February 1

Year 9 - I KNOW that the tutorial is BORING - but how are you going to amass this information if you don't read????? We want Ms. Rublee to be so impressed with your work that she gives everyone a 7.

To recap yesterdays tutorial on Planning. . .
1)Check out this little game: http://www.quia.com/hm/383863.html and
2) Take this little quiz: http://www.quia.com/quiz/1249304.html
Did you like it?

Now, let's move into the Design Stage:

First of all you have to have a Design Specification. What is a Design Specification? Let's talk about that.

Here is the Design Specification for your project: The newsletter should include( at least) : Each newsletter must: be 4 pages; include a Newsletter Title; include Index; include Volume and Issue Numbers; Newsletter Date; Photo Gallery, Captioned photos, Bulleted sidebar, Choose appropriate template; Customize Colour Scheme; Use 2 Different Fonts; the text in the "Lead Story" must be justified; Insert at least 1 drop cap; Must be attractive; Text included should be error-free (!!!)


Next, begin the DESIGN portion of the project:

1)Produce three possible newsletter layouts - experiement and change the color, and font
2)Choose one and fully justify your choice ( Why did I select this layout? Will it lend itself better to my topic? Is it more attractive? )
3)Evaluate against the Design Specification

January 31

Year 9 - Today we are going to recap and focus on the MYP Technology Design Cycle.

The Design Cycle has 5 stages: Investigate, Design, Plan, Create, Evaluate

We will create a Design Cycle drawing with Word 2007 (Smart Art) and upload it to our blogs. It's a snap.
1) Open Word 2007
2) Click on the Insert Tab
3) Click on Smart Art (in the Illustrations Group)
4) In the left-hand sidebar click on Cycle
5) Choose a template and create your Design Cycle - the use of color will make it attractive and professional looking. Experiment and try out different Smart Art Styles (it's fun!).
6) Open Paint
7) Copy and Paste your final product to Paint
8) Click on File
9) Click on Save As
10) Under the "File Name" click on the box "Save as Type"
11) Scroll down until you find JPEG
12) Give your drawing a name and save it as a JPEG
13) Open your blog to a new posting
14) Click on the Picture Icon and upload your JPEG file

You did it!!! It was that easy!!!!!

Next, let's continue with the Creating Newletters Tutorial
Planning - http://www.online.tusc.k12.al.us/shortc/newsltrs/planning.htm

Click on the above link and find out all you need to know about the following topics:
Planning Your Newsletter
Newsletter Names
Types of Newsletter Content
Story Themes for Newsletters
Typography

January 25

Year 9 - Your Investigations are due today. When you finish, please print your Investigation and hand it in.

Then take a few minute to visit an online quiz.
Creating School Newsletters - Introduction

January 25

Year 9

1)Please complete your INVESTIGATION (Criterion A).

2) Print it and hand it in.

(Make sure that you have included your name)

January 24

INVESTIGATION:

1-What is a newsletter? Research, and then give a definition in your own words.

2-What is the purpose of a newsletter? Explain and give an example of a newsletter.

3-Now, please do an analysis of the newsletter you are using as an example. Give detailed information about the newsletter you are using as an example. (Look at topics such as: What are the average number of pages? What is the color scheme? Does it inform its readers of events/news? What other aspects or topics should you also consider????)

4-Name (at least) 2 programs which are designed to create newsletters. (Include details about the features that each one offers.

5-Why are we using Microsoft Publisher? Justify your answer.

Using this link, research “Creating High School Newsletters” (http://www.online.tusc.k12.al.us/shortc/newsltrs/introduction.htm) and answer the following questions.

6. What are the characteristics of an effective newsletter?
7. What are the steps of putting together a newsletter?

Also, your Unit of Work is online (finally).

January 18

Get a Voki now!



1) Year 9 - On December 7 we began to build our Design Folder. We also started our Investigation. Please locate that document in your folder and open it and show it to me:-)

2) Fact or Opinion Quiz

3) Continue with any unfinished work that you may have started. It's important to finish what we start.

4) If you have everything done and online - Fabulous! Please continue on with the Creating School Newsletters tutorial. This time read all about Planning: http://www.online.tusc.k12.al.us/shortc/newsltrs/planning.htm

January 17

Year 9

Period 3

Last class you were to begin the tutorial on Creating School Newsletters.

Let's discuss the Introduction which included:
Creating School Newsletters
Introduction to Newsletters
Purposes for Newsletters
Newsletter Terminology

Period 4

Newsletters can be an important part of an organization. It allows members to be updated on a regular basis. Let's each do a search and find an online newsletter.

Do an analysis of the layout of the newsletter. Which elements of the newsletter do you like? Which elements don't you like? Who is the intended audience? Do you think they would find this newsletter appealing? Do you like the colors used? How would you improve it?

Save the first page of the newsletter as an image. One easy way to do that is to: Click the Prt Sc (Print Screen) button. Open Powerpoint and paste the Prt Sc onto the slide. Click on the Office Button (upper left-hand corner of page) and then click on Save As. You want to save the slide in your folder on the school's server BUT you want to save it as an image. To do that all you have to do is Click on: Save As Type. A drop down box will open and you scroll down until you see JPEG File Interchange Format. Click on JPEG and the SAVE. It's done.

Then open your blog and insert the image you just saved and write your analysis/reflection.

January 11

Blogs are interactive and I would love to visit your blog and leave you a comment. Please make sure that I have your blog address before class finishes today.

Today we will continue working on the online tutorials and completing the practice exercises. You will then upload the finished product onto your blog. We will save your project as a picture/image and upload it. It's easy;-)

-Click on the Microsoft icon in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.

-Next, Click on Save As. When the box opens make sure that you are saving this to YOUR personal folder on the school's server.

-In the Save File As box scroll down until you find JPEG File Interchange Format. (We want to save the file as a JPEG.)Click on Save and you are almost done.

-Finally, create a new post in your blog and upload the image by clicking on the "image" icon and uploading the file.

It's that easy!

Next, in the "sidebar" open the tutorial entitled "Creating School Newsletters". This tutorial has several sections (Introduction, Planning, Writing, Layouts, Graphics, Production, Search). To gather pertinent information regarding newletters, please take a look. Today we will focus on the Introduction. Please read about each of the topics:
Creating School Newsletters
Introduction to Newsletters
Purposes for Newsletters
Newsletter Terminology

January 10

Welcome Back Year 9!

It's final! We are going to be collaborating with Ms. Rublee in the Arts Department! (We are soooo lucky:-) Our two classes will be working together to produce a fabulous project. You will create a 4-page Newsletter focusing one 1 particular cubist artist. We will work on the technical aspects of such an undertaking in IT class.

I'm very excited so let's get started.

You will have all of the documents for your project online next week. In the meantime, let's work on the Publisher tutorial.