Valid, Reliable, and Credible

A new month is upon us.   I wonder if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow.  How accurate is that silly old groundhog anyway?  USA Today shares their thoughts on the furry little creature. There are many other critter predictors around.  Check out this link to find out more.  I don't know about you, but I am hoping for a very early spring.  Keep your fingers crossed!!
You will work on a mini website evaluation unit this week.  It will be important to have this information when we return from February Vacation.  You will start work on a research project when we return.  You will work independently on the Website Evaluation Activity I have assigned to you in Google Classroom.  Let's start by watching a website evaluation video.

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Let's Continue the Conversation

I don't know about you, but I really thought the Patriots were going to pull off that two point conversion.  It was quite a game.  I am still in a state of shock that "our" season has ended.  It really was a good game; a true nail biter.  I am very proud of our Pats.  They played an amazing season; especially considering they played the entire season with many players on the disabled list at one time or another.  This link will take you to a recap of the game, just in case you missed it.
This week you will practice commenting; continuing the conversation.  You will have an opportunity to create a paper comment on your classmates' blogs.  I will then review your comments and give you some feedback. Commenting is definitely a skill which needs practicing.  I have shared a resource with all of you in Google Classroom.  This resource is a blog post I discovered a couple of years ago.  Mr. Fisher shares some super "Comment Starters."  Please use some of these during our activity and when you continue to comment on blog posts.

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What's in a Name?

We have the threat of a winter storm for the upcoming weekend.  I wonder what it will be named?  Have you noticed we now name our winter storms?  It used to be only hurricanes would receive names.  Why did this all start and how do they determine the names of storms?   Check out this link for more information.

Speaking of names......It's time to rename your blogs  I have created an assignment to help you with this process.  You will find it in your Google Classroom; my virtual presence.  After you have completed this assignment you will also want to change the URL for your blog.  Have no worries; everything you need you will find in Classroom. I have found a great resource, a video! I also need you to work on your Blogger profile.  This is an old assignment in Classroom.

After completing our naming activity; we will continue working with blog comments.

Have a great "short" week!

T.G.I.F.

Hello My Hardworking Techies,
          As I had mentioned during our last class, I will not be able to "physically" be with you today.  Mrs. Diggins will be at the helm in my absence.  I am however, "virtually" with you as I have left you an assignment in Google Classroom and this blog post.  You will NOT be using your iPads during class today.  All work will be done on your workstations, so please put your iPads in a safe place for class.  Today you will continue with your exploration of commenting on blogs of others.  The activity you are doing should look familiar.  We did a similar activity a while ago when we first started blogging.  Please be sure to read the directions carefully.   You will need to get an "answer key" from Mrs. Diggins so you can correct your work.  Please do not turn in your assignment in classroom before you have made corrections.  I should only receive correctly formatted commenting guidelines.  **There are only 8 guidelines on the activity and 10 on the answer key.  Lucky you!!
Once you have finished the Commenting Guidelines assignment you have four possible options, depending on what you have previously completed.   You will need to work through all of these options one at a time in order.  To be clear, EVERYONE IS STARTING OFF BY GOING TO GOOGLE CLASSROOM TO COMPLETE THE COMMENTING GUIDELINES ASSIGNMNET!
See below:
Option 1:
You will need to complete and publish your second blog post.  Please be sure to use the yellow
two page hand out as a guide.  You will need to follow the steps outlined in my blog post from January 4th.  Once you have completed those 6 steps, you will copy and paste your text in to your blog.  Remember to follow the steps on the resource to upload your image and include the link. You may use one another as resources.  Everyone should havea second blog post published by the end of this week with the exceptions of ILT # 13 & #14.
There is a resource for this option.  Please ask for it if you need help.
       
Option 2:
If you have already successfully published your second blog post, you will ask Mrs. Diggins for the
resource, "Cleaning Up Your Digital Life."  You will carefully go through the steps outlined on this document.  Be sure to look at the back side of this document (it is double sided.)

Option 3:
If you have already created and published blog post #2, and cleaned up your digital life, you will
then work on your blog design.  Hint:  From your Blogger dashboard you will select the option
"layout."  Once you are on your layout you will select you will need to look at the top of that
page and select "template designer."  Be sure to "save" your work and changes by looking for
those orange buttons.  Remember:  You are NOT to change your template!

Option 4:
Go to your Google Drive, create a new document, title it, and begin working on a third blog post.

NOT AN OPTION:

•  watching videos
• listening to music
• playing games

You all know the expectations I have for the condition of my lab when I return.  BE SURE TO PICK UP AFTER YOURSELF!!
Please do your personal best while I am out.   Enjoy your three day weekend!

    ~Mrs. White  :)

Keep the Conversation Going

What a crazy weather roller coaster we have been riding!!!  First it's warm, then freezing, and then pouring.  What's next?  Some say it has to do with global warming and others say it's the El Nino impact.  I'm not sure what it is,  but I am sure I don't know how to dress each day.  Do you think we will get any big snow storms this year?  I hope not.  I would like to end school in the middle of June instead of the end this year!!
Oh well, let's move on to some things that are in our control.  We have talked a lot about blogging, and compared it to "having a conversation."  How do you keep the "conversation" going?  In a word:  COMMENTING.  There is a protocol or guidelines for commenting.  Many of you probably feel as though you are experienced and seasoned at the art of commenting as you have a lot of practice in your social media settings.  However, I have found over the years students are not at all skilled in this art.  This week we will take a close up look at commenting.
We will start by using a cool collaboration tool known as back channeling.  We will use "Today's Meet" to host a group discussion of a slide show presentation on commenting.  This slide show can be found on Huzzah, a great blog.  While we are looking at the presentation I will be asking questions of the "room", but I will be doing it "virtually."  I have given you a QR code to access the room for this discussion.  I am very excited to review and discuss this presentation with you "behind the scenes."

Commenting PreAssessment Link

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Back from Break.....UGH or YEAH??

Happy 2016!!  Welcome back from a well deserved vacation.  I hope you all found some time to rest and relax.  I had an amazing time travelling down South to visit our daughter.  It was different to not be "home" for Christmas, but then again I was with my family so I was "home."  The likelihood of something happening in your life over these past days is very high.  So you should have no problem writing an amazing blog post. As I had mentioned before break, you will work on your second blog post this week.  The process will definitely be accelerated as you will create, edit, and publish the post all in one week.  Please follow the procedure outlined below (also found in Google Classroom):

1. Go to Google Drive and create a new doc
2. Name the new doc appropriately (ie-second blog post)
3. Begin writing your post.  
4. Find, save, and cite an image for your post.
5. Be sure to use the Blogging Check List on your work.
6. Have a classmate edit your work.

**If you are totally stumped for a topic, use the January Blog Topic resource.

Resources for this assignment

*January Blog Topics

Blogging Check List

Uploading and Citing Images on Blog

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