pdrive, not to the desktop of your workstation.

Step 4:  Complete the form, "Made With Code Project."   Be sure to submit this form when done.

Step 5:  If you should finish before the end of class, repeat steps 2 and 3 with a different mentor and project.  Only do Step #4 one time, please.
**If you should somehow manage to complete all of the listed projects, then move on to the "other resources" on the bottom and you will find some other coding projects to explore.

Have fun and do a great job for my substitute.  Absolutely NO games or videos other than the ones on the Made With Code site!!!  I cannot wait to share all of the cool stuff I will learn at the iPad Summit I am attending.  

Ready, Set, Design!

I hope you had a great weekend.  I don't know about you, but it flew by at warp speed for me!   I am excited to have tomorrow off.  I would like you to take some time tomorrow to think about why we have this extra day.  It is to honor our veterans.  Do you have anyone you know, in your family or a friend, who has served for our country?  This would be a great day to thank that person if you can.  There are so many ways our country is honoring those who have made sacrifices so we may enjoy the freedoms we have. The Cape Cod Times has a list of what is going on around our area.  Check it out!

This week you will start designing and creating your blog!!!  I will walk you through the initial steps so we can adjust some settings.  You are still in the shallow end with "swimmies" on!!  We will use the Blog Creation Checklist you will find next to your workstations as we get started.  Before beginning, let's take a look at "What is a Blog?" for inspiration.

Blogger Profiles...Here We Go!

     Well yesterday was quite a wild weather day!!  I am sure many of you were without power, Internet, and worse yet....cable!!  I hope you managed to stay warm and were able to watch the Patriots' game.  If not, I'm sure you have heard the end results.  I don't know if this storm is an indicator for our winter.  If it is...YIKES!!  You can check out the Weather Channels' 2014-2015 Winter Forecast on this site.  
     We will start off class this week taking a look at the evaluation scores you gave the blog you explored last week.  Please go to the Padlet wall and follow the instructions you find there.  You will need to have your note card from last week.  You should have the name of the blog and the score you gave it written on this card.
      This week you will start working on one of the components or pieces of you blog.  You will create your "Blogger Profile."  Please start off by taking a few minutes to check out some profiles of other young bloggers.  I have created a resource for you to use and take you on this task.  You have the option doing this on your workstation or your iPad.  If you would like to explore it on your workstation please use this link to
About Me Resource document.  If you would like to use your iPad, please use the QR codes provided on the paper you can find in your Workstation Resource Folder.
     Now that you have checked out some other profiles, you will begin to work on your own.  I have created a template for you to fill out.  You will be able to copy and paste this information in to your blog next week.  I want to be able to give you some feedback before you do this. I will show you how to make a copy of  this About Me Template so you can make changes to it to fit you.  Please be ready to follow my directions for this.  Be sure to put your document in to your ILT folder so I can see it.  I will also ask you to print a copy of this document so I can have options by which to share feedback.
      Your ticket to leave today will be sharing three possible blog topics you have selected.  This is getting exciting!  I cannot wait for you to start playing around with your blog layout!!!
      Have a super start to your week!!