This is…. HOUR OF CODE!

Ever thought you could write code, design an app for the App Store or Google Play, create an augmented reality? Do you even know what we're talking about????

This is the week to see what it's all about. Hour of Code!
We're going to Skype with a coding expert, try out coding for ourselves, experience augmented reality, just basically geek out to our hearts content!

Watch this video to see what all the noise is about!

10 top reasons to code!

Now try it!
Hour of CODE!

Grade 7s take on "Future Goals", a program sponsored by the NHL to create a digital understanding for you lot!

OK. Grade 7s. This is your task for the next few weeks. EverFi, a digital learning platform, has gone to the NHL and asked them to fund a game that helps students in middle school really understand computers and digital life. You're going to play this game by going to the www.everfi.com login which is live linked right HERE!

You will be registering on the first day so you will need to SIGN UP first but once we set up your accounts, you will just log in with your school username and password!

Word to the WISE!
Make sure that you listen to all the videos and answer all the surveys! You just wreck your chances of doing well in the game later on if you try to skip them and things don't make sense!
Good luck with your "Future Goals"!

Your Book Trailer is Ready for Publication! You're an Author!

So, here's the last step to finishing this project.

Success Criteria:

1. Your music sets a mood appropriate for your book.
2. Your Animoto background sets the appropriate mood for your book genre.
3. Your text bullets give enough information about your book that the audience is intrigued.
4. There is a HOOK to draw in the audience to read your book.
5. You have an image of your book cover in your Animoto somewhere.


Keeping the success criteria in mind, have a peer watch and listen to your Book Trailer and act on their feedback - be it spelling mistakes, unsuitable music, blurry images - whatever.
Once you have reproofed your assignment, PRODUCE it and COPY the URL for the next step.

Creating a Book Cover with QR Code!

Scan ME!

Book Trailers - Finishing Touch!

This link will take your through the last steps! Let me know what you think!

Grade 7's - Time to Blabberize!

By now, you have had a lesson on finding images on the web that are:

1. the appropriate size for this project - between 300 and 800 megapixels
2. copyright free - either from Creative Commons or other sites that show you have permission to use the image
3. able to be saved to a place on YOUR hard drive that you can find again. :)

Remember. 
Open an image by clicking on it and having it open in it's own tab
Click on "View Image"
Once the image opens up:
Right click 
Click on 'Save picture as' 
Click on "Computer" on the left hand side of the pop up box 
- find the blue line with your username above it and click on that 
Open "My Documents" or "My Pictures" depending on what you are saving 
GIVE THE FILE A NAME** - like 'Dear Diary image' 
- and click "Save"!

Your pictures will be waiting for you on any machine in the school now, including the netbooks!

Today, it's time to import that photo you saved into a Web 2.0 tool called Blabberize.
It will make your animal share your Dear Diary entry for the rest of the class to hear. 
Next day, we'll give you some descriptive feedback about how well you covered the success criteria for this assignment!

Check out the success criteria on the wall and then click here to set up your account.

 Blabberize - Dear Diary here we go!

Have fun! 

Borrow a headset with the microphone to do this project.
You must plug it in (at the front) BEFORE you start your Blabbering!
It takes about 2 minutes for the computer to recognize the software as well!

At the end of class, wrap the cord loosely around the headset and put it back in the box at the front.
 TRES important!!!!!

Adding Images to your 30 second Book Trailer! Day 3

Book Trailers Condensed!

OK. Grade 8s. Now you have to be able to create your own book trailer in 30 seconds or less. What do you need to include so that you hook in your audience in a minimum of time. Write your ideas on the Back Chat that is set up here. Type in your name and then your idea for the success criteria for your videos. You can put in more than one idea.

Remember. This is an assignment, not a chat room. Post responsibly. :)

Back Chat: Today's Meet MCPS8

The Good, the Bad and the UGLY! Book Trailers

Created with Padlet

Created with Padlet

Created with Padlet

And so it starts....

Created with Padlet

Created with Padlet

Created with Padlet