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

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

090622: L/R Brain Dominance / Typing Test / Habit #1 (Covey)

This week you will be learning about How You LEARN, How You LEAD, and How You FOLLOW Directions and Process Information.

Each day you will be reviewing information about a series of surveys and learning tools that will help you learn about yourself. These tools will help you figure out in what areas you have strengths and what areas may need improvement. The KEY to this week is to remind yourself that all of these surveys are just "Snapshots" of you on the day you take them. You can change, grow, adapt, and be different based on your learning, skills, practice, attitude, emotions, reactions, and other variables each day. The results of this week should give you a better idea of how you learn, areas where your strengths are, and maybe even a little insight into a future career or skills you can use to be successful! Relax and take each day as a new learning experience, and above all try to have a little fun with these activities! All The Best! - Mr. S

Left/Right Brain Survey & Typing Test

Before we begin: "If you’ve always thought of yourself as a “numbers person” or a creative sort, the research doesn’t change anything. But it’s probably inaccurate to link these traits to one side of your brain. We still don’t know a lot about what determines individual personality, but it seems unlikely that it’s the dominance of one side of the brain or the other that matters." - "Right Brain/Left Brain, Right?" by Robert H Schnerling, MD, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School (2017) at https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/right-brainleft-brain-right-2017082512222

Another Point of View: "Your dominant brain type has a very significant effect on your study skills, homework habits, and grades." by Grace Fleming, ThoughtCo.com Article, (2018) at https://www.thoughtco.com/left-brain-right-brain-1857174

According to some theories of left-brain or right-brain dominance, each side of the brain controls different types of thinking. Additionally, people are said to prefer one type of thinking over the other. For example, a person who is "left-brained" is often said to be more logical, analytical, and objective. A person who is "right-brained" is often said to be more creative or able to see the 'big-picture'. 

Watch the video(s) below and take the survey. Record your answers on the Google Document you created yesterday ((❗️) DL Personal Inventory Survey Results Worksheet).

STEP 1: Watch one, or all of the Youtube Videos linked below.

STEP 2: Click the link to the Eterna Brain website and take the Brain Dominance Test (Online-Test)

There are 28 questions about your attitudes and interests. Some may be personal, but no one will see your answers. At the end of the survey, you will have two (2) columns. Record the number for both Left and Right scores.

STEP 3: Open the Document from your Google Drive that you made a copy of yesterday ((❗️) DL Personal Inventory Survey Results Worksheet)
Locate the section of the Document for "L/R Brain Survey" and enter your scores. Fill in the Date of the Assessment with today's date.
Write 1-2 Sentences about what you learned today about yourself.

STEP 4: (❗️) Take the TYPING TEST at TypingTest.com (See Link Below)
In the center of your screen, you will see a box with some choices (1-minute test, 3-minute test, 5-minute test) and (text, sentences, words).

Click the "More Options" link in blue below the choices. Select 1 Minute Test and choose your topic from the drop-down list.

Click "Start Typing Test". Where it says "Click or Tap Here and Start Typing!" follow the directions and start the test.

DO NOT STOP until the timer is complete. You will be typing along with the information above. Try to focus on your typing and not look at the statistics.
When the timer stops, a screen with your results will automatically appear. Record your Typing Speed, Errors, and Adjusted Speed.

STEP 5: Record your scores on the TYPING.COM 1-Minute Test section of the
(❗️) DL Personal Inventory Survey Results Worksheet for credit.


Habit #1: Be Proactive

Left/Right Brain Dominance Theory Links:

1. Youtube Video: "Are You Right-Brained or Left Brained?" by BuzzFeedVideo (2013)

2. Youtube Video: "What's the Difference Between the Right Brain and the Left Brain?"
by Psych2Go

3. SURVEY: (❗️) Brain Dominance Test (Online Test) - test your brain dominance - The IPN

Typing Test Links:

1. Youtube Video: "Why Learn to Type" by Typing Club

2. Youtube Video: "Why Aren't Keyboards in 'ABC' Order" by Colassal Questions

3. TYPING TEST LINK: TypingTest.com (Click Here)

ACADEMIC STANDARDS: PA SAS (BCIT) / ISTE / CSTA / NGSS / PA Career & Work


Friday, September 2, 2022

090222: PowerSchool / Google Drive / Supplemental Resources

Today we will be learning to access information on PowerSchool, signing up for supplemental learning websites, and learning to access and use Google Drive. Please make sure to follow along during class so you can learn to utilize these important resources.  When you are done, spend time signing up for some of the websites below to work on when you have finished your assigned tasks each day, or just for fun!

POWERSCHOOL
Using the worksheets I will hand out in class, you should be able to log into PowerSchool on your school-issued Chromebook and your personal cellphone. Once you know your login information, please take a few moments in class to bookmark the correct link for the Tech Freire PowerSchool website. You may now login and review class information, announcements, and your grades. Spend some time navigating around the page and learn to understand how to use this application.

GOOGLE DRIVE INTRODUCTION
Follow along in class to utilize some of the basic functions of Google Drive. You can open applications, store and share files, and organize items in folders. This is your cloud-based file and project storage space. You can also collaborate with others on almost every project right from your Google Drive.



SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCE WEBSITES
MATH / ELA / LANGUAGES / READING & MORE
In an attempt to help ALL of our students, I want to make sure you know about, and use, the following resources. You will spend some time setting up an account on all of these sites today. Click the NAMES of the websites and use your Google Account (Look for a Button that says Sign In/Up With Google) to create a student account. 

You DO NOT have to complete work on these sites, but I want you to be aware of the different resources, outside of school, that can help you with your Core Subjects. If you do not do anything else, learn to type! There are resources below for reading, writing, comprehension, languages, general knowledge, and specific coursework to help you along your scholarly journey here at Tech Freire. Email me if you have any trouble creating accounts. Have a Great Day!
- Mr. S



Typing.com
World's most trusted free typing tutor!  Perfect for all ages & levels, K-12 and beyond.  Extensive keyboard lessons and digital literacy content provide your students with fundamental career and life skills








There are over 1.2 billion people learning a language and the majority are doing so to gain access to better opportunities. Unfortunately, learning a language is expensive and inaccessible to most.

We created Duolingo so that everyone could have a chance. Free language education – no hidden fees, no premium content, just free.

Join the TF Digital Literacy Class with this link:
www.duolingo.com/classroom/cxyxxz



Quill.org


Quill provides free writing and grammar activities for elementary, middle, and high school students.


INSTRUCTIONS:
Go To:  
quill.org/join/stereo-soccer
If you don't have a Quill account CLICK the Sign Up button and create an account.
or Log into your account.


Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary.com combines the world's smartest dictionary with an adaptive learning game that will have you mastering new words in no time.


Click the link to join the class: http://vocab.com/join/2SXQAR7

ReadTheory.org

1. Go To: readtheory.org

2. Click "STUDENTS? Click Here" and log in with your
    Google Account.

3. Use the class code XERA4BVR

4. Click on the Teachers tab,

5. Complete the Pre-Test.

Once completed, you can go to this site to read and respond to different prompts according to your individual reading levels. As you progress, you will gradually have your reading level raised, and you will improve your comprehension. According to the website,7.4 Million students have completed 130 million quizzes on this site (to date).

NoRedInk.com

CLICK This Link to Join Our Class:
https://www.noredink.com/join/super-week-58

Students will Create an Account on NoRedInk.com. Make sure you use your Gmail Account. Get the Class Code to join the class for the period you are in.

NoRedInk helps students practice their grammar and writing skills. Students work with engaging and often humorous sentences that incorporate their favorite characters, musicians, athletes, books, movies, sports teams, and celebrities.

KhanAcademy.org


Students will be joining Khan Academy to work independently on their MATH skills, by grade.

Everyone will use their GMail Account to create an Account on KhanAcademy.Org!

Make sure that you finish updating your profile once you sign in.
Go to your Profile screen and ADD your teacher as a Coach by entering the Khan Academy Class Code!

Every student can use Khan Academy as an online tutor at home. You can pick just about any Subject and Level and view video lessons, answer practice questions, or ask a coach a question. There are tutorials for all of your subjects on this fantastic resource! Make sure you check out all the classes you can complete and help yourself with!

JOIN OUR KHAN ACADEMY CLASS WITH THE FOLLOWING LINK:
https://www.khanacademy.org/join/EP2XHG9Z


FreeRice.com

Use the link above to visit the Beta Version of FreeRice.com. Create an Account using a Username (First Name Initial and Last Name), and enter a Password you can remember. Then click on "Groups" and enter a code to join your friends!

TECH FREIRE DL 22-23 
Group Code: 2KZTWJKG

Start Answering Questions! Track Your Achievements!

Earn The Badges! HAVE FUN!

Freerice is a 100% non-profit website that is owned by and supports the United Nations World Food Programme.

Freerice has two goals:

Provide education to everyone for free.
Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.
Each time you answer a question right, the banner ad that you see generates enough money for the World Food Programme to buy 10 grains of rice to help reach Zero Hunger.


JUST FOR FUN:

LittleAlchemy2.com

Little Alchemy 2 (2017) is a crafting game enjoyed by millions of players. It features hundreds of items, a fresh art style, and charming music. Mix items and create the world from scratch! Discover exciting items accompanied by funny descriptions and lose yourself exploring the huge library!

Thursday, September 1, 2022

090122: Gmail Reflection / Student Digital Tech Survey / Typing.com

Congratulations,

You made it through your first day of class and you are now ready to do a little work on your own. Today we will keep things simple. You will complete a Gmail to Mr. S (Reflection Gmail), fill out an online survey about your technology experience, sign up for Typing.com, and start the basic tutorials. To get started, please log into your Chromebook and open a browser window with your Gmail account. Then follow the directions below:

STEP 1: (❗️) Open your GMAIL and make sure you are logged into your Tech Freire Gmail account (No Personal Gmails may be used to turn in work for this class).

     A. Click COMPOSE and add Mr. S (harvey.scribner@techfreire.org) in the TO LINE.
     B. Type "Gmail Reflection 09/01/22" in the SUBJECT LINE.
     C. In the body of the Gmail please write 2-3 Sentences describing your favorite mobile
         device or computer application.

Make sure to explain why you like that application and how you would make it better if
you could change it. See the example below or ask for help if you need it.

STEP 2: (❗️) Complete the Digital Technology 20/21 (TF Students) Survey


STEP 3: (❗️) Go to Typing.com and create an account using your TF Gmail account. Click the link below to join the class online. Once you have completed these tasks, stay on Typing.com and start the basic tutorials until we wrap up and dismiss.



HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY TODAY!
- Mr. S


GMAIL REFLECTION EXAMPLE
To harvey.scribner@techfreire.org
Subject: GMAIL REFLECTION 09/01/22
My favorite mobile application right now is Tik Tok. It is a complete waste of time, but I like that it entertains me. I can also post some strange stuff of my own and hope people find it and like it. I would make it better by having specific stations on it that would be used by individual groups to just share content with themselves. It would be more secure and easier to reach a group of people I wanted to see my videos on specific topics. Otherwise, Tik Tok is fun!

ACADEMIC STANDARDS: PA SAS (BCIT) / ISTE / CSTA / NGSS / PA Career & Work








Dragons Breathe Fire

Dragons Breathe Fire