Introduction

Digital Literacy Class: We are going to learn about so many incredible ways to be creative, collaborative, and to communicate. We will focus on computer skills and applications. Some topics you already know about, and you will know better, and other topics and applications will be new to you! Either way, we will work together to find the ones you are able to use best. This class consists of Project-Based-Learning. You will be given plenty of time to learn the skills and applications that you will use for a lifetime. I hope you enjoy the material we will cover. - Mr. S

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thanksgiving "Giving Thanks" Tackk.Com Webpage

 Everyone:




Weebly Journal Entry

 Please watch the following video and write 3-4 sentences on how you can follow the presenters advice:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUZIElWpMhM




 Tackk.Com "Giving Thanks" Project

Check out TACKK.COM.  I found this in a magazine on the flight home from
a weekend trip a couple years ago.  I thought this would be an interesting and fun way to
post information (Like Final Projects) for school.  You can
easily create single page websites for your work.  You could create a
single TACKK without logging in, or create a series of TACKK's.  Please
go to the website TACKK.COM to get started.  Make sure you add the TAG
(#caatech) to all of your sites so we can see them.



Here is the link for my GIVING THANKS Tackk.com Webpage:



https://tackk.com/8ykv0y










"Giving Thanks" Project



Please go to Tackk.com and create a website.  Create
an account using your Gmail address and a password you can remember. 
You may use photos, youtube video links, and other items.  Please make
sure your website has the following items to receive credit for this
project today:




  1. Website must be created using Tackk.com

  2. Website must include keywords #xroadsatmeade and #givingthanks2014

  3. Website must have at least one picture

  4. Website must include a link to your Weebly.com Website

  5. Website must include a contact/message form

  6. Website must have a Thanksgiving Theme

  7. Website must include at least 4-5 sentences about what you are thankful for in your life.  

  8. YOU MUST POST THE LINK TO YOUR TACKK ON OUR SCHOOL GOOGLE+ PAGE!

  9. Finally, when you are done, please search the Tackkboard or Google+ for at
    least 5 other websites created by our class and post comments on them. 
    Be careful to be helpful not hurtful and let your classmates know that
    you appreciate their efforts! 


Have Fun With This!!

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Word Cloud Personal Reflection Project 2014


Word Clouds - Simple Counseling Project




Please take today's class a Word Cloud with one of the following websites:



https://tagul.com  This could be the easiest!  Just Download the 1MP version of your cloud without logging in by clicking https://tagul.com/cloud and Import Words.  Then click SHAPES, FONTS, :LAYOUT, COLORS AND ANIMATIONS to change it.  Finally, use GRAB AND SHARE and click the EXPORT VECTOR IMAGE 1MP Button and open your picture in PREVIEW on the Macbook.  In PREVIEW you will have to SAVE the image you made to the desktop and then UPLOAD and SHARE it.





Other Sites To Try:

http://www.imagechef.com/ic/word_mosaic 



http://www.abcya.com/word_clouds.htm



http://worditout.com/



http://www.wordle.net/



All three will work.  Some of your computers may not have the Java
Console installed.  Please do not install it.  Wordle seems to
work the slowest, but have the most choices for being creative.  ABCYA
is the easiest to use and should be simple to download and send to me. 
WordItOut requires you to enter your email to get the downloaded copy.



Please choose as many adjectives below to describe yourself.  The more
times you repeat a word, the bigger and more highlighted it will be in
your Word Cloud.  Copy and Paste the words you want to use to describe
yourself into the text box on the Word Cloud creator you are using. 
Then hit create.  Each of the sites works in a slightly different way. 
Eventually, you need to create a custom Word Cloud, download it to the
desktop as a JPEG picture, and email the picture to my email
(hscribnercaa@gmail.com) so I can print it for inclusion in your
personal guidance folder.





Step 1:  Open A New Google Drive Document



Step 2:  List as many adjectives about yourself as you can

Step 3:  List Adjectives multiple time to increase their size in the picture. The More Times They Are In The List, The Bigger They Will Be On The Picture!





Step 4:  Create the Wordle (Other) Drawing

Step 5:  Change Design Colors, Styles and Settings

Step 6:  Save Design AS A Picture (JPEG FILE) or EXPORT IT from Application

Step 7:  Upload PICTURE to your Google Drive and put a copy on your website (Weebly)

Step 8:  Use the SHAREABLE Link on Google Drive to Post a LINK to your picture on the Crossroads 2014-2025 Google+ Community For CREDIT.





You will not receive credit for this assignment until you have uploaded, saved, and shared the picture you created on the Google+ Community.







Look to the right to see an example of my Word Cloud (Click Image To See
It Better).  Below is a list of adjectives to use, but you can include
any additional words that describe you that are not on the list.  Make
sure you do not use any profane, vulgar or other poor word choices.  I will be printing this in color if I can and posting them outside the wall.....MAKE SURE YOUR NAME IS IN THE PICTURE SOMEWHERE WITH THE WORDS "XROADSCS2014"











Good Luck,



- Mr. S



ADJECTIVE LIST (If you can't find enough below, CLICK HERE)

afraid embarrassed gentle new slippery

agreeable encouraging gorgeous nice slow

amused energetic great nosy smiling

angry enthusiastic grieving nutty strange

annoyed defeated grubby obedient successful

anxious defiant grumpy obnoxious sweet

arrogant delicious handsome odd tall

ashamed delightful happy old tame

average depressed harsh ordinary thoughtful

awful determined healthy outrageous thoughtless

bad dirty helpful panicky tired

beautiful disgusted hilarious perfect tough

better disturbed hungry petite tricky

brave envious jealous pleasant troubled

bright evil jittery precious upset

calm excited jolly pretty uptight

charming exuberant kind prickly victorious

cheerful fair lazy proud vivacious

clumsy faithful little puny voiceless

confused fantastic lively quick wasteful

cooperative fast lonely quiet weak

courageous flaky loud scary weary

crazy foolish lovely scrawny wicked

creepy frail lucky selfish wide-eyed

cruel frantic magnificent shaggy witty

cuddly fresh mysterious silent wonderful

dangerous friendly nasty silly worried

dizzy frightened naughty skinny young

dull funny nervous slimy zany

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

STAMPPASS Philadelphia Sign Up



Today you will be signing up for a STAMPPASS!  Please go to the website below and fill out the application completely!  You need to SHOW me your STAMPPASS after it has been sent to you to qualify for a QUIZ GRADE for MP2!  When you are done signing up, work on your Public Service Announcement with your partner! 




 

Enjoy your half day today!



MR. S




Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Public Service Announcement Partner Project - IMovie




"There are many different definitions for a public service announcement (PSA) or public service ad,
but the simplified version of PSAs are messages in the public interest
disseminated by the media without charge, with the objective of raising
awareness, changing public attitudes and behaviour towards a social
issue."     - Wikipedia Definition








MR. S Made An Example (Click Here To See it) 




This week you will be completing a Public Service Announcement in IMovie.



Examples Of Student Public Service Announcements (CLICK HERE)



Grading is as follows:  (PARTNER/TOPIC LIST CLICK HERE)



     The Public Service Announcement must use a minimum of 20 pictures or video clips



     PSA must be no less than 30 seconds in length and no more than 1:00 minute in length



     PSA must have smooth transitions between pictures



     PSA must use at least one piece of music.  If more, smooth transitions between sound bites



     PSA must have at least 6 facts about your topic

    

     PSA must be published (SHARE) as a movie file and viewable by Media Players



Following is the grading outline:

          60 points for neatness (smooth transitions)

          80 points for completeness  (All items present)

          20 points for within time limits

          40 points for partner review



Links For Music (MP3's)



https://www.freesound.org/browse/tags/sound-effects/



http://freemusicarchive.org/



http://www.audiomack.com/






Getting Started (from Center For DIGITAL Education Website)



  1. Choose your topic. Pick a subject that is important to you, as
    well as one you can visualize. Keep your focus narrow and to the point.
    More than one idea confuses your audience, so have one main idea per
    PSA.

     

  2. Time for some research - you need to know your stuff! Try to get
    the most current and up to date facts on your topic. Statistics and
    references can add to a PSA. You want to be convincing and accurate.

     

  3. Consider your audience. Are you targeting parents, teens,
    teachers or some other social group? Consider your target audience's
    needs, preferences, as well as the things that might turn them off. They
    are the ones you want to rally to action. The action suggested by the
    PSA can be almost anything. It can be spelled out or implied in your
    PSA, just make sure that message is clear.

     

  4. Grab your audience's attention. You might use visual effects, an
    emotional response, humor, or surprise to catch your target audience.
    Be careful, however, of using scare tactics. Attention getters are
    needed, but they must be carefully selected. For example, when filming a
    PSA about controlling anger, a glass-framed picture of a family can be
    shattered on camera. This was dramatic, but not melodramatic. Staging a
    scene between two angry people to convey the same idea is more difficult
    to do effectively.

     

  5. Create a script and keep your script to a few simple statements.
    A 30-second PSA will typically require about 5 to 7 concise assertions.
    Highlight the major and minor points that you want to make. Be sure the
    information presented in the PSA is based on up-to-date, accurate
    research, findings and/or data.

     

  6. Storyboard your script.

     

  7. Film your footage and edit your PSA.

     

  8. Find your audience and get their reaction. How do they respond
    and is it in the way you expected? Your goal is to call your audience to
    action. Are they inspired?




PSA Bibliography Requirements



You and your partner must send and EMAIL to me (hscribnercaa@gmailcom) that has a paragraph about the reason you chose your topic, the names of the two students who
worked on your PSA, and the six references that you used to find your
facts.  The following format must be used:



To:  hescribnercaa@gmail.com



Subject:  PSA Project (Topic of Project)



Body of Email:



Students Collaborating:  (Me) & (You)



Team Name:



Topic:



Reason For Choosing Topic:



References






  1. "(Fact 1)".  Author, Website/Book/Article/Place Found

  2. "(Fact 2)".  Author, Website/Book/Article/Place Found

  3. "(Fact 3)".  Author, Website/Book/Article/Place Found

  4. "(Fact 4)".  Author, Website/Book/Article/Place Found

  5. "(Fact 5)".  Author, Website/Book/Article/Place Found

  6. "(Fact 6)".  Author, Website/Book/Article/Place Found



Public Service Announcement (PSA) Rubric (Original Project From 2009)



 AWESOME RESOURCE FOR TEACHERS (CLICK HERE)




GOOD LUCK!!



- Mr. S

Monday, November 10, 2014

Veterans Day 2014







Everyone:



In preparation for a day off, please view the following video in class:





Today you will finish work on your Movie Marquis Project in IMovie!  Prior to finishing this project, please open your Weebly.Com Journal and write 2-3 sentences about how you might be able to serve your community or country someday.  This service does not have to be in the armed forces.  I want you to really think about how you can repay the gifts of liberty and freedom that you have because you live in the United States.  Consider the sacrifice of others, both in uniform and out, while this country grew and up to the modern era.







AFTER FINISHING YOUR JOURNAL ENTRY (Title: Veterans Day), MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SHARED YOUR IMOVIE MARQUIS PROJECT (M4V) AND YOUR GARAGEBAND SONG (MP3) BY ADDING THE GOOGLE DRIVE LINK FOR EACH FILE IN THE SPECIFIC POST ON OUR SCHOOL GOOGLE+ COMMUNITY!  YOU WILL NOT GET CREDIT FOR THESE ASSIGNMENTS IF YOU HAVE NOT FOLLOWED DIRECTIONS CORRECTLY!




HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT FOR VETERANS DAY 2014








3rd Herd - Prior to Deployment (Fall 2007)



Please talk to a veteran that you know.  Find a relative or friend that
has served our country in the armed forces and interview them.  Find out
when and where they served.  Write a one-page summary of the
interview.  Make sure to include how long they served, why they joined,
what was the hardest and easiest part of their service, and what they
feel about others serving.    Try to include a picture of the person in
uniform if possible.  Please email this interview to me so I can print
them and post them.  End your summary with how you feel about service in
the armed forces and why it is important to serve your country in any
capacity.



Thanks for your input on this project.



- Mr. S


Thursday, November 6, 2014

IMovie - Movie Marquis Project


IMOVIE INTRODUCTION


You will be making a number of movies with Apple IMovie during this
class.  Starting next week you will work on creating a Public Service
Announcement (PSA) with a partner.  Start thinking of ideas now so you
will be able to pick something for next week.



Watch the following clip on your own to get ideas about your Personal
Movie Marquis.  This is a short movie clip (10-15 seconds) that you will
add to the end of your PSA to "sign" it.  The Movie Marquis you are
creating should be a reflection of your personality, and is intended to
let people know who created the movie it follows.  It can be used at the
end or the beginning of a movie.  I want you to pretend you are
creating a Movie Production Studio and give some thought to the kind of
movies and messages you would like to support.  Be creative and have fun
with this project.  It can be serious, funny or anything you want it to
be.  Please make sure you use the clip you created in GarageBand for
this project.  You may find pictures and other video clips online or
sign out a camera.  I have a limited amount of equipment, so you will
have to share.



Movie Introduction Video Clips Promo (Click Here)



Please create a Movie Marquis in IMovie.  It should be 10 to 15
seconds long and use audio, pictures/video, titles and effects.  You
must create your music for this project with GarageBand.  You may not
use commercially available music.  When
you have edited the movie and created it, please use the SHARE
function and EXPORT video to the desktop.  Upload that file
to your Google Drive and share it with me for credit for the project.



STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS

Step 1:  Download or Create Music with GarageBand (You must EXPORT your Music as an MP3 file and place it on the Desktop of your Computer.





Step 2:  Find and Download 1-3 Pictures or Images you are interested in using.  Place those Images on the Desktop of your Computer.



Step 3:  Open IMOVIE and using the FILE Menu (Top Left of Screen next to the word IMovie) click on NEW PROJECT



Step 4:  Name your Project "(Your Last Name) Marquis P (2,3,4,8,9)"



Step 5:  Drag your Music File into the WorkSpace (Upper Left Area of your IMovie Program Screen), it should create a Green Box.  Click the little white button with a settings wheel to adjust the clip or trim it down.



Step 6:  Drag your Image File(s) into the Green Music Box within the WorkSpace.  Use the upper left hand Black Box (Crop Symbol) to adjust the way each picture is viewed during the.  Use the lower Blue Box with a settings wheel to adjust the length of the picture in the movie and add effects to the picture(s).



Step 7:  Click the Preview Arrows (Left Lower Middle of the screen below the WorkSpace) to see what your finished Movie will look like at any step of this process.



Step 8:  Click the small "T" button under the Preview Screen to add Titles to your work.  You can add them before images, on images or at the end.  Make sure you complete the TEXT sections prior to clicking DONE!



Step 9:  Click the small "Box" to the right of the "T" button to add Transitions between images and Titles.



Step 10:  Use any additional functions you might know about in IMovie.  Above steps are just the basics.  This is your Project!  Make it UNIQUE!



Step 11:  Click the SHARE Menu and Select EXPORT MOVIE.  Make sure you EXPORT your movie to the Desktop so you can find the finished file.



Step: 12:  Open Your Google DRIVE and find the UPLOAD Button.  Click it and Find the Movie FILE you just created.  UPLOAD your Movie to your Google Drive.  Once it has finished uploading, Click the SHARE Button and add my Email Address for credit.  You must also Click the GET SHAREABLE LINK Button in the Upper Right Hand Corner of the SHARE Box.  Highlight the Link Created and use the COMMAND-C to Copy it!



Step 13:  Open the Class Google+ Page and use COMMAND-V to Paste the Link to your IMovie Marquis project to the Post for this assignment.  You must also put a link to this video on your Weebly Web Page for Credit.



Step 14:  You should review at least 2-3 other Movies from your peers and hit REPLY on the Google+ Group!  



YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO POST A BUTTON ON THE HOME PAGE OF YOUR WEEBLY.COM
WEBSITE TO THE LINK OF YOUR VIDEO ON YOUR GOOGLE DRIVE TO RECEIVE
CREDIT!



Name Your Project "(Last Name) Marquis CS P?"



Grading Rubric:


  1. Within Time Limit = 30 points

  2. Clear Pictures = 30 points

  3. Titles = 30 points

  4. Appropriate Music = 30 points

  5. Effects / Transitions = 30 points

  6. GDrive Shared = 30 points

  7. Creative (Subjective - Mr. S) = 20 points


Total Score = x/200 points



Here are links to my Big Daddy Productions 2013 I and BDP 2103 II movies as examples!



Enjoy!!



- Mr S.



USE THESE CLIPS IN CLASS TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH OUR SAMPLE PROJECT:



http://crossroadsaa.weebly.com/uploads/7/2/6/8/7268438/332984_orig.png



https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzY9jTFcLEUWcXdzaWYxbUI2bkE/view?usp=sharing

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Habit 1: BE PROACTIVE

Everyone:



Today we will Create a Journal Entry on Habit #1 of Highly Effective People (Covey) and start working with IMovie:



We will start today by creating a journal entry after discussing Habit
#1 from the 7-Habits of Highly Effective People (Covey).  Please
pay attention to the information and answer the following questions in
your Journal (Weebly.com).  If you missed our discussion, please
download and view the link (Habit #1 Video) to the left.  Scroll to the bottom of this post to review all 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens (Covey)!





JOURNAL TITLE:  HABIT 1 (COVEY)

PROMPT: How will
you try to "carry the weather with you" from now on.  What can you do
to encourage others to see this as an important first step in being more
mature? 


(Please write at least 4-5 Sentences about the PROMPT above using proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure.  You must restate the PROMPT in your own words as part of your entry.)





7 Habits For Highly Effective Teens



Be Proactive


Being proactive is the key to
unlocking the other habits. Help your teen take control and responsibility for
her life. Proactive people understand that they are responsible for their own
happiness or unhappiness. They don't blame others for their own actions or
feelings.




Begin With the End in Mind


If teens aren't clear about where
they want to end up in life, about their values, goals, and what they stand
for, they will wander, waste time, and be tossed to and fro by the opinions of
others. Help your teen create a personal mission statement which will act as a
road map and direct and guide his decision-making process.




Put First Things First


This habit helps teens prioritize
and manage their time so that they focus on and complete the most important
things in their lives. Putting first things first also means learning to
overcome fears and being strong during difficult times. It's living life
according to what matters most.




Think Win-Win


Teens can learn to foster the belief
that it is possible to create an atmosphere of win-win in every relationship.
This habit encourages the idea that in any given discussion or situation both
parties can arrive at a mutually beneficial solution. Your teen will learn to celebrate
the accomplishments of others instead of being threatened by them.




Seek First to Understand, Then to be
Understood


Because most people don't listen
very well, one of the great frustrations in life is that many don't feel
understood. This habit will ensure your teen learns the most important
communication skill there is: active listening.




Synergize


Synergy is achieved when two or more
people work together to create something better than either could alone.
Through this habit, teens learn it doesn't have to be "your way" or
"my way" but rather a better way, a higher way. Synergy allows teens
to value differences and better appreciate others.




Sharpen the Saw


Teens should never get too busy
living to take time to renew themselves. When a teen "sharpens the
saw" she is keeping her personal self sharp so that she can better deal
with life. It means regularly renewing and strengthening the four key
dimensions of life – body, brain, heart, and soul.

Dragons Breathe Fire

Dragons Breathe Fire