December 11, 14, 15, 17

Year 8 - Before we break for the holiday we have some fun work to do:-)

In Term 2 we will be creating a digital story. One program that we could use is Microsoft PhotoStory 3: (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx )

Today we will do a tutorial for PhotoStory 3 and then you will create your first digital story. Let's go. http://millie.furman.edu/mll/tutorials/photostory3/index.htm

Learning objectives: Follow directions, produce a digital story

December 7, 10

Year 8 - Term 1 work is all in and we can breathe a sigh of relief for a job/term well done!

Let's take this opportunity to participate in the Library's bookmark contest.

Follow this link to get started in Word 2007- Let's go!
http://www.technokids.com/documents/teacher/introduction-to-word-bookmarks.pdf?MailingsID=2&MailerSubscriberID=6937&utm_source=WebServer&utm_medium=eMail&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_content=Version1

Follow this link to create a bookmark from scratch in Publisher;-)

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/HA012336481033.aspx

November 30, Dec 1, Dec 3, Dec 4

Year 8

Evaluations are due today;-)

Any back work is due today;-)

November 23

EVALUATE - Criterion E Maximum 6 Let's look at the Assessment Rubric

To get a 5/6 the student: uses the test to evaluate the product/solution against the design specification and considers the views of the customer. The student evaluates his/her own performance in achieing a good product/solution and suggests ways in which these could be improved. The student considers the impact of the product/solution on life, society, and/or the environment.

1. Upload image to your blog,

2. Show it to at least 5 colleagues and let them complete your questionnaire,

3. Write a PARAGRAPH evaluating this feedback and suggestioning improvements,

4. Evaluate your own performance at EACH stage of the design cycle and suggest ways to improve,

5. Write a PARAGRAPH considering how your final product impacts life, society, and/or the (virtual) environment.

These need to be finished today or for HOMEWORK.

Term 1 is ending. We will begin our new project VERY soon!!!!!

Learning objectives: carry out tests to compare final product against design specification, suggest improvements, reflect on their performance and identify parts they found difficult and suggest ways in which their performance could be improved.

November 16, 19, 20,

Plan and Create

PLAN - Criterion C Maximum 6

Let's look at the assessment rubric: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZHvRJKjycg1ZGdnNHBieDhfMzZncGoydm5jbg&hl=en

Let's look at an example of how to start;-)


3 Tasks

1 - Make a list of the resources we will use.
2 - Make a table with the steps needed to create our recipe flyer - Include the time it will take for each step.
3 - Write a paragraph evaluating the plan (saying why it will work;-).

Here's an example to get you started;-)

CREATE - Criterion D Manimum 6

Let's look at the assessment rubric:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZHvRJKjycg1ZGdnNHBieDhfMzZncGoydm5jbg&hl=en

Now, use your plan to create your image.

2 Tasks

1. Create image

2. Write a paragraph to say if your plan worked and write about any changes you made to your design.

November 9, 10 12, 13

Year 8, Let's complete Criterion B - Design today. Please hand in your work at the end of the class.

1. Finish creating your designs - label them Design 1, Design 2, and Design 3. Make sure they have appropriate detailing and add explanations if necessary. Remember I need to know/understand what you intend to create;-).

2. Evaluate each design against your design specification
For example: Design 1 meets the design specification because . . .

3. Choose 1 design and justify your choice and evaluate it against the design specification.


Finish all classwork as homework

Learning objectives: create designs and communicate them using different forms and conventions

November 2, 3, 5, 6

Welcome back Year 8! Hope you had a great break and are now ready to continue along the Design Cycle.

Today we will be creative as we Design the product/solution!

Design: Criterion B Maximum 6 points

Students are expected to generate several feasible designs that meet the design specification and to evaluate these against the design specification.

Students are then expected to select one design, justify their choice and evaluate this in detail against the design specification.

To get a 5/6: the student generates more than 2 feasible designs, and attempts to evaluate them against the design specification. The student attempts to justify the chosen design and evaluate it against the design specification.

October 20, 22, 23

Year 8 - Let's enter a contest!!!

The EcoForum 2009 SIGG Water Bottle Design Competition.

The winning design will be stamped on Official DSIGG water bottles and distributed to all delegates participating at the Eco Forum 2009!!!

Design Template - Your design must be 11.46 cm x 21.4 cm

Check out some examples here: http://mysigg.com/

Guidelines:

• Only use computer graphics programs (Jasc Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop, CorelDraw, Freehand, Illustrator but PowerPoint will also be accepted.)


• Save your design in the format of the program you are using and JPEG.


• You can only use 6 different colors (including black and white)


• Details: lines mut be at least 0.4mm thick


• Minimum TEXT size is 9 point.

Remember to save your design in the format of the program and as a JPEG!

Proposals must be sent in the form of an attachment/s (original format and JPEG) to Ecoforum2009@gmail.com

Type an email and send to: ecoforum2009@gmail.com

Include: Your Name, tutor group, and school, and the attachments

Then, type a small email - for example:

Please enter this design in the SIGG Water bottle Competition.

Thank you,

Student name

October 20

Year 8 -

Review your Investigations.

Formulate a Design Specification:

- List 5 requirements that your product must meet,

- Justify list (say why each item on your list is a necessary requirement)

- Create a Questionnaire/Survey to evaluate your product (include at least 1 question for each design specification item you have listed)

Finish and hand in today before you leave class;-)

October 13, 15, 16, 19

Year 8 - Today is the day we have all been waiting for. Today is the day that we explore Paint Shop Pro.

Here are some options to help you get started:

• Tutorial handout
• Online book -
  http://www.docstoc.com/docs/5884504/Paint-Shop-Pro-9

Let's have some fun!

Learning Objective: Introduction to photo editing software (Paint Shop Pro)

Investigations due today

October 6, 8, 9, 12

Year 8

1. Finish Task 2 - Develop a Design Brief (finish researching the questions on the blog)

2. Then on to Task 3 - Formulate a Design Specification. This is the part of the project where we make design specifications. Remember in Year 7 our first project was to create a create a poster and we had 3 design specifications: 1) must include all 5 steps, 2) must be colourful, and 3) must be kid-friendly.

You must include 3 design specifications and then create a test (questionnaire) to evaluate your product/solution (image).

3. Before you leave, vote on the National Geographic photo poll. The winning photo will be next week's featured wallpaper;-)

4. If you still have time: practice cropping!!!!! I've saved the best for last!!!!!

September 28, 29, October 1, 2

Year 8 we are learning about images. We are on Task 2 of the Investigate: Develop a Design Brief. Remember this is the research part of the project where we ask and answer questions that will help us solve our problem.

1. Let's take 5 minutes to check out the fabulous photos here on Yahoo photos

2. Now, answer the following questions.

a. What is a jpeg?

b. What is a gif?

c. What is resolution and why is it important? Click here

d. What is Creative Commons? Click here (look at the photos here too!)

Then look at Composition. e. What is the Rule of Thirds? Click here and Click here

3. Sometimes you can create interesting portraits by cropping the photo. Let's learn how to do that technique now.

4. Before you leave, vote on the National Geographic photo poll. The winning photo will be next week's featured wallpaper;-)

Learning Objectives - The student will be able: to understand the basics of digital images and how they are stored, learn the importance of composition and be able to use these concepts when taking pictures, use Microsoft Picture Manager to crop images.

September 21, 22, 24, 25

Year 8 - It's time to start!

The Investigate has 3 Tasks: Identify the problem, Develop a design brief, Formulate a design specification.

A template to follow is here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZHvRJKjycg1ZGdnNHBieDhfMTA2ZzZ2bWtwY2g&hl=en

1. Write a paragraph that will Identify the Problem (minimum of 5 or 6 sentences )

1 sentence - State the problem that you are going to solve. *

1 sentence - Restate (say again in your own words) the problem (from Unit of Work)

1-2 sentences - Say what the problem means in your own words

1-2 Sentences – Say how you will solve the problem

1-2 sentences – Say how Approaches to Learning connects to your project

*Example: The problem I am going to solve in IT class this term is, “What role do images play in cyberspace?”

2. Create and research questions that will "drive your investigation" (that means that will give you enough information that will help you create your product;-)

Remember:

• Use bullet points
• Collect text and images to support your point of view (save images in a folder)
• Use in-text referencing
• Save your url’s (website addresses)

Learning objectives: Students will state and restate unit problem and say how this problem will be solved. Students will relate this to an area of interaction. Student will research create questions that will guide investigation. Student will research conduct appropriate research for a for a program which will allow them achieve their goal.

Sept 14, 15, 17, 18

Year 8 - It's true what they say - One picture is worth a thousand words.

Our first unit will allow each of you to be creative as you develop and manipulate graphics.

Let's look at the Graphics Unit of Work and begin our investigation.

Remember there are 3 tasks in the Investigate: Identify the problem, Develop a design brief, Formulate a design specification

Check out these 2 pages:
http://bonbonsmots.blogspot.com/ and http://www.creampuffsinvenice.ca/
Looks closely at the images. Are the images on one blog more appealing? Why?

Your homework is to create a detailed blog post in which you reflect on what you learned in class today. Look at the class blog which lists you assignment.

Learning objective: begin following the Design Cycle - investigation by identifying the problem, comparing and contrasting images.



http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Corel3/Section/Display&sid=1047024315119&gid=1047024331836&cid=1047024353448

Sept 7, 8, 10,11 - Welcome back

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Welcome back Year 8! I hope each of you has had the best summer ever and that you are rested and ready to go!

1.First, let's look at the little video and talk a little about what we will be tackling this year.

2.Next, let's organize our folders. It's really important to be able to find things when we need them.

3.Let's open our blogs (or create a blog) and make our first post for the year! Remember to recap what we did in class;-)

4.Finally, let's stay in touch with friends and relatives by learning how to send e-cards. The site we will use is: http://www.hallmark.com (Smilebox is a Hallmark product and you can easily download this at home for FREE!!! - Give it a try;-)


Learning Objective - Settle in and gain an understanding of expectations for the term

June 8

Year 8 - let's finish up the narration on your digital stories.

Then on to the final stage in our project - Evaluate.

EVALUATE - Criterion E Maximum 6

Students are expected to evaluate the product/solution against the design specification in an objective manner based on testing, and to evaluate its impact on life, society and/or the environment. They are expected to explain how the product/solution could be improved as a result of these evaluations.

Students are expected to evaluate their own performance at teach stage of the design cycle and to suggest ways in which their performance could be improved.

To get a 6 the student: evaluates the success opf the product/solution considering the results of testing, and the views of the user. The student evaluates their own performance at some stages of the design cycle and considers improvements. The student considers the impact of the product/solution on life, society and/or the environment.

June 4, 5

Please continue with the CREATE.

Remember: you must have a process journal and follow your plan. Then write a paragraph saying if your plan worked or not and record any modification (changes) you have made.

May 28, 29

CREATE - Finally, what we've all be waiting for . . .

CREATE - Criterion D Maximum 6

Students are expected to document, with a series of photographs or a video and a dated record, the process of making their product/solution, including when and how they use tools, materials and techniques. Students are expected to follow their plan, to evaluate the plan and to justify any changes they make to the plan while they are creating the product/solution.

To get a 6 the student: uses appropriate techniques and equipment. The student follows the majority of the plan and mentions any modifications made, resulting in a product/solution of appropriate quality using the resources available.

CREATE - DEADLINE JUNE 5 (end of class)

May 21, 22

Plan - It all starts with a plan

PLAN - Criterion C Maximum 6
Students are expected to construct a plan to create their chosen product/solution that has a series of logical steps, and that makes effective use of resources and time.

Students are expected to evaluate the plan and justify any modifications to the design.

To get a 6 the student: produces a plan that contains a number of logical steps that include resources and time. The student evaluates the plan and attempts to justify any modifications.

May 14, 15

Year 8 - Continue with your storyboard. It is due May 15 at the end of class.



Design - Criterion B - Due May 15

Deadlines for Term 3

Investigation - May 7 - Beginning of Class
Design - May 15 (End of Class)
Plan - May 22 (End of Class)
Create - June 5 (End of Class)
Evaluate - June 18 (End of Class)

Remember - June 10, 11, 12 are HOLIDAYS!!!!!

May 7, 8

FABLE
Year 8 according to American Heritage® Dictionary a fable is:
(NOUN)
1. A usually short narrative making an edifying or cautionary point and often employing as characters animals that speak and act like humans.
2. A story about legendary persons and exploits.
3. A falsehood; a lie.

May 7 - Today we will take the time to write the script.

May 8 - Let's look at storyboarding and learn how to create a storyboard using Microsoft Word
http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/pdfs/inword.pdf

April 30, May 1 (Holiday!!!)

Year 8 - I hope you enjoyed the Assembly (Period 7 and part of Period 8) on Terry Fox. He lives on as an inspiration to all of us.

We don't have much time together this week. Today we will finish our Investigations and hand them in.

Next week we will learn how to create a storyboard using word and begin our Designs (Criterion B).

April 23, 24 (April 24 - Sports Day!)

Year 8, I hope you had a great break and are now back in the swing of things.

Today, we will look "properly" at the Unit of Work and finish our Investigations.

Let's first look at the Unit: Digital Story-telling

Remember, the Investigation has 3 parts: Identify the Problem, Develop a Design Brief, Formulate a Design Specification.

We have already Developed a Design Brief (this is the research part), and we have also Formulated a Design Specification (actually I gave you the design specification and you created a test to evaluate your product). Now, we only have to Identify the Problem.

As this is the FIRST part of the Investigate, we have to place this section BEFORE the other two (Develop a Design Brief, Formulate a Design Specification).

Identify the Problem (Write 1-2 paragraphs)

1-State the problem. Then restate (say again in your own words) the problem (from Unit of Work)

2-Explain and give details about the problem. Say who your "customer" is.

3-Say how you will solve the problem (Explain and give details)

4-Say how Approaches to Learning connects to your project (Explain and give details, examples)

5-Say how Human Ingenuity connects to your project (Explain and give details, examples)

Finally, before leaving this afternoon, please give me a digital version of your Investigation;-)

Have a great day tomorrow at St. Julian's

March 26, 27

Year 8 - Today I would like you to make sure that you have finished your Questionnaire.

Then I would like you to do a tutorial on creating a digital story with PhotoStory 3:

http://millie.furman.edu/mll/tutorials/photostory3/index.htm

Pay close attention and READ the entire tutorial.

Then, explore the program and create a digital story which will be put on your blog!

Let's go!

March 20

Year 8 - Spring has arrived!

Remember there are 3 parts to the Investigate: 1) Identify the problem (we will do that next week), 2) Develop a Design Brief (Research questions 1-8) and 3) Formulate a Design Specification.

Today we will work on part 3.

I will give you the Design Specification because there are certain elements that your digital story MUST have.

Design Specification - List what your product is going to be, be like, be used for, be able to do and be made with.

The presentation will include:
-a minimum of 15 photos/images,
-at least 2 photos should include text/title,
-at least 2 photos should have an “transition/motion”,
-background music,
-narration (voice overlay) appropriate to topic,
-time length - approximately 2 minutes,
-each student presentation should creatively display relevant information.

March 19

Year 8 -

Let's finish the last four questions today.

5. What is a tutorial? Explain in your own words.
6. What is image hosting?
7. Research these the following web hosting services: www.photobucket.com , www.tinypic.com and http://video.google.com How are they similar? How are they different?
8. What is a storyboard? Explain in your own words.

Friday, March 13

Year 8 - Don't be afraid. We are going to have fun today.

Before we get started . . .

Let's recap. Yesterday we learned that everything that we create is automatically copyrighted. That means that noone can use our creations without our permission. That means that noone has the right to take our creations and use them or gain financially from them. Fair Use allows limited use of copyrighted work by students, teachers and researchers as long as the work is referenced.

Now please do a quick research on Creative Commons - What is it? To learn more visit this site: http://creativecommons.org/.

We are going to start our investigation.

Please open a word document. You can choose one of the cover pages if you want and personalize it. Then we will begin the design brief.

Develop a Design Brief
1.What is digital story-telling? Explain in your own words.
2. Which programs can we use f or digital storytelling? Name 2 programs that can be used.
3. Are either of these tools freeware ( Freeware: Legally obtainable software that you may use at no cost, monetary or otherwise, for as long as you wish . ) ? If, yes, name that program. If no, continue searching until you find one that is freeware .
4. Find 2 educational dig ital stories online. Supply each URL and give a small summary of each of the stories. (http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/)
5. What is a tutorial? Explain in your own words.
6. What is image hosting?
7. Research these the following web hosting services: www.photobucket.com , www.tinypic.com and http://video.google.com How are they similar? How are they different?
8. What is a storyboard? Explain in your own words.

Use in-text referencing. Let's finish 1-4 today.

March 12

Welcome Year 8

We have a great project lined up for Term 3. We will be exploring PhotoStory 3. This program is designed to create digital stories. But what is a digital story? Let's take a look at the YouTube video which offers an explanation.


Before we begin - let's do a small investigation about copyrights. What is "copyright protection"?

Here is a great site to check out: http://www.copyrightkids.org/

Answer these 2 questions. 1) What is "copyright protection"? 2) What is "fair use"?

March 5, 6

Year 8 - Time's up!

We are at the end of our project and the end of our time together. It was really nice "making movies" with you but, alas, it's time for you to continue on the carousel.

But before you go . . .

EVALUATE (Criterion E) maximum 6
Students are expected to evaluate the product/solution against the design specification in an objective manner based on testing, and to evaluate its impact on life, society and/or the environment. They are expected to explain how the product/solution could be improved as a result of these evaluations.

Students are expected to evaluate their own performance at each stage of the design cycle and to suggest ways in which their performance could be improved.

To get full marks: The student evaluates the success of the product/solution considering the results of testing, and the views of a user. The student evaluates his/her own performance at some stages of the design cycle and considers improvements. The student considers the impact of the product/solution on life, society and/or the environment.

February 19, 20

Year 8 - Continue with the Create.

We only have 4 microphones to work with (3 of them are mine personally - so please be careful!)

It is imperative that the room is quiet for people to record. Remember that we will submit at least 6 of the final products to the Life 'Round Here project. If there is a lot of noise in the background we will look BAD!!!!!

February 12, February 13 - Activity Day

Year 8, it's time to CREATE!

Students are expected to document, with a series of photographs or a video and a dated record, the process of making their product/solution, including when and how they use tools, materials and techniques. Students are expected to follow their plan, to evaluate the plan and to justify any changes they make to the plan while they are creating the product/solution.

Sutdents will sometimes embark upon a very ambitious project, or they may encounter unforeseen circumstances. In some circumstances a product/solution that is incomplete or does not function fully can still achieve one of the levels awarded for this criterion.

To get full marks: The student uses appropriate techniques and equipment. The student follows the majority of the plan and mentions any modifications made, resulting in a product/solution of appropraiate quality using the resources available.

Tasks:

-produce a beginning slide and ending slide with publisher,

-begin creating our project

Feb 13 - Activity Day

February 5, 6

Year 8 - Designs are due today;-) February 5

After handing in your design the next step of the Design Cycle is PLAN (Criterion C).

Students are expected to construct a plan to create their chosen product/solution that has a series of logical steps, and that makes effective use of resources and time.

Students are expected to evaluate the plan and justify any modifications to the design.

The student produces a plan that contains a number of logical steps that include resources and time. The student evaluates the plan and attempts to justify any modifictions.

Plan - Due February 6

January 30 - Extension

Year 8 - As we discussed in class today, the deadline for the Design has been extended.

The new deadline is Thursday, February 5 at the end of class. As agreed, if you haven't finished by then, you will attend the deadline detention on Friday to finish.

January 29, 30

Year 8 - It all begins with a story

This week we need to finish our storyboard.

Check out this great tutorial showing you how to create a storyboard using Microsoft Word.

http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/pdfs/inword.pdf

As I mentioned you need 3 possible images for every frame. It seems like a lot, but it really isn't. When you are searching for your image online you will come across pages and pages of possibilities. You are naturally scanning for the "right" image and are mentally accepting and rejecting images.

However, you need to JUSTIFY your choice.

My suggestion is to make 3 columns for images (Column A, B, C). Keep all of the images that you will actually use in the same column so it will be easier for you and someone looking at your storyboard to actually visualize your story. Look at the example below.

Deadlines

Deadlines for Term 2

Investigate - January 16
Design - January 30
Plan - February 5
Create - February 19
Evaluate - March 5

*Remember - February 13 - Activity Day - no classes
- February 23-27 - Half Term Break - no classes

We have 9 (doubles) to complete our project

Jan 22, 23

Year 8 - Have you completed: the tutorial? the practice photostory? opening an account with an video host? uploaded your video to the host? embedded the video in your blog? Wow! That's a lot of IT!

Now on to the DESIGN

Let's begin writing our scripts. You are going to create a digital story based on this theme: my life in Portugal. The first thing to do is to write a script.

January 16

Year 8 - Time's Up - Investigations are due today at the end of class.

For those who have finished - complete the PhotoStory Tutorial, then create a practice digital story. After you have finished, decide which video hosting service you will use: PhotoBucket, Tiny Pic, or Google Video and upload your video to that server. Next, obtain the html code and embed (insert) your video into your blog.

Way to go Year 8 - You did it!!!!

Investigation Due Today Jan 15

January 15

Year 8 - Let's take a deep breath and see where we are at.

We want to do 2 things today - organize and finish the Investigatigation.

The Investigation has 3 parts:

1) identify the problem,

2) develop a design brief,

3) formulate a design specification and create a test.

January 15, 16

Year 8 here are this week's tasks:

1) Make sure you have your 10 questions answered.

2) Complete tutorial

3) Create a photostory with a maximum of 15 images

4) Choose a video-host (Google Videos, TinyPic, PhotoBucket) and open an account.

5) Upload your photostory to the video-host

6) Embed your video into your blog

Wow! That's a lot of Computer Technology for 2 days. Great job Year 8!

Homework - Begin to write the script for your story

Jan 8

By Popular Vote Guiding Question: How does tourism affect Portugal's culture?

January 8, 9

Year 8 - Welcome Back!

1 - Continue with the Investigation

2 - Complete a tutorial: http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/photostory.html