Technology Class: Jan 23-27
I actually taught a full load of classes this week...I think this is the first time. Pretty exciting!!!
Well, we are getting done with the Powerpoint in the 4th and 5th grades, so they will get started on their big projects in the coming weeks..stay tuned. The 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are doing real well as their projects have moved into full swing.
Kindergarten: KA – I gave the students free time for the first half of the class to draw whatever they wanted, with the goal of the students showing how much they know about Kid Pix. After they finished I connected my computer to a projector and showed all the kids’ work on the white board.
KB – The students created a menu this week for an imaginary café. They had to decide what they were going to sell and how much it would cost. They then drew their menus and we printed them.
1st Grade: We talked about the ABC tool and basic word processing using Kid Pix. We discussed the process for getting letters and symbols into the computer, then talked about fonts, font sizes, and Bold/Underline/Italic. The students then created a poem by using adjectives that start with the same first letter of each letter of their name to describe themselves.
2nd Grade: 2A – We started a new project this week. The students are going to create a slide show to teach us about weather. This week we began our research on types of weather by downloading images.
2B – We continued our projects this week by visiting http://www.littleexplorers.com and researching various types of whether
3rd Grade: 3A – We continued to learn how to type this week by learning the keys associated with the index fingers. The students then practiced their typing.
3B - We started to learn to type this week. The students learned the proper seated and finger position for typing. Then we talked about the home row and the students began coloring in their paper keyboards. The students then began practicing their typing by typing a sample word list.
4th Grade: 4A – The students started giving their powerpoint presentations. They will finish them up next week.
4B – The students took a typing test where they filled in blank spaces on a paper keyboard with the proper keys. I then timed how long it took them to type the alphabet without error. We will revisit later in the year to show them how much they have improved with practice.
Homework:
5th Grade: The students finished giving their Powerpoint presentations. We then started working on our webpage project. The students saw an example and brainstormed an idea for their page. They then wrote a short document to tell me who they would like to work with and what subject they would like to work on. Next week, I will assign partners and they can get started.
Homework:
6th Grade: We talked more about cameras this week. We talked about focusing the camera and changing the modes. The students were most excited about the timer and the sports mode. We then went outside and took some more pictures.
Homework: Bring your camera!
7th Grade: We talked about Backgrounds. The students saw a short clip of The Simpsons, which we analyzed the backgrounds they used. We talked about making a 3D background, convergence, nice vs. distracting, and a moving background. The students then started creating the backgrounds for their animations.
Homework:
Assignment 3 - Animation HW - 2 Backgrounds
Due: Friday, Feb 3, 8:45 AM
For: Grade 7
In Flash, create 2 Backgrounds for your final animation and save them into the library.
Remember to make them part of the setting and scenery (good looking!!!) but not distracting (not that good looking).
NOTE: SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED FOR CLASS ON TUESDAY, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Come to class prepared.
8th Grade: We arranged the scenes in our movie this week to form a cohesive unit for the final product. Then we assigned scenes to each student.
Homework:
Assignment 5 - Movie HW - Scripting
Due: Tuesday, Jan 31, 8:45 AM
For: Grade 8
Write a 1 page script of the scene you were assigned.
In this script, include a full description of EVERYTHING that happens in the scene and the dialogue for all the characters that have speaking roles.
NOTE: SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED FOR CLASS ON TUESDAY, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
Have a great weekend!!!
Make sure to visit the Tech website at
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
Assignment 5 - Movie HW - Scripting
Assignment 5 - Movie HW - Scripting
Due: Tuesday, Jan 31, 8:45 AM
For: Grade 8
Write a 1 page script of the scene you were assigned.
In this script, include a full description of EVERYTHING that happens in the scene and the dialogue for all the characters that have speaking roles.
NOTE: SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED FOR CLASS ON TUESDAY, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
Technology Class: Jan 17-20
A short week, yet a productive one. Our projects are moving along now, with more to start in the coming weeks...stay tuned for progress.
Kindergarten: KA – The students created a menu this week for an imaginary café. They had to decide what they were going to sell and how much it would cost. They then drew their menus and we printed them.
KB – We worked with the keyboard today. The students used the ABC tool in Kid Pix to type their name and several words, phrases, and sentences. We even got to take a look at the space bar and the delete key, both of which are advanced ideas for kids of this age.
1st Grade: No Class.
2nd Grade: 2A – No Class
2B – We started a new project this week. The students are going to create a slide show to teach us about weather. This week we began our research on types of weather by downloading images.
3rd Grade: 3A – We started to learn to type this week. The students learned the proper seated and finger position for typing. Then we talked about the home row and the students began coloring in their paper keyboards. The students then began practicing their typing by typing a sample word list.
4th Grade: 4A – No Class
4B – The students finished giving their Powerpoint presentations. They really did do a great job on this. It is a very difficult task to complete at any age level, especially this young.
Homework:
5th Grade: We continued to present our Powerpoint presentations. Next week, we will finish and start on the big project.
Homework:
6th Grade: We started taking pictures today. First, we started talking about the parts of the camera and how they work. We talked about proper handling and usage. Then the students used our cameras outside taking pictures of one another. I can say it was quite fun to watch them.
Homework: If you plan to bring your own camera, do so on Friday, January 27.
7th Grade: We reviewed the drawing tools in flash. We talked about how to use those tools to create characters. We talked about the most important parts of a character: the face and the eyes. The students then worked on drawing a character in flash. Then we talked about to save the characters as symbols for later animation.
Homework:
In Flash, create 3 characters for your final animation and save them into the library. Characters include any object or person or animal that will be moving in the animation.
NOTE: SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED FOR CLASS ON TUESDAY, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Come to class prepared.
8th Grade: We continued to plan our movie. This time we took the scenes the students put together for class and started to lay them out for our final product. We evaluated each scene and determined if we wanted it in the final movie. Then we voted and came up with a list of 8 scenes that will make it into the final movie.
Homework:
From the email Emma sent to us today, organize the scenes.
Write an email that contains the order of the scenes, as you see best. Remember that the scenes need to create a flow for the final movie.
NOTE: SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED FOR CLASS ON TUESDAY, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
Have a great weekend!!!
Make sure to visit the Tech website at
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
Assignment 4 - Movie HW - Organize Scenes
Assignment 4 - Movie HW - Organize Scenes
Due: Tuesday, Jan 24, 8:45 AM
For: Grade 8
From the email Emma sent to us today, organize the scenes.
Write an email that contains the order of the scenes, as you see best. Remember that the scenes need to create a flow for the final movie.
NOTE: SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED FOR CLASS ON TUESDAY, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
Problems sending email from home, using SBC DSL
For those of you who are having trouble sending email from home using Entourage or Outlook through your wornickjds.org email account, DO THIS:
http://www.artsci.net/sbcport25/
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
Technology Class: Jan 12-16
This was a good week. The students are making good progress on their big projects and I had fun teaching them.
I did get a great opportunity this week:
[FROM THE PUPILS’ EXPRESS] On Wednesday, January 11, our Director of Technology, Matt Harris, served as a panelist as The Laptop Mini Conference hosted by Urban School in San Francisco. The purpose of the conference was to explore the impact of 1:1 laptops programs in independent schools. Participants examined the impact of ubiquitous laptops on school culture and the learning process. Over 75 educators from 30 Bay Area schools attended. Matt had the honor of representing our school and its innovative 1:1 laptop program on two panels: the Teacher Panel and the Implementers Panel. For more information on the conference, visit http://blue.urbanschool.org/jan11
Also, make sure to check out the Pupils’ Express Online (http://www.wornickjds.org/express). Debbi Seligman and I have been working real hard to get this working.
Kindergarten: KA – We worked with the keyboard today. The students used the ABC tool in Kid Pix to type their name and several words, phrases, and sentences. We even got to take a look at the space bar and the delete key, both of which are advanced ideas for kids of this age.
KB – No Class
1st Grade: This was a shotgun class and the kids performed excellently. We designed, created, typed, and printed signs for the 1A/1B bake sale. The kids did all the work under pressure and did GREAT!
2nd Grade: 2A- We talked about the ABC tool and basic word processing using Kid Pix. We discussed the process for getting letters and symbols into the computer, then talked about fonts, font sizes, and Bold/Underline/Italic. The students then created a poem by using adjectives that start with the same first letter of each letter of their name to describe themselves.
2B – No Class
3rd Grade: No Class
4th Grade: 4A – The students started giving their Powerpoint presentations. We had about 5 kids give their presentations...and they all did well. We talked about keeping the presentation conversational, flowing, not reading the powerpoint, and to have fun. They are an impressive group of students.
4B – The students re-acquainted themselves with their powerpoint presentations and polished them up a bit. They then practiced their presentations and timing in class. After that I presented a simple PP to show the students the flow and rules of giving a good presentation.
Homework:
5th Grade: No Class
Homework:
6th Grade: We had another guest speaker this week, Steve Maller. He spoke the students about techniques for taking good Photographs. Specifically, he spoke about telling a story with your photographs. After the instruction, Steve had the students participate in an activity where they took small picture frames and “took” pictures around the room. We were again SO lucky to have such an knowledge speaker come to class.
Homework: Pick one of the images proposals you sent me last week and write 2 paragraphs about the story you are going to tell with that image.
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
7th Grade: We talked about storyboarding today. The students say some of examples of how to use storyboards to plan out their animations. They then filled out their own storyboards to illustrate to me (and themselves) how their commercials will look like.
Homework:
8th Grade: We continued our brainstorming session. The students broke up into small groups and came up with their favorite scenes for the final movie. They then presented those ideas to the class.
Homework: In an email, re-write one of your scenes for the movie.
WRITE 2 PARAGRAPHS.
For the scene, include the following:
1. What's happening
2. Who is in the scene
3. Where it happens
4. How long the scene will take
BE VERY DESCRIPTIVE
NOTE: SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED FOR CLASS ON TUESDAY, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at matt@wornickjds.org
Have a great weekend!!!
Make sure to visit the Tech website at
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
Tech HW Grades have been updated
Assignment 3 - Movie HW - Rewrite a Scene
Assignment 4 - Movie HW – Rewrite a Scene
Due: Tuesday, Jan 17, 8:45 AM
For: Grade 8
In an email, re-write one of your scenes for the movie.
WRITE 2 PARAGRAPHS.
For the scene, include the following:
1. What's happening
2. Who is in the scene
3. Where it happens
4. How long the scene will take
BE VERY DESCRIPTIVE
NOTE: SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED FOR CLASS ON TUESDAY, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Assignment 2 - Photo HW - Telling a Story
Assignment 2 - Photo HW - Tell a Story
Due: Friday, Jan 20, 8:45 AM
For: Grade 6
Pick one of the images proposals you sent me last week and write 2 paragraphs about the story you are going to tell with that image.
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
Teacher Link Exchange up and running
The teacher link exchange is up and running and ready to use.
The teacher link exchange is a website I create to allow teachers to submit links to web site that THEY deem important or relevant. This way the information is always fresh and comes from a teacher’s point of view.
HOWEVER, this will only work if YOU submit links. The teachers have to add information for this to be useful. So, please visit the site and add some links.
You can visit the site in one of two ways:
- Visit http://www.wornickjds.org/tech then go to the TEACHER section then click on LINKS
- Visit http://wornickjds.org/tech/teacherlinkexchange/
If you have any questions, or would like to see other categories, please email me.
Enjoy!!!
-Matt
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
Digital Photography Seminars
I promised I would email out a signup sheet for this:
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE EMAIL ME BEFORE FRIDAY, JANUARY 20. I WILL ONLY HOLD THE SEMINARS IF AT LEAST 5 PEOPLE SIGN UP.
What: Digital Photography Seminars — We will cover everything from using the digital camera to loading pictures into the computer, to editing and publication
Where/When: On campus:
Session 1 – Jan 23 3:45-4:45
Session 2 - Jan 30 3:45-4:45
Session 3 - Feb 13 3:45-4:45
Session 4 - Feb 27 3:45-4:45
Who: Any faculty or staff member. You don’t have to have a laptop or even your own camera. But if you do have your own camera or laptop and would like to learn using those tools, please bring them.
Why: Professional Development, PR, and FUN. This is a wonderful skill to have in our ever changing technological world. We are excited for EVERYONE to take pictures of our outstanding school in action (the more the better). And it is just fun to do!
NOTE: IF YOU PLAN TO SIGN UP, YOU MUST COMMIT TO EVERY SESSION. No makeups will held.
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
Technology Class Jan 3-6
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back. I am quite excited to be back...stay tuned in the coming weeks as our BIGGGG projects get off the ground.
Kindergarten: We talked about the keyboard. The students learned about the keyboard layout by completing an activity where they took 3x5 cards with the letters and symbols found on the keyboard and arranging them to recreate the keyboard. Then the students used the ABC tool in Kid Pix to apply some of their new knowledge.
1st Grade: No Class
2nd Grade: 2A- No Class
2B – We talked about the ABC tool and basic word processing using Kid Pix. We discussed the process for getting letters and symbols into the computer, then talked about fonts, font sizes, and Bold/Underline/Italic. The students then created a poem by using adjectives that start with the same first letter of each letter of their name to describe themselves.
3rd Grade: We started our typing instruction this week. First, we talked about the keyboard. The students learned about the keyboard layout by completing an activity where they took 3x5 cards with the letters and symbols found on the keyboard and arranging them to recreate the keyboard. Once they were done, I asked the students specific, probing questions about the function of the parts of the keyboard. Then the students used the ABC tool in Kid Pix to apply some of their new knowledge.
4th Grade: 4A – The students re-acquainted themselves with their powerpoint presentations and polished them up a bit. They then practiced their presentations and timing in class. After that I presented a simple PP to show the students the flow and rules of giving a good presentation.
4B – No Class.
Homework: Typing logs are due next week.
5th Grade: The students re-acquainted themselves with their powerpoint presentations and polished them up a bit. They then practiced their presentations and timing in class. After that I presented a simple PP to show the students the flow and rules of giving a good presentation. We managed to find time for one student to present and she did a great job.
Homework: Typing logs are due next week
6th Grade: We had a special guest speaker, Doreen Maller, come and talk to the students about creativity and expression using Photography because we are starting our Digital Photography project. Doreen showed numerous examples of types of photograph and discussed their significance, then had the students go through provided materials to find a photo that spoke to them. It was quite a wonderful session for the students. We were very lucky to have Doreen come to class.
Homework: In an email, come up with 10 ideas for photos you are going to take and include in your final portfolio
For each photo, write a sentence describing the type of photo (landscape, b&w, etc) and the subject matter.
For your portfolio, there will be some required photo types...here is a preliminary list, just to keep in mind when you put your list together:
1. Self Portrait
2. Candid
3. Portrait
4. Landscape
5. Nature
6. B&W
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
7th Grade: We officially began our Computer Animation projects. I explained and outlined the requirements for the project: the students are to create a commercial to sell something, real or made up. They are not to have violence, death, blood, or dismemberment. Then I showed them some examples of student work from this past summer when I taught a similar class at the Tech Museum of Innovation.
Homework: In an email, write a 2 paragraph description of your commercial. You need to include the characters, the setting, the story, and what you are selling.
After reading this description, I should have a complete understanding of what your commercial is going to look like.
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
8th Grade: We began the process of making a movie. The students began the brainstorming process to come up with ideas for their end of the year movie. It should be an interesting project with this eclectic group of students. We will start to put the ideas together and come up with an outline next week.
Homework: 1) Typing logs are due
2) In an email, come up with 4 scenes for our Movie.
For each scene, include the following:
1. What's happening
2. Who is in the scene
3. Where it happens
4. How long the scene will take
NOTE: SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED FOR CLASS ON TUESDAY, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at matt@wornickjds.org
Have a great weekend!!!
Make sure to visit the Tech website at
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
Assignment 1 - Animation - Description of Commercial
Assignment 1 - Animation - Description of Commercial
Due: Friday, Jan 13, 9:00 AM
For: Grade 7
In an email, write a 2 paragraph description of your commercial. You need to include the characters, the setting, the story, and what you are selling.
After reading this description, I should have a complete understanding of what your commercial is going to look like.
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
Assignment 1 - Photo HW - 10 photo ideas
Assignment 1 - Photo HW - 10 photo ideas
Due: Friday, Jan 13, 9:00 AM
For: Grade 6
In an email, come up with 10 ideas for photos you are going to take and include in your final portfolio
For each photo, write a sentence describing the type of photo (landscape, b&w, etc) and the subject matter.
For your portfolio, there will be some required photo types...here is a preliminary list, just to keep in mind when you put your list together:
1. Self Portrait
2. Candid
3. Portrait
4. Landscape
5. Nature
6. B&W
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
Hanukkah DVD
Several of you asked me about getting a copy of the movie we showed during the Hanukkah presentation the last day of school.
I have created a DVD out of the movie that playable on any home DVD player.
If you are interested in purchasing a copy, please drop a $5 check made out to RCWJDS on my desk or in the office before Friday, January 6. DVDs will be available on Monday, January 9.
Welcome back,
-Matt
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
Assignment 4 - Movie HW - Come Up With 4 Scenes
Assignment 3 - Movie HW - Come Up With 4 Scenes
Due: Tuesday, Jan 10, 9:00 AM
For: Grade 8
In an email, come up with 4 scenes for our Movie.
For each scene, include the following:
1. What's happening
2. Who is in the scene
3. Where it happens
4. How long the scene will take
NOTE: SINCE THIS IS REQUIRED FOR CLASS ON TUESDAY, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Send your email to homework@wornickjds.org
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
Typing Logs Due -- Second week of January
Hello everyone,
I hope you had a good break. I did.
Since this is the first week back, I have decided to extend the deadline for typing logs until next week. So, the typing log is due whenever the student has technology class during the second week of school.
3 HOURS are required.
If you have lost your typing log, please visit the student section of the tech website (http://www.wornickjds.org/tech) and download another copy.
Glad to have you back,
-Matt
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
Welcome Back!!!!
Welcome back to school!!!
I hope everyone has a restful and enjoyable break...I know I did.
-Matt
===================================
Matt Harris
Director of Technology
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
http://www.wornickjds.org/tech
