Searching Here, There, and Everywhere

Google has become commonplace in our world today.  It is no longer used just as a noun, but has now become a verb.  How many times did  you "Googled" something this weekend?  How long has Google been around anyway?  And who thought of Google?  So many questions.  How can I get the answers?  I know; I'll Google them!  Check out the history of Google.
All this talk about Google has been deliberate.  This week we will take a look at getting the most from Google.  Before learning how to search well, you must understand how a search works in Google.  You will start with an assignment in Google Classroom using the video, "How Search Works."
Once you have finished that assignment, you will move on to the next  This one uses another Google tool, Google Presentation and was created by the people at Google as well.  You will explore Google search with A2:  Google Landing.  Don't worry if you have some trouble.  We will go over this activity together before you turn it in.  Have fun!  I can't wait for you to be Google Search experts.
   ~Mrs. White

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Hello Opeartor

Here we are in the first full week of March.  This weekend marks an important event.  Do you know what it is?  On this Sunday, March 13th, we will have to change our clocks.  "Spring Ahead" as the saying goes.  Why do we change our clocks?  What is Daylight Savings Time all about anyway?  If you would like some answers then check out this site.  Be prepared to be a little sleepy on Monday morning as we will lose an hour.  UGH!!

As for our learning this week, we will take a look at some more tips and tricks for improving our searches.  This week we will talk about the "7 Operators."  You will also be introduced to EasyBib and find out a quick and easy way to create proper citations.  This is a great guide for using this tool.  We will also take a look at adding an "extension" from the Chrome Store and download the app on your iPads!  Some very cool stuff.  Let's start by watching this introductory video on citations.

Enjoy your week and rest up!!!

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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.  

Log In Poster Contest

We are finally distributing iPads to grade 7 students today!  HOORAY!!!!  I will be working in your classes with you passing out the iPads.  While I am away from my lab, I have a challenge for you all.  You will be working on a poster.  The criteria for this poster can be found on the gold sheet in your workstation resource folders.  You will be given a "rough draft" piece of paper.  Please take at least 10 minutes to sketch out what you would like your poster to look like based on the criteria.  You will be expected to turn in this rough draft so please be sure to put your name and ILT# on it.  You will have the option of using paper and art supplies to create a more traditional "hard copy" poster OR you may digitize your work and use an on line creator. If you choose to create your poster on line, please write the name of the tool you are using on a note card and turn it in.    You may also use a combination of both paper and your computer.  If you would like to type your text and find images from the Internet, print, and then paste on a paper you may do this as well.  You are the artists and your creativity should flow freely.  Art supplies can be found on the table in the back of the lab next to the printer.  Please be sure to clean up after yourself and return all materials to the place you found them.  You should be able to complete this project in the class time given today.  Please do not rush through this project.  I will be selecting the top posters to use and/or copy.  These winning posters will be placed in classrooms and computer labs throughout the school.  Have fun!!!!

Managing Your Digital Life

Summer is quickly coming to a close and Fall is arriving bringing warmer weather than we've had in a while.  I am noticing the change of color in leaves and other subtle signs.  I guess we are in for a true "Indian Summer" here on Cape Cod.  I hope my students were all able to take advantage of some of the great weather this weekend.  Many are involved in football, hockey, cheering, gymnastics, and other activities I haven't discovered yet.  Hopefully they found some time to relax and enjoy "unstructured time."  I updated my Apple devices to iOS 8 have you?  What do you think?
This week we will finish working on organizing and managing our digital lives.  We have been immersing ourselves in Google so I thought it might be interesting to take a peek in to the work atmosphere there.  We will start our first class viewing, "Inside Google Offices."  Do you think you'd like to work for Google?  We will check out some other interesting work places throughout the year.
Students will need to complete creating contacts in their Gmail address books, then create and share folders with each of their teachers; "digital in boxes."   You will need the Grade 7 Teacher Email/Google Share Resource to complete these tasks.  Once these tasks have been completed, creating events in Google calendar is next on the agenda.  Please use the Google Calendar Events doc to complete this task.
If you have completed all of the above items, I would love some help mounting and hanging up our "passion" word clouds.
Have a super start to your week!

Google Contacts and Google Calendar

It seems more often than not, our plans change.  Last week I had hoped to have my students adding contacts to their Google contacts.  It took a little longer to get through some of our other lessons which is fine.  We had some great conversations and students really seem to have an understanding of our school's intranet.  I also feel they will do a great job troubleshooting any future problems with our workstations.

So this week we will move on to adding contacts to our Google accounts and adding events to our Google calendars. There are so many cool things we can do with our Google accounts.  I'd like to share this video with you.  Some of you have seen it, but it's worth watching a second time.  I hope to be able to create presentations like this one, "Google Demo Slam:  Epic Docs Animation."  Now that you are excited about what you can do with one of your apps, Docs, let's take a look at your Contacts.  You will find a "Google Directory" next to your workstation.  You will need this resource for this activity.  Please watch the screencast  I created for you, "Adding Contacts to Your Google Account" and then add your team teachers to your contacts.  You can go back and watch the video again if you get stuck.  Be sure to type carefully.

Once you have finished adding contacts, you will work in your Calendar.  You will find a list of events next to your workstation.  Please watch the screencast I created, "Adding Events to Your Google Calendar," and then add the events to your calendar.  Have some fun and customize your calendar.  If you have any questions, just watch the video again.  I hope you enjoy personalizing your Google accounts!!

Gone Google

It seems as though Google has always been around, but this is far from the truth.  So when did Google hit the scene?  Google is only about 14 years young.  So when did Google go from noun to verb?   I don’t have an answer for that I’m afraid.   I don’t know when Google went from being a “place” to being something we all “do!”  It is so hard to imagine our lives without it.  If you are really curious, you can check out the History of Google.   I know all of my students can use Google, but I want them to get the best of Google.  There are many tips and tricks for improving your searches.  I have created a doc with a couple of resources.  I hope you find Google Search Tips and Tricks useful.  Being a Google School has changed the way my students and our teachers work.  It has been hard to break the old habit of opening a word doc every time I want to work on something, but I am glad to say I am over the hump.  Now when I have work or drafts to create,  it’s Google docs to the rescue.  

http://easilymused.com/2012/03/google-search-results-too-good-to-be-true-heres-why/