Wednesday, September 18, 2019

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

Monday, September 16, 2019

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

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




______________________________________________________







Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Monday, June 10, 2019

Lesson Plans for Tuesday

Hi all,

Here are your plans for today.  Please show respect to your teacher, Mrs. Polanco.  Use your time wisely. I’ll see you all on Wednesday.  If any students come in needing tech repair, please refer them to the Tech Crew (Emilio, Alexis, Anthony, Joseph, & Cristopher) for service or to the library if it is necessary. Please stay focused, relax, finish your work, and enjoy the movie!

How many of you think the world will be different in 50 years?  Will it be livable to humans? Will we be ok? Will you be helping to ensure the survival of the human species?

Basic Plan all Periods
  1. 4 min - Check email and CHECK THE LESSON PLANS on Class Blog.
  2. Class Work - All students are either finishing the last of their tasks and posting them on the blog or are done and looking for something to do.  
    1. All the work they need to finish can be found on the blog or in student portal.  Last day to turn in work is Tuesday, June 11.
    2. After you take attendance, please start the movie I left on the TV.  I purchased Wally on Amazon. I’ll try to start it before I leave in the morning.  Each class has a couple of students who I showed how to start the movie - P2 - Emilio & Gio, P4 - Alexis & Joseph, P5 - Aracely & Danae, P6 - Joel & Athziry
    3. Please place yourself in the back of the classroom so you can monitor student behavior.
    4. No Drones today
Tasks
Students have set their own goals. They are responsible for reaching their goals and helping their team finish their project.  
NOISE Level
  • Noise level is between a 2 & 3 but should NEVER get so loud we disturb other classes or there is no yelling across the class.
  • Walking around is for help only, no social maneuvering around the classroom:
    • Lost movement privileges, stay in seat - P2 - Kevin, Elijah, Keanu     P4 - Cole,
Consequences for repeated (2) disruptions:
  • Student may be moved away from others & continue working if behavior improves
  • Student may be sent  to office with a blue behavior referral - student will loose promotion points and will not be available to help their CSP team.
  • Just do your work and stay focused Be Calm:)  


  1. 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 into conversations.  THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR GOOD CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT!!!!!
  2. Done with Project - Students can do these activities when complete with project and posting on their blog.  Early finishers can go on DIY Projects - If you are here, go to Gamestarmechanic.  
  3. DIY ACTIVITIES
Blogger
Modify your blogs themes, colors, and layout
Great game design website.  Sign in, use 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
Code.org
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.

  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:
  • Write good, detailed, and readable reflections.  
  • Email me if you have any question.
  • 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 Wednesday

Mr. Garcia

Agustin9856 Scratch Creations!

Local artist and coder Agustin9856 has been creating some custom animations to reflect our time here at Vista.  Give him some props by dropping a comment on his Scratch channel.

So Long Rio Vista...
animated story


Dr. Murphy Boss

Keep away from the alien and avoid the walls.  Use arrow keys to move & space bar to attack alien.




Seven Days Left of School!
animation





Make GIFs with Brush.Ninja!

Very easy to use and very creative app that is free for the web-based version or pay for IOS app.   Lots of creative fun!

Sunday, June 2, 2019

EOY Syllabus

End of Year Syllabus
Below you will find an outline of the projects that we will be completing to wrap up this school year.
Tuesday 6/11 is last day to turn in your work!
  • GDC - Game Development Project - Due 6/5
    •  Write a reflection on your blog about this project.  Reflect on how you choose your team, how you decided on a game idea, how you choose responsibilities, how the game developed, how you finished the game, and your thoughts about the project.  POST A LINK TO YOUR GAME!
    •  Fill out the PEER SURVEY

  • CSP - Community Service Project - Due 6/10
    •  Community Service Activity
      • must be completed by June 1 - arrangements can be made upon request
      • ask for supervision if necessary
    •  Presentation -

      • The presentation must include the following:  
        • A description of the project from beginning to end
          • choosing groups, planning, deciding on a project, preparing, the event, debrief about the event (what went well, what could be improved)
        • Photos of you at the event if applicable
      • POST YOUR PRESENTATION ON THIS PADLET
    •  The Event - Must be completed by June 1 unless other arrangements have been made with Mr. Garcia.  
      • Take photos to provide proof of the event
      • Make sure you get your parents approval if needed

  • Road Rally Car - Due 6/7
    •  Must be completed by June 7 - design only
    •  Must meet specifications & have rolling wheels
    •  Post a screenshot of your car on this site
    • Create a blog post with an image of your car and a reflection stating what this is, how you made it, and how you feel about it.
    • Be ready to tune your car up before the race on Monday, 6/10
  •  
  •  End of Year Keyboarding Test & Reflection:
    • Take a 3 minute typing test and post it
    • Take a screenshot of your first typing test of the year.
    • Reflect on how your keyboarding has changed
      • are you more confident?
      • have you memorized the keyboard?
      • do you use better posture when keyboarding?
      • do you use 10 fingers?
      • will this skill help you in the future?
  •  
  • EOY Class Survey

Friday, May 31, 2019

CEC Field Trip

CEC Field Trip
Thanks to all the students who participated in the Career Education Center Field Trip.  Here are some of the photos from the event.  Thanks to Bridge Carney for helping us control an Itty Bitty Buggy, Robin Sullivan for making us want to fly, Mr. Jimenez for showing us how locksmiths keep us safe, & Ian Fish from soundsfishy.tv for including us in Star Wars!  


























Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Lesson Plans for Thursday

Hi all,

Here are your plans for today.  Please show respect to your teacher, Mr. Munk.  Use your time wisely. I’ll see you all on Friday.  If any students come in needing tech repair, please refer them to the Tech Crew (Emilio, Alexis, Anthony, Joseph, & Cristopher) for service or to the library if it is necessary. Please stay focused, finish your presentations and prepare that event!

Basic Plan all Periods
  1. 4 min - Check email and CHECK THE LESSON PLANS on Class Blog.
  2. 15 min - Typing Test for May - take a 3 minute test after warming up with some 1 minute tests.  Post your test results and a brief reflection.
  3. P2 & 4 -   2 different projects:
    1. Community Service Projects (CSP) - Students are in teams working on preparing their CSP event or building their presentations.  They should not be on games or videos unless it is related to the project. Please let me know if there are any questions about their actions.
    2. 3D Design of Road Rally car - If students are not working on their CSP, they should be working on designing their race car.
Tasks
Students have set their own goals. They are responsible for reaching their goals and helping their team finish their project.  
NOISE Level
  • Noise level is between a 2 & 3 but should NEVER get so loud we disturb other classes or there is no yelling across the class.
  • Walking around is for help only, no social maneuvering around the classroom:
    • Lost movement privileges, stay in seat - P2 - Kevin, Elijah, Keanu     P4 - Cole,
Consequences for repeated (2) disruptions:
  • Students may be moved away from others & continue working if the behavior improves
  • Students may be sent to the office with a blue behavior referral - students will loose promotion points and will not be available to help their CSP team.
  • Just do your work and stay focused Be Calm:)  


  1. P5 & P6 - Work on CSP and Road rally car design
    1. 15 min - Typing Test for May - take a 3 minute test after warming up with some 1 minute tests.  Post your test and a brief reflection.
    2. Work on Road Rally Race Car

  1. 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 into conversations.  THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR GOOD CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT!!!!!
  2. Done with Project - Students can do these activities when complete with project and posting on their blog.  Early finishers can go on DIY Projects - If you are here, go to Gamestarmechanic.  
  3. DIY ACTIVITIES
Blogger
Modify your blogs themes, colors, and layout
Great game design website.  Sign in, use 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 the work table
Code.org
Work on another new task or finish one from last year
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.

  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:
  • Write good, detailed, and readable reflections.  
  • Email me if you have any question.
  • 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 Friday

Mr. Garcia