KB #2

My latest keyboarding tests were not what I expected.  This is my latest keyboarding test along with one I took in September.  Clearly, I typed faster and more accurate in September.  I did not feel fast or accurate today probably because I did not warm up enough.  I think today was an anomaly so I'm not too worried about it.  I will keep on getting better with regular practice.  

                                                                                     

International Space Station - Spot the Station

Here is a list of the dates and the times the station will be visible this month.  Enjoy and get the family out there with you.

Click here to learn more about how to Spot the Station!
Go to the Station Page - in the omnibox, type:  nasa.gov/iss

Check out these two videos showing how the station was put together:
Animated part by part
Actual footage of station coming together

Robots on the ISS?  For almost 10 years, robots have helped astronauts.  Not a new generation is taking over.  Check it out!

Best pics from the ISS

Commenting on a Blog Guide (DC)

It's time for you to check out and comment on other people's blog.  It helps to have a guideline so your comment can stand out and add to the discussion.

Here are some ideas to keep in mind:

The 4 Elements of a Good Blog Comment (Plus: Lots of Examples)

1. The Friendly Greeting
2. The Sincere Compliment
3. The Added Value
4. The Parting Promise

#1 Friendly Greeting:

If you’re hoping to catch the attention of bloggers and strike up a relationship, a healthy dose of proper etiquette can go a long way.

So say hello to them.

Greet them.

Refer to them by name.

#2 Sincere Compliment:

In short, pay them a compliment. Any compliment. Just make sure it’s a sincere compliment.

Tell them how much you enjoyed their post…

Make their day…

#3 The Added Value:

Your goal in every comment should be to add value. If your comment doesn’t add value, it’s wasting everyone’s time.  This could include feedback, an extension of their idea

#1: SHARE PERSONAL INSIGHTS OR ANECDOTES

#2: ASK THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS

#3: CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCUSSION

#4 The Parting Promise
I love it when commenters tell me they’ve shared or will share my work. The ideal comment would come from someone who both tells me they’re going to share, and then remembers to tag me when they do.Brittany Bullen

Source: https://smartblogger.com/blog-comments/

International Observe the Moon Night 2019

International Observe the Moon Night 2019

Your assignment is to learn as much about the moon as possible.  Then, go out and observe the moon over the next few nights & watch it go through its cycles.

The information below is filled with ideas, facts, & information.  Check it out.

Link: 10 Things: International Observe the Moon Night

Link: NASA's - About the Moon

Pop Culture

Le Voyage Dans la Lun (A Trip to the Moon) by Georges Méliès (1902)

Link: What's up in the October Skies - Video information

Space How-To Video

Not about the Moon, but definitely about an important part of being an astronaut & traveling in a spaceship.  Funny & informative:

How Hygiene is Different in Space

Space Out Friday Comments & Questions

Reflection - Post Sample

Scratch Coding Reflection

I created 3 different coding projects in Scratch.  Mr. Garcia made us follow a
tutorial because he says coding is important to learn so I can get a good job. 
I did it because I want a good grade in the class. So I followed the tutorial
and found it difficult to understand what to do.   A friend of mine helped me
get started using code blocks like the ones in the picture below. I had to put
different blocks together to make my sprites move. 

At first, it was hard but then it started to become fun to make the sprite do
what I wanted it to do. To make the guitar make sounds, I had to use the
“start sound” block but I used the “play sound until done block and a “wait”
block.  The sound was ok but it was too slow. I changed the variable in the
“wait” block but it would not change the sound. So I decided to try the
“start sound” block and then I was able to change the sound and make it
better! I felt so happy that I figured out the problem.  Mr. G says it is
called debugging when you fix a problem in code. 

Anyway, I finished 3 projects and had some fun even though it was hard and
frustrating at times.   I have another idea to build a game that I am going to
try to start soon.

Lesson Plans for Thursday

Making Music Post Example

Click on this link to go to Scratch

​Hi all,

Here are your plans for today.  Please show respect to your teacher. Use your time wisely. I’ll see you all on Friday.  If any students come in needing tech repair, please refer them to the library if it is necessary. Please stay focused, relaxed. 

Basic Plan all Periods

1. 10 min - Touch Typing on typing.com
   
   
2. 4 min - Please bring up class the Class Blog on the TV.  Ask students to go to class blog and look over the lesson plans. 
   
   
3. Class Work - All students are working on programming in Scratch
   
   

Tasks Task for Thursday Complete your Scratch Coding Reflection in Google docs. Make it look good, reread your writing, and ask someone to edit your work. I posted an example on the blog. 1. complete reflection on google docs 2. Copy & paste writing into your blog with this title "Scratch Coding Reflection" 3. Add a screenshot of your code to the post 4. Publish Extra work choices a. finish your 3 coding projects b. get an account in Gamestar Mechanic & start working in Quests This task was due on Tuesday 10/1 2nd & 3rd year students - Using the Creative Computing document located on the class blog, students must complete 3 game simulations on Scratch including: Maze, Pong, & Scroll.  Completed working projects must be embedded on their class blog with a reflection about the projects. 1st year students (all 6th & 7th Grade students) - Using Scratch tutorials, students must complete the Making Music tutorial & 2 more of their choice.  Completed working projects must be embedded on their class blog with a reflection about the projects. All projects MUST work like directed in the tutorial.  Early finishers can go back and add more detail to their project NOISE Level Noise level is between a 1 or 2 but should NEVER get so loud we disturb each other in class.. Walking around is for help only, no social maneuvering around the classroom:  Consequences for repeated (2) disruptions: Student may be moved away from others & continue working if behavior improves Student may be sent  to the office with a blue behavior referral - student will lose promotion points. Just do your work and stay focused, Be Calm:)

4. Please help students who are struggling with the technology or instructions
   
   
5. 35 min - Work on projects - detailed above
   
   
1. Guest teacher - Students may be collaborating which is encouraged.  Or, they may be just socializing so you will need to move around the classroom and listen to conversations.  THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR GOOD CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT!!!!!.
   
   
6. Early finishers can go on  DIY Projects - If you are here, go to Gamestarmechanic.  
   
   
7. DIY ACTIVITIES
   
   

Blogger	Modify your blogs themes, colors, and layout
Gamestarmechanic	Great game design website.  Sign in, using the year 2004 for registering, select “Get Started” until you get to the “Quest” and click on that.
Tinkercad	Create a new project or work on an old one
Finish Preparing 3D printed ID	Use tools carefully and clean up work table
Hour of Code	Work on another new task or finish one from last year
brush.ninja	Work on creating an animated GIF.  export, post or upload to chrome
Scratch	Go play some games on Scratch!  When you find a game you like, look at the code used to create it
Typing.com	Students can get some more keyboarding practice.  Keyboarding games are included.

1. 1 min - Shutting down & logging out - I make all student wait at stations till all headphones, tables, and chairs are neatly arranged.  I excuse one row at a time.   Do not excuse students until workspaces are clean.
   
   

Reminders:

• Supply good, detailed, and readable evidence.
  
  
• Keep the noise and the movement down. 
  
  
• Email me if you have any questions.
  
  
• Collaboration is helpful, socializing is distracting - Know why you are out of your seat and it cannot be to socialize.
  
  

I wish you all a good day.  See you Monday.

Mr. Garcia

October Skies - Look up!

Click on this link to see a video about what you can see in the October night sky

Get a Gamestar Mechanic Account & Start Game Development!

Click on the link below to register in Gamestar Mechanic!

Gamestar Mechanic Registration

Space Out Friday - You are the Artemis Generation

What does it mean to be in the Artemis Generation?

What is Artemis?

Exploration Mission 1
 Click here to witness what the first mission of the Artemis Project will feel like


For the Hard Core Space Geeks!
The EveryDay Astronaut YouTube Channel has detailed information about all areas of our space program.
How Astronauts Will Get to Space


Questions & Comments

Scratch - Learn to Code with Scratch

Harvard's Creative Computing - Scratch Guide

We will be using this guide to get us started in Scratch.  You can move along at your own 

or follow along in class at our pace.  More information to follow.

Check out the International Space Station Tonight!

The ISS will be soaring overhead tonight at 8:04pm!  

Step outside and look up toward the South-West sky.

It will look like an airplane light but it will not have any flashing green or red lights.  It will be bright, move at a steady pace, and move somewhat fast.

There are currently 6 astronauts onboard the space station.

2 videos:
What will it look like?
How to see the ISS

2019/2020 Parent Night

Welcome Parents & Families

Please sign in & find a seat

DC - Identifying Fake Websites, Fake News, & Secure Websites

Fake/False Websites - What to look for

Look at the Domain Suffix

Domain suffixes help you evaluate a website. 

.edu - educational institution  / Caution - Can be student originated material if it has Tilda ~

.mil - military

.net - network, a variety of sites have this domain

.org - traditionally a non-profit organization

.com - commercial site, usually with the purpose to persuade or sell

Suffixes can also denote geographic origin .au - Australia   .uk - United Kingdom

Activity

Check out these sites & use the guide above to evaluate:
When you have some evidence, post screenshots, links, descriptions, or other evidence on the
Fake Website Evidence Survey.  

This project is worth 45 points in total

#1

#2

#3

Helpful Video Tip: Creating a Split Window in Chrome


________________________________________________________________

Optional
Use WebCheck to evaluate a website (Need time)
Use these codes:
* Elementary School - 1484
* Middle School - 1481
* High School - 1483



___________________________________________________________________

How do you know if a website is secure before purchasing something?

ActivityAre these site secure?
# 5 
# 6
# 7 
# 8

Post a screenshot of the evidence that proves that this site is secure on this survey.


______________________________________________
Who & why do people write fake news?
NBC Report

How do you Identify Fake News?

"You'll isolate a claim that has something that can be objectively verified, you will seek the best primary sources in that topic. Find whether they match or refute or prove the claim being made, and then present with all limitations the data and what the data says about the claim being made," Mantzarlis says.

That's the framework for professionals, but there are ways for everyone to do a bit of fact-checking themselves.
*Online source - NPR Report

After watching the video, Write down your ideas about why people create fake/false news on this Survey.


__________________________________________________________

Advertising on Websites
Here is some good info to tell the difference between what is an article and what is an advertisement meant to sell you something:

• Native Advertising – Instagram sponsored posts, YouTube in-video shopping ads. Ad units that can only be bought and displayed on one platform.
• Sponsored Content – Denoted with phrases including, “brought to you by,” “presented by,” or “sponsored by.” Content that is not produced by the brand.
• Advertising Content – BuzzFeed listicles, Forbes BrandVoice. Advertising in the form of content but not display advertising. Often labeled as sponsored content.
• Brand Content – Red Bull YouTube channel. Content brands produce on their own and run through their own distribution channels. Brands functioning as publishers.
• Content Marketing – “The catchall phrase that encompasses all of the above.”

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: DEFINING SPONSORED CONTENT

Put simply, sponsored content refers to a form of content marketing in which advertisers pay to publish their material on a publication with the intention of closely resembling that its editorial content.

Activity - Search for flags
Identify the adds on the page

______________________________________________________________
Google Search

______________________________________________________

Fact Checking

Space Out Friday - The Parker Solar Probe

5th Period - Please click here to vote

What is the Parker Solar Probe

NASA.gov Parker Solar Probe Website

What is the Aurora Borealis

Want to Learn about the Moon?

Check out all this content!

Want to earn a free night from homework?

Ask Mr. Garcia for details 

Put Your Name On the Mars 2020 Rover!

Click on this link to submit your name & send it to Mars on the next rover mission!

Learn more about the Mission to Mars!

What's Up In Our August Skies?

Click on this link to see what is happening in our night skies this month.  Look out for the meteors!