Friday- catch up day

There are 9 blog assignments that should be done and will be graded today.  Follow the specific instructions for each assignment.  If a blog assignment is not posted on your blog it will be graded as a zero (0).  All blog assignments need to be titled with the  assignment # (for example-  Assignment #8 Stranded)

Your about.me site should have at least 3 complete sentences about yourself and a unique background picture (not chosen from the given templates).  A blogger button that connects to your blog and a link to your Weebly website.

Your Weebly website should have 5 different pages (a different background picture for each page).

The pages are:

1. Home
2. Interests
    with at least 3 sentences about what you are interested in.
3. Goals and Aspirations in Life
    with at least 3 sentences about your goals...
4. Favorite ... (1 thing)
    with at least 3 sentences about your favorite (1) thing
5. Charity Page
    with pictures and a working link to your choice of charity.

A completed Google docs "Letter of Recommendation."  This must be shared with misterwalske@gmail.com to be graded.

Blog Assignment #9- My Top Five

In the novel, High Fidelity and also in the subsequent film, there is a lot of talk about personal "top fives."  You are going to come up with your "Top Five."  The category is up to you (school appropriate).  The selections 1-5 are up to you.  Order your list from 5 to 1.

Write a few complete sentences describing each choice and why it merits a spot in your "Top Five."
Include a link to each thing (if possible).

Example:

Blog Assignment #9- My Top Five Classic Arcade Video Games

The following is a list of my top five classic arcade games.

5.  Space Invaders (1978)-  One of the first wave of arcade video games, this alien battling game was an instant classic.  The first time I saw this machine I was instantly hooked.  I prefer Space Invaders over Asteroids (1979) because of the graphics and the ease of gameplay.

4.  Ms. Pac Man (1981)-  Pac Man was good, but Ms. Pac Man was great.  Bouncing prizes and changing mazes upped the gameplay to make a very enjoyable upgrade from the original.  Being eleven years old and poor was a bad combination.  I spent a lot of time watching people play instead of playing myself.

3.  Super Pac Man (1982)-  Yet another extension of the Pac Man story.  The regular dots were replaced by the prize of each level along with keys that unlocked walls to get to those prizes.  This edition featured the super pellet that transformed Pac Man into Super Pac Man.  He became very large, fast and flew threw locked walls to gobble the prizes.  I ended up playing this game a lot in my late teens.

2.  Q*bert (1982)-  One of the first classic games to use a virtual 3D game board.  Q bert was a funny little creature that needed to change the blocks to a specific color by hopping onto them.  He had to avoid snakes, falling balls and other creatures.  If he fell off of the game board there was a knocking mechanism inside the cabinet that would sound.  When he was touched by one of the creatures or hit by a ball he would curse in his alien language.

1.  Donkey Kong (1981)-  One of the first video games that had a storyline.  The villain (Donkey Kong) kidnaps the lady (Pauline) from the carpenter (Mario) and your goal is to maneuver Mario through different mazes and obstacles in order to save Pauline.  Donkey Kong spawned 2 sequels (DK Junior and DK3).  DK Junior was possibly better than the original, but I'm gonna give the Number 1 spot to Donkey Kong.

I remember the early eighties in the town I grew up in.  An arcade called Outer Limits opened and at one point or another had all these games.  I was yet into my teens and wished I had the disposable income to afford playing all day long.  Alas, I was poor, and spent a lot of time watching older and wealthier people play these awesome games.

Blog Assignment #8- Stranded

In this hypothetical situation you are stranded on a deserted island.  What 3 (school appropriate) things would you want to have with you?  These things can not be people (pets are OK).

Include a paragraph description (at least  3 sentences) of each choice and why.  Include a picture with each paragraph.  Links are not required but include them if they relate to your choice(s).

Minimum requirements:

3 different things (school appropriate).
1 paragraph (at least 3 complete sentences)
and 1 picture for each thing 
for a total of 3 paragraphs and 3 pictures

Updating your about.me page

Today you are going to redesign your about.me page.

1) You will do this by updating your biography-  minimum 3 complete sentences about you

2) changing the background photo-  new photo taken by you or found on the web (school appropriate) 

3) changing the fonts and colors- one font can be white (if you want) but the other must be a different color

Make sure that the text is visible and the link to your weebly website and blog button can be seen without having to scroll the page.

The correct way to include a link

My favorite website is google.    Is correct.



My favorite website is google.

www.google.com         Is not correct.

Highlight the word or phrase to be linked.
Click the link button.
Type in or paste the web address (url).
The linked word or phrase is found in the post.  Do not add additional words to be linked.

Blog Assignment #7- Role Model(s)

Jaime Escalante

A person's character is made up of many different traits, some good and some bad.  A role model is a person that embodies the traits, accomplishments and status that you aspire to.  A person might be a role model for the career you want (killer instinct, drive, dedication, etc.), but not necessarily for the person you want to be (mean, loud, etc.).

Misty May-Treanor

What real human being(s) do you look up to as a role model(s)?  What are the character traits that you value?  If there isn't a real human being that embodies all the character traits that you aspire to be like, then list the character traits that are important to you and give some examples of real human beings that come close to living up to those traits.

Karch Kiraly

Minimum 200 words.

Minimum 4 paragraphs.

Minimum 2 pictures.

Use spellcheck.

Include any links that might apply.

Short Assignment and Get caught up.

Today's short assignment for Friday is to add a "Charity" page to your Weebly website.  Use the same charity that you used in blog assignment #6.

Title the page- Charity
Design the page to look different than the other 3 pages
include at least 2 related pictures
include at least one complete sentence that includes a link to the charity's website.

example

The rest of the time remaining should be dedicated to completing all previous assignments.  If you feel that you have everything completed, then let me know.  I will review your assignments and let you know if, in fact, you have all assignments completed.

Assignment 6- Being Charitable

Mark Cuban mega-rich business man and owner of the Dallas Mavericks shows up at Back Bay High School with two million dollars to spend.  He offers you a job.  The pay for this job is one million dollars. The job is to choose a charity that you care about.   Mr. Cuban wants to donate the other one million dollars to one charity.

Let's be charitable.

Your job is to research different charities to find one that means something to you.  After you find the charity that you want to support, you will write a blog entry that 1) **briefly describes the charity, 2) details (at least 2 paragraphs) why this charity is important to you, 3) includes a link to the charity's website and 4) includes at least 2 pictures related to the charity.

**The link to the charity's website will include all the information about the charity.  This is why you will only briefly describe (a few sentences) the charity in your post.

Short Day- Short Assignment

Add a 4th page to your Weebly Website.

This fourth page will be all about your favorite thing (person, song, video game, food, singer, sport, athlete, family member, etc.).  You choose the one thing.  You already have a page for your favorites.  This is one page for one thing.  Out of all of your favorites things in life pick the best thing.  Include at least 1 paragraph detailing why and 2 related pictures.

Google Docs Assignment #1- Business Letter

This is a Google documents assignment not a blogger assignment.

Today's assignment is writing a business letter.

Specifically, you will be writing a letter of recommendation.  When applying for certain jobs (usually the higher paying ones) or scholarships you will be asked to provide letters of recommendation (usually 3).  These letters are written by teachers, principals, former bosses, etc.

For this assignment you will be writing a letter of recommendation about yourself (written in third person).  It needs to be typed in the proper format in Google documents.  Name (Rename) your google document "Letter of Recommendation Yourlastname."   After it is written you will share it with me misterwalske@gmail.com

Follow this example.  Write this letter "To Mr. Walske:"  instead of "To whom it may concern:"

Your letter needs to have at least three paragraphs.  For example the paragraphs could be 

1) background information  2) skills/talents  3) accomplishments.

This letter is by you, about you, and addressed to me.

You will not be writing in first person "I this and I that."  You are writing about yourself, but you are not writing as yourself.

Example: this would be how I would write about myself.

I would like to recommend Brent Walske for President of the United States.  He is a very intelligent and motivated person.  Brent has great problem solving skills and works well under pressure. Blah, blah, blah, etc.

I not i, I'm not im or i'm, I'll not ill or i'll

The word I and any contraction built with the word I is always capitalized!  

That being said, again, any assignments with I not capitalized will lose half credit .  This means that it will be at most a 5 out of 10 in the Schoolloop grade book.

If you want full credit for your assignments then you had better capitalize the word I and all it's variations if you use it in your writing.

Assignment 5- Politics

Read this short article about youth and politics.

Then write a blog post addressing each one of these points.

Do you follow politics?  Why or why not?
Do you identify yourself as Democrat, Republican or something else?
Are your parents registered with a political party?  If so which one(s)?
Will you vote when you are eligible (18 years old)?  Why or Why not?
What political (social) issues are most important to you?
If you, and you alone, were given the power to choose our next President of the United States of America (You can choose any American 35 years of age or older), who would you choose and why?

Make sure you address each of these questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.  
Include at least 3 pictures (definitely have a picture of your choice for President).

What should be done by end of class today.

Email misterwalske@gmail.com  (10 pts.)
Create an about.me page- email me the url (address)  (10 pts.)
Create a blog- email me the url (address)  (10 pts.)
Post the 4 blog assignments  (40 pts.)
Create a website- email me the url (address) (10 pts.)

Your about.me page   (10 pts.)
change the background photo to a picture you took or downloaded from the internet (must be school appropriate)
change the fonts/colors
write a bio (at least 3 complete sentences)
add an app connecting your blog.
add a link connecting your weebly website.

Your weebly website   (10 pts.)
customize the layout (background photo, template, etc.)
add a second page titled- interests
write at least 3 complete sentences about your interests
add a third page titled- Goals and Aspirations in Life
write at least 3 complete sentences about this
change the background image on each page

All of this should be completed by end of class today to be caught up.  This equates to 8 schoolloop grades for a total of 100 pts.

Blog assignment #4- Dream School

Write a blog entry about a school that you would attend (your choice) after graduation if money, grades and admissions tests were not a consideration.  Write about the school (Harvard, UCLA, etc.), what you would study (Pre Med, English, Art, etc.) and why you would go there given all the other choices in the world.  If you don't plan on attending any schools after High School, you still need to pick a school as if you were being forced to go somewhere.  You must pick a school and write about it.

Find a website for this school to link to in your post.  Find some pictures for your post (if you can't find pictures of the school, then include pictures that relate to the field of study that you would be going to that school for.  The school can be a trade school, technical institute, 2 year college, 4 year college, private university, etc.

Requirements-  

address the topic-you must choose a school, a field of study and the reasons for your choices

written in paragraphs 

correct grammar   

at least 2 pictures

at least 1 link

at least 150 words

correct spelling (use spellcheck*)

*special note-  when using spellcheck, if the word is not very close to the actual spelling of the word you are trying to use, then it's possible that none of the options that spellcheck gives you will be the correct word.  

(for example definately is spelled definitely not defiantly) 

Get your assignments done

Starting next week- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2 pm to 3 pm any students with missing assignments will be required to stay and complete missing work.

It shouldn't have to come to this, but if you are falling behind you will need to stay to get caught up by getting 1 on 1 help.  So, if you don't want to stay after school and you are falling behind you need to catch up by end of class on Tuesday.  Your parents will be contacted if you fall behind and do not stay to complete missing work.

All of these assignments are designed to be completed in a class period and can be done from any computer with internet access, so there is no reason to fall behind.

Comment on this blog post with the words "I understand." so I know that you read this.

Your Weebly Website

Yesterday's assignment was to create a Weebly.com website and to link that website to your about.me page.

Today, you are going to add a second and third page (if you didn't do it yesterday).

You are going to customize each page (the layout will be different on each page).

On the "interests" page write some content describing your interests include links whenever appropriate.  For example, if an interest of yours is music, then be more specific and list some of your favorite musicians, bands, etc.  Use links to connect to artist specific websites.

On the "Goals and Aspirations" page write about your goals and aspirations (graduate from high school, get a specific job, run a marathon, graduate from college, climb Mt. Everest, get married, etc.)  Include what you are doing to achieve these goals.  For example, if one of my goals is to win the lottery, then I would write about spending money on tickets every week or twice a week or whatever. (note- Winning the lottery is not one of my goals. I don't regularly buy lottery tickets.)

Today's Assignment

Go here and follow the directions.

After you have created your new website you will add a link to it on your about.me page.

Follow this blog

Click to the right where it reads "join this site."

Use your google account (the same info that you use to sign in to your blog).

When you have done this correctly your avatar (icon) should appear with the other members.

If you have not added a picture to your bio in blogger then you will have a generic avatar.  Go to your blogger profile.  Click on edit profile.  Go to profile photo and upload a photo.  This photo can be an actual picture of you (taken with your phone or photo booth then saved to the desktop) or a "school appropriate" photo found on the internet and saved to the desktop.

So, 1)  follow this site and 2) have a unique profile photo.

Blog Assignment #3- Expertise

We all have certain things that we do well and other things that we might not be able to do at all.  The same goes for knowledge (not just academic knowledge).  I know a lot about beach volleyball, but know next to nothing about World of Warcraft.

My son and 3 time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor.

This post is for you to show off your knowledge or expertise of a particular subject (hobby, interest, topic, etc.)  Describe in detail a topic of interest you know a lot about or a hobby or special skill that you are good at.

Volleyball Legend, Karch Kiraly

Describe the topic you choose in your own words.  Do not write the same information that can be found on the website/webpage that you link to.  The link is to give additional information about the topic. 

HB Pier where I've played for over 20 years.

Include at least 3 pictures

Include at least 1 link to a related website (webpage)

Minimum 200 words.

Minimum 4 paragraphs.  

Including a space between groups of sentences is how to separate paragraphs in your blog.

Blog Assignment #2- Favorite ?

Write about something that interests you.  It could be your favorite band, your favorite food, your favorite movie, your favorite sport/sports team, your favorite artist, etc.

In this blog post you will include at least 150 words, grammatically correct sentences, at least 3 paragraphs, 2 pictures relating to your topic and at least one link to a related website.

Be sure to include your opinions about this topic.  Why is this thing your favorite?  In addition to your opinions, include many details about your topic (the thing-band, food, movie, artist, etc.).

Adding Pictures and Links to your blog posts

Most blog assignments will require pictures and or links.

To add a link:  highlight the word that you want to link and then click the Link button.  You then type in or paste the web address of the site you are linking.

To add a picture: click on the picture button (found to the right of the Link button).  click on choose files.  then locate the picture file you want to add.

note- In order to add a picture to your blog post, you must first have that picture on your computer.  Go to Google image search and download the picture to the desktop.  Then it will be available to add to your blog.

Blog Assignment 1- Summer Vacation

Write at least 150 words about what you did over the summer.  Break your writing into at least 3 paragraphs.  Do not indent when starting a new paragraph.  Just hit return twice to leave a line space between paragraphs.

Like this.  Write in complete sentences with correct spelling (use spellcheck).

Title your blog post:    Assignment 1- Summer Vacation

Link your About.me page to your Blog

Log in to your about.me page

click on edit page

click on add an app

click on blogger

type in your blog address (ex.  walskebbhs, yourlastnamebbhs, etc.) click add

choose import from blogger and confirm

Test the link.  If it works, then you are ready to get started with the first blog assignment.

Start up procedures

A working email account is required.  Email misterwalske@gmail.com.

An about.me page is required.  Email me the url.

A blogger.com blog is required.  Email me the url.

A google account is required, so that you can complete the google docs assignments.

Introduction

This class includes many computer based assignments.

These assignments for the most part fall into 4 general categories.

1) email assignments
2) blog assignments
3) google docs assignments
4) about.me assignments

You will not be printing out anything.  All assignments are digital and will be graded from the computer.

In order to get the full amount of credits (5) in this class, you must complete all of the assignments.