Informal Techy Tuesday Task

Students,

Make sure you are using this our Winter Break to update your online portfolio with your latest writing pieces!

6th Grade: Make sure you upload your personal narratives and a link to your How-To webpages!

7th Grade: Include your memoirs in your portfolio!

Task 12: Basic Document Keyboard Codes for Techies!

Well, students.

We are on Task 12 and that officially makes us.... TECHIES!!!

As honorary Techies, we should know the keyboard shortcuts you can use while typing!

Ae you ready for some tips??

Ctrl + B = Bold

Ctrl + U= Underline

Ctrl + I = Italics

Ctrl + C = Copy

Ctrl + V = Paste

Ctrl + X = Cut

Ctrl + A = Select All

Ctrl + S = Save

Ctrl + P = Print

Ctrl + Z = Undo

Ctrl + Y = Redo

Ctrl + O = Open

Ctrl + N = New

Ctrl + 2 = Double Spaced

For your Techy Tuesday task, experiment with these keyboard shortcuts! Using Google Docs, Google Presentations, your blog, or our class wiki, be sure to let us know what you think of these new tips!

You must tell us the following information in a paragraph:

Which shortcuts did you know about already?

Which two are most useful for you?

Which two are you probably not going to use?

Did I miss any codes you know about?

Enjoy your shortcuts!!

TECHY TUESDAY IS FAMOUS!

Students!

Our hard work has paid off! Check out our Techy Tuesday shout out on this online article!

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Share your Techy Tuesday love by commenting below!

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Task 11: Advanced Google Presentations

Last week, we explored another aspect of Google Docs, Google Presentations. First, we learned the basics: how to create a slide, change the font colors and style, as well as changing the theme of the presentation. This week we're going to kick our skills up a notch and work on ADVANCED Google Presentation skill!

Your Task:

Choose any technology tool you have used in any class and create a three slide minimum presentation explaining to viewers how to use this tool.

In your presentation, you must include the following:

1. You must embed an image

2. You must have an active hyperlink

3. You must have a video embedded onto a slide

Good luck with your presentations, Students! I'm looking forward to seeing your work!

Task 10: Google Presentation- The Basics

Mostly likely during your career as a student, you will have to create a Power Point presentation. For this week's Techy Tuesday, we are going to be exploring Google Presentations; a free, online way for you to create slide shows using your Google Account.

While exploring Google Presentations, you will be creating a three slide presentation where you will demonstrate your ability to use the tool through the given task.

Your Task (All Grades)

1. Create a three slide presentation

2. Change the theme of the slide

3. Change the font style, size, and color

4. Insert a table

5. Use three different slide formats

6th Grade:

In your presentation, you will list and define the parts of speech reviewed in class. In addition to this, one slide should compare appositive phrases and prepositional phrases.

7th Grade:

In your presentation, you will explain the different comma rules previously review in class. Be sure to provide a definition and example of each.

Task 9: Online Portfolios

Every year we produce some great writing pieces that end up in a folder somewhere never to be seen again! All the hard work and effort never seems to be revisited or truly appreciated. Now we have an answer... Online Portfolios!

With an online portfolio you have the opportunity to save all of your terrific work in one place and display it professionally and proudly. It will offer you the opportunity to practice a skill that you may use someday in the work force as well as offer you organization, pride, and professionalism in school.

By using Google Sites it is very simple to set up an online profile. Just follow the video tutorial below to assist you in completing the task for this week.

Your Task For This Week

1. Create and design your own online portfolio.
2. Share the portfolio with your teacher by inviting them to view it via the "share" option.
3. Place two pieces into the portfolio and rename them.
4. Give background information in the "Home" page by editing it.  Include the following:

• Your name and something interesting about you.
• Three things you excel at as a writer.
• Three things you hope to improve on this year with your writing.
• Three goals you have as a writer that you would like to accomplish this year.
• Anything else you would like to include is up to you.  Remember, be professional and proud!

Task 8: Embedding Objects into Wikispaces

As you know, we use our class wiki on a regular basis, and it's been great! However, we are also using other great tools that we need to showcase on our home base... the wiki!

Using the following video tutorial, this week I would like all of you to embed not only your glogs to the class wiki, but also both of your Tell Tale VoiceThreads.

Go to this link to find your book to embed your Tell Tale!

Task 7: Google Docs Walk Through

As you know, being able to use a word processing software, like Microsoft Word, is really important not only for school, but for life! However, we know sometimes we can have difficulties with file types, email attachments, or simply remembering to bring our USB!

This week for Techy Tuesday, we are going to explore Google Docs. You will learn how to create and rename documents, invite people to share your document, and save or email your file. In addition to this, you will need to familiarize yourself with the tools of a basic word processing device.

Please make sure the following things are in your Techy Tuesday assignment.

1. Change the font color.

2. Change the font size.

3. Change the font style.

4. Double space your work.

5. Have some of your work Centered and some to the Left.

6. Insert a 2 x 2 table.

7. Include bullet points

8. Rename your file.

9. Keep it private.

10. Email it to me as an attachment.

For the content of your work, please write about your favorite technology tool we have used so far. Be sure to describe it, and tell us why this is your favorite!

Task 6: E-Mail Attachment

Knowing how to send an email with an attachment is no longer an option; it is a necessity!

For this week's Techy Tuesday, watch the video below to learn how to add an attachment to an email. Be sure to include not only the attachment, but also a brief description of what you have attached using proper netiquette described in last week's task.

Your attachment requirement corresponds to your class:

Ms. Spiezio's 7th Grade: Attach a descriptive piece you have been working on in your Writer's Notebook

Ms. Spiezio's 6th Grade: Attach one of your Milestone Moments you have been working on in class this week

Mr. Poole's Class: Attach one of your Milestone Moments you have been working on in class this week

Task 5: Netiquette

Since we were little, we have all heard our parents tell us to "mind our manners". We're told to say please, thank you, and even hold doors for people to show that we have respect for them and their opinions.

Believe it or not, this same kind of idea holds true for the Internet. There is something called "Netiquette" which all online users must be familiar with to participate successfully in an online environment.

In this week's Techy Tuesday, you will research different ideas about online etiquette by visiting the following links and watching some of the videos listed below.

Some Netiquette MUSTS for email usage!

When writing an email you should...

1. Always have a formal greeting and closing

2. Always sign your name

3. Spell out all words. Do not use online lingo (b4, thanx, etc)

4. Make your requests clear

Your task for this week is to write an e-mail using proper online etiquette to your teacher explaining three of the most important Netiquette ideas you've come across this week. Be sure to refer to the websites/videos you got your ideas from in your email.

More Netiquette Resources

Online Etiquette Video

Wiki Etiquette

Email Etiquette Guide

Task 4: HELP!

Okay, okay students.

So a lot of you have been emailing Mr. Poole and I with concerns about your Drop.io account. Some of you are saying you can't log in, your password doesn't work, and other problems. In this case, please remember the following!

1. You do NOT have a Drop.io account. Therefore, you CANNOT log in to the website.
2. Simply go to your drop, your website, and then enter your password as prompted.
3. To add an image to the drop, hit "Add" then select the file, and hit upload!

OR

E-mail the image as an attachment to an email. The email address should be the following "YourBoxName@Drop.io" For example.... MsSpiezio10@drop.io

Let me know if you have problems!

Task 4: Drop.io

How many times have you forgotten your USB at home? Or wanted to share something with a friend, teacher, or parent but didn't want the whole world to see? Drop.io is a free on-line dropbox where you can upload images, documents, movies, anything you'd like in one space that you can share with anyone.

Your task for this week:

1. Set-up your very own password protected drop.io

2. Upload your favorite image to your drop

3. Send me the link and password

Watch the video below for how-to instructions!

Task 3: Google Readers Set-Up

I have so many websites that I absolutely love, but I hate having to constantly go and search through them for new information. With Google Reader, we can have all of those updates come directly to us in one place... our Google account!

Watch the following video to get your Google Reader set up. Once it's up and running, be sure to do the following:

1. Subscribe to these websites

a. http://techytuesday.blogspot.com

b. http://theweeklyworm.wordpress.com

c. http://theweekendwanderer101.blogspot.com

2. Take a "Screen Shot" to prove that you have subscribed to these sites.

(If you're not sure how to take a screen shot, Google it!)

3. E-mail me the Screen Shot!

Enjoy the following video... and don't forget to post your comments below!

Task 2: Voice Thread Identity

As you all know, part of your independent reading requirement (Tell Tales) asks that you complete not only a written assignment, but also an online evaluation of the book you choose. To complete your online Tell Tale, you'll need to have access to a great program called Voice Thread.

In order to complete this week's Techy Tuesday, you will need to do the following:

1. Go onto http://ed.voicethread.com

2. Log in as me.

User Name: MsSpiezio@gmail.com

Password: Given out in class!

3. Create your identity

*NOTE: Identities should only have your first name and period number in them!

Please watch the following video to see how you can create yours now!

What's Techy Tuesday!

And now back by popular demand.... Here! Is! Our! Prezi!!!!!

Watch the following presentation to see what this Techy Tuesday is all about!

Techy Tuesday on Prezi

Task 1: Wikispaces Set-Up

Wikispaces is a free program we use regularly in our class. Most of you have your own user names and passwords already; however, for this week's Techy Tuesday I'd like for you to change your user name so it includes your initials and period number. In order to do this, click "My Account". You will then click a button that says "Change Username". Type in your new user name, and click save!

Once you have your new user name, visit our class wiki. You are going to not only become members of our wiki, but also create your own student page!

All student pages must include the following!

1. Your first name only

2. A few short sentences about you

3. What you like about English class

4. What you'd like to do this year

CHALLENGE!

See if you can embed an image of one of your favorite things!

Check out the video below for step-by-step instructions on how to complete this week's Techy Tuesday!