What Role Does Social Media Play in Your Life?

The role of social media in your lives will be our topic of discussion for the next few classes.  I hope our classes will make you think a lot and help you to make wise choices.  Please read this post carefully as resources and instructions for both classes are included.

**Reminder to all students:  This Friday, May 23rd, is the last day to submit incomplete work or retakes.  As of this Friday all incompletes become "0's"!!!!  Do not turn in any make-up or retake work to a substitute!  Be sure to give rubrics and any other papers directly to me and me only!!!

During class #1 this week, you will be diving right in to the social media activity we spoke about last week.  If you were in class and downloaded the Digital Literacy & Citizenship Workbook last week, you will be using the Social Media Activity resource during your first class this week.  Please be sure to read this resource carefully as you will find instructions for setting up the "submitting your work" component of this eText.  **Please be sure to use the correct email address for me; it is sharing (whitek@mybps.us) not my email.

If you were not in class last week to download the Digital Literacy & Citizenship Workbook, you will need to use the "downloading" resource to take care of this.  Unfortunately it will take most of class for the workbook to download.  While your workbook is downloading you will work on the second activity for this week; the class two assignment.

During class #2 this week you will first finish editing and sharing your podcast.  The resource for sharing your podcast is in your yellow Workstation Resource folder.  Once this task has been completed, or if you finished it up last week, you will move on to working on your blog.  I have created the Blog Checklist you asked for last week.  You will be given a copy of this checklist; so be sure to use it.  Remember, I will be assessing your blogs for your final grade, using the Blog Design Rubric, starting the first week of June.  This does not leave much time for your to get it ready.  I will be collecting your checklist once you have completed it.  Once your blog is "assessment ready" you should create and publish a new post.  Be sure to have a classmate edit your post before publishing it.  I need to see at least 4 new posts before the end of the year!!

**I have my class on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.  I will be in school, but not in our lab.  You will be having a substitute and I expect your best behavior and most effective effort.  Everything you need is in the blog post and in your Workstation Resource folders.  Please make good choices and get your work done. A summary of your class assignments is below:

• Use the Social Media Activity resource to complete the first unit in your Digital Literacy & Citizenship Workbook.  
• If you were absent last week and did not download the workbook use the download resource to get the eText.  You will not be able to complete the activity today as the book will not be there for you to use so you will then move on to the next activities.
• Finish editing your podcast and then share it.  (The resource for this is in your Workstation Resource folder.)
• Ask substitute for a Blog Checklist and begin working on your blog; getting it ready to be assessed.
•   I will be collecting your checklist once you have completed it. Please don not turn it in to the substitute.  I will get it from you during our next class together.  **You my want to use some of these blogs on your blogrolls (blog lists):  List of Blogs
• Create and publish a new blog post.  (Be sure to have a classmate edit it before you publish it.)

**You should not be watching videos (unless they are instructional or you are getting resources for your blog posts) or playing games on your iPads.  You have plenty of  work to get done!!

image link

Finishing Up Those Podcasts

This week you will finish editing your podcasts and share them with me.  If you remember our conversation from last week, I will not be requiring you to post your podcast on your blog.  I respect that many of you were uncomfortable doing this. Instead, you will need to share your podcast with me by putting it in a folder I have shared with you.  Use this document, "How to Share Your Podcast." I have also put directions for this procedure in the yellow "Workstation Resources" folders.  I will help you with this process if you need it, so please be sure to ask.  **Please be sure to review the Podcast Rubric before sharing your project.

This week you will be asked to review the Blog Design Rubric you were given mid way through the year. As we discussed, this will be your last "big" content grade of the year.  It is basically your "final" as we have been working on blogging for most of the year.  I am sure it has been a while since you have taken a look at this rubric.  You may have time during your second class to start getting your blog assessment ready.  Please be sure to go through each criteria of the rubric carefully.  I have noticed many of my students' blogs need some work to do well when measured against the rubric. In addition, I will be creating a checklist to help you with specifics.  I hope to have it ready for you next week.  If you need help please be sure to check out the "Blogging Resources" page on this blog.

During class two this week you will be completing the "Social Media Survey," and getting ready to for some work on a social media activity I have created for you. We will be using the data from the survey for discussions in future classes.  It is anonymous.  Please read it carefully and take it independently.  Do not speak with your classmates while completing it. Be sure to submit it when you are done.
Once you have finished the survey you will need to get ready for a Social Media activity we will be working on next week. You will need to download a book in iBooks for this activity.  It is going to take at least the whole class to download the iBook.   I am having you do this today so your are all set next week.  Please follow these directions, Downloading iBook for Social Media Activity, carefully.
Once you have started the download of the iBook you will need to work on the agenda items on the board.
You will need to finish editing your podcast.  Please be sure to check the Podcast Rubric when you think you are finished with it.  Then you will need to share your podcast with me.  Both the rubric and instructions for sharing the podcast are located on top of your Workstation Resource folder.
If you should finish with these two items before the end of class you should start working on getting your blogs ready to be assessed.  Everyone has work to do on his/her blog.  No one should be playing games, watching videos, or listening to music.  The only exception would be if you are looking for some help on your blog.  Instructional/informational videos are permitted and encouraged.  You may also create and publish a   new blog post.  I am expecting at least four new posts before the end of the school year!

**I will not be in school on Thursday.  Mr.Carme will be in our lab and I expect my students to do a good job.  

Please be aware our sixth graders will be taking their Math MCAS on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.  Be sure to keep our hallways quiet; giving them a great testing atmosphere.  If you should ride in with a 6th grader on the bus be sure to give them a smile and wish them luck.  You could make a difference in someone's day!!!

  Have a super week!!

Catching Up....Almost

image link:  http://wwwdragonflies.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/podbean-for-podcast-hosting/

Well Mother Nature threw another curve ball at us this past week, or should I say two curve balls?!  Even though the snow storm on Tuesday didn't dump much snow in our area, it certainly had an enormous impact as it caused our MCAS schedule to be altered.  The domino effect of those changes as continued in to this new week.  The second curve ball came on Friday morning when we had a 2 hour delay of school; causing even more of my students to miss tech class last week.  I will not be seeing some of my students this week at all!   YIKES!!!  We will continue on and see where we end up on April 1 (no fooling)!!  So those students who do have class this week will finish up with their podcasts.
Once podcasts have been finished we will be creating accounts in Podbean.  This is where your podcasts will be hosted. Please watch this screencast Ms. Sweeney created showing you not only how to create this account, but also how to upload your first podcast.  Now that you know how to create your account please go to Podbean and do so. I would like you to make some adjustments to your accounts.  Please go in to "My Profile" in your Podbean account and change your password.  I would then recommend adding this user information to your School Sites Tables, or at least write it down on your podcast rubric for now.  I would then like you to go to the "profile and settings" tab.  Once there, select "privacy".  I would like you to change the "friends" option. It can be either or the other two options.  In addition, please change the setting for who can see your profile from the default to one of the other two options.  Be sure to save the changes to your account.
You will not be able to upload your Audacity .wav files directly in to Podbean.  You will need to import the .wav file in to Adobe Soundbooth; and then save it as an MP3 file.  Once you have done this you will be able to bring it in to Podbean.  You will then be able to follow those steps Ms. Sweeney gave you to upload your podcast!  You should have already created a post on your Google docs.  Simply copy and paste that text in to your Podbean account and you are good to go! You do have a limit of 500 characters for your post (about 3 tweets worth) so choose your words carefully. Once you hit that upload tab you have officially started your career as a published podcaster!!

Enjoy your long weekend.  You deserve it after all of your hard work on MCAS!!

Happy Easter!
Happy Passover

image link:  http://animation.dinamobomb.net/1/40.htm

Help Please!   I would like you to take a moment and respond to this survey.  Thanks in advance for your help!!!

Learning with iPads-Student Survey

Time to Edit

Now the fun really begins!  You will take your raw audio tracks and work some magic using Audacity.  Please be sure to save a new "edited podcast" version.  You will have your original track saved; just in case!!  You can edit with your partner or you can each edit on your own.  The choice is yours.  Please be sure to use your available resources.  There are many mentioned in previous posts.  You may also search for more if you are having difficulty finding answers.  Please help one another out.  You will become the experts at this!!!  So have some fun.  I cannot wait to hear your finished podcasts!!

Audacity Resources:

How to Podcast

Audacity Tutorial: Part 1

Audacity Tutorial: Part 2

Audacity Tutorial: Part 3 Basic Editing

Using Equalization in Audacity

Audacity Tutorial: Part 4 Voice Editing

Audacity Tutorial: Part 5 Simple Mixing Music with Voice

Remove Background Noise

Finishing Scripts, Rehearsing, and Exploration

Hello to my hard working podcast creators.  I am not able to be there with you today, but Mrs. Diggins is ready to help you with whatever you need.  Please do a great job for her!  Everything you need for class today can be found in this blog post.  Please be sure to read it in its entirety.  Don’t leave anything out!!!  
You will start class today by taking the “Pop Culture Survey” created by our yearbook committee.  When you click on this link, it will take you to our Google portal.  **If this link does not work, please go to the BIS homepage.  If you look under the “Quick Links” you will see the survey as your first selection.  You will need to sign in to your Google account to take the survey.  Please be sure to work independently.  You will need to select an answer for each of the questions.  I know there may be some questions for which you do not care for any of the choices, but you MUST select one.  So just pick the one which is least objectionable.  Mrs. Diggins will be giving you some directions before and after this activator.  Please wait for her before moving on.
Once you have finished your activator, you will be moving on to the next three agenda items on the front board.  
Some of you may have already completed #2:  Finish/Print your Podcast Script.  If you have not yet completed your script you will only have 15 minutes to get it finished and printed (one copy for each person in your group.)   You will need to do a run through of your script and time it.  Remember you may find an online stopwatch to complete this task.  If your podcast falls short, you will need to quickly add more to your script and reprint it.
Then you will move on to item #3 (if you have already printed your script you will be starting with #3).  Rehearse your podcast ( a minimum of 5 times) This should take you at least 10 minutes to complete.  Be sure to rehearse it the same way you will be recording it (outloud, slowly, and clearly.)  Once you have finished rehearsing your script, please put it in your folder or binder.  You will not need it for the rest of class today.  Remember my suggestions to highlight your lines on your copy of the script.  Highlighters can be found at the on the back row of computers workstations.  ***Remember you will only have a 15 minute recording session so it very important you are well prepared.
Now it is time to move on to item #4 Explore Audacity/Soundbooth.  Look at the column of icons on your desktop.  The third icon from the bottom is a folder named, “audio/video”.  Please open this file.  You will find four items inside.  You should see both Audacity and Adobe Soundbooth.  You will need to open and explore both of these software programs.  As you are exploring you will need to be sure to learn how to do the following things:

1. Start a recording
2. Pause a recording- this will be very important next week.  It is very possible you may have a case of the giggles of get tongue-tied when recording.  You will not want to end and then restart your recording.  You will instead want to pause, regain your composure and then begin recording again.
3. Re-start your recording
4. End your recording
5. Save your recording

You have saved some resources for Audacity in your diigo accounts.  Please use these to help you as you explore.  If you did not bookmark these resources, you will find some helpful links at the end of this post. You should also use the “help” tabs within each of these programs.   Once  you have figures out how to accomplish the five tasks above, I would like you to create a test recording.  There are a few sets of headphone/microphones hanging on the sound proof carousel on the computer at the far side of the classroom by the windows.  These “peripheral devices” have a USB connector (do you remember what those 3 letters stand for???)  You do not need to use the headphones, just speak in to the microphone.  After recording your test audio track, listen to it and see how it sounds.  You need to get a sense of how close to hold the mic and how loud to speak.  You will need to share these headsets, so after recording your track, please put them back.   If time allows, you can actually play around a bit with editing.

Audacity Resources:
Audacity Tutorial Part I
Audacity Tutorial Part II
Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Podcast? (power point)
Audacity WIKI

Soundbooth Resources:
Adobe Soundbooth Tutorials
Learn Adobe Soundbooth
Soundbooth Essential Training

***You will not be doing any searching or saving of music today.  We will address where to find music and search for it next week.  You should not be working on a video part of this project today either.  If you are using a video in your podcast, you will need to bring that video in to class next week.  Please do not panic about this piece. I will help you problem solve getting the video on to the computer in class.

If you should finish with all of these items before the end of class please do any of the following things:

   Work on your blog

   Clean out your Gmail

   Clean and organize your Google docs

   Check to make sure you have a folder for each of your classes

   Check to make sure you have shared the folder with your teachers

   Clean out your pdrive

You may NOT go to any on line game sites or listen to music on line.  Remember the AUP you signed and the trust I have in all of you.  You need to get all of these things done so you are ready to record next week.  Have a great class.  I am so excited for you to record your podcasts next week.  I know you will do a great job!  Have an awesome weekend!

Image Link:  http://allthingsd.com/20120615/apple-gives-podcasts-a-gentle-push-out-of-itunes/

Here We Go Again....

February Vacation has officially begun (well it actually started at 2:45 p.m. on Friday!)  I am sitting at my computer watching the wind whip around the snow outside my window.  It is actually snowing sideways!!  I understand this won't be "Nemo II" the sequel, but high winds and measureable snow are forecasted for us.  Therefore I am scrambling to do anything requiring the use of electricity in the next couple of hours. 
Before we lose power, if we should lose power, I wanted to take a moment to comment on the excitement I was feeling in my lab before vacation.  I'm not talking about the, "vacation is almost here" excitement, but about the podcast script writing excitement.  My students are really taking this assignment seriously.  As I looked around during one of my classes I noticed students not only accessing sites which had come up in their searches, but also using Pinterest because they had created a "board" and "pinned" resources at home earlier!!!  One group was typing their script on their workstation and using a Kindle to bring up their pins.  The range of "How To's" for this podcasting series is wide and extremely interesting.  Students were up out of their seats pretending to swing baseball bats as their partners hastily keyboarded the sequence of moves.  It will be very exciting when we begin our recording and then move to editing.  I am sure my students will master Audacity quickly.  I am doubtful they will lose their enthusiasm over vacation.
I hope all of my hard working students enjoy this week off from school.  I know some are traveling while others are sitting at home watching these flakes soar sideways.  I will be thinking of them all if we lose power.  I remember how bored they were last weekend when Nemo took it away for a while. 
Let's keep our fingers crossed that we will stay "connected!!"