Friday, January 29, 2010

Today, I will be grading your blogs and wikis to insure that they are up to date and meeting the proper criteria.  You will take this time to play some video games!  Please go to the RHS Wiki Main Page.  Under the "Game Design Topics' Tab is a section labeled "Playing To Learn."  Please follow the instructions, ALL of the instructions, that are listed on this assignment page.  This is a graded activity.  It does require a blog post at the end.  Be sure to READ ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS and ELEMENTS of the assignment.  Please pay particular attention to some of the Social Issue Games.  I will be grading this activity on Monday afternoon. 

On Monday I will also be showing you all how to use your Learning Logs.  If you want to take the weekend to see if you can figure them out for yourselves, knock yourself out.  

Wednesday

Good afternoon, Macaronis!  Here is what we need to do today.

1.  Tyler is going to show the class how to link your blog to your wiki page.

2.  Begin to create a blog roll on your blog.  I will show you how on mine. 

3.  Do a google search for 'online safety and teens.'  Read through several of the online articles, blog posts, and watch some of the videos.

4. In your first official blog post, construct a well written, sound, grammatically correct post that highlights some of what you learned when researching online safety and teenagers.    Please remember that this is an English class.  All of your blogging will be treated as a written work in any traditional English class.  Therefore, all standard English rules apply.  If you need to edit and revise a blog post, use the tools that blogger makes available to you.  Spell check, the edit button, etc.  See the blogging guidelines for more helpful hints.

5.  Your homework for the evening (or before you leave class) is to read some of your classmate's posts and comment on their blogs in the comment section.

6.  Keep an eye on the main RHS wiki page.  There is a section on the main wiki page that has English 12/Globaloria Course News.  Go and check it out to see your first due date!!!!!

P-R-O-U-D!!!!

My English/Globaloria class is a group of Spring Semester, 4th Block Seniors who do not display your typical Spring Semester, 4th Block Senior-itis qualities.  They are fearless and willing to do "Whatever It Takes" to get the job done.  They are excited.  They are energized.  What they don't already know they are willing to learn through personal exploration or collaborative questioning. 

Today, I was attending a county meeting at Coonskin.  During the time of 4th block, I turned on my netbook and logged into gmail just in case they had any questions about the assignment I had left them on my blog.  In short, I gave them direction on how to register with blogger, begin working on their blog design, explore the world of the blogosphere, continue working on their wikis, and check out each other's progress.  I ended up working with the kids via Instant Message while looking at their wikis and blogs from 15 miles away!  It was an awesome virtual teaching moment.  I'm so proud of them for what they were able to figure out via my instruction, from each other, and through trial and error!

Keep up the good work, Macaronis!!!!!!  I'm so PROUD of you!

Tuesday

Sorry I couldn't be there today.  However, I think you guys will be just fine without me.

Today, I want you to go to Blogger and register for a blog.  Use your gmail address to do this.  Begin designing your blog style.  There are tons of premade templates.  Play around with it.  If you want to write a blog post today, then go for it.  You will definitely start blogging on Weds.  I will show you some more tricks to the blogosphere when I return on Weds.  However, once you have set up a blogger profile and started designing your blog, I would like for you to make a comment on one of my blog posts.  I will then be able to add your blog to my blog roll. In short, I'll be able to follow your blog. 

So in summary, go to Blogger, create a blog, design your blog, play around with the site and continue to design your wiki profile pages.  Help each other out with the color and pictures code.  Finally, everyone should have an avatar on their profile page when I return on Weds.  If you have any questions, IM or email me.

Tonight when you have some down time, I want you to think about the following:  you know that we will be using wikis, blogs, and flash to create profiles, videos, writing platforms, and games.  How do you think we will be able to integrate Language Arts skills into the mix?  Be prepared to discuss this on Weds.

Today:
Set up a blogger account using your gmail information.
Begin designing your blog template.
Leave a comment on one of my blog posts.
Continue to design your wiki profile page.
Help each other!!!!

Today is going to be a fun day in class.  You will be able to create your profile, email, blog, and personalized wiki today and tomorrow.  This will be your first hands on assignment for English12/Globaloria. 

First, you will need to set up a gmail account.  Please keep in mind that this email will be used for the class and many people will see it.  Therefore, do NOT include your full name and keep it school APPROPRIATE.  It will be a direct reflection on you.  You will be able to use your gmail to instant message me or others in the class as well. 

Next, you will need to go to the RHS Wiki and create a profile.  Follow the direction on the page to create your profile.  I suggest using the same user name for the wiki profile as you did for your gmail address.  Once you have been approved to join the RHS Wiki you will need to log into the wiki main page.  The approval and the temporary password will be sent to you via your gmail account.  You will have the opportunity to change your password once you are logged into the wiki.  See the wiki guidelines and rubric links to see expectations and wiki grading.  These can also be found on the RHS Wiki under the navigation tab on the side bar.

You may now begin to personalize your wiki page, social profile page, and your avatar.  There are links and instructions on the create profile page of the wiki.  Play around with how you can edit and add personal touches to your own wiki page.  You will now be able to 'friend' others in the class, write on their walls, and communicate.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.  Remember, you CAN'T break it.  Have fun experimenting with the different codes that you use to create your profile wall. 

On your profile page you will see a tab titled "Learning Log."  Please, fill this section of your profile page out EVERYDAY at the end of the class period.  It is a graded component of the course.  I suggest utilizing the copy and paste feature to create several blank entries on your log.  This will make your life just a little bit easier.

You will have time tomorrow to continue to create your wiki page and also you will create a blog and write your first blog post.  Check back tomorrow for a new blog post with full instructions.

-Chez

Students Being Introduced To The World of Globaloria

It was an exciting 4th block.  The students are excited and seem to be looking forward to learning more about and working with The Globaloria Program.  It gave me a teaching charge to see how engaged they were today!  Here's to hoping that everyday is as great as today was.

Welcome!

Hi guys! 

Welcome to Globaloria/English 12.  I think that you will find this final semester of your high school career to be fun filled and exciting!  As you might have heard rumored, this isn't your typical literature and writing class.  We will for the most part be participating in a paperless/penless class that utilizes computers, programming, and most importantly your creative brains to learn more about literature, writing, communicating, game design, and cooperative learning.  Don't become overwhlemed.  It will be fun and at the end of the program you will have learned so much and have a new set of marketable skills.

In the mean time, please take the next 15-20 mintues to fill out this survey. 

Once you have completed the survey, please start exploring the World of Globaloria. 

Once again, I welcome you to the class.

Chez

World Builder

World Builder from Bruce Branit on Vimeo.

This is a short film written, directed, and produced by Bruce Branit. The film was shot in a day. However, the post production work took upwards to two years. In the digital, computerized day and age in which we live, I am struck at the special effects, but also the vision of what some believe will be reality rather than fantasy in the coming years. The story line leaves me wanting to discuss. However, I'm not entirely sure where to begin. I will spend some time formulating thoughts and comment later. Watch the film and tell me what you think.

*This is a post from a personal blog of mine.  I posted this about a year ago, but am curious as to what the techies might think.

How FLASH Makes Me Feel...

Thoughts

Technology has advanced the human race to such extremes that the activities and things that we can do sometimes seems like a dream rather than a reality.

Humans can send a man to the moon.

People can communicate in real time to others on the other side of the world.

A US citizen can literally be in London for a business meeting in less than 8 hours.

 School age children can create video games for learning purposes.

Scientist can predict storms and when the Earth might tremble.  However, all the technology in the world can't stop the natural devastation that can occur during those moments.  Please, during this time remember the human condition and the commonalities that all human beings share.  Donate money, time, services, or goods.  Pray, whisper, sing, meditate.  Keep the people of Haiti and their loved ones in your heart.

 

I'm back...

After two MAJOR technological melt downs (2 hard drives and a server issue), 2 holidays, power outages,  snow storms, and snow days, I'm back.  I have felt very out of the loop for the last month, but am ready to get back to the daily grind.  Time to start digging myself out of the hole...literally and figuratively.

Bundle up out there!