Finish FA1; Vocab week #3

THIS WEEK:

*Learn new keys:  Z, colon (:), Caps lock key, Question mark (?), Tab key, 
*Speed Test practice
*Technique grade
*Vocab quiz #3 (list is WINDOWS)
*Formatting Activity 2


Today we will complete FA1 and submit that to me, via email, for a grade.  Before you send anything with your email we need to cover a few things regarding submitting assignments to me using your email.

1. When you submit an assignment through your email you must include the 5 parts to a proper email (email address, subject line, greeting, body, and signature).  We've already covered this information so this should be a simple reminder.  However, if you do not have a signature in your email account you were probably gone the day we did that and you will need to create a signature (either ask a person sitting next to you or see me outside of class).
2. When you submit an assignment to me you will need to attach a Microsoft Word file - DO NOT ATTACH A GOOGLE DOC!  Usually what happens when you attach a Google Doc is you have to give me permission to see it, and some people will forget to do that.  More importantly, some of the formatting used in Word gets lost when the document is transferred over to a Google Doc, and then when I go to grade it your document will not "look" correct.  ALWAYS ATTACH A MICROSOFT WORD FILE!!
3. Save your formatting activities in at least two places.  My suggestion is to save them to your Google drive and to a flash drive.  DO NOT SAVE TO THE DESKTOP!!
4. I will show you how to upload a file to your Google Drive - if you have a bad memory take notes.  This is important and it is something you need to know how to do, not just for this class but for your future in this school district as there are many teacher who will expect you to have the skill of saving a file to your drive.  You also need to know how to download a file from your drive to your computer, so we'll go over that as well.

After completing this and emailing your FA1 to me we will review by going to the websites.  What I would like for you to do first is go to the Free Typing Games website and try 3 speed tests - we're not going to record these, but let's just practice.  After doing those then you can go to any of the practice websites on the Website resources page on the blog and practice.  Make sure to keep your speed skin on the keyboard!

As a reminder this is vocab week #3, so if you are responsible for defining words for this week those need to be posted by tomorrow night (Tuesday, Sept. 16).  If you missed last week's quiz on Friday you will need to come in outside of class time and complete it.

Learn Q and comma; start Formatting activity 1

We will begin today with learning the Q (L4) and the comma (R2).

Once we complete learning these two new keys we will begin the process of learning about the first formatting activity and the formatting toolbar in Word.  Because we will be working on a Formatting Activity tomorrow in class (after the vocab quiz) you will want to bring your flash drive so that you can save your work to it.

We also will spend a little bit of time today talking about how to upload a file to your Google Drive, because this will also be a procedure you will be employing frequently throughout the semester (as we work on the formatting activities).  

Lastly, don't forget that tomorrow you have a vocab quiz over the week 2 vocab words (Hardware #2).

Google Docs password file; Learn B and Y

We are now starting to have several websites that require usernames and passwords, and I feel it is best to create a Google Doc that will house that information so that you don't have to worry about trying to remember what goes where.  Therefore, we are going to create a Google Doc today that will store that important information (for the websites we have) so that you don't have to try to remember what username and password goes with what site.  You should have information for Classmarker and Wikispaces - we'll be adding to that list as we continue throughout the semester (and you're certainly welcome to include any other websites that you want that require usernames and passwords).

After completing the password file in Google we will warm up by typing lines 1-10 on 5C, page 11.  Then we will learn 2 new keys - the B (L1) and the Y (R1).

Downloading vs. Uploading; FA2

**REMINDER** - GET YOUR VOCAB DEFINITIONS POSTED TO THE WIKI SPACES PAGE ASAP!!

Today we are going to begin working on FA2 - which helps you understand the difference between Save and Save As (there is a huge difference!).  This is a fundamental skill in order to be able to use a computer.  Without this skill you will be overwriting files and trying to find information that you won't be able to find.

But, before beginning the formatting activity we also need to cover the differences between downloading and uploading information to the Internet - this is critical in understanding your Google account and Google docs.

I tend to think of the difference in this manner - if you think of the Internet as something "in space" (or above), then when you download from the Internet you move information from the Internet "down" to your computer; when you upload you move it from your computer "up" to the Internet.  Depending on what you plan to do with Google docs, you have to know the difference in order to be able to understand what your process is.  For example, when you work on a Word document on your computer and you want to save it to Google docs you will be uploading your document to Google docs; if you are at home and you have your Google doc and you want to start working on it in Word you will need to download it to your computer from Google (or the Internet).

Let's look and see how this works with your files.  First, here is how you UPLOAD to Google Docs:

1. You must be logged into your Google account.
2. Go to your Google Drive
3. In the top left, click on the red, up arrow (#1), then click on "Files..." (#2):
   
   
   
   
   
4. Navigate on your computer to where the saved file is located and either double click on the file or select it then click on the Open button
5. Once it has been uploaded to your Google Drive it will say that it has been completed. 

Now, here's the process to DOWNLOAD from the Internet to your computer:

1. Open your Google Drive - you will have to be logged into your Google account to do this.
2. Click the box to the left of the file that you want to download
   
   
   
   
   
3. Move up to the top where there is a button labeled "More".  Click on the small down arrow to get the drop-down menu and select download 
4. Your file will be downloaded and you will then be able to open your document in Word.  Depending on which browser you are using you will have to see how it handles a downloaded file.  Some, like Safari and Firefox, have a small arrow in the top right that you can click on to show you all the files that have been downloaded.  

Activity 2 -

Learn N and G; create a Google Doc

The new keys for today include the N (R1) and the G (L1).  These should be fairly easy as you will be using the index fingers on each hand to type these keys.


After learning our new keys we will be learning how to create a Google Doc.  You will use this to store all of your passwords for the various different websites that we have been using.


Also, this is your last day to enter your vocab definitions on the wikispaces page.  If you have not yet completed this activity you will need to have this done today in order to get credit.  Also, some of you may notice that after you post your definition the definition you have added has been changed.  Sometimes I will go in and edit your definitions so that they are easier for everyone to understand.  Don't be alarmed - it's just me trying to make it easier for everyone to study for the quiz.

Wikispaces; Saving to the cloud; New keys

WIKISPACES:
When using the Wikispaces website to post your definitions, there are a couple of things that you need to keep in mind.  First, the format I want you to use should look like what follows:

VOCAB WORD:  The definition goes here (FirstnameLastI)


Changing the font color and style is ok, but please keep the font color at black.

Also, there may be a time when you and someone else are on the website making changes (or editing) at the same time.  That is a problem when it comes time to save what has been added.  If you save and then you notice that what you saved doesn't show up then you'll need to redo what you tried to post.

GOOGLE & PASSWORDS:
Today I'm going to show you how you can use Google to save all of your Usernames and Passwords to the various websites we have signed up for (believe it or not we still have at least 2 more websites that we need to register on).  Google has created a way for all of its users to save to the Internet - this is sometimes called "Saving to the cloud" or "Saving in the cloud".

As we've talked about, saving Usernames and Passwords on paper is not a good idea for obvious reasons.  Using Google is an option for you, but it is not something that you have to use.  Realize that you are still responsible for knowing all of your usernames and passwords to the various websites we use - I don't care how you remember you just need to find a way that works for you.  If this is something you like then you can obviously continue to use it.

When you go to Google and log in, you'll either find "Documents" across the top or you'll have to click on "More" to see the "Documents" option that you need for this (see picture below):

Then you need to decide on what kind of file you want to create - I would suggest either a document or spreadsheet - and then select your choice.  In the top left corner you'll see where it says "Untitled Document" - click on this and give your file a name.  Once you have done that you can start entering your information.  As soon as the information is typed in it will save.  To open your file(s) you'll need to come back to Google, click on Documents, and then all of the documents you have saved will be showing on the screen.  To open one, click on it.  

NEW KEYS:

We're back to learning new keys!  Today we are going to add the N (R1) and the G (L1) to what we already know.  Speedskins will go back on the keyboard and we will be working on using correct technique as we key.  Tomorrow we will add a technique sheet (another grade) to the keying as we learn these new keys.

Thursday, September 8

Today we have several things we need to accomplish.

1. Learn how to share documents in Google Docs (very easy!!)
2. Watch Internet Safety video
3. Research with partner for Internet Safety presentation.

Originally we were going to learn the W and the Right Shift key this week as well, but I have decided to push that back to next week.  I also had talked earlier in the week about doing a blind assignment - we'll save that for a later date also in order to avoid trying to do too much this week.  

Also, don't forget that you have your 2 entries in Edmodo that must be completed by tomorrow night at midnight.  We discussed in class on Tuesday how to accomplish that - follow the guidelines we talked about in order to complete that assignment.

Sharing documents in Google Docs:

First you need to have a document already saved in Google docs.  Once you have a document saved, open it.  When the document is open, in the top-right hand corner you will see the following:

Click on the "Share" button.  Then you'll see a window that looks like this:

At the bottom of the window, where it says "Add people", you'll need to type in the email address of the person that you want to share your document with.  When you click in the bar to start typing in the email address of the person you want to share the document with, you'll see the window changes to look like below:

Here you've got several choices to make.  First, who are you sharing with?  Type in their email.  Next, Can they edit the document (make changes), or can they just view it?  Below the box where you typed in emails you'll probably want to check the box to notify the people that you are sharing the document with.  Do you want to send a copy to your email?  If so, click on that box.  And, if you want to send the document in the email you can do that also by clicking on that box.

When you have made all of your selections, click on "Share & save".  Your friend that you have shared with will receive an email immediately after you have clicked on that button, and now both of you can view and/or edit the document that you are using to collect your research!

Internet Safety video:

Protecting Your Reputation Online:

Friday, September 2

1. The first thing we will accomplish today is completing the "Correct Fingers" assignment at Classmarker. I will have to give you your username and password - so this is again another username and password that you will have to remember.   Therefore, we will use Google docs after we are done with the assignment to create a password "account".
2. Google Docs - this is a great place you can use to save all your passwords for the various different websites that you will register for.  This is not something that you have to do, but as I will show you it is a great way to store your passwords.  What I really like is that I can access this anywhere there is an Internet connection - including using a smartphone if you have one. (the below picture is a link - when you click on it it will open in a new window)

3. Here are several websites that you can use to create a password. These are convenient if you just want a quick solution to a password - or if you're just tired of trying to think of a clever password!
Password BirdPass Plex Password Generator Strong Password Generator
4. The rest of the day will be used practicing the keys we have learned.  Here are the websites that you can use to practice (and you can also obviously use these at home if you wish to):
Free Typing GamesFree Online Typing Games - online tutor Power Typing lessons Typing Web tutor

All of these websites are located on the Website Resources page on the blog- therefore they are available for you to use at home if you need to practice.

Thursday, September 1

1. Review all keys learned.
2. Learn the left shift key and the period (.).
3. Google Docs - this is a great place you can use to save all your passwords for the various different websites that you will register for.  This is not something that you have to do, but as I will show you it is a great way to store your passwords.  What I really like is that I can access this anywhere there is an Internet connection - including using a smartphone if you have one. (the below picture is a link - when you click on it it will open in a new window)

4. Here are several websites that you can use to create a password. These are convenient if you feel that trying to create something clever gets difficult - or if you're just tired of trying to think of a password!
Password BirdPass Plex Password Generator
5. We will create a "signature" for your gmail account today as well. If you remember, when we set up our email account I gave you several "golden rules" of emailing. One of those rules that you should follow is to always include your name at the bottom of the email. A signature allows you to do that without having to type in your name every time you send an email - very convenient!
6. If we have time we will also learn how to create contacts in Gmail.  My guess is some of you already know how to do this - especially those that already had an email account.  It's not difficult - you just need to learn how to do it.

REMINDER!!  Correct fingers assignment tomorrow - be prepared!