Google Earth Challenge

Think you're up for the challenge?  See below for a Clue Sheet and a map of the world.  Want something fun to do this summer while exercising your technology skills?  Try to race your friends across the globe!
**Answers are posted below just in case you are stuck!**

Week 34-37: Amazing Race through Google Earth!

To end the school year on an exciting note, we are reviewing all that we have learned this year in computer lab through a race around the world!!  Mimicking the tv show Amazing Race, students will have to answer a set of clues and fly to unique places around the globe.  Join us on this AMAZING RACE!!

WANT A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE TV SHOW?  CLICK HERE!

WORD OF THE WEEK: Fonts

If you've ever looked at a magazine, you can easily pick out the words that grab your attention.  Maybe they are larger than some or in big, bright colors... or maybe they are written in a creative way.  You can do that with FONTS.  Fonts can be thought of as the design in which words appear.  Just like one's handwriting is very unique, so are one's fonts.  It can be unique to the project that you are creating.

As you are creating your t-shirt design, making an invitation, or even designing a poster in Microsoft Word, pay attention to the way in which you can make your words appear.  If you feel as if you still would like your words to look differently, check out online places to download fonts of your choice.  I love the website www.dafont.com!

Dafont.com even has recognizable fonts from popular books, movies, and music!!

Week 32 & 33: Design your own t-shirt!

As we are ending the school year, I wanted to teach something fun that all students could work on over the summer to brush up on their technology skills.  By using a program all students are familiar with [MaxWrite for kids K-2 and Microsoft Word for students 3-8], students can step into the role of a graphic organizer to design their own t-shirts!

EARTH DAY:
Since most homerooms are discussing Earth Day, students first started brainstorming about Earth Day t-shirt designs.  To get our brains moving in the right direction, we first watched the trailer for Disney's Planet Earth.  For some more creative ideas, we checked out poster designs that artists around the world created.  Since their goal was to combine both text and images to create an "Earth Day" graphic that could be worn on a t-shirt, this was great inspiration.  Check out that website here!


Once we finished our brainstorming, we started imputing our designs into the computer.  Of course, after the students designed their own Earth Day designs, I encouraged them to try designing their favorite sports jersey, class t-shirt, or future SMOY emblem.  As we are ending the school year, I wanted all students to realize they had the tools to do amazing work in a software program they all had access to.  It is my job to teach them the skills they need, as I would love all students to explore and take their learning to the next level!

NEED ANOTHER EXAMPLE?  
Check out this t-shirt that Miss Wilmes made for her drama program!  She just found an image on Google that she liked and added in some words in a cool font of her choice.  It's that easy!

K-2: Grandparent's Day

The Kindergarteners and First Graders (plus Mrs. Seppelt's class in second grade) have been working on Grandparents Day presentations in the elementary version of PowerPoint with a program called "MaxShow".  First grade classes even had the opportunity to showcase their work to their grandparents this past Friday when their grandparents visited on-site.  We had a lot of fun making this slideshow in Computer class!  Don't forget to check out each class' presentation on Miss Wilmes' webpage.

Interested in learning more about the software program your younger kids are learning?  Check out Scholastic Keys online with the program MaxShow for your child to work on projects at home.

PREZIS: A new way to PowerPoint

The 7th graders have been working on a new way to showcase their presentations through an online resource called Prezi.  Curious?  Check it out!

SO, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?:
POWERPOINT:
The biggest differences between Office's PowerPoint software and this online presenting tool is that PowerPoint is linear-based.  A user can layout each slide, and each slide will progressively follow after the one before it.  With the click of a button or with the press of the spacebar or even the use of a "clicker", the slideshow will automatically advance to the next slide or transition.  A user can even add in special transitions to have words or images fly in, zoom in, or even dissolve out of focus.

PREZI:
Prezi's test the creative flair, as everything is thrown onto a canvas.  A user can decorate his/her canvas, add in images, YouTube videos, while deciding the order in which to present.  Once a user "throws" all of his information, images, and videos into his canvas, he can link all of these items together through a path.  With the click of a mouse, a prezi creation becomes movie-like with zooming in and out affects that add flair to any presentation.  There is much more freedom with Prezi - a user can manipulate his presentation to do almost anything he/she wants.  However, it will take some time to master!  Once you realize all that you can do, the opportunities are endless while allowing you to be even more creative!

CURIOUS? CHECK OUT THIS PREZI MADE FOR THE COCA-COLA COMPANY!


STILL STUCK OR WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Prezi has all kinds of cheat sheets and videos built into their website to help you prezify your presentations.  Don't forget to check them out!!  Visit www.prezi.com and click on "Learn"!

Technology Week!

TECHNOLOGY WEEK FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

WHAT IS IT?:

Students can bring their technology to school during Computer Lab time from March 30 - April 5.  

WHAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY CAN I BRING?

iPods (yes, iTouches too!), iPads, Nooks (yes, any eReader is fine), tablets, and laptops

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

• Put your name on your technology that you bring to class.  We would hate it if it got lost at school!
• Keep it in your book bag at all times!  You can only take out your technology when you come to the Computer Lab.
• Please make sure your book bag is zipped at all times!

WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO BRING ANYTHING?:

You are not required to bring anything.  Miss Wilmes will have computer lab computers available, as well as a few MacBook laptops for exploration.  This class time will be specifically for learning purposes to show all students some of the great things you can do with technology to enhance your learning.

PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU - THE STUDENT - ARE RESPONSIBLE:

Technology Week is a reward week to explore different types of technology that you are using outside of our classroom walls.  We would like to offer you a chance to bring your technology to class, but if you choose to bring these items to school, you are responsible.  Make sure you walk in the halls when carrying your technology, keep your technology in your book bag at all times, and use your technology properly.  Any improper use of technology will result in the removal of technology until the end of the school day.  

NOT SURE WHEN YOUR CHILD COMES TO TECHNOLOGY CLASS?  Check out the technology class schedule below: