Finish FA2; crossword puzzle 1-4

**THIS IS ANOTHER REMINDER TO GET YOUR VOCAB DEFINITIONS POSTED TO THE WIKI SPACES PAGE IF YOU HAVE VOCAB WORDS YOU NEED TO DEFINE FOR NEXT WEEK!!**

Today you need to finish FA2 that we started yesterday.  Please read the instructions carefully!

After completing the formatting activity you will need to complete a crossword puzzle.  The crossword puzzle is a vocabulary review from the first 4 vocab lists that we have had.  You will be given class time to complete this as well, but if you are not able to get this done in class today then it is homework over the weekend.  It is due at the beginning of the hour on Monday.

If you get done with both the formatting activity and the crossword puzzle you need to go to the practice websites on the blog and practice your keying.

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 -

Rainforest blogging

The first thing I would like everyone to do is check their email.  I have sent some people emails and this is a good time to make sure you haven't missed any messages from me.  Also, grades are due today, so if you have something you need to turn in it must get to me today, but you do not have time in class to work on makeup work.

Today you are going to have your first journal entry on your blog.  Your journal entry is going to be a reflection on the Rainforest unit you have been covering in your classes (according to Webster's dictionary, a reflection is the consideration of some subject matter, idea, or purpose).  Here are some thought-provoking questions that may help you to write your reflection:

• What did you learn about the Rainforest?
• What was interesting?
• What was unique about the animal you researched?
• Was there anything you already knew, and how did you already know it (had you learned it in another class, you read a book about it when you were in 4th grade, you saw something on tv, etc.)?
• What was enjoyable about going to the Brookfield Zoo?  What was not enjoyable?
• What did you like and/or dislike about the Rainforest rally with Niabi zoo, ice cream, and bingo?
• What would you change about the Rainforest unit we study in 7th grade?

This needs to be posted on your blog today, and then you need to email me a link to your blog so I can see that you have posted your reflection.  This will be graded so make sure you get this done.  Here is how I will grade what you post:




Lastly, next week we will have another set of vocab words and a vocab quiz, so those of you who have not yet posted your definitions to the wiki spaces page will need to get that done in the next week.  You obviously have plenty of time, but I know some of you have forgotten so this is just a friendly reminder.

FA1

Today we are going to start with our formatting activities. These activities are geared towards helping you understand how you can use Microsoft Word.  I am going to show you how to do several of these things in class, then you will be given the rest of the time today to complete this assignment.  This is due by tomorrow, but we only have about 15 minutes of class time tomorrow to get this done, so if you don't get this done today in class you may want to save your document to your Google Drive and then work on this at home tonight (this takes several minutes to complete - make sure you budget your time at the end of class today for this).

When you get this done you will email me your document as an attachment.  Don't forget...when you send an email there are 5 things you need to include in every email you send!



Activity 1 -

Embed your Internet Safety project movie

Today you are going to embed your Internet Safety Project video onto the blog that we made yesterday.  After embedding your movie on your blog, you will need to send me an email with the link to your blog.

Creating a blog

Today we are going to create your class blog.  There are several things that you need to keep in mind as we create your class blog:

1. There will be no games are on your blog, and you therefore will not be playing games on your blog during class (if you don't know how to put widgets on your blog that have games - good!  If you do know how to do it - don't!)
2. Class time is not time to make changes to your blog.  If Mr. Pardoe specifically gives you time to work on your blog you may do so...otherwise it is not a "toy" that you play with in here.  
3. Everything you put on your blog must be school appropriate!
4. Once the semester is over you can do with your blog what you want.  You are the owner/creator, so you have full power to use it as you wish (continue to use it for whatever purpose or completely delete the blog). 

Any violation of rules 1-3 above will result in you losing 10% of the next assignment that is due the first time, 20% the second time you are caught, and anytime thereafter you will lose 50% of the next assignment due.  That being said, let's go to www.blogger.com to get busy creating your blog!

Internet Safety project

Today will be the last day, in class, that you will have to complete your project.  Because we are going to embed your video on your blog, you actually will have through at least tomorrow to get it done.  Since we have not yet created your blog you obviously cannot put your project on your blog.  Once we create your blog (that's what we'll do on Tuesday) then you will be able to embed your movie on your blog...but since that won't be until at least Wednesday you will still have a little time outside of class to work on your movie if needed.

If you are done with your project you need to choose one of the practice websites and practice.  Make sure to use your speed skin while you are practicing!

**New missing assignments lists have been posted!  If you have a missing assignment it currently is listed as a 0 on Skyward.  If you want to change that you will need to complete the missing assignment before Friday and get it submitted.  If your missing assignment is a vocab quiz that must be completed in my room - you may NOT complete these at home!

Continue Internet Safety project

Today you will continue to work on your project with a completion date of Monday.  If you are done you can go to the practice websites that are listed on the website resources page on the blog.  We are currently planning on finishing in-class work on the project on Monday.

Internet Safety due Monday; Wikispaces vocab

As you continue to work towards completion of your project, please remember that you should be making an effort to accomplish all of the goals that are listed in the rubric.  I have embedded the rubric below so you can again look to see what it is that you should be trying to accomplish in your video (remember that this is also at the bottom of the Internet safety page on the blog).

Additionally, I have posted every vocabulary word on the class wikispaces page.  So you can now go and post the definitions to all of your vocabulary words, no matter what week they are due.  At this point, there should be absolutely no reason for you not to have your vocabulary definitions posted by the time its due to be posted.

Identity Theft video; Internet Safety project

IDENTITY THEFT 


Today you will again be working on your Internet Safety project with your partner.  You should be busy the entire hour completing the project.

We do not have a vocab quiz this week.  In fact, we don't have another vocab quiz until the week of October 21st (that's still 3 weeks away from this Friday).  As soon as I have the vocab words posted on the wiki spaces page I'll let you know.