Agenda & Assignments

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Daily Agenda



Mon (May 20)
  • Continue working on individual projects. (Due next Tuesday.)

Tues (May 21)
  • Continue working on individual projects. (Due next Tuesday.) Check in with Mrs. Garton.

Wed (May 22)
  • Continue working on individual projects. (Due next Tuesday.) Meet in Mac Lab. (Be quiet, since Mr. Fan's class will also be there.)

Thurs (May 23)
  • Continue working on individual projects. (Due next Tuesday.) Final "check-in" with Mrs. Garton.

Fri (May 24) Mrs. Garton not here.
  • Last day to work on individual projects. (Due Tuesday.) We will show them on Tuesday.
  • Wednesday: Sign up for Evernote, ...


Mon (May 13)
  • Jewan/Jada: Start working through the video tutorials. Mr. Silva can show the videos for each one as you work through them. The videos will only play on the teacher computer. The handouts are in the drawer.
  • Save them so I can see them.
  • Brandon/Tim/Lucas: Work on the GameSalad game you're making.
  • Alexis/Lexi: Finish your podcast.

Tues (May 14)
  • See how Jewan/Jada did on the video tutorials. Show me what you did with them.
  • Go through them with Alexis/Lexi, while Jada/Jewan modify theirs.

Wed (May 15) Meet in Mac Lab. (Be quiet, since Mr. Fan's class will also be there.)
  • Alexis: Working on Weebly (web site creator)
  • Jewan/Jada: Working on Go Animate to see if they can do something more complex with it. (Maybe the theme can be complex and be used for teaching some subject - anti-bullying, Internet safety, anti-racism, acting out your faith, being kind/respectful, character traits, fruits of the spirit, etc. for middle school students.
  • Lexi: Think about the slideshow/video combo you'd like to do in iMovie.
  • Tim/Lucas/Brandon: Working on Xcode/GameSalad

Thurs (May 16)

Fri (May 17)
  • Continue working on individual projects. (Due next Tuesday)

Mon (May 6)
  • Those of you who are not finished with your Garageband podcasts, do that and export as an m4a file and upload that to your wiki.
  • The rest should read through the “Final Projects” page on this wiki and decide on something to work on for your final project. Here are some games online that I liked that can be made with Scratch. Go ahead and play them. Can you try to make something similar? Scratch will give you a good introduction to programming language and concepts and you can make something neat that can be uploaded for others to play! (You may need to click on the green flag to start the games.)
  • Here are some other Scratch games I liked which you can find in the "Examples" in the Scratch program. Play those and see if you want to try to recreate any of them. If you want to try Scratch, we will do some simple introductory things on Tuesday together.
    • Start the Scratch program (in your Applications folder in the 7 computers that have Scratch on them).
    • Go to: file menu / open. Choose: Examples. Choose:
      • Interactive Art: Kaleidoscope
      • Games: Pong
      • Music and Dance: Chicken Noodle Soup
      • Animation: Ideas

Tues (May 7)
  • Show Photoshop video (Dove Evolution Model)
  • Show 10 top time-saving tech tips
  • Scratch Intro. (in case some of you want to use it for your final project.)
    • Mrs. Garton will show a few project ideas that can be modified if you did not see them on Monday.
    • Play Scratch games online or within the program to see what can be done if you didn't Monday.
    • Go through some introductory activities to get familiar with the way it works. (Getting Started)

Wed (May 8) Meet in Mac Lab. (Be quiet, since Mr. Fan's class will also be there.)
  • Tim/Brandon: If you want, you can look at the Xcode and GameSalad on the MacBook Air in Mr. Brubaker's office. I have instructions taped to the laptop.
  • Jada/Lexi/Alexis: Work on finishing your podcast.
    • Make sure your Song (the GarageBand ".band" file) AND (the exported audio file ".m4a") are both uploaded onto your wiki before working on your podcast.
  • The rest: Work on the Scratch "Getting Started" that we started Tuesday. (Have Mr. Silva pass out the "Getting Started" packets that are in the desk drawer, so you can follow along on paper if you like.) Save your file.
    • Start Scratch. Go to: Help menu / Help Page. Click on "Getting Started".
    • You would begin with Part 6 (Changing Color).
    • Continue with the rest of the Lessons (6-10). Save your project. (You will end up with the cat dancing and playing drums when you hit the green flag and he changes colors when you hit the space bar. You also will have another sprite that has a speech bubble and thought bubble appear and will say what you recorded. It will also "switch costumes" when you press the green flag.)
      • Part 6: Changing Color
      • Part 7: Key Press (When the space bar is hit, the cat changes color.)
      • Part 8: Add a Sprite (Add one of the sprites in the folder. Choose one that is in there twice.)
      • Part 9: Explore
        • Add a "say block" and type something in.
        • Add a "think block" and type something in.
        • Add a "change image effect" block.
      • Part 10: Explore More
        • Click the "sounds tab" and record yourself saying something.
        • Click on the "scripts tab" and drag over a "play sound block". Choose what you recorded.
        • Click the "costumes tab". Click "import" to choose a 2nd costume (version of your person or sprite) Click back on the "scripts tab" Drag out a block to make it switch costumes when you click on the green flag.

Thurs (May 9)
  • Together, we will go through one more set of introductory activities w/ Scratch to give you a better feel for the program.
  • Now look at the "Final Project" wiki page and decide on your final project. (Scratch, Sketchup, Pencil, GameSalad, Photoshop, Video, or ???) You must have it approved by me first before starting.
  • (ACTUALLY: Jada/Alexis/Lexie worked on their GarageBand podcasts. Tim/Lucas worked on Xcode. Jewan and I worked on Wed's assignment.)

Fri (May 10)
  • Show the wiki page w/ Scratch resources, the HELP page on Scratch, and the Reference Guide.
  • Everybody work on Scratch "Getting Started" packet together (Wednesday's assignment) (Jewan can modify his or move to Video tutorials awhile.)
  • Everybody work through Video tutorials together. http://info.scratch.mit.edu/Video_Tutorials



Mon (Apr. 29) - No School

Tues (Apr. 30)
  • (Mrs. Garton may not be here.)
  • As discussed Friday, finish adding your pics to the image track on your podcast.

Wed (May 1) Meet in Mac Lab. (Be quiet, since Mr. Fan's class will also be there.)
  • I noticed yesterday, that some of you did not create "PODCAST" files, dragging your exported GarageBand m4a file onto the jingles track. You need to do that. You are not to drag images onto your original song file with all its different tracks.
  • FOLLOW THIS:
    • When you are done with your GarageBand song, export it (Share menu / Export file to disk). It will export as an m4a file.
    • Upload BOTH your original .band file AND your new m4a file to a new wiki page on your wiki.
    • Create a PODCAST in GarageBand. (File / new project. Click on "podcast".) It will have 1 image track, 2 recording tracks, and 1 "jingles" track. You can drag more loops or sound effects or audio files into the area and it will create additional tracks.
    • SAVE images in a folder. Open the folder and drag the images onto the image track.
  • I want you to determine WHERE your images go, making them change (line them up) with the beat. You need a lot of images. Vary the way they come in. (Maybe some are longer and some are shorter.) Place them according to the mood or speed of your song (calmer pics for calmer music, etc. Do NOT use cartoons. Use photos. It is BEST to have them all related and fitting your song. Ex: a fast song may be pics of skateboarders or skiers or storms, speeding cars, animals running, or bright flashing exciting abstract images. Slow music may be pics of lakes, woods, babies, baby animals, soft abstract images, etc.)
  • (This should be finished today so I can check on it tomorrow. We will not work on it past Thurs.

Thurs (May 2)
  • Last day to work on the podcast. Get your final check from Mrs. Garton.
  • Record your voice in the beginning.
  • Export podcast and upload to wiki.

Friday (May 3) - No Class - 1/2 day


Mon (Apr. 22)
  • Work on GarageBand project:
    • Create a song with at least 5 different loops (The more complex the song, the better the grade, but don't go on and on. Length is not necessarily quality.) Some of the loops should be overlapping at some point.
      • guitar or piano or some other melody instrument
      • bass
      • percussion: drums, tambourine, etc.
    • Loops must stagger in and stagger out. (They should not all start or stop at the same time.)
    • At least one of the loops should be extended.
    • Show a "fade out" on the last loop (or some other loop. It's usually the last one that you would fade.)
    • The loops must sound right together musically, especially with the beat.
    • The loops should be lined up on the ruler.

Tues (Apr. 23)
  • Show your GarageBand file to Mrs. Garton for final suggestions/approval, and to share with others.
  • Export the file as an audio file. Upload both the GarageBand file and the audio file to your wiki.
  • Start a podcast in GarageBand by gathering pictures and placing them on the image track.
  • Drag the audio file for your song to your Jingles track of your podcast.
  • Record your voice.
  • Adjust/crop the images in your podcast.
  • Export as a video file and upload to your wiki.

Wed (Apr. 24) Mac Lab
  • Finish Garageband song. Save pictures that remind you of your song and the "mood" or "feel" it creates.

Thurs (Apr. 25)
  • Continue to get images for your song.
  • If your song is complete, export it and upload it to your wiki.
  • Start the podcast which will include pictures, your song, and your recorded voice.

Fri (Apr. 26)
  • Complete podcast and upload to wiki.


Mon (Apr. 15)
  • Sketchup Tutorial #3 or #4
  • Students ended up not doing the tutorial and not accomplishing anything since I was not there in the class (I'm not there Mondays/Wednesdays.). :-(

Tues (Apr. 16)
  • Sketchup Tutorial #3, #4 (Students finding the program too difficult.)
  • We ended up just looking at the program, Scratch

Wed (PC Lab 116)

Thurs (Apr. 18)
  • Start GarageBand.

Fri (Apr. 19)
  • Work on GarageBand.


Mon (Apr. 8)
  • Get your last 2 Photoshop assignments on your wiki
    • Vignette with formatted (beveled) text
    • Abstract with effects that is cropped
  • Study hall

Tues (Apr. 9)
Wed (Apr. 10)
  • Continue with Sketchup tutorials.

Thurs (Apr. 11)
  • Sketchup tutorials (#1 - house and chimney) Save your file!

Fri (Apr. 12)
  • Sketchup tutorials (#2 - Setting the dimensions as you draw them) Save your file!
    • We started this Thursday. See if you can get through the whole one. If you're ready, you can start on #3.)
    • Mr. Silva will play them from the back. Let him know when to stop and start. Save your work to show me!



Mon (Apr. 1)
  • Get your explanations / examples finished on the Show and Tell Class Wiki page. (We are NOT putting them on the Google Doc. Mrs. Garton will do that.) The description part is half of the grade.
  • Try one of the tools that someone demo'd on Thurs.

Tues (Apr. 2)
  • Finish Show and Tell: Tim & Alexis

Wed (Apr. 3) Meet in PC Lab 116.
  • Get your explanations / examples finished on the Show and Tell Class Wiki page. (We are NOT putting them on the Google Doc. Mrs. Garton will do that. You do NOT need to put it on your own wiki.) The description part is half of the grade. This is due for Thurs. If it is not done, you must do it for homework. What you have Thurs morning is what will be graded. No extensions!
  • If you are finished with your explanation / examples, then try some of the tools.

Thurs (Apr. 4)
  • Mrs. Garton's Show and Tell tools: Aviary, Zamzar, Diigo, SumoPaint
  • Mrs. Garton - Diigo (bookmark your tool in a group)

Fri (Apr. 5)
  • Bookmark your Show and tell tool on Diigo and in our Advanced Computer Apps group.
  • Mrs. Garton - Show SumoPaint
  • SumoPaint - Do a vignette, text, layer combination.
  • Show Photoshop on face video
  • Show Shapeways site
  • Start Sketchup (3-d drawing)


Mon (Apr. 6)
  • Work through the tutorials and tools in Sketchup to create a house with windows, furniture, cars.
  • Look for tutorials on creating jewelry with Sketchup.


Mon (Apr. 8)
  • Work on Sketchup.

Tues (Apr. 9)
  • Upload your Sketchup creation to your wiki.
  • Start working on an item to be created with Shapeways.



Mon (Mar 25)
  • Continue preparing for our "One Minute Show and Tell" on Thursday! Look through any cool tools online and add at least one to this shared public Google Doc. Give the link. Write an explanation. Make an example. Put it on your wiki. Add a link to your example on the table. If you are doing a small tool, do another small tool.
  • On Tues/Wed, make sure the link works. If it doesn't, email me so I can have Mr. Brubaker unblock it.
  • ASSIGNMENT:
    • 10 POINTS MAX for GREAT TOOL OR TOOLSAND EXAMPLES (If you just do one simple tool, you won't get the full 10 pts.)
      • 5 PTS - Quality sharing / written explanation on table
      • 5 PTS - Quality example on your wiki and linked in table

Tues (Mar 26)
  • Work on your show and tell. Decide on a tool and start making something with it.

Wed (Mar 27) Meet in Rutt Lab.
  • Last chance to complete any Photoshop assignments. Follow my instructions that were handed out.
    • Vignette w/ text
    • Effects design & crop).
  • Finish your show and tell example. THE GOOGLE DOC WORKS NOW!!!
  • Put it on the class wiki page (and/or the Google Doc).
  • Make sure the link works on our computers in the mac lab and that the site is not blocked. Let me know by Thursday morning, so I can unblock it. - or I will just override it with my login.

Thurs (Mar 28)
  • ONE MINUTE SHOW AND TELL! - Then try one!


Mon (Mar. 18) Mac Lab

  • Start preparing for our "Show and Tell" next Thursday before Easter! Start gathering cool tools online and adding them to this shared public Google Doc.
  • I will start listing sites with great tools, but you may add to my list. You should also pick a few to try out. Write a note next to the tool if you are trying it out, so no one else does that one.

Tues (Mar. 19) Rutt Lab
  • PhotoShop: Collage of Effects / Text

Wed (Mar. 20) Rutt Lab
  • Add layers of different colored backgrounds for your vignette.
  • Add layers of different formatted text for your vignette.

Thurs (Mar 21) Rutt Lab
  • Check on Vignette assignment.

Fri (Mar 22)
  • Do effects and abstract design. Save as web image and upload to wiki.
  • Merge visible vignette layers. Save as web image and upload to wiki.

Mon (Mar. 11) Mac Lab (Combining selections of images with Sumo Paint)
  • Get into SumoPaint (the free version) (www.sumopaint.com) and try some of the techniques we've been using in PhotoShop Elements.
  • File menu / Open from my computer (to open images on your usb drive)
  • File menu / Import to layer (to get another image for combining)
  • Use the magnetic lasso to select your object and then invert the selection and delete.(There is no magic selection brush or tool.)
  • If there is a white background, you can use the magic wand to select the white, then invert so the object is selected. Then copy. Create a new layer and paste. It will paste your object in a transparent background.
  • When the class is over, save your file onto your usb drive, so you can open it later. File menu / save to my computer. Save as a .sumo file.
  • Here is a quick (and a bit disturbing) practice I did: (Sorry. I grabbed the first few images I found on my computer.)

garton_and_girls2.jpg


Tues (Mar 12): Meet in Rutt Lab (Photoshop)
  • Finish assignment (Selecting/combining images, using refine edges, adjusting lighting, adding shadows, changing color of an object, removing an object)
  • Learn how to export the final edited image.
  • Show your SumoPaint work from Monday.

Wed (Mar 13): Meet in Rutt Lab (Photoshop)
  • Upload original images to a new page (PhotoShop) on your wiki. Upload your edited image.

Thurs (Mar 14): Meet in Rutt Lab (Photoshop)
  • Create a vignette of an image.
  • Add/format text.

Fri (Mar 15): Meet in Rutt Lab (Photoshop)
  • Add effects to an image or to colors/shapes



Mon (Mar. 4)
  • Finish Animoto (embedded on wiki page)
  • Decide which pictures you will combine for Tues.
  • Bring your usb drive and any photos you have from home.

Tues (Mar. 5)
  • Get pictures off of iPad, if they're still on.
  • Go to Rutt Lab and change image size, save image, and use bandaid tool to remove part of the picture.

Wed (Mar. 6) - NO SCHOOL (SNOW? DAY)

Thurs (Mar. 7) - Meet in Rutt Lab (Photoshop)
  • Work on selecting objects/backgrounds
  • Look at several selection tools and "Refine Edges".
  • Revised handout!

Fri (Mar 8) - Meet in Rutt Lab (Photoshop)
  • See Mrs. Garton's finished photo!
  • Finish selecting objects/backgrounds and adjusting onto background layer.
  • GREAT TOOL: Small brush selection tool / subtract or add to selection / Alt + to zoom in (Thank you, Brandon & Tim! / inverse selection
  • Adjust sizes of objects and add shadows if necessary to make it look real.
  • Demo Healing Tool: Remove one object in one of the layers.

Mon (Feb 25)
  • Students ended up using the Audio QR Code generator to create audio QR Codes. Embed them on your wiki QR Page!

Tues (Feb 26)
  • Print out your QR Code posters.
  • Lexie created a public Google Doc for us to brainstorm opposites: http://www.tinyurl.com/lmhopposites
  • If that doesn't work, Mrs. Garton created one as well:
    • When creating a public Google Doc:
      • Go to Share. Change it from "Private" to "Public on the Web" with no sign in required, and change "Can View" to be editable by anyone.
      • Then go to File menu > Publish to the Web.
      • Copy the long url and paste into www.tinyurl.com. Think of another name for the site so your url will be something like: www.tinyurl.com/gartonopposites
  • Brainstorm opposites for creating a slide show of images to use for creating an Animoto slideshow.

Wed (Feb 27)
  • Finish downloading images to a folder on your usb drive or on your folder.
    • Bring your usb drive tomorrow, so you can put your folder of pictures on if you didn't today. We will meet in the Rutt lab Thursday, so you will need your images on a usb drive to upload if you haven't.
  • Create an Animoto account http://www.animoto.com
    • Scroll down to the very bottom of the page, to the tan border. Click on "Plans & Pricing". Then click on "Get Started" on the "LITE" version, which is the free version.
  • Create a project and upload your images.
  • Add captions and music.
  • DO NOT PROCESS!!! YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO EDIT ANYMORE!

Thurs (Feb 28) Meet in Rutt 122
  • Finish editing the Animoto slide show.

Fri (Mar 1)
  • Begin PhotoShop Elements: Watch Layers and Selection tools tutorial. (#7, part 1 (4 min); #8, part 3 (6 min)
  • Take iPads around school and take pictures that can be combined and edited. Take a minimum of 7 photos:
    • 2 backgrounds / 3 objects (for combining)
    • Background with something that can be removed to reveal what is behind it.
    • A nice picture for doing a vignette (faded oval cutout).
  • Take photos off of iPads w/ iPhoto and put on usb drive for Tuesday.


Mon (Feb 18)
  • Finish your Bubbl.us mindmap about yourself:Embed your Bubbl.us mindmap on your wiki "Profile" page and finish it.
    • Possible categories: Hobbies, Interests, Family, Computer-related Interests, Favorites, Personality, Strengths, Activities, Dreams & Goals.

Tues (Feb 19)

Wed (Feb 20)
  • Choose a picture from a site from above (NOT Google Images). Find a slogan or quote or bible verse for a message for students walking through the hallways. Save it and upload it to Photobucket (if Mr. Brubaker unblocked it for us.) Add text in Photobucket. Get the url from the combined image and text. Paste it into a QR generator above. Download the Code so you can print it and upload it to your wiki.

Thurs (Feb 21)
  • Tried uploading an image to Picasa since Photobucket is still blocked, and then adding text and finding the url of the completed image.
  • Picasa under the Lancaster Mennonite Gmail would not work correctly.

Friday (Feb 22)
  • In order to get an image url, we ended up having to right-click (control-click) on the saved image or image within Picasa and then choose "copy image url".
  • That url could be pasted into a QR Code generator site and made into a QR Code.
  • Students saved that QR Code and uploaded it to their wiki page.
  • Lexie created a public Google Doc and used tinyurl to create a url for brainstorming opposites for our next assignment.


Mon (Feb 11)

Tues (Feb 12)
  • Word & Graphics / Text boxes
  • Assign to do Wed: Register to Bubbl.us to create a mindmap (concept map) about yourself. Begin creating mindmap.
  • Possible categories: Hobbies, Interests, Family, Computer-related Interests, Favorites, Personality, Strengths, Activities, Dreams & Goals

Wed (Feb 13)
  • Register to Bubbl.us to create a mindmap (concept map) about yourself. Begin creating mindmap.
    • Possible categories: Hobbies, Interests, Family, Computer-related Interests, Favorites, Personality, Strengths, Activities, Dreams & Goals
    • Embed your Bubbl.us mindmap on your wiki "Profile" page and finish it.

Thurs (Feb 14)

Fri (Feb 15) - NO SCHOOL


WEEK: Feb 4 - Feb

Tues (Feb 5)
  • View actual website from handout to see examples of CRAP.
  • Go through word processing / graphics checklist of required tasks.
  • Point out that you are to use text boxes, rather than Word Art for posters. Word Art may be used for a title only.

Wed (Feb 6)
  • Class time to work on Final Poster assignment.

Thurs (Feb 7)
  • Class time to work on Final Poster assignment. Mrs. Garton out.

Fri (Feb 8)



WEEK: Jan 28 - Feb 1

Mon (Jan 28)
Finish your Computer Fair Poster. Upload it to your Poster page, if you've changed it. When finished, start on the next project (another poster - One that is more of a collage, demonstrating everything you can do with text boxes and images in Word. The topic should be something you know about and can find pictures of. Mr. Silva can hand out the rubric with the things I want you to definitely have.
  • Show evidence of your Word Processing and Graphics skills by creating a "poster" with required items in Word. Do not use a template. (See handout.)
  • Create a page in your wiki called Poster. Make sure you have included all items. This must be done from a blank page - not a template.
  • Save the poster in Word and upload it to your poster page in your wiki.
  • Do "Save as" for the poster in Word as a .pdf file. Open it in Preview and save it as an image. Upload it to your poster page.

Tues (Jan 29)
  • Look at your poster. Go through sites/handouts/videos (on CRAP page) about principles of good design and how to make an effective poster (esp. CRAP)
  • Critique your own poster. Mark notes on your poster to show what you want to change.

Wed (Jan 30)
  • Do a "save as" and rework your poster according to the principals. DO NOT USE AN IMAGE OR COLORED BACKGROUND THIS TIME!
  • Upload the revised poster.

Thurs (Jan 31)
  • Mrs. Garton not here. Mr. Silva: Creating business cards with VistaPrint

Fri (Feb 1)
  • Highlight important tips on handout for designing posters. Look at each other's posters and business cards for how CRAP was used.
  • View actual website from handout to see examples of CRAP. (Didn't have time.)
  • Give assignment rubric for Final Poster Assignment. (Due Friday, Feb 8)


WEEK: Jan 22-25

Tues (Jan 22)

Wed (Jan 23)
  • Finish your Computer Fair Poster. Create a page called: Poster. Upload your poster there.

Thurs (Jan 24)
  • Finish linking your wiki to the Class wiki. Make sure your wiki is protected and people can request membership. Request membership to everyone's wiki.
  • Check to see that your Computer Fair Poster is Completed and uploaded to your Poster page on your wiki.
  • Mindmeister or Bubbl.us: Create a Mindmeister or Bubblus concept map to tell about you. (Family, Hobbies, Schools attended, Places you lived, School Activities, Interests, etc.)
  • Embed the concept map on your Profile page (or export as an image and upload to your profile page.)

Fri (Jan 25)
  • Finish your concept map





WEEK: Jan 15-18

Tues (Jan 15)
  • Introduction to class (Expectations / Plans for class)
  • Create Wikispaces account and your wiki
    • Format home page, add a title and your name. Format the text.

Wed (Jan 16)
  • Create a Google Doc and list the following: (Share the Google Doc with me. Allow me to edit it so I can make comments.)
    • Why you chose this class
    • What you would like to do or learn in this class.
    • List all computer skills you already have.
  • Finish formatting your wiki, adding an image from Microsoft Office's image website, if you know how or can figure it out. You can also change the layout in "Manage wiki".

Thurs (Jan 17)
  • Finish making your wiki home page
  • Create a page called "My Profile". Add your picture to it (from Photobooth)
  • Format the layout of your wiki.


Fri (Jan 18)
  • In "Manage wiki" under permissions, allow membership requests.
    • Link it to the class wiki.