Building a Positive Web Presence

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Welcome back to school! We begin by building a positive web presence in Basic Computers by creating an online portfolio. To view past portfolios (blogs) look at the right sidebar button or go to the drop down menus above.

Everything that students learn in their technology courses will be on the blog they are building! Come back and check them out throughout the year! These will replace last years blogs on the right side bar in a few weeks!

You too can build your web presence… below is one of our beginning assignments:

Create an avatar for your blog! Our favorite avatar creators are listed below just in case you want to make one too!

 

Fun Stuff!

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Several of my students wondered where they could find some cool widgets to add to their websites… so…here is a good place to start! However, here are my guidelines for adding a widget to your website/blog:

 

  1. On your HOME page make sure you add a counter.
  2. If you add other widgets to your home page then they must not distract from your basic information. Therefore you may want to add a “Widget Tab” or a “Fun Stuff” or a “Game” tab.
  3. All widgets must be appropriate for elementary age students since children do visit your site – I call these rated G (no violence and they follow school guidelines).
  4. If it is a picture widget, that goes though a slide show, they must be pictures you have taken or public domain pictures. They should also have something on or under them that says “Photo courtesy of __________”
  5. You may not spend class time searching or adding widgets to your blog/website unless ALL work is up to date. You may not use class time to play games, unless you have purchased “game time” with your virtual money, and ALL work is up to date.
  6. NO ADVERTISEMENTS CAN PLAY BEFORE YOUR GAME STARTS – not all advertisements are appropriate.

Following are some places to begin looking for widget if you are interested… AGAIN make them appropriate for young kids…

Also, if you find a great site that you would like me to add to this list please let me know in the comment area below!

Widgets and More:

Showcase Students Rock!

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Students did an awesome job of presenting at the Fall Student Technology Showcase held in Lansing Michigan! We were on TV and featured on the Big Show in the morning!

 

What do you think?

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THINKTHINKI saw this poster from Edutopia and I wondered if my students would understand what it means and how it applies to them.  So… if you are one of my students comment below and let me know your thoughts.  What does THINK me to you? Should there be any other letters added?  If so… what?

Welcome Blogging Buddies!

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Image courtesy of Sheelamohan/freedigitalphotos.net

This week students begin corresponding with Blogging Buddies!  We are anxious to see what kids from other schools are learning!  Just a tip for my students to remember to follow these guidelines when posting comments

  1. Comments should be focused on the substance of the post not on the grammar, spelling or capitalization.
  2. Comments should be specific, they should mention the content of the posting (a direct quote would be great!) and focus on extending and developing further the ideas in the blog post.
  3. Both the blogger and the commenter should learn something through the exchange.
  4. Constructive criticism is allowed in a balanced way which pays respect to the strengths of the post.
  5. Comments should be responded to by the blogger.
  6. You may link back to your website so that your buddy can go to your blog.
  7. Do not post your last name or personal information such as phone number or email address.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know…

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Several of my students wondered where they could find some cool widgets to add to their websites… so…here is a good place to start! However, here are my guidelines for adding a widget to your website/blog:

  1. On your HOME page make sure you add a counter.
  2. If you add other widgets to your home page then they must not distract from your basic information. Therefore you may want to add a “Widget Tab” or a “Fun Stuff” or a “Game” tab.
  3. All widgets must be appropriate for elementary age students since children do visit your site – I call these rated G (no violence and they follow school guidelines).
  4. If it is a picture widget, that goes though a slide show, they must be pictures you have taken or public domain pictures. They should also have something on or under them that says “Photo courtesy of __________”
  5. You may not spend class time searching or adding widgets to your blog/website unless ALL work is up to date. You may not use class time to play games, unless you have purchased “game time” with your virtual money, and ALL work is up to date.
  6. NO ADVERTISEMENTS CAN PLAY BEFORE YOUR GAME STARTS – not all advertisements are appropriate.

Following are some places to begin looking for widget if you are interested… AGAIN make them appropriate for young kids…

Also, if you find a great site that you would like me to add to this list please let me know in the comment area below!

Widgets and More:

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Making Connections!

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This summer I am helping revise the new 21 Things 4 Students website!  It is pretty exciting because I am meeting other teachers throughout the State of Michigan to make student quests!

I wanted to share some of my student blogs that were outstanding so I selected a few from each course I teach at the Middle School.  Congratulations if your blog was chosen as a model blog!

Basic Computers – Grade 7

  • Olivia (click on Tech Blog)
  • Jacob E (click on Tech Blog)
  • Riley (click on Tech Blog)
  • Katie

Advanced Computers (Scratch) – Grade 7

Digital Design ( 2D Multimedia) – Grade 7

  • Maddie (Click on Digital Design)
  • Aloré (Click on Digital Design)

Advanced Computers (Alice) – Grade 8

Digital Design (3D Multimedia) – Grade 8

  • Caleb (Click on Digital Design Tab)
  • Avery (Click on Digital Design Tab)
  • Christian (Click on Digital Design Blog Tab)
  • Riley (Click on Google SketchUp Tab)
  • Gary (Click on SketchUp Tab)
  • Matthew (Click on Digital Design Tab)

*  Teachers just an FYI – All of my students create blogs which are online porfolios which demonstrate their skills and knowledge.  Parents sign a permission slip allowing students to either have their child’s blog public or private and also giving permission to have photos of themself online or not.  Students do not share their last name, email address, or phone numbers.  All blog comments are moderated by me as well.  Information that students share is generic and parents are asked to monitor thier son/daughters blogs as well.

3D Game Lab Coming August 2012!

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I am currently learning a new management system which gamifies my classes for my students!  It is similar to XBox but it focuses on learning.  I plan on moving my Advanced Computers courses to this format in the fall of 2012! Cool and fun too!

MACUL Student Technology Showcase

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Students from St. Johns Middle School presented to teachers and administrators from all over Michigan at the MACUL conference in Grand Rapids on Thursday, March 8.

Featured were Katey, Chance, Caleb,  and Jacob!  Way to go kids! Visit their websites and leave them a message!

Click on the right side  buttons  to view several more student blogs! 

 

 

1st Trimester 2011 – The Blog Awards!

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Our first trimester of the 2011 school year is complete.

To view student blogs go to the tab at the top labeled ” Basic Computers” and scroll down to the hour you want.

 

Following are some of the outstanding blogs from the past 12 weeks!

Additional favorites chosen by the students from our online survey!

Creating a Visual Organizer

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We are currently learning how to easily create a visual organizer.  My picture below was created using bubbl.us , after I created it I used Jing  to capture the image as a .png file.  I then uploaded the image to my blog.  If you do not want to download Jing, just use the “Print Screen” button on your keyboard and paste it into a paint program.  My favorite free paint program is paint.net, however this needs to be downloaded too.  If you want an online paint program try Sumopaint.  Look on the student blogs to see their visual organizers!  Also, look below to try some different ones!  If you know of additional ones that I should add to my list let me know by leaving a comment!

Visual Organizers to try:

Timeline Makers to try:

Venn Diagrams to try: