Friday, November 21, 2014

November 21, 2014 - Coding

This week is the first time that I have seen coding and Hour of Coding.  I had no idea what it was.  I have watched the videos and enjoyed the enthusiasm that is shared.  I have been brainstorming of how I can do Hour of Code in my school.  At this point, it is hard to approach teachers in the high school with "another thing".  They are very busy with Core Curriculum, best practices, etc., etc..  I went down stairs to approach our technology teacher & he wasn't there.  As I was returning to my library, I decided that I would do it with my advisement students.  They are mostly 9th graders.  Its a small class, but this would be a great place to start.  I am going to begin the introduction with the 9 minute video on Hour of Code.  I thought it was a little long, but I love the part with the contraptions that appear to be from the future. 


I originally went to college for CAD CAM and data processing in 1981.  It was a long time ago, but I had to take programing classes way back in the BC time.  The is Before Computers in high schools.  I need to  read more on coding.  I have to get everything written down before the big week. :)  I will be back!

November 21, 2014 blogging

I love to follow blogs, however I still am not comfortable setting up a blog for/with my high school students.  We have My Big Campus that the students in 5-7 are using.  Next year, our 8th graders will be using it.  I have decided that I am going to start a knitting blog, get comfortable with that and see how it goes.  In the meantime, I am following the blog Teachthrutech.  I am not sure where I read on Cool Tools to join this, but I am glad I did.  I have already shared some of the ideas with other teachers & had our IT people add an app to the iPads.  That blog is set up so that it goes to my school email.  This is more convenient than going out to find the blog to red it.


Once I start my knitting blog, I will post on here how it is going.


I tried to start the blog for my Knitting &crocheting blog, however I can't upload photos.  I don't know what is wrong.  I read the help screens & I am doing everything right, but it is not uploading.  I will try again later.  I really need the photo part to upload my knitting projects & ideas.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

November 12, 2014 Thing 1: Blogging

November 11th  Thank you to our troops
Hello,
I am just starting my second year of Cool Tools For Schools.  I am going to try to complete as much as I can.  I have high hopes for this year.  I started with Thing 1 Blogging because I needed a refresher on it.  As I am exploring all of the links on the page I am remembering why it would take me hours to get through the things.  I tend to click & read, click & read, click & read.  So far I am brainstorming how to use blogging in the library.  I am in a high school library & I know an English teacher that would jump on board with blogging.  I am sending all of the ideas of blogging with students to my email & trying to put together a plan to present to the teacher.  Now the one thing I am having trouble with is how the students will be able to keep up with their blogging this year.  Students in grade 9 do not have 1 to 1 computers.  We have laptop carts that we share with other classes.  Next year, the grade 9 students will each have their own iPads that the school has issued.  Do I need to wait until next year for blogging to be successful?


The current 7th graders, which are not in my building, will be getting iPads this Wednesday & Friday.  It is possible for me to go to that building & collaborate with the English 7 teacher.   I need to stop blogging & go explore Kidblog.  I will write more later.


Another question, is BlogSpot part of Google?  I tried to change my email address from jfeenaughty447@gmail.com to jfeenaughty@cgcsd.org, however I can't find where to change it.
Julie