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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Blog Post Two for Some

Many of you have finished your first blog post and are ready to create and publish post #2!  My classes meeting on Thursday will find me missing, and Mr. Yetman will be in my lab.  Please do a super job in my absence.  I have told him how wonderful you all are!  Please read the rest of this post carefully before beginning.
You will be working on agenda items #'s 5 and 6 today.  Please don't worry about widgets and gadgets. We will resume our work with them next week.
Step 1:  Launch Google Chrome, sign in to your "Drive" and open your ILT folder.
Step 2:  If you didn't finish "polishing" your first blog post last week, please start there. You will open the "First Blog Post" doc, make your corrections, copy the text, paste it in to Blogger **, then upload images, add image URL, check one last time, and then "Publish."
**You should already have a draft of a post with a title and labels.  You will need to go to your dashboard, select "post" under options, and click on "edit" to continue.  Use this resource to help you with this.
**If you make corrections to your post and want me to take a look at your work to change your grade DO NOT give your rubric to Mr. Yetman.  You will need to bring the rubric to me on Friday morning during homeroom.
Step 3:  You will need to begin creating your second blog post.  Please use the Helpful Hints resource I have created for you.  It is available here, and a copy can be found next to your workstation.  I have also left a resource to help you with your image searches.
Please do a super job in my absence.  Remember:  No watching videos or listening to music during class. You will not be needing your iPads today as you will be using your workstations.  Please put them "apples up" in the safe place, next to your workstations.  I cannot wait to see your next post!!!

Getting Good Stuff from Google

"Google it," has become one of the most common phrases in society today.  It's hard to imagine our world without Google, but in all actuality Google is only 12 years old (though this is somewhat disputed-How Old Is Google?)  Google celebrated its birthday 3 days ago!  So Happy Belated Birthday, Google!  We are going to be working on perfecting our searches this year.  So let's start off by seeing How a Google Search works.  I have found some interesting resources to share with you. We will look at these throughout the year and add to it. We will go on a Google Scavenger Hunt using the Google Tips and Tricks site.   Happy Searching!!!  -Mrs. White :)
                                

Checking Out!

MCAS scheduling has messed up our tech class schedule for the last time this year.  HOORAY!!!!  Congrats to my students for their hard work and determination on testing.  With that said, I will only see most of my students once this week.  Have no fear!!!  If you continue to use your "Effective Effort" strategies you will have no trouble completing your digital story on time.
This week you will finish finding, saving, and citing the images for your story.  Please be sure to upload them all to ONE web album in Picasa.  Make sure you are using the correct URL on your Google doc for the citations.  AFTER you have found all of the images from your shopping list, you will then go to find, save, and cite the music for your story.  Remember, we are using copyright free music for this project.  The best place to look would be where you found the music for your podcasts.  Do you remember where that is?  I also found a great site with some other music options.  Read carefully though as some of the suggested sites require buying a membership to be able to download.  Check it out- Top 10 Places to Get Free Music.  You could also try, Audio Archive or Freeplay Music.
The due date for this project is May 31st!!  I have been so impressed with the search techniques being used by my students.  You are doing a great job using filters and advanced search tricks to get what you are looking for to use in your stories.  Yeah tech kids!!!

What do I do when I'm done editing my podcast?

When you have finished editing your podcast be sure save it to your p-drive. I would recommend you rename it, "Finished Podcast." After you and your partner have saved your podcast you will return to your own workstation. You will have this time to work on the following:

1. You may create a new blog post
(Make sure you edit your post!!!)
2. You may work on the design of your blog.
3. You may read other classmates' blogs
(You can find them using this link,
Mrs. White's Students' Blogs.-http://preview.tinyurl.com/7h2wbnx)
4. You may read any blogs in your Google Reader
5. You may work on a Google Doodle-http://tinyurl.com/4pkhqqz.