0 Monday Nov 25th Substitute Class

Hello 7th Graders! Please complete the following tasks in order;

• Explore Mrs. White's student blogs by taking this link.  Leave great comments following commenting guidelines.
• Write a new post on your blog, have a classmate peer edit.
• Explore Feedly or Pinterest
• Work on your Blog

0 Happy Pinning!

Image Source

 Hello 7th Graders! Today you will be creating a Pinterest account.  Pinterest is one of my favorite sites EVER! I started on Pinterest back when it was in a Beta testing mode and you could only join by invitation! 

Some of you may already have a personal account, but the account you create today will be your school, or professional account using your mybps email address. 

You will use this account to create boards for school.  You will be able to organize resources for school projects on these boards.The first board you are going to create will be for your blog. You will then search for resources to use for future blog posts.Please watch this video for some tips & tricks for using Pinterest.  In addition, please use the Pinterest help center as another resource.

Have fun!!

0 RSS Feeds & FEEDLY

You may have seen the symbol below and asked, "what is that?!"

It represents an RSS feed, and you will be creating a Feedly account in order to receive these feeds.  Confused? Let me back up, please watch the videos below, read my facts, and check out all the resources before you create your account and find blogs to subscribe to.

Feeders and Readers Some Facts:
(How to find and follow other blogs)

• Get updates from a variety of websites, pick and choose which sites you want to visit, and skim posts for the ones you want to read. 
• If you end up "following" a bunch of blogs or sites, Feedly allows you to organize them into folders and create categories so it doesn't get overwhelming.
• Keeps you connected to other bloggers, whether it's a classmate or another student across the country.
• If you aren't interested in reading a post you subscribe to one day, just scroll past it!
• Share posts you like with others.

Video Source

Video Source

0 7th Grade Checklist

Hello 7th Graders! I'm very sorry I am missing you today! Please make sure to follow all the instructions carefully on here to complete all tasks.  **At the end of class, please be sure to complete a "Stick-it to Leave" stating everything you have completed.

Link to Student Blogs  

Please complete all tasks in order.  Checklists and resources for each task are also located in the 7th grade folder by your computer. 

1.Make corrections to the first blog post that the substitute will hand back.  To do this, you go to the list of posts and click edit.

2. Adjust your About Me if needed.  Remove ANYWHERE where it says Cape Cod.  I do not want Cape Cod on your blogs-to personal.  

----Some of your about me take up to much space on the side of your blog because the section in introduction is too long.  Fix this by clicking edit profile. (look at directions in red folder)

3. Create a new post, include images and what you have learned from the corrections of first post.  Have a classmate peer edit before posting.

4. Look at the new blog design rubric in the red folder.  This is how the overall blog will be graded in a few weeks.  Check to make sure you have everything.

5. Check out other student blogs and leave appropriate comments.  The link is here

6. Add widgets & gadgets to your blog.  I am requiring that you add three.  You may also create a Voki and add that too.  Do not add games to your blog.  We have found them to be very distracting for your readers.  Instructions in folder & on my blog. ( More gadget options in previous post, scroll down)

7. If you haven’t done one already, you may take a web camera and upload and edit a photo for your blogger profile.  Instructions in red folder.

8. EVERYONE must add a sticky note to the back board with your name listing everything you completed.

0 Blog Commenting

Please Watch the Video below & be ready to discuss.

Commenting Resources

Mrs. Yollis, a third grade teacher and blogger in CA, created this fantastic video of her kids talking about blog commenting.  They have great ideas and suggestions for any age blogger, please watch!

(Source: http://yollisclassblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-compose-quality-comment.html)

0 Wednesday & Thursday Substitute Class

Hello 7th Graders! I'm very sorry I am missing you today, especially those of you I also missed on Friday! Please make sure to follow all the instructions carefully on here to complete all tasks.  **At the end of class, please be sure to complete a "Stick-it to Leave" stating everything you have completed.  

Please complete all tasks in order.  Checklists and resources for each task are also located in the 7th grade folder by your computer. 

1. Complete your first post.  Have a classmate peer edit, and check it against the rubric. (Click here to see rubric)

2. Print your first post and hand in to Mr. Frazier so I can grade it this weekend.

3. Post your first post to your blog.  Click here for instructions on this if you need help.

4. Add your "About Me" to the profile section.  Click here for instructions on this if you need help.

5. Share the link to your blog with me.  To do this click View Blog on your blogger dashboard.  Then type your name and copy & paste the link onto the document here.

6. Add widgets & gadgets to your blog.  I am requiring that you add three.  You may also create a Voki and add that too.  Do not add games to your blog.  We have found them to be very distracting for your readers.  Click here for instructions on adding the required Gadgets & Widgets.


More Blog Widgets & Gadgets

Widgipedia - Huge widget gallery

Cluster Maps - See where people are viewing your blog from around the world 

Voki
Video on adding a Voki to your blog. (Student created)
**You do not need an account unless you want to save**

Google Translate - Add a translator widget to translate your blog into any language for world-wide reading.

7. If you finish EVERYTHING above, you may take a web cam from the front and take a picture of yourself and edit it to add to your Blogger profile.  Instructions on this can be found here.  Web Cams are in the front, and you must show Mr. Frazier everything else is done. 

8.  EVERYONE must add a sticky note to the back board with your name listing everything you completed. 

0 Some Helpful Links for Blogging

I am posting some links below for those of you that want/need more help with your blogs.  I especially like the blog post that contains the "10 Writing Tips All Bloggers must Adhere to."  I am not the only one who cares about spelling and grammar, please take some time to check out the links below.

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/successful%20blog

• Spice Up Your Blog's Guest Post by Ken Myers, "10 Writing Tips All Bloggers Must Adhere to."

• Blogger Buster offers a free e-book on Blogging Basics.  You can download it right into your Google Docs account.  Check the table of contents first to see what you want to know.

• It is pretty neat to see who and how many people are viweing your blog.  Check out some of the gadgets below, that you can add to your blog!  (At least one is required as part of your blog design grade)

                 Cluster Maps -*Make sure you follow directions on the page to put on your blog!

                 Hit Counter -Show off your page hits count with the simple counter to count the number of page views of your profile or any web page. (* Copy & Paste code into the HTML Gadget on your Blogger Layout)

                Page Hits- Show off your page hits count with the simple counter. It remembers the URL of the page that contains it and starts displaying number of page views immediately.

               Visit Counter - Simple Black and White Counter.  Copy & Paste the code into the html gadget on your blogger layout.

0 Blog Links

Click Here and paste in your URL

0 Creating Your "About Me"

Hello 7th graders! I'm sorry I am missing you today.  Please follow the directions of Mr. Frazier and below.  You are creating your "About Me" section on your blog.  When you finish you will have a few options to start planning the creation of your blog and your first post.

• Log in to Google Apps
• Take out the packet I gave you during class one and go to the About Me example
• Follow the directions on this page to create an "About Me" that speaks to your readers.  Use humor and creativity.  Show how interesting of a person you are! Make sure to break each section up like the example, because that is how it will be pasted into Blogger. Do not use your last name or personal info like addresses please.

Here are some examples of the "About Me" section

Christo's Blog

Iheart Organizing Blog

http://blogs.goaj.org/gamekid/about-2/

http://lauren2110gs.edublogs.org/about-me/

http://jadensawesomeblog.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

http://www.blogger.com/profile/02403934389697665281

When you are done, please be sure to drag and drop this doc into your tech folder so I can give you credit for it.

Next, I would like you to either watch some of the blogger videos below, or take a packet on creating your first blog post. I want you to start brainstorming ideas for your first post.  

Find images you like and save them to your P-Drive (save links to a Google Doc) Figure out what your blog will be called and what it will be about. Do research, check out other blogs, Google Blog Search Click Here- start planning your blog. I want you ready to create after the quiz next week! Stick a post it to the back board with any questions you have for me.

Have a great weekend!!

Video Links Below:

How to Create a Blog

Creating A Blog Tutorial

Writing and Publishing Your First Blog Post

0 What is a Blog?

Blog Links and Blog Search

"Zoe's Blog"

"About Me Examples"

0 Blogs to Check Out

Please explore a variety of blogs to get ideas for creating your own. Pay attention to the design, the topic, and images.  What do you like or dislike.  Please take your time looking at each one. Take the links below to see the lists!

List of  Student Blogs Click Here!!

List of all 2012-2013 blogs

Click Here to see a list of other cool blogs around the internet!

0 Email Activator

image source: techcrunch.com

Today, I am having my 7th graders take a link to Padlet (formally Wall Wisher) to complete an activator in preparation for their school email accounts.

7th Grade please click here

I will have them post to the wall to answer the following questions;

1.) The last time you used email, what did you use it for?

2.) What should an email in school sound like & look like?

0 Google Demo Slam: Epic Docs Animation

Since my seventh graders will be logging in to their School Google accounts for the first time this year I thought this video would be a great activator to get them excited about Google.  It's yet another example of the amazing things you can do with Google Docs!

0 Survey

Survey Link Click Here

0 End of Year Checklist

Please Click the Checklist Link Below & complete all tasks.

End of Year Checklist

0 Survey

Please take the survey below

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G23L7NJ

0 Google Earth Tour

http://www.schooltube.com/video/fd4b59e72cce7ed4bce2/

0 Digital Story Resources

Check out some of the links below for resources and inspiration when working on your project.

Visu Words- online graphical dictionary.  Gives you synonyms for any word, try using this instead of just using words like sad, depressed, mean etc

Videos for Inspiration

Be the Difference

Dodgeball: A True Bullying Story

Cyberbullying

0 Quick Survey 7A ILT 3

Please Click on the link below to choose how you will present your project.

Survey Link

0 Embedding Surveys & Podcast

Podcast Powered By Podbean


Link to 7th Grade Blogs

Google Spreadsheet Info. & Challenges

1 Surveys

7th Grade Survey ILT #1

7th Grade Survey ILT #2

7th Grade Survey ILT #4

0 Podbean- Hosting Your Podcast & Class Instructions

Hello 7th Graders.  Today you will be publishing your podcasts and, once that is done, completing a scavenger hunt. Both of these will be worth content grades, so please do your best and be sure to follow all instructions! Everything today is INDIVIDUAL, NO PARTNERS!

www.techvibes.com

1.First you will need to create a podbean account if you haven't already, this is working now.  Even if you have created one, you need to check over the instructions and make sure your settings are correct.  

Open this doc. to view instructions.

Click Here to go to the PodBean Website- This is where your podcasts will be uploaded to.

Miss Sweeney's Inbox- Copy and paste link to podbean site

2. Once your podcast is published, and you have a good description of the experienced typed up on PodBean, you are going to complete a "Scavenger Hunt."

3. This Scavenger Hunt is worth a test grade, but it should be extremely easy if you follow instructions.  Click on the Scavenger Hunt Link below to get started, you may print this document as well if it will help you, but you will need it open in order for the links to work.

Scavenger Hunt

4.  If you finish the scavenger hunt, you may do the following, and ONLY the following please.

- Go to any site located on my page on the BIS site Click Here
- Use Google Earth
- Create a blog post, or comment on another student blog.  Links to other blogs here
- Clean out gmail or Google Docs

0 Podcasting-Adding Background Music & Sound Effects

Sound Effects 

Jewel Beat Free Sound Effects 

Soundzabound (Username & Password on the board)

Free Play Music & Sound Effects

Background Music

***Instructional Video on Downloading & Saving Music Made by Mrs. White****

Jewel Beat Free Background Loops

Community Audio -Browse by Style to find easier

Free Play Music & Sound Effects

Editing Your Podcast Using Adobe Soundbooth

Adobe T.V. - Very helpful Videos

Total Training - Lots of Easy to follow Videos 

Soundbooth Edit Menu

Cleaning up Audio Article

Editing Your Podcast Using Audacity

Editing Basics (Text Document)

Effects Menu - Lists what each effect does in Audacity's Effects Menu

0 Podcast Recording Day 2

Please complete the following tasks if you are done recording, or while you are waiting to record.

1. Make sure you have completed a well constructed blog post (yesterday or today).  It should have correct spelling, grammar, and a cited image or link.

2. Get a blog design rubric and put your name at the top.  Make sure your blog has everything on the rubric before giving the rubric to me.  Once you hand in the rubric, you are telling me that you are ready to have your blog graded.
 **  ---Some people were having trouble finding & adding a counter/page view gadget, here are links to some.

Cluster Maps - See where people are viewing your blog from around the world

Hit Counters- variety of styles to choose from

Video on adding a counter

3. You are going to need some sort of sound effect or music added to your podcast (see rubric) so please check out the links below.  If you find something you like, watch the video on how to download it and save it to your P-Drive.  We are only using open source music and sound effects.

How to Download Music for Digital Story

Music Sites

Community Audio

http://archive.org/details/opensource_audio

Freeplay Music

http://freeplaymusic.com/

Creative Commons Audio

http://creativecommons.org/audio/

Complete any of these, but you must do something:

• Create a Google Doodle- You Could Win!! “The National Winner will have his or her doodle featured on the U.S. Google.com homepage. He or she will be awarded a $30,000 college scholarship to used at the school of his or her choice, a trip to New York City for the final awards ceremony on May 22nd, 2013, a Google Chromebook computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a t-shirt printed with his or her doodle on it. We’ll also award the winner’s full-time school a $50,000 technology grant towards the establishment or improvement of a computer lab or technology program.”

Forms on front table
More Info Here
Or watch Video Here

• Clean Out School Gmail Account
• Clean Out Google Drive Account-Just stuff you don’t need!
• Use any of the websites listed on my Creativity Link Page Here or Games & Activities Here

First Four MUST be completed before choosing anything else on list.

Complete all & receive tickets!

1.Make sure your podcast script is complete, printed and your lines are highlighted.

2. Take the Yearbook Pop Culture Survey Located Here

3. Create a Blog Post on anything you want.  Can’t think of anything? Write about February Vacation or what it’s like to use iPads in the classroom.  --Make sure to check your spelling!!!

4. Go over Blog Design Rubric to make sure your Blog has all requirements (Rubrics on front table)
______________________________________________________________________________
.
Complete any of these, but you must do something:

• Create a Google Doodle- You Could Win!! “The National Winner will have his or her doodle featured on the U.S. Google.com homepage. He or she will be awarded a $30,000 college scholarship to used at the school of his or her choice, a trip to New York City for the final awards ceremony on May 22nd, 2013, a Google Chromebook computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a t-shirt printed with his or her doodle on it. We’ll also award the winner’s full-time school a $50,000 technology grant towards the establishment or improvement of a computer lab or technology program.”

Forms on front table
More Info Here
Or watch Video Here

• Clean Out School Gmail Account
• Clean Out Google Drive Account-Just stuff you don’t need!
• Use any of the websites listed on my Creativity Link Page Here or Games & Activities Here

0 Podcast Scripts & Recording Practice

 

 Image Source: theplayvault.com

Please complete the following tasks in this order today.

• Complete Podcast script

• Print 3 copies of script (one is for me!)

• Highlight Your own lines

• Practice Your Script at least four times OUT LOUD, being sure to time it. Make sure it is at least 1 min for two podcasts or at least 2 min for one podcast. If you stumble over any words, change your script

• Each partner, check out the links for Audacity & Adobe Soundbooth below. Check out both to decide which one you want to use

• Take a microphone headset from the front table (one per group) plug it in, and open Soundbooth or Audacity.  Both located in the Audio & Video folder on your desktop.

• Try out the one you want to use or both.  You DON”T need to do your podcast now, record anything you want to practice and see how it sounds.  

• Try editing, or changing what you recorded(Use tutorials & resources on my blog)

• Sign-up for a recording time on the recording sheet hanging on the front board

DO Not Do ANYTHING that is not on this list please.  If you do everything keep practicing, try editing, read about the program, do research.  Use effort with this please.

 Check out the tutorials and resources below for Adobe Soundbooth & Audacity

Audacity Resources

Audacity Video Tutorial Part I

Audacity Tutorial Part II

Power Point- "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Podcast?"  

Audacity Wiki

Soundbooth Resources

Cleaning up Audio Article

Creating a Multi-track  

Adobe T.V.  

0 7A Link for Script

Please take the link below and wait for the next instruction

Script Outline link Click Here

0 Podcast Bookmarks

Let's go to Diigo (do you remember this site? It's been awhile!) Please look at the sites below and bookmark each into Diigo.

If you forget how to bookmark, please check out this screencast reviewing  How to Bookmark in Diigo. 

1. Apple-iTunes-Tips for Podcast Fans

http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/

2.  The Education Podcast Network

http://epnweb.org/

3.  Our City Podcast

http://learninginhand.com/ourcity

4.  Learning Out Loud

http://www.learnoutloud.com/

0 Podcasting

7th Grade students will be creating Podcasts giving instructions on How to Do something. Your goal today will be working with your partner to decide a few things;

1. What are you going to teach/show your audience how to do?
2. Are you doing two 1-2 minute podcasts or one 2-4 minute podcast?
3. Do you want to include video in your podcast, or just audio?

Before you decide, check out at least four "How to Do..." videos on the sites below to get some ideas.

Howcast- This site has tons of videos on how to anything! They aren't podcasts, but they may give you some ideas on how to do yours!

Teach Parents Tech by Google- Website by Google where kids made short videos on how to use technology for adults

Wonder How to- Another site packed with How to do... videos!

Once you have made some decisions, please fill out one form per group to hand in to me with your choices.  (**Forms on Front table under board)

0 Substitute Class Thursday

Hi 7th graders, I'm sorry I will be missing you today.  I hope you will do your best to follow ALL of the instructions on here to complete each task.  If you need help, or don't understand something please ask the person NEXT to you, or email me and ask, I'll be with my computer all day. (sweeney@mybps.me)

The other day, one of your classmates was contacted by a blog owner asking your classmate to take down a picture she had used, or face a fine for violating copyright law.  It made me think that maybe we could all use a refresher on Copyright, Plagiarism & Fair Use.

Follow these steps in order, please take your time, and watch everything.  Your next class will most likely depend on what you have learned.

You may start class by logging into X2 and checking your grades if you want.  They were posted yesterday. Username & password on back board.

1. Take the link to my Prezi. Please read everything and watch each video. Watch & read more than once if you need to. http://prezi.com/m9vvdhjaxngp/copyright-plagiarism-fair-use/ 

2. Do you feel like you need more information on some of these topics?  Check out at least one link below, or all of them.

Taking the mystery out of Copyright Videos & games

Copyright Kids!

CyberBee Questions/Answers & Games

Slide Show: How Students Use technology to Cheat

Plagiarism in Plain English Video

BrainPop Video (username: BIS123  Password hint --BHSmascot-I forgot to ride on board sorry!

Link for 7C ONLY!!!

3. Log -in to Google Apps and go to Google Docs

4. Create a new document, give it the title: PCF ILT# (add your number, 7A=#4,  7C=#1, 7D = #2)

5. Open another tab and go to google search

6. Search any topic, but keep it school appropriate and click on any result (Doesn't matter which one, you are only doing one thing with it.)

7. Number your Google Doc 1-3

8. Number 1: Give me an example of plagiarism from your search result (hint* copy and paste), then give me an example of how you could make it so it isn't plagiarized. (hint* put it in your own words & say where it came from)

9. Number 2: Give me an example of something that is copyrighted. What does it mean to break copyright? (Doesn't have to be from search result)

10. Number 3: Give me an example of Fair Use.  How does Fair Use apply to you or one of your teachers?

11. Don't know an answer?  Go back to one of the links above and review

12. Check that you used full sentences, proper spelling, and grammar

13. Doc automatically saves, so exit out of it, go back to drive, and drag and drop this document into your ILT folder.  ***This will make the doc shared with me, and I will be reading them at my conference :)

14. Double check your doc is shared with me before moving on

If you finish, you have the flollowing options and only these options please.

• Google Doodle Contest! Win $$$---> check out the video here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s1PPYo6WL-Q                 and read more information on the contest here: http://www.google.com/doodle4google/       There are entry forms, markers, colored pencils and drawing forms under the front board on the rolling cart.  Leave them with me and I will let you finish them another time or mail them in for you!
• Creativity tools on my website http://www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/Page/638 
• Google Earth
• Write another blog post

****Absolutely NO YouTube or Pandora please*****

Have a great Day

~Miss Sweeney

0 Using Google Search Effectively

Matt Cutts, an engineer at Google, explains "How Search Works" below