G7 Tech Class #14

Following our G7 Due Dates webpage today we will work on presenting your products: the Spaghetti Towers!

You will have some time to fine tune details and retouches to your tower before we start with the presentations.

Each group will have 7 minutes to explain to the audience:

• present your Tower
• explain the process behind it
• What design specifications does the Tower comply with? Essential? Desirable?
• Budget? Did you manage to stay under $10?
• issues you had to overcome: Why? How?
• Group work/collaboration

- . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . 

What inspires you to achieve success?

Raise your Hand Texas is organizing a state-wide Photo Contest where we can submit a photo that we think answers the Pick the Pic Contest: 

What two things inspire you to achieve success?

PICK THE PIC Photo Contest - Submit your photo for a chance to win an iPad 2 and $500 for your school!
Criteria:  Must be a Texas public school student.
Award:   IPad 2 along with $500 for your school
How to Participate:  Your parent or teacher must submit a photo of you answering the question, "What two things inspire you to achieve success?"  The question must be answered by the student in the photo and can be written on card stock, cardboard, or any other form of paper available.  RYHT will post entries to their Facebook page.  As soon as you see it, encourage your friends to "Like" the photo.  Every "Like" counts as a vote.
***Deadline:  Photo must be submitted on the contest entry webpage,http://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/index.php/act/contest, no later than midnight on Friday, October 7, 2011. 

G7 Tech Class #13

Today we will finish working on Create stage. Please visit the G7 Due Dates webpage to stay on task. You Create stage needs to be submitted by the end of the day today!

Remember to include the following in this stage:

1. Your complete Process Journal

2. Explain what tools and techniques you used to build your tower

3. How was your time management: Have you followed your original time plan? How?

4. Have you made any changes to your chosen design? Why? How?

For more details you can visit last class' blog post.

To submit your assignment today please make sure you follow the Steps to submit your assignments.

Mrs Linan's daughter had a baby girl!!!! Micaela :-)

  

G7 Tech Class #12

Today we will start working on Create stage: Building the tower!!!! :-) . Please visit the G7 Due Dates webpage to plan your time wisely.

For this stage it is super important to look into these:

1. Your complete Process Journal with :

• dated journal entries including Visual Evidence (designs, sketches, screen shots, pictures, etc that show how the steps you took to build the tower)
• notes regarding any changes made: e.g. added a step, changed the order of tasks, changed the tools, used another resource, didn't need a resource, didn't finish what was planned etc.
• how did the group work? Did you have any issues? how did you overcome them, if any?

2. Explain what tools and techniques you used to build your tower

3. How was your time management: Have you followed your original time plan? How?

4. Have you made any changes to your chosen tower design? Why? How?

You can always use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure your Create stage is complete.

Have fun building your tower, but manage your time to stay on task! :-)

G7 TechClass #11

Today we will finish working on Plan. To review the details you need to complete Plan stage, please visit last class' blog post.

Remember to follow the link to G7 Due Dates webpage to stay on task and know when assignments need to be submitted.

We will work on Plan during the first half of the class.

You need to submit your Plan stage documents by the end of today.

Follow the steps to submit your assignments posted in the MYP Technology website.

G7 TechClass #10

Welcome to class #10!!!

Today we will start working on Plan!

The main idea in the Plan stage is that you can organize yourselves on what will be done, when and with what resources during the Create stage? The Plan stage needs to:

1. include a detailed step by step list of tasks/instructions on how your chosen Design will be built (think as if you are giving instructions to someone else to built/create your tower / cooking recipe!)
2. show a timeline of tasks and resources that you will use during the next stage: Create. Use the Gantt and CPM (Critical Path Method usually used together with PERT) concepts we talked about in class: simultaneously, sequencial, overlapping
3. Include evidence of what materials and resources you are planning to use (what will you exactly need to build the tower?)
4. Make any modifications you need to your chosen design

A couple suggested tools for Plan stage can be the following:

• TODOIST :Todoist is a task manager that's useful, fast and easy to use. You can manage a lot of to-dos ... :-)
• EXCEL/G-Docs Spreadsheet: You can start by drawing a Gantt Chart / Timeline using G-Docs Spreadsheet :-) You can see an example here: Plan Stage Example done in G-Docs (Spreadsheet)

Remember that you can always use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure your stage is complete.

Don't forget to check the G7 Due Dates to stay on task. Plan is due today and record your progress in your Process Journal. Thanks!

G7 TechClass #9

Today your Design stage is due following the G7 Due Dates planned. Please work on that during class and submit it by the end of the day today. You can review the guidelines for this stage on last class' blog entry.

Remember that Design stage needs to include:

• different designs (at least 2)
• explanations for each design (sketches, arrows, diagrams, labels, etc)
• evaluate each design against ALL design specifications (we came up with those during Investigation)
• Choose one design
• Justify why

Don't forget to make your journal entry of the day and today you should include in it the sketches of your designs as visual evidence!

G7 TechClass #8

Last class you finished Investigation by completing your assignment and you submitted your work by following the Steps to submit your assignments.

Today please start working on Design.

1. Include a variety of different designs/proposed solutions (at least 2)

1. Explain every part of each ideas/product solution
2. For explaining your designs, please use different techniques like story boards, sketches, labelled diagrams with explanations, etc.
3. Evaluate each design critically against the design specifications (assess what design specs each design complies with or not)
4. Choose one design to build
5. Justify your choice

You can use the Design Folder Checklist as a guide not to leave anything out of your Design Stage.
Remember to check the G7 Due Dates to stay on task.
Record what you accomplish today, what's your plan for next class, any issues you had to overcome, etc in your Process Journal.

Thank you!

G7 TechClass #7

Today we will finish to working on the Investigation stage of Project 1.

Please work on completing this assignment as well as recording your entry in your Process Journal (this should be your second entry! :-)

Remember to:

• Check the due dates for Project 1 are posted in the MYP Technology Website under G7 Due Dates.
• Include the Assignment Standards we have talked about in class.
• Use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure you don't leave anything out of your assignment.
• Review Investigation Criteria for Grade 7 (MYP Year 2) to know what is expected from you at this stage.
• Follow the steps to submit your assignment as posted in the MYP Technology Website.

Thank you.

G7 TechClass #6

Good morning!

Today we will continue to work on the Investigation stage of Project 1.

Investigation will be due by the end of this class. Please work on completing this assignment as well as recording your entry in your Process Journal (will you will need to submit in Create stage)

The due dates for Project 1 are posted in the MYP Technology Website under G7 Due Dates.

• Remember to include the Assignment Standards we have talked about in class.
• You can use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure you don't leave anything out of your assignment.
• Take a look at Investigation Criteria for Grade 7 (MYP Year 2) to know what is expected from you at this stage.

• You can visit our last class' post: G7 TechClass #5 and keep using the G7 Investigation Draft.

• Follow the steps to submit your assignment as posted in the MYP Technology Website.

G7 TechClass #5

Last class we worked on learning about Shared Documents.

Please take a look at the main ideas / advantages / options regarding Documents Sharing as well as reflections on Digital Citizenship.

• G7 A4 Shared Document
• G7 B1 Shared Document
• G7 B2 Shared Document

Today we will continue working on Project 1:

Spaghetti Tower

I have set up a G7 Investigation Draft that you can use as a guiding structure to work with for your first assignment. Let's work together to list everything we need to include in our Investigation stage.

If you would like to work on this Shared document as your starting point for Investigation, please:

• Save a copy (File, Make a copy)
• Click OK to Copy Document
• Click on the name of the document (top left): Copy of ......
• Enter a new document name
• Change the Sharing settings for your group to be able to work collaboratively (Share button at top right)

You can watch a step by step video tutorial on How to Rename and share your document in my YouTube Channel!

Remember to use the Assignment Standards!!!!!

You can also use the Design Folder Checklist as guidelines for your Investigation.

Remember today is the deadline to turn in your AUP. Thank you!