7th+Grade+Curriculum+(2011-12)

=7th Grade Curriculum=

==King's Educational Technology Department worked with experts to create standards for online content creation, online inquiry, and online collaboration. Collectively these standards are known as Digital Literacy skills that we believe are important for students to master at various stages of their K-12 careers. The Digital Literacy skills can be found at==

Student "How-to" Instructions

 * ===[|First Class at Home.pdf]===
 * ===[|Installing King Printers.pdf]===

Policies and procedures

 * 1) **Digital Literacy** is a hands-on class that teaches you important technology skills. The class is project-based, which means that I do very little lecturing and you get lots of time to work on your project. __**You are encouraged to work with a friend**__.
 * 2) I will provide a mini-lesson at the beginning of each class and answer any questions. After the mini-lesson and Q&A, the number of questions during the remainder of the class are __**limited**__. I do this so that you __**think**__ about your question and make sure it is __**important**__. After all, you can ask a classmate or surf the Internet for an answer.
 * 3) We will be doing several projects throughout the trimester. You must stay on task and use your time wisely. Your grade is based on the number of projects you complete and the quality of each project (see rubric below).
 * 4) It is important to understand that this class is more like an art class than it is a math class. There are important differences. In an art class, the teacher does nor move your arm to help you draw. Instead, you are given drawing tools and shown examples of what to draw. You can get feedback from the teacher, but only __**after**__ you draw something.
 * 5) The directions I give at the beginning of class and on this website are very specific. __**You must read them to know what to do**__. Make sure that you understand the requirements for each project __**before**__ you begin the project.

Grading

 * Class citizenship is 20% of the grade and the projects are 80%.
 * Class citizenship is based on how diligently you work (vs fooling around) and how much you help others
 * Projects are scored on a three-point scale
 * 1 point - student showed significant effort on the project and completed __**some**__ of the project requirements
 * 2 points - student showed significant effort on the project and completed __**most**__ of the project requirements
 * 3 points - student showed significant effort on the project and completed __**all**__ of the project requirements
 * After a few classes, I will determine how many projects you need to complete for a particular grade and fill in the information below:
 * 5 projects with at least xx points earned
 * 4 projects with at least xx points earned
 * 3 projects with at least xx points earned.


 * ==Project 1 - Macintosh and FirstClass basics (you are allowed to ask me one question)==
 * ===It is very important that you know how to take a screen shot on a Mac and upload and download a file to/from Firstclass.===
 * ===Make sure you read the Do's and Don't below.===




 * ===there are eight requirements to complete:===
 * ===(1) use Firefox and navigate to **http://tinyurl.com/king-schedule2**===
 * ===(2) take a screen shot of your schedule (Shift-Command-3)===
 * ===(3) rename the file to include your last name (example trimester2 schedule - Faig )===
 * ===(4) create a new folder called Digital Literacy7 in the __**documents**__ section of FirstClass===
 * ===(5) upload the file to this folder in FirstClass===
 * ===(6) download the trimester2 schedule file to your desktop===
 * ===(7) rename the file to include a version number (example trimester2 schedule - Faig - version 2 )===
 * ===(8) upload this second file to the Digital Literacy7 in folder in FirstClass===
 * ===Call me over to see the two files in your FirstClass account===
 * ==Project 2 - Creating an Avatar (you are allowed to ask me one question)==
 * ===Avatars are online pictures you use to represent yourself. Some people use actual photographs, but we are going to use a tool that allows more creativity.===
 * ===requirements:===
 * ===Select one of the images below and click on it to be directed to the website that will allow you to create a similar avatar.===
 * ===Each website is different, but the general process is the same. You will be asked to select facial features like head shape, mouth, nose, eyes, eyebrows, etc.===
 * ===When you think your avatar looks like you (or the way you wish you looked), you should download the avatar to your computer. If the website does not have the ability to download the avatar, then you should take a screen shot (a skill you learned in Project 1)===
 * ===Rename the avatar file to include your last name and the word "avatar". For example, my file would be "Faig avatar".===
 * ===Upload the avatar file to the Digitial Literacy7 folder in First Class. Show me the avatar saved in the Digital Literacy folder (in First Class).===
 * ===__The avatar must be appropriate!__===
 * [[image:JDF_Avatar1.jpg width="157" height="146" link="@http://www.osoq.com/edit-pictures-online/make-your-avatar.asp"]] || [[image:JDF_Avatar2.png width="131" height="175" link="@http://clayyourself.com/"]] || [[image:JDF_Avatar3.png width="135" height="152" link="@http://flashface.ctapt.de/"]] || [[image:JDF_Avatar4.png width="142" height="136" link="@http://faceyourmanga.com/"]] || [[image:JDF_Avatar5.png width="132" height="150" link="@http://www.buildyourwildself.com/"]] ||

> (start video at 3:30) ||= ===Green Screen - Shrinking & Growing=== (start video at 1:40) || >>> >>> ======
 * ==Project 3 - Introduction to Computer Graphics (and some Geometry too)==
 * ===Computers are very fast at processing digital information. People write computer programs to instruct computers what to do. In order to be a good programmer, you must be able to write clear and detailed instrcuctions. Computers cannot ask questions - they can only do what they are told.===
 * ===Recommendations. You may want to make the project easier by doing the following steps before you actually start using Turtle Art:===
 * ===1) Download and print the file [|TurtleArt Grid.pdf] or ask me for a copy===
 * ===(2) Draw your first name on the grid===
 * ===(3) Write the __**exact**__ steps to write your name (as if you were directing someone over the phone)===
 * ===Requirements:===
 * ===(1) Use steps from above to write a Turtle Art program to draw the letters in your name===
 * === Do NOT drag the Turtle around the screen ===
 * ===(2) Save the Turtle Art program to the Digital Literacy folder of First Class===
 * ===(3) Show me your nams===
 * ===Extra Credit: Draw your name in block letters with the FILL widget.===
 * ===Extra Credit: Design computer art (see samples below)===
 * [[image:TurtleArt1.png width="325" height="254" align="center"]] || [[image:TurtleArt2.png width="323" height="259" align="center"]] ||
 * ==Project 4 - Advanced iMovie Techniques==
 * ===Apple iMovie is an easy to use tool that you can use to create a movie with images, video, and audio (music/narrations). iMovie also makes it easy to add titles and transitions, as well as, publish the movie for others to see. In this project, you will use advanced movie special effects. Here are four examples to watch at home (Youtube is blocked on campus):===
 * = ===Green Screen - Basic Example===
 * [[image:Green_Screen.png width="318" height="169" link="@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP-svi0XQks"]] || [[image:Green_Screen_-_Shrinking.png width="327" height="163" link="@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ0b7K0RURo&feature=relmfu"]] ||
 * = ===Green Screen - Explosion=== ||= ===Green Screen - Car Crash=== ||
 * = [[image:Green_Screen_-_Explosion.png width="225" height="207" link="@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmz18wmZ7c8"]] ||= [[image:Green_Scren_-_Car_Crash.png width="268" height="202" link="@http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=Ae5Oj-fb47c"]] ||
 * ===You may work alone or in groups of 2 or 3. No groups of four and I reserve the right to break up groups __if some students are not helping their group__.===
 * ===There are 3 requirements for this project and you are allowed __//**two**//__ questions:===
 * ===1) Make sure that iMovie is setup to use advanced options:===
 * ===2) Create a movie of between 5 and 15 seconds using a green screen effect.===
 * ===The movie does __not__ need a title or sound.===
 * ===The movie can __not__ be longer than 15 seconds!===
 * ===3) Export the movie as a Quicktime Movie using the Share menu using===
 * ===You must use the "Streaming - Low" option to make the file small (see screen shot below)===
 * ===Show the movie to me===

>>> === ===
 * ==Project 5 - Image Editing==
 * ===In this project, you will edit a picture so that you eliminate the background. Eliminating the background make it easy to combine images together===
 * ===There are 3 requirements for this project and you are allowed to ask __** //one// **__ question===
 * ===(1) Read this tutorial about three different methods of removing a background===
 * ===(2) Remove the background from this [|image] using two of the three methods from the tutorial above. Make sure that the filename includes the method you used to remove the background (magic wand, pen, lasso). Which method worked best?===
 * ===(3) Upload both files to the Digital Literacy7 folder in Firstclass and show them to me.===
 * ===Extra Credit: If you use all three methods -or- your image is extremely well done===
 * ==Project 6 - Calculating your grade point average (GPA)==
 * ===In this project, you will learn how to use Microsoft Excel to calculate you grade point average (GPA).===
 * ===There are 4 requirements for this project and you are allowed to ask __** //two// **__ questions.===
 * ===(1) You will need to download this [|GPA Template]. A template is a partically completed spreadsheet.===
 * ===(2) Rename the spreadsheet to include your last name and remove the word "template". Upload the file to the DigLit7 folder in the Documents section of Firstclass.===
 * ===(3) Complete the Introduction and Introduction2 worksheets (both are located in the template - look at the bottom of the screen for tabs). Have Mr. Faig review it. If weighted averages are still mysterious, then review the Weighted Average Example worksheet.===
 * ===(4) Complete the GPA calculation on the GPA worksheet (in the template) and have Mr. Faig review it. The directions are located on the GPA worksheet. Make sure that you have a copy of the spreadsheet saved to the DigLit7 folder in the Documents section of Firstclass. You may want to use this again in the future.===
 * ===Extra Credit is available on the GPA worksheet.===


 * ==Project 7 - Responding to a Blog==
 * ===Blogs are an easy way to share brief ideas with your teacher and classmates. In this project, you are going to share what you know about validating websites as __credible__. By credible, I mean you trust the website to provide accurate and factual information. This is a critical part of any research project because there are many websites that contain peoples' opinions, inaccurate information, and sometimes outright lies.===
 * ===There are 3 requirements for this project and you are allowed to ask __//**one**//__ question.===
 * ===(1) Ask Mr. Faig to send you an invitation to the blog. Follow [|these instructions] to sign up for the blog.===
 * ===(2) Below is a list of bogus websites that are fake. Review as many of them as you need to find __two clues__ that they are not credible websites. You may also do an internet search to find information on how to identify credible websites.===
 * Treeoctopus
 * Robots
 * Aluminum Foil Deflector
 * California's Velcro Crop
 * GenoChoice
 * Dihydrogen Monoxide
 * Feline Reaction
 * Haggis Hunt
 * Dung beetle
 * MoonBeam Enterprise
 * Ova Prima Foundation
 * Mankato Minnesota1
 * Mankato Minnesota2
 * McWhortle Enterprises, Inc.
 * RYT Hospital - Dwayne Medical Center
 * Male Pregnancy
 * Clyven the Transgenic Talking Mouse
 * Sellafield Zoo
 * Uncyclopedia
 * ===(3) Using Firefox, navigate to the blog associated with your class. Read my post __and__ and any other comments from fellow students. Post a comment that with your two clues to identify websites that are not credible. **MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY HAS ALREADY MENTIONED YOUR VALIDATION CLUES** .===
 * ===DigLit 7-1 ( Bri, Cha, Edw, Fin, Gre, McM, Mel, Sav, Sch, Spe, Thi, M.To )===
 * ===DigLit 7-2 ( Ach, Ame, Bor, Bur, Gar, Gun, Lic, Mic, Pri, Ric, Sau, Sci, Val )===
 * ===DigLit 7-3 ( Amo, Bas, Ben, Bra, Eck, Ehl, Gal, Gli, Kat, Lew, McG, Pia, Pri, Sch, Sei, J.To )===
 * ===DigLit 7-4 ( Cl, C-B, DeB, Dor, Gol, Gub, Hou, Iaf, Joh, Kat, L-W, McN, Nus, She,Tul )===
 * ===Extra credit if you find another well done bogus website (not on this list)===
 * ==Project 8 - Class Reflection Blog==
 * ===Locate the blog you used in the credible websites blog (project 7). There is a different blog for each class section (see above).===
 * ===Respond to the blog post titled, "Class Reflections". Make sure you post to the correct blog posting. For example, do DO NOT add a comment to Project 8 on the Project 7 post ("Benefits of Blogging")===


 * ==Extra Credit Projects (may __not__ be done in place of a required project)==
 * ==Creating a Web2.0-based Presentation. There is a new generation of web-based tools (collectively called Web2.0) that enable you to make the Internet more interactive. One of these tools (Prezi) enables you to make an online presentation. It is similar to Powerpoint, but is more engaging.==
 * ==There are 4 requirements for the project (you may ask 3 questions).==
 * ===(1) Navigate to the Prezi website and create an account using your King e-mail address.===
 * ===(2) Browse through at least three public presentation from the Prezi website. See the "Prezis we Like" section of the prezi homepge or use this link.===
 * ===(3) Watch the three brief tutorial videos (although you may not be able to watch them at school).===
 * ===(4) Create your own Prezi with at least three "slides".===
 * ==Creating a Collaborative Document.==
 * ==Creating a Wiki. Wikis are basic websites that can also be used for collaboration with other students.==
 * ==There are 4 requirements for the project (you may ask 3 questions).==
 * ===(1) Watch this introductory video on wikis (you may not be able watch this at school)===
 * ===(2) Create a wiki at Wikispaces===
 * ===(2a) Consider changing the wiki "theme".===
 * ===(3) Create at least two pages on your wiki.===
 * ===(3a) Add text to one of your wiki pages.===
 * ===(3b) Add a hyperlink to one of your wiki pages.===
 * ===(3c) Add an embedded image to one of your wiki pages.===
 * ===(3d) Add an embedded video one of your wiki pages.===
 * ===(3e) Add math symbols to a wiki page (see [|instructions] document)===
 * ===(3f) Review other types of content that you can embed in a wiki page (via Widget button)===
 * ===(4) Invite another classmate to be an editor on your wiki.===
 * ===(4a) Have your editor friend add content to a page===
 * ===(4b) Review the [History] tab of the page to see what changes your friend made===