Avatar reflection

So once you've finished your Avatar task head over to the class "drop" (mrrobinson class only) and upload your file/link/whatever. Just click on the "Add" tab (with the big green plus sign in a circle) at the top left of the page and make the appropriate selection. We only have 100MB of space (what you think we're made of money?!). We'll talk about optimising images for inclusion in documents later. Maybe. If I could be bothered. You know how it is. Right?
SO with all of that is out of the way we'd like you to complete the "avatar reflection questions" here. Once again gathering baseline data as a conversation starter. We'll reflect on the findings together.
Don't forget to comment if you have any questions, feedback or just to make me feel wanted.

Avatar research

"You're mission Ethan, should you choose to accept it is..." (Mission Impossible? C'mon people work with me!)

We got a bit sidetracked last lesson, (which is fine, there were some great questions being asked) but we need to get things back on track. That means sinking your teeth into the Avatar research task. There's a link to the task sheet in a previous post, but I will put it in for you again here. (On a scale of one to ten how nice am I? You can answer that in the comments.)
View 9it-avatar-research-pdf
Go grab it, have a read then get cracking.

You may find the following "advanced web search" tutorials on Atomic Learning helpful with your research. I would also encourage the use of a data grid but as the task says, it's up to you. If you can't remember the school user name and password for Atomic Learning ask your teacher or at HelpDesk.

When your avatar task is complete, as a reward for your hard work you will receive an invitation to class social network.

It's still IT baby!

I am nothing if not adaptable.
So, "Welcome class of 2010!"
Here's what's planned for today...
As an extension of the conversation we began a couple of days ago you're going to dig into a few more questions with your group.

1. What sites do you like to visit? (anything in common between people or the sites?)
   
2. Are they blocked at school? Why do you think that might be?
3. What do you think makes a good website?
4. How do you learn about new stuff? (hardware, software, applications, services etc)

Once everyone has had a say you're going to get an opportunity to "show your stuff". Feedback is that most of you have some "mad skills" already and don't want to be preached to. So here's the challenge...
Avatars - check out the document below and get cracking!
View 9it-avatar-research-pdf

Death by presentation

Is a very slow death indeed. Show some mercy!

This presentation is quite instructive and has useful tips on how you can improve the quality of your presentations.

Death by PowerPoint

View more documents from Alexei Kapterev.

The consultation has begun

The consultations have started. If you haven't had a consultation yet here are some things your group should check/work on before you get there.

1. Fill out the document templates - You can't collaborate if all the stuff is written in one person's book. Get it into the shared document.
2. Ask better questions - The quality of your questions directly affect the quality of your answers. Better questions better answers! Ask for help if you're struggling
3. Consult the assessment rubrics - They're the goal posts. They can be found on the Resources page.

I still think some groups are taking the project a bit lightly. You have to create an informative high quality presentation and that stuff doesn't happen by itself. It takes time, effort and cooperation. A true test of of character and self discipline. Get organised and get working.
To assist with the research and presentation planning stuff (like what's on the list above) everyone should complete the following tutorials on Atomic Learning. Each section takes about 20 minutes and is well worth the time investment. Don't forget to plug in those headphones.

• Affecting Change: Our Greenhouse Earth
  
  
  
  • B. Gathering Information
    
    • Searching on "climate change"
    • Identifying the origin of source material
    • Finding copyright information
    • Recording information in a Google Doc
    • Formatting text in a Google document
    • Adding a hyperlink to your Google Doc
    • Adding a table to outline the presentation
  • C. Creating the Presentation
    
    • Creating a new presentation from a template
    • Modifying the title slide
    • Adding key points to other slides
    • Adding images to a slide
    • Inserting text, images, videos, and shapes
    • Adding hyperlinks to your slides
    • Citing your sources properly
    • Showing a presentation

Persistence

This continues with the theme from the last post. It's by presentation ninja Garr Reynolds inspired by a book by Daniel Pink called Johnny Bunko.

Lesson 4 from Johnny Bunko

View more documents from garr.

I think this may have super relevance to the task you have just begun. Does it seem big and confusing at the moment? Of course it does. When you start out many things can appear overwhelming even insurmountable. Take Dory's advice and, "keep on swimming". Revisit the task pages as often as you need to and, "keep on swimming". Work through the Our Greenhouse Earth project launcher on Atomic Learning and, "keep on swimming."

Scout's motto

Not super impressed that some people are yet to make their first blog post. For those who have posted, good start, BUT go back and revise the list of safety tips mentioned on one of our earlier posts. Scrutinize your blog and see if you're up to scratch.

For this time, everyone should have...

1. Exchanged GMail addresses with their group
   
2. Completed the Blog Revolution project launcher. If you're on a roll check out some more advanced stuff here.
3. Published a blog post based on the "Collaboration Y-chart"
4. Posted meaningful comments on someone else's blog (don't forget this one!)
5. Posted meaningful responses to comments on their own blog

For next time...

1. Carefully read the Task section of Audience and Purpose blog (it helps to read it a few times)
2. Carefully read the Research section of Audience and Purpose blog (it helps to read it a few times)
3. Emailed your teacher with any questions

You will be assigned your research topics soon so be prepared (Scout's motto)

Dump the screen dump

What were we thinking? Print screen? That's crazy talk!
If you haven't done the Tech Skills Assesment yet when you get to the end don't go with the "print screen" option (as stated in previous post). Problem is only get the top part of your results appear on the screen (you have to scroll down to view it all) and you want all of it right?! Much better to do a "save as" from the file menu of Internet Explorer, change the save format to "single html file" (if you don't know where that is just ask someone) and save it to your network drive or memory stick. Preferably both. That way you get all your results with details and the links to the "workshops" for areas of improvement.
So just repeating...

1. Dump the screen dump
2. Select "save as" from file menu (in IE)
3. Change the save format to html
4. Save somewhere and back up

Now why didn't we do that the first time?!
(I'm not using Windows at the minute so if someone wants to send me a screen shot of the "save as" dialogue box I can add it to the post)

Feedback on presentations

Good, timely feedback is super important. It helps us learn and grow.

1. For each presentation you view, you are required to fill out the student presentation feedback form (click here to view). Please fill it out as accurately as possible (spelling of names etc). Learning to give good feedback is as important as learning how to receive it.
   
2.  At the end of all the presentations write a blog post reflecting on your experience. What was it like to present? Which presentation interested you the most and why? How did you feel about giving feedback to the other presenters?
   

There's a bit to get through so we have to be as efficient and effective as possible. Stay focused. Enjoy.

How smart are you?

The iNESS team are visiting early semester 2 and will be running workshops on internet safety. Their website has a list of safety tips how many are you following with your blog?
Next visit the "budd:e" at staysmartonline see what you know and what you don't know. Go into the "guff" section and read about "Creating content" (don't forget to scroll down!) then click on the "toob" tab to view the accompanying video. Pick two other sections to look at (I would suggest "Privacy" and "My Info") then talk about what you've looked at with somebody at least 5 years older than you.

• What have you learned?
• Are you going to change anything about your blog?
• Are you going to change any of your online behaviours?

Write something on your blog in response.

Feedback and group evaluation

So how do you think your group is progressing?
Click here and fill out the Group Evaluation Form. Come back in a week or two and do it again. Hopefully things will be getting better...

Struggling? This might help

Some people have said they are struggling so I will "Throw you a bone here!" as Dr Evil would say.
Lee and Sachi LeFever at CommonCraft make heaps of explanatory videos on a variety of topics. Lots of them are about online web services. Check out Lee's member page over at DotSub and go through the list. The subtitles can make it easier to follow sometimes.
Another place to get more information about your topic or background information is on Atomic Learning. Many of the services are covered in Atomic Learning tutorials so hit the site, log in, do a search and see what comes up. You may be pleasantly suprised.

Evernote

For those groups having a look at Evernote I have some good news. Amber MacArthur and Leo Laporte chat to Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote on "net@night 98". The interview starts at around the 25:40 mark so if you want to get the inside skinny on exactly where Evernote came from and where it's going download or listen online.

What's the plan Stan?

Who is this Stan guy anyway?
So I might be a bit late today so here is the list of things you can choose from.

1. Ensure you have filled out the online form that provides me with your email and blog address. I can't comment and give you feedback without it.
2. How did Maths go this morning? Spend some time on your spreadsheets if you need it. There are Project Launchers and tutorial on Atomic Learning to help you with charting and all the business.
3. Check out my previous post. Ten entries for the term is what you're aiming for. Get started.
4. Tweak that blog to make it look pretty. Heaps of stuff on "guess where?" - Atomic Learning

See you soon.

Helping with your blog posts

It is said there is no substitute for "on the job training" so that's what we're going for. I am setting a goal for each student to write at least 10 blog posts for the term. There. I said it.
Now I know what you're thinking.
"Mr Robinson is all tough on the outside, but deep down he's super nice and helpful. He won't leave us hangin' "
Okay so you're right. I'm not going to "leave you hangin'"
We realise (the TQ and I) that writing about stuff can be difficult at times and some have more difficulty than others. So I did a search on my hard drive on found some reflective thinking sentence starters for those times when "the words just don't flow." They way they sort of work is you pick a sentence starter from each section, finish the sentence and BAM! you're done.
Instant blog post - just add your thinking.
Ten (10) posts for the term works out to be about one (1) post per week.
Do you accept the challenge?

Who's an average kid?

You will have started averages and other stuff in Maths class already. Next term you will be doing an inquiry project using spreadsheet to examine some of this stuff further. To help with this you will be working through a couple of projects on Atomic Learning. To help you complete the project though you first have to go to the shared drive on the server and get some instructions and data (your teacher will show you where to get it)
Then go to Average Kid and work through the lessons.