Rio Art Show Bound!

Student's getting our 3D Printing display ready for the show!

What's in a Reflection?

What's in a reflection?  Let's define it first.  According to Google Search:

re·flec·tion

rəˈflekSH(ə)n/

noun

1. 1.

   the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.

   "the reflection of light"

   synonyms:

   sending back, throwing back, casting back "the reflection of light"

   • 
     
2. 2.

   serious thought or consideration.

   "he doesn't get much time for reflection"

   synonyms:

   thought, thinking, consideration, contemplation, deliberation,pondering, meditation, musing, rumination; formalcogitation "after some reflection, he turned it down"

   
   

We are applying the second definition, "serious thought or consideration"

When you write your reflection for each of your projects, I am asking you to look back at what it took, both physically and mentally, to create your project.  Our thought process is important and I want to understand a little of what it took you to create your product.

So you should include serious thought in your reflection.  Reflect on:

1 - what was the purpose of the project (the problem)?

2 - what did it take for you to create the solution (apps used, thought process, problems, solutions, failures, success, who helped, what you learned)?

3 - how do you feel about your product (give details) OR how else can the software be used (in other classes)

So basically, give it some thought and explain what it took you to complete the awesome project you produced! Here is an example reflection:

________________________________________________________________________________________

3D Design Project - Drawer Handles

The design below is an Iron Giant Drawer handle that I designed using Tinkercad.  I created it because I have a drawer at home that holds my TV but it does not have handles to open the drawers.  I created it by getting an image  of the Iron Giant, one of my favorite movies.  Next, I converted the jpg into an svg file using an svg converter.  Once I had the image,   I resized the image to about 110 mm x 95 mm.  I had to cut out the eyes using cylinders.  I also grouped a couple of mounts to connect the handle to the drawer.  I really like the way the project came out.  I will use the same mount to make more handles very soon.

END OF YEAR - What you need to know to keep your grades up and not panic the last week of school!

So here is a list of projects that need to be completed, posted about and reflected about in your blogs, and, in some cases, presented to the class.

All of these projects are due by June 3 unless there is another date for the specific project.  Presentations must be scheduled before May 20.
Link to Class Presentation schedule will be in your classes links.

Mouse Squad - P2

• Community Projects - Group projects are on-going.  To complete the project, you will need to keep your journal of the project and present to the class.  You should include the following:
• original idea
• how it evolved and became what it is now
• how it affected the community
• your reflection
• Lot's of pics, video, or something to illustrate what you did
• Scratch Game and Survey
• Look at post from 4/7 for syllabus.  Games are due JUNE 3
• 3D Road Rally Race Car 
• Design your race car for either of two categories
• Race Car Class
• Style Car Class
• Due May 20
• Video Project
• You will be creating, editing and publishing a short video and uploading it to your own YouTube video channel
• Passion Project
• What do you want to learn about?  That's what this project will be about.  Go in-depth on a topic of your choice.  Teacher conference is required to set up your project.  Start date is officially May 4th.  You will need to sign up for a presentation date.  Presentations will vary so make sure you leave yourself and me time to plan & set up your idea.  Presentations must be scheduled by May 20th.

Computer Applications P2, P4, P5, P6

• Scratch Game and Survey
• Look at post from 4/7 for syllabus.  Rating of games and posting/reflection in blog by Friday, May 6 
• 3D Road Rally Race Car 
• Design your race car for either of two categories
• Race Car Class
• Style Car Class
• Due May 20
• Video Project
• You will be creating, editing and publishing a short video and uploading it to your own YouTube video channel
• Passion Project
• What do you want to learn about?  That's what this project will be about.  Go in-depth on a topic of your choice.  Teacher conference is required to set up your project.  Start date is officially May 4th.  You will need to sign up for a presentation date.  Presentations will vary so make sure you leave yourself and me time to plan & set up your idea.  Presentations must be scheduled by May 20th.

Scratch Game Play Day!

Scratch Game Play Day

If you haven't started yet, it's time to come to class and play

RIO VISTA STUDENT MADE VIDEO GAMES!

So here is what you need to do:

• Go to our blog
• Open your classes game and survey Padlet
• You can use a split window if you have a large enough screen
• Play the game
• Write a comment about the game in Scratch
• Go to the student's Scratch Game Survey
• Complete the survey
• Repeat to and make sure you comment on everyone's game

About comments:

• Brief, respectful comments
• No game bashing
• If you witness a glitch, bug, or something does not work right, you have a couple of choices.  You can respectfully write a comment about it or you can verbally ask the person if you can help them fix it.  You may know how to make it work better!

About Ratings games in a Survey

• Rate the game, not the game creator
• Please rate games appropriately according to the game rubric
• Some people have more programing skills than others.  Higher ratings go to games that are beyond what is normally expected.

Google Earth Shows Earth!

Let Google Maps Show You Our Beautiful Earth!

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day Everybody!

We are alive today because this planet that we live on provides what we need to survive.  

Earth Rocks!

Here is some interesting info related to Earth Day.  There will also be a launch of a new oceanic study satellite named Jason 6 today from Vandenberg Air Force Base.  VAFB is so close we may even see the contrail of the rocket.  

Can you find VAFB and show us which direction to look at launch time?

Jason 3 Oceanic Study Satellite Launch

This Day in History - The First Earth Day

Earth Day 2016

I challenge you to create something amazing for the Art Show on May 3!

You can do pixel art, Google Drawing, 3D design and print or anything else we use in the room.  It will be counted as extra credit but you can have some class time to work as well as lunch, before and after school.  I'm working on a 3D sculpture.

Scratch Game Syllabus/Guide & Due Dates & Upcoming Project Previews

Here is a link to the syllabus/guide in case you want it for yourself!

Due dates are coming up so get on it folks.

• Second due date 4/12/16 - Needs - backgrounds, character, movement and levels all working
• Project Due 4/15/16 - Needs - game completed and working with few bugs/glitches

Second Year Students

Your guide will follow the above guidelines but is slightly different because you are creating a game or something cool and challenging using a text code. The easiest are provided at code.org/learn . Look for the section titled - Partner tutorials that teach JavaScript

More challenging ones can be created at Khan Academy. Don't forget to log in and save your work!

Presentations

Presentations will start in two weeks. Tell the class how you got the idea for your game, explain your struggles & challenges, and any other details important to your game. Afterwards, student will play your game and give feedback.

Sign up to present and share your game!

Finishing the Project

Posting on the blog and writing your reflection will need to be completed by the end of April so don't leave it to the last minute

As always, talk to me if you have any questions or concerns.

Upcoming Projects

• Mouse Squad - Community Projects - What do you think about this as a name for the projects that you are currently working on?  These projects all have different schedules that we will have re-verify in the next couple of weeks.  Can't wait to get these out to the community!

• Passion Projects - We'll have a formal announcement on Friday and planning meeting will start the following week.  We will need to meet and review your plans for this exciting project.  What are you passionate about?  What is a Passion/Genius Hour Project?(4 min video)

• 3D Art Exposition - Extra Credit - a sculpture, race car, or amazing tool.  Design, test, manufacture, test, and finalize your creation and enter it into the Rio Art Show on May 3

• Final Presentation - Present your digital portfolio to the class and to the world!  Review the challenges you faced this year in this class.  Show what you were able to accomplish and how you might use some of these tools in your future.

Problem Solved, Maybe?

Students being creative problem solvers.  How do you keep your ear buds untangled?  Idea, design, and print stages complete.  Now comes cleaning and evaluating the product.  Reflection will be needed and possibly some modifications.  Both are a valuable part of the creative process!

Leaving Palm Spring

So the conference was super!  I learned that we are doing wonderful things through problem solving, coding, 3d design, and collaborating on projects.  Thank you for trying your best in this sometimes crazy class as we create, think critically, collaborate, communicate, and care about ourselves and others around us.  I'm very proud of all of you.  I hope you are proud of yourselves!

More stuff

Student projects

Minecrafters beware

Changes are coming to minecraft now that Microsoft has purchased it.  It has been written in Java script.  Now it's written in c++.  They also have new ideas including this: Tate Worlds

http://www.tate.org.uk/about/projects/tate-worlds-art-reimagined-minecraft

Student Photo Contest Winners

Lunch Time

Lunch time and brain break time.  Much needed time to talk about learning and talk about how much we love working with you at Rio Vista!

Next Year's New Student Computer!

Check out this link

Could this be the computer you are carrying around school next year?

Morning Keynote

Hadi P. The creator of Hour of Code saying thank you to all the students who made this year's Hour of Code the most used coding website in the world!

Beautiful view

Good morning folks.  I hope you all make it a great Friday!   I found out today that Scratch is used by freshman at Harvard University, Stanford, and MIT Universities to teach beginning coding.  Some of those games you see are made by 20 year old adults who are learning to code.  Rio Vista in there coding with the big guys and girls!

Bring on the Makerspace!

Lots of teachers want to know how to help bring making back to schools.

SWAG!